The Mark of Kosumi

Chapters

The Mark of Kosumi
A Meaningful Game
The Chance of a Lifetime

The Mark of Kosumi

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 Note

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.

A Meaningful Game

Chapter 1 – An Unfortunate Reaction

“Mom! Dad!” Kosumi bounded into his house. He hadn’t stopped smiling since he left The Empty Corner. “I got my cutie mark!”

There was a clamoring sound that came from the living room as Kosumi’s parents rushed to see their son. Kosumi’s mom was beaming as she came into the foyer and Kosumi’s dad was rushing forward instead of demonstrating his usual reserved posture.

“Let us see!” Kosumi’s mom came over to her son and turned him so that his flank was facing her.

“It’s a go move! A diagonal play in the corner. Isn’t it awesome?” Kosumi hadn’t really thought about what his parents would do when they saw their son’s go cutie mark, but they were his parents after all. But he turned his head to see their faces.
Eyes wide, each of his parent’s wore a startled expression. Silence hung in the room for nearly a full minute. During that minute, Kosumi felt the smile being drained from his face.

Kosumi’s mother was the first to break the silence. “Kosumi, we—”

He didn’t want to hear it. Kosumi ran past his parents and up the stairs to his room, closing the door as tears streamed down his face. They hate it. I can’t believe I was so dumb. Of course they hate it. They never wanted me to play go. They hate go! Kosumi thought about thinking about the idea that his parent’s hated him too, but the thought never surfaced directly. He knew his parents loved him.

A knock came at his door. His father spoke. “Kosumi? It’s Dad. Your mother and I want to come in. Is that okay?”
Kosumi didn’t know what to say to that. He wanted to tell them “yes” and “no” at the same time. Instead he just managed a quiet “Whatever.”

The door opened and his parents trotted into the room. “Kosumi.” His mother sat down next to him and put her front leg around his shoulders. “Your father and I are very sorry. We shouldn’t have reacted this way. Getting your cutie mark is always a happy occasion and you should be proud and we should be happy for you.”

“But you aren’t,” Kosumi slipped out from under his mother’s hoof and curled up with his head on his pillow at the top of his bed. “You never wanted me to get a go cutie mark. You didn’t want that to be my destiny.”

Kosumi’s dad spoke next. “Son, we are happy with whatever you end up doing. We thought go was just a phase you were going through, but now that you have a cutie mark we know that this game is a lot more important than just a hobby.”

Shivering slightly, Kosumi shook his head. “You don’t understand.”

“Then give us a chance to,” Kosumi’s mother put a hoof on her son’s head and, when he opened his eyes, she was smiling at him. “Let’s go to this club meeting with you next week.”

Chapter 2 – A Typical Club Meeting

Kosumi and his parents made their way to the Empty Corner the next week. The young colt was happy that his parents were going to give go a chance and was looking forward to playing another game against the club members. He was still getting regular lessons from Mr. Komi, but he was hoping that soon he could actually win a game.

His parents were surprised to learn that their son received his cutie mark in go when he had never actually won a game. In particular, his father was somewhat skeptical, saying that he’d never heard of a pony getting a cutie mark in any kind of competitive game or sport without winning. Still, it was clear that his son’s destiny was supposed to be playing this game, so he and his wife decided to see what all the fuss was about.

Kosumi felt the club members greeted the mare and stallion warmly considering what had happened to him the previous week. “This is my mom and dad,” said Kosumi. “They’re here to learn about go.”

Naturally it was Atari who first thanked the two for coming and then she quickly asked Kosumi for a game which Kosumi accepted. “I wanted to play you last week,” she said. “But you left as soon as you finished that game with Cross-Cut.”

Kosumi smiled. “I wanted to play you too. Let’s get a game set up.”

Kosumi’s parents followed their son and Atari over to a board at one of the tables in the restaurant. Kosumi’s mom asked, “So, what exactly is involved in setting up a game?”

“Actually, not much,” Atari lifted the lid on the bowl in front of her and, seeing it had black stones in it, gestured for Kosumi to take out a hoof-full of white stones for the nigiri. “We choose for color if we haven’t played before, or don’t know the rank of one of the players, by taking out white stones and having the other player guess whether the amount is odd or even.” When Kosumi put his hoof on the table, Atari took two stones out of her bowl. She had guess wrong so they swapped bowls and Kosumi prepared to go first. “The board starts empty,” Atari continued. “Kosumi is black, so he’ll make the first move.”

Taking a deep breath at the thought of being watched by his parents, Kosumi drew a stone from the bowl and played it on the 3-4 next to Atari’s left hoof. Kosumi’s dad blinked. “How did you pick up the stone like that with your hoof?” Reaching his own hoof into the bowl, Kosumi’s father fumbled around for a second and only managed to get a stone to fall onto the table.

“I had to practice a lot,” Kosumi answered. “It was pretty much the first thing I learned about go.”

“Well, you’ve gotten very good at it,” his mother said, smiling. Kosumi’s father was still looking back and forth between his hoof and the stone on the table.

Atari played her own 3-4 facing Kosumi’s at the top of the board. Kosumi then played another 3-4 stone in the bottom right corner facing the bottom. Then, instead of playing the last corner, Atari did a low approach to Kosumi’s first 3-4 stone. This puzzled Kosumi for a moment, then he realized that Atari was preventing him from making the orthodox opening he had come to like. She thinks my enclosure would be too good. I wonder... Kosumi then played the last corner as a 3-4 facing the left. Atari, without missing a beat, played a low approach to Kosumi’s second corner stone again preventing an orthodox opening.

“This,” said Kosumi to his parents, “is what my cutie mark is showing.” Going back to the first stone he had neglected, Kosumi played the diagonal response to Atari’s approach, raising his stone to the forth line and giving some encouragement to his stone at the bottom right.

From that point forward Atari demonstrated a solid mastery of go fundamentals. After playing out a complex joseki in the bottom right she proceeded to build large potential on the top and, when Kosumi tried to invade her top side outright instead of reducing from the outside, she attacked him relentlessly. Eventually playing a move that would force Kosumi to choose saving a floating group left from the lower right joseki or completely lose his invasion group that had been run over half the board. When this move was played, Kosumi resigned.

“That’s it?” Kosumi’s father asked. “What even happened?”

“There was a large fight,” Atari tried to explain. “After Kosumi played this stone in my influence he was forced to flee to the center of the board. However, I had already built up influence on the left as well, so he was forced to run toward the bottom right. When I played that last move I was making a double threat that was too hard for black to deal with, so Kosumi had to end the game.”

Kosumi’s dad shook his head. “What time are you going to be home tonight, Kosumi?”

Kosumi stared at his father who looked frustrated and annoyed. Then, in a voice that matched his recent defeat, he said. “I should be home in a couple hours. I just want to get in another game.”

Nodding and then gesturing to Kosumi’s mom, the two earth ponies left the restaurant.

As Kosumi’s parents left, the young colt wanted to start crying again, but Atari lifted his head. “Don’t worry,” she said, giving him a light smile. “I know this is hard for you, but remember that your parents did come tonight and that says a lot.”

Kosumi nodded. “I suppose so. I just had hoped they would like go.”

“Not everypony likes the same things, Kosumi. I’m sure there are things your parents like that you don’t and that’s okay. The important thing is that your parents are trying which is more than some ponies can say.”

After that, the two reviewed the game that had just been played. In retrospect, Kosumi was able to see his mistakes much more clearly. After they finished, One-Point Jump, the unicorn who had invited Kosumi to the club initially, walked over to the table.

“Kosumi, right?” asked the brown unicorn.

“Yeah.”

“What is it, One-Point?” Atari had a slight bite to her voice. She clearly would not tolerate any comments about Kosumi being an earth pony tonight.

“It’s nothing like that, Atari.” One-Point seemed annoyed. Then, he looked at Kosumi. “Would you play a game against me?”

“Sure,” said Kosumi. He wasn’t totally sure about One-Point, but he was glad that the unicorn was willing to give him a game.

“Alright, I’ll go set up a board over there.” One-Point left and Kosumi turned to thank Atari again for the game review. However, he noticed that the mare’s mouth was wide open.

“What is it, Atari?”

She looked over at Kosumi and said, in a low voice, “One-Point Jump hasn’t played a game in over a year.”

Chapter 3 – One-Point’s Challenge

“What?!” Kosumi looked over at the light brown unicorn and then remembered Mr. Komi’s comment to him in the shop the previous week. “That’s why he left last week? And was only watching everypony else’s games tonight?”

Atari nodded. “We’ve been trying to get him to play again, but ever since...” Atari bit her lip. “He should tell you. It’s not my place. But there must be something about you that struck his interest. I don’t know what you did or said, but I’m glad you started coming to our club. I just hope you can help One-Point get out of this slump.”

Kosumi looked across The Empty Corner and saw that One-Point was already seated at a board. A part of Kosumi wondered if he should let One-Point win, but then again, Kosumi had never won before, so it probably wouldn’t be an issue. “I didn’t realize this was such a big deal.”

“Don’t let it be,” Atari put her hoof on Kosumi’s shoulder. “If you want to help One-Point get back to playing, then just play a game of go with him. Nothing special and nothing you wouldn’t play against anypony else. Celestia knows he doesn’t like it when people make a big deal about how he hasn’t been playing.”

Nodding, Kosumi walked across the restaurant and seated himself across from One-Point. “Do you want to choose for color?”

One-Point nodded and took a hoof-full of white stones out of the bowl. “Odd or even?” Kosumi took out one stone. He’d guessed correctly; One-Point had taken 7 stones out of the bowl, so Kosumi was playing black this game.

It didn’t take long for him to choose how to begin. He enjoyed the more territorial 3-4 opening and Atari herself had said that he should play this just like any other game. His hoof and stone made a nice clacking sound against the board as he played his first move.

One-Point, however, spent nearly 5 minutes looking at the board. Kosumi and the rest didn’t say anything. One-Point was considering a lot of things. For the first time in almost a year I’m actually going to try this. What if I lose to this colt? An earth pony colt no less? How do I want to respond to this 3-4? It’s been so long since I’ve answered this move. I like the star point response. Then again, Kosumi's opening is for territory. If I go for a moyo he might make the game territorial and not let me get anything big.

Finally, a stone was lifted out of One-Point’s bowl and hovered over the corner facing away from Kosumi’s opening move. It came to rest on the star point. Cross-Cut nodded. This is exactly what One-Point has always done with a 3-4 opening. I hope this still feels natural to him.

Kosumi had already chosen his response to this move. Without wasting time he brought the stone out of his bowl and set it on the 3-4 facing away from his first corner move. If One-Point let him he was going to make his corner enclosure next. He wasn’t sure why, but he enjoyed a more orthodox opening.

One-Point’s response was the star point in the last corner. Kosumi enclosed his first corner and then One-Point played the star point between his own stones. He considered splitting Kosumi’s formation, but he wanted to play for a moyo. After Kosumi played the star point on his half of the board One-Point was fine with the way the game was going. He decided to play a low approach to Kosumi’s other corner to break up the formation.

By the mid-game a fight had begun between two groups on the top half of the board. Both, however, had managed to settle and One-Point took the time to tenuki and play an extension to one of his side groups that also denied the extension to one of Kosumi’s. After that move he was sure that he was ahead. Kosumi’s opening hadn’t been bad, but One-Point had managed to make his own moyo considerable compared to Kosumi’s territory. If he was able to turn a decent amount of his potential into points he would win for sure.

Kosumi was hurt a bit by the big move that One-Point had played, but he began to ponder the fight that One-Point had left. It appeared at first glance that both of the groups were settled with easy ways to make two eyes. However, something about One-Point’s group didn’t sit right with Kosumi. It was missing a move to guarantee the second eye, but at the same time there was no obvious way that Kosumi could take advantage of this. It seemed like any move Kosumi played was indeed sente, but still allowed One-Point to make an eye. There is a move. I know there is. I just have to find it...

One-Point began to wonder what Kosumi was thinking about for so long. He saw that the colt’s eyes were fixed on the two groups at the top of the board, but he had read out and seen that both could easily make two eyes. Sure, he and Kosumi had forcing moves against each other, but in the end they were just wasted ko threats. The unicorn shook his head. Kosumi doesn’t know what he’s doing. Anypony can tell that there’s only end-game moves on that group. Instead One-Point began to ponder how best to solidify his own territory. He was strongly considering a move near tengen when Kosumi lifted a stone and, very slowly and carefully, brought it to rest at a point just beneath One-Point’s top group. What is that colt trying to do?

One-Point looked at the move more closely. The response was obvious. He just needed to block the stone from above. Kosumi would pull back, One-Point could play on top and force another extension and then he would make his second eye. It was one of the many sequences he’d read out before playing the tenuki. One-Point began to lift a white stone out of his bowl, then stopped. There was a lone black stone that was inside his group. A left over dead stone that didn’t even seem to have much aji associated with it. But as One-Point read deeper he realized that Kosumi didn’t need to pull back from One-Point’s block. He could hane and threaten to either cut off a part of One-Point’s group or turn his inside stones into a box-four – a dead shape worth only one eye. How did I miss this move? Why didn’t I read it out more? In his rush for victory One-Point had left Kosumi the opening he needed. Maybe a year has left me too out of practice. Now that One-Point’s group wasn’t guaranteed two eyes locally it would need to run. But the path to the nearest white group was long and Kosumi would build up influence on both sides of the march across the board. One-Point read and re-read every sequence to see if he had missed some way to get two eyes. But he couldn’t find it. So he didn’t waste time. One-Point brought out a stone and began to run his group out toward the center. Kosumi gladly replied and the game began to get difficult for white.

Even after the chase was over One-Point was still ahead. Kosumi had only narrowed the margin and now that end-game was approaching One-Point could feel his win approaching with it. But the unicorn had made one final mistake. Kosumi had been noticing the move for a while, but hadn’t wanted to play it before the end-game. It was such a rare chance and he knew now that One-Point had missed it. His previous move had been to solidify his points in the top left corner. A fine move that Mr. Komi said was worth 15 points, but not worth nearly as much as the reverse monkey-jump that Kosumi was planning. It’s value was a bit harder to assess than a regular monkey-jump, but One-Point shouldn’t have missed the dead stone resting perfectly in place to end up on a diagonal from the reverse monkey-jump. Maybe he’s never seen a reverse monkey-jump? Mr. Komi said they almost never happen so maybe he only thinks I can do a regular one.

Cross-Cut, however, had been staring at the reverse monkey jump for the last 5 moves. I can’t believe neither of them has seen this. This one move would turn the game back to black’s favor. It’s so perfect for black. Kosumi must not know the move, but I wonder if One-Point has seen it.

But Kosumi did know the move and when he played the second line stone One-Point was baffled. What the? Is this little pony trying to run his dead stone out under my wall? Does he know how a monkey jump is supposed to work? He can’t play like that. But soon One-Point again found himself in the horrifying position of reading out a losing sequence. This... this is a reverse monkey-jump. How could I have forgotten about it? I’m not sure I’ve ever even seen one in a game. And that third-line stone was just begging for him to play this move. How long has this been an option for black? But that didn’t matter. What mattered now was minimizing the enormous damage the move was about to inflict upon his territory. It was over after 6 moves, but they were 6 very painful moves for One-Point and, when he counted again, he saw that he was behind now by about 4 points, even after his komi. He hoped Kosumi was poor at the end-game.

The game ended about 20 moves later and One-Point knew he had lost. Even so, the two counted out the final score.

“I have 86,” said One-Point, bracing himself for Kosumi’s answer.

“I’ve got 101.”

Cross-Cut smiled. “Kosumi wins by 8.5 after the komi. Well done, little colt.”

Taking a deep breath, Kosumi beamed. “I can’t believe I finally won!”

“How do you do it?” asked One-Point. Kosumi looked down at the board, trying to find what position he might be referring to. “No, not your game. How do you not give up on go?”

That wasn’t what Kosumi was expecting. “I don’t understand. Why would I give up on go?”

One-Point’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve never won a single game until today, right?”

Kosumi nodded.

“Then why did you keep playing? If you can’t even win, why play?”

It took a minute for Kosumi to consider what One-Point was getting at. He looked back at the board in front of him, replaying the game in his mind. He remembered all the decisions he made, all the choices that drove the game in this direction instead of another one, and all the times he nearly lost and the two moves that had lead to his first win. This game is thrilling. It’s fun just to try. “I guess I just love the game more than winning.”

When Kosumi looked up from the board One-Point was staring at him with a quivering lip.

“Say that again,” he said.

Kosumi hesitated. Then, “I love the game more than I love winning.”

The tears were about as dignified as a middle-aged unicorn could make them, but One-Point did start crying. His eyes raced over the board and he remembered every mistake he made and how hard he had fought to win against this earth pony. It felt like the game was his during the, but it had all slipped away when Kosumi had played that eye-killing move and then found that reverse monkey-jump. I got greedy. I thought the game was already mine. I’m foolish in everything.

“Are you okay?” Kosumi was concerned. He rarely saw grown stallions cry.

Long-Knight put a hoof on his friend’s back. “One-Point, I think you should tell Kosumi what happened.”

At first the brown unicorn didn’t speak. It was like he was considering his first move again. Then he started. “Her name was Double Hane. She was a wonderful mare and a wonderful go player. We were together for exactly two years. But I was foolish and stopped focusing on her and only focused on improving my go game. Double Hane had told me that I was taking go too seriously, but I didn’t think that was possible. After all, my cutie mark is about playing go. I want to be a professional one day. What else was I supposed to take seriously? The last straw came at our anniversary.

“I was supposed to take her to see an opera, but there was a go tournament in town that same day. I was sure I could make both, but soon I found myself in the finals of the tournament and the last game went on for nearly two hours. In the end, I lost and was too late to take Double Hane to the opera. With all of that I was so frustrated that I simply went home. I walked in to find a note from her left under my door. It said, ‘You don’t love me. You don’t even love go. You only love winning. I’m sorry if you thought you’d already won me, but I can’t offer you my heart to somepony that won’t make time for anything but himself.’ Soon after she left me I stopped winning go. Her note had left me so rattled I couldn’t even beat ponies 4 or 5 ranks below me. And after a month I decided that if I couldn’t win I just wouldn’t play go. In that moment it hit me how right Double Hane was. I never really cared about her, or even about go, I only wanted to win. I fought hard to win her affections before we started dating and then let her slip away because I thought she was already mine.”

“So I haven’t played go since then. I decided that if I didn’t love go for the game I might as well not play it at all. That’s where you came in. When Mr. Komi told me about a young prodigy that loved go and wanted to play the game no matter what I asked if I could meet you. I wanted to see if I could capture some of your passion. Instead, I found an earth pony and all I could think about was how ridiculous it would be for me to learn about go from somepony that can’t even pick up a stone. I suppose I need to work on my humility as well.” One-Point laughed a bit. “I need to say ‘thank you’ Kosumi. You are exactly what I needed. I can learn so much from somepony like you. But I hope you’ll also learn something from me here tonight.
One-Point paused for a moment, thinking of a good way to word his advice. “Find the same innate joy you do in go in love and friendship.” He said. “Don’t love your friends because of what they can give you, love them for who they are. I would hate to see somepony like you left a heartbroken mess because he decided that anything that comes from someone he loves was more important than the source of his joy.”

Epilogue

In the coming weeks the rest of the club was glad to be able to play One-Point again. They each took a turn playing their old friend as he worked back to his former level of strength. Kosumi no longer was able to beat him in an even game, but he only needed two stones and was satisfied with that.

One evening a few weeks later Kosumi entered the Empty Corner and noted that the go club members were all either doing game reviews or studying from books. It wasn’t uncommon for a couple of the members to split off and spend the night working on go problems instead of playing, but he’d never seen the whole club engaged in studying.

Walking over to a table where Atari was seated by herself, Kosumi asked, “Atari, what’s going on? Why isn’t anypony playing games?”

“Oh,” Atari looked around then laughed a bit. “I didn’t realize nopony was playing. I guess this happens from time to time when there’s a tournament coming up. Everypony gets so caught up in practice that we don’t play.” The unicorn shook her head. “I guess that’s not the best idea. Playing games is honestly one of the best ways to study, but sometimes it’s about feeling like you’re working.”

“So you guys are all preparing for a tournament?”

Atari nodded. “The Annual Unicorn Cultural Festival hosts a go tournament every year. Unicorns come from all over Equestria to compete. We all plan on competing this year. The event is hosted at the castle right here in Canterlot.”

“You mean the Princess’ castle?” Kosumi felt his excitement building. “Will the princesses be there? I’ve never met one of the princesses before.”

“Well, you should definitely come to the festival then. The whole event is being supervised this year by Equestria’s newest princess – Twilight Sparkle – and she’ll even be presenting the award to the best go player.”

Kosumi’s eyes went wide. “You mean I would get to meet the Twilight Sparkle?”

“Only if you win first prize. She’ll be giving out all the awards for all the various events, but if you win then yes, you’ll get to go up on stage and meet her in person.”

“There might be a problem,” Cross-Cut walked over to Atari and Kosumi. “Not to put a damper on the dream, but Kosumi is too young to enter alone and his parents aren’t likely to let him take part in a Unicorn Festival competition.

Kosumi’s ears fell. “Oh, I guess that makes sense.” Why do my parents have to hate go? Why do they hate my destiny?
Atari frowned. “Could one of us enter him?”

“You have to be at least 25 to enter a minor. We aren’t old enough.”

What am I going to do? Kosumi thought for a moment. “What about Mr. Komi?” Kosumi’s ears went back up. “He could enter me!”

Cross-Cut smiled. “I suppose he could. You’d have to ask him about it.”

“I’m sure he’d say yes! He’s done everything to help me with go. I’ll go ask him right now!”

“You’ll have to hurry. He’s busy on club nights, but I think he’ll still be at his store until it closes.”

Nodding Kosumi dashed out of the door of The Empty Corner as quickly as a colt could gallop. Racing through Canterlot, he was glad to see that he wasn’t too late. He arrived on the street as Mr. Komi was locking the front door of his shop. “Mr. Komi!” he shouted, panting as he ran the last few yards. “Mr. Komi! I have to ask you something.”

The unicorn turned and raised an eyebrow to the colt bounding toward him. “Kosumi? I thought you’d be at the Go Club tonight.”

“I need to ask you a favor,” Kosumi took a moment to catch his breath. “There’s a tournament coming up at the Unicorn Culture Festival. I need an adult to enter me and my parents won’t do it. Will you enter me?”

“I see.” Mr. Komi frowned. “First things first, did you actually ask your parents?”

Ears falling, Kosumi said, “No. I just know they aren’t happy with my cutie mark and they probably wouldn’t do it. I thought I’d see if you would.”

“Well, ask them first.” Kosumi looked at the ground. Then Mr. Komi continued, “If they do say ‘no’ to you, then I will enter you.”

Kosumi beamed. “You will?”

Mr. Komi nodded. “Once a pony has their cutie mark it is not up to anypony to tell them they are not going to fulfill that destiny. If your parents are unwilling to accept your future then I will need to help you along. However, I don’t think they will be. Something tells me they will support you in this.”

“I hope you’re right.” Kosumi was frowning again. He then noticed that Mr. Komi was wearing saddle bags with some of his books. “Are you studying go tonight?”

“No,” Mr. Komi shook his head. “I have another student I’m going to tonight. She likes to start the evening off with life and death problems.”

Curious, Kosmui asked, “Another student? Is there somepony else at my school who plays go?”

Chuckling a little, Mr. Komi said, “No, no. My student is not a filly. In fact she’s quite old.” Kosumi looked confused, so Mr. Komi continued, “You see, I came to Canterlot a few years ago to be the personal go instructor of Princess Luna.”

Kosumi was baffled. “The Princess plays go?!" He knew go was seen as important by more sophisticated members of unicorn society, but he had no idea that one of the Princesses would play the game.

“On occasion. Obviously her royal duties do not allow her to devote much time to playing, but even before her imprisonment in the moon the Princess had a personal go teacher.” Kosumi often forgot just how old the game of go really was. To think that Princess Luna was playing the game over 1000 years ago sent light chills down his spine. “When Princess Luna came back she had some difficulties adjusting to modern times. It seemed that everything she knew was outdated and everything had changed. But when she learned that go was still being played by unicorns in Equestria she asked if she could have a royal instructor again. It was a way for her to connect the past with the present. I was honored to be asked by Princess Celestia herself if I would teach her sister. And now I play and teach go with Princess Luna twice a month.”

“Is she good?” Kosumi wasn’t sure if that was appropriate to ask, but he was curious.

Mr. Komi smiled. “Would you like to come see for yourself?”

Chapter Go Problem

Life and Death - Black to play and kill White

Author's Note

Well, I wasn't initially planning on writing more about Kosumi, but a few people were interested in reading more and I felt there was more that could be said in this story. So I'm adding this chapter and marking this story as "Incomplete" until I feel like the story has come to a true stopping point.

If you are wondering about the chapters within chapters format, I thought of changing that, but I think I'm going to stick to it. I like the idea of the chapters on the story page as being like a section of the whole story whereas the chapters within the chapters are like sections of that chapter. If you guys don't like the format I can obviously change the chapter headings to be called sections or just remove them.

For this chapter I'm primarily looking for feedback on the pacing of the story. A part of me is concerned that things are happening too fast. However, I don't want to bog down the story with unnecessary details.

Also, on the suggestion of Firebirdbtops, starting with this chapter there will be a go problem following the Epilogue. The solution will be given following the next chapter and a new problem will be presented.

The Chance of a Lifetime

Chapter 1 – The Princess’ Castle

As Kosumi approached the castle he stuck close to Mr. Komi. Never in all his life in Canterlot had he ventured into the grounds of royalty, but tonight he was going to not only do that, but also get to see how Princess Luna herself played go.
“What is the Princess like? Is she nice?” Kosumi asked as they walked past two guards outside the gates. The guards clearly recognized Mr. Komi and they apparently saw no problem in letting a colt enter with him.

“Princess Luna is very nice, yes. Some ponies have had trouble with some of her older manners, but I’ve never heard of anypony who got to know her and didn’t like her.”

A large white staircase led up to a main chamber in the castle. Kosumi gawked at the giant columns and wonderful artwork that lined the walls. “This place is amazing!”

Mr. Komi nodded. “When I was a young colt like you I never dreamed that I would even get to be in a place like this. Let alone work in one. I am very blessed that the princesses have been so generous to me.”

“Does Princess Celestia have a go teacher?” Kosumi had been wondering that most of their walk over.

“She used to. It was once a sign of status for unicorn leaders to have personal go instructors. But it has been a long time since Princess Celesita has had one. I actually offered to be an instructor for her when I was brought on here at the castle, but she said she didn’t have time. That is understandable, of course. However, she did come to one of my earlier lessons with Luna and so I did get to play a game with her.” Kosumi actually stopped walking and, when Mr. Komi realized this, he turned to see Kosumi agape. “Is everything alright?”

“You played go with Princess Celestia?! The Princess Celestia!”

Mr. Komi laughed. “Yes, yes. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you are wondering, she is a fantastic player. I was able to win, but it was clear to me that she had studied the game for a long time. Her moves were all solid and proper, just as you would expect from a Princess, but the moves had a fine edge to them. There was a deep power just below the surface of her play ready to take advantage of any mistakes I made.” The two paused for a moment, not saying anything. Then, “Are you ready to continue?”

Kosumi gave a quick nod and hurried to catch up to his teacher. I’ve had the same teacher as Princess Luna. A teacher that’s even played Princess Celestia! How did I ever get so lucky? And then a thought came to the front of Kosumi’s mind. A nagging thought that he had been keeping back, but that now reared its head. Has Mr. Komi been teaching me only because I’m an earth pony? Is it because he feels bad for me?

While Kosumi had tried to not let his being an earth pony interfere with his play it was obvious at every club meeting. Every lesson from Mr. Komi. He was different. At times it didn’t bother him, but other times it was all he could think about when sitting at the go board. Thankfully everypony at the club had stopped poking fun at his method of placing stones, but he still felt like his way was wrong. He even subconsciously allowed their way of playing to impact his thoughts.
Every time he thought about moves he didn’t read them as being played by hoofs but as being placed there by magic. Whenever he thought about an opponent across the board they always had a horn on their head. He’d even had a dream where he was playing go using magic. It had been one of those dreams where he didn’t realize that was impossible, but just went along with it. When he’d awoken he couldn’t help but cry quiet tears as he looked down at his hoofs and saw that he would be playing go with them for the rest of his life.

The room they would be meeting the Princess in was rather small considering how large the castle was. It also looked very old – and seemed to have been built for playing go. There was a go board in the center of the room that looked a lot like the one in Mr. Komi’s shop. Two wooden bowls were resting on top of it. A beautiful set of cushions had been placed on either side. There was also a small table off to the side of the room with three cushions on the side opposite the board as if somepony was going to be watching the game. The room was decorated with stunning green wallpaper and a set of pictures running along the wall opposite the table depicted classical unicorn symbols.

“What is this place?” said an amazed Kosumi.

“This is where the castle games used to be held several centuries ago. The best players from unicorn go houses would come here to play. Now it is a premiere location for the final rounds of important professional tournaments. The final match for the Horse’inbo title was played here last month.” Mr. Komi walked over to the board and took out one of his books. “ The Princess will be arriving in about 15 minutes. Would you like to try the problem I was going to give her to start off the evening?”

“Sure,” Kosumi walked to the board and Mr. Komi set up the problem. It involved a lot of stones, more than any of the problems Mr. Komi had done with him in their lessons, and at the end he said. “Okay, this problem is rated for dan players. Let’s see how you do.”

The little pony looked at the stones on the board. A large chain of white stones was connected to base at the edge, but black had them all surrounded. It was clearly a “live or resign” type of situation. The kind that Kosumi never liked to get into. At first, the solution seemed easy – if he gave up the chain of stones. He realized that would be unacceptable in a game and so knew the problem involved saving them all. He read deeper. One move kept coming back to him.

“What about this move?” Picking up a stone, Kosumi put it down on the board. It looked like it was the correct shape point.

Mr. Komi smiled, but Kosumi frowned. It was his “Aw, but you didn’t consider this” smile and so Kosumi knew he’d gotten the problem wrong. “Do you see why that’s a mistake?” Mr. Komi brought a stone down that removed one of white’s potential eyes. That would have been okay, but Kosumi saw that the threat was double-purpose. It also threatened to push in again and further reduce that valuable eyespace down to a dead shape. By defending that threat he would miss a key move to defend on the other side of his group. In a few moves his whole group would be dead.

“Let me try again.” Kosumi read more. He tried reading for some of the non-obvious moves, but those all failed miserably. In the end, he’d narrowed it down to just 3 – the first 3 that he had considered. One by one he read them until he saw the correct solution. “Here.” he said with great confidence. Looking to Mr. Komi, the unicorn was smiling with his “well done” smile and Kosumi beamed. “Let’s see if you can show your work.”

The two played out the rest of the problem and Kosumi managed to correctly save his group with a throw-in. When Kosumi played that move Mr. Komi smiled and nodded. “You’ve done it. That was only about five minutes. It would require at least 30 seconds for me to read a problem of this difficulty in one of my games and I suspect it will take Princess Luna a little over a minute herself. You are fast approaching a dan level of play.”

“Do you know what rank the Princess is?” Kosumi didn’t want to be presumptuous, but he had been wondering that since first discovering the Princess played.

“They did not have a dan/kyu ranking system 1000 years ago and the Princess has not taken the time to be formally rated since her return, but from my games with her I would put her at a mid-dan level. Probably 5 dan.”
Kosumi nodded, his ears falling slightly. “Oh, okay.”

“What’s the matter?” Mr. Komi asked.

“It’s just. If she wasn’t so strong she might want to play a game with me. But I’d probably just be a waste of her time.”

“How about we let the Princess decide that?”

The two then waited in silence. Mr. Komi handed Kosumi a life and death book and the colt took it to the table on the side of the room, going through the problems starting with the easier ones. He had completed about eight of them when Princess Luna entered the room.

The alicorn princess’s deep blue coat and literally flowing mane were astonishing and Kosumi almost forgot to bow in her presence because he was staring at her.

“Fair Komi,” she said, a regal air in her voice. “Thank you for coming again tonight. I am most pleased that you could make it.” When the Princess was fully in the room, her eyes turned to the yellow colt behind the recorder’s table. “And I see you’ve brought a friend.”

Slowly, Kosumi raised his head. “My name is Kosumi, Your Highness.”

A look of recognition fell on Luna’s face. She turned to Mr. Komi. “Ah, so this is the student that you told me about?”
Mr. Komi has been telling Princess Luna about me?

“Yes, Princess,” Mr. Komi said. “I invited Kosumi to come here tonight. I know I said I wasn’t planning on bringing him for a few weeks, but I mentioned that I was your teacher and he was interested in coming. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Of course not.” Princess Luna smiled and looked back to Kosumi. “I have been looking forward to meeting you.”
Kosumi’s mouth fell open. “You’ve been looking forward to meeting me?!”

The Princess nodded. “It is not often that I may personally meet one of my subjects. When I heard about an earth pony who not only decided to learn go, but who had earned his cutie mark playing the game, I wanted to meet him. Fair Komi has told me that you overcame obstacles on your path to earning that mark. Rarely does one so young show such determination. It is an honor that you would join us this evening.”

To that, Kosumi didn’t know what to say, so he just said the first thing he could think of. “The honor is all mine, Princess Luna. I never would’ve hoped to meet a Princess like you.”

Again, the Princess nodded and smiled. Then she turned to Mr. Komi. “Shall we begin the lesson?”

“By all means, I set up a life and death problem for you. Dan level, of course.”

Princess Luna approached the board.

Chapter 2 – The Game

After solving the problem in only a few minutes, and giving the correct answer immediately instead of making a mistake with her first guess, Mr. Komi and the Princess studied more problems. All of them were life and death and Princess Luna was able to answer them all before Kosumi had finished reading them out. Sometimes Kosumi's answer would have been correct, but he was never able to read out all the possibilities before Luna had the problem totally solved. She was definitely a strong player.

Then Mr. Komi cleared the problem off the board and put the stones away. He said, “I know we usually play a teaching game, but I was wondering if you would be interested in playing Kosumi this evening.”

The colt's ears bolted upright. Shaking, he quickly blurted out. “Oh, I wouldn't want to get in the way of your studies, Your Highness.”

But the Princess turned to the yellow colt with a warm smile. “Not at all, young Kosumi. I was going to suggest the same thing.”

Normally Kosumi's reaction would have been something akin to fear. Instead, the smile on Luna's dark face softened his heart enough for him to say, “Thank you, Princess. It would be the chance of a lifetime for me to play you. What handicap do you want me to take?”

“I usually don’t give a handicap against somepony I’ve never played with. Handicaps are between ponies – a rank may give you an idea for a handicap, but it is rarely precise.”

Walking over to the other cushion, Kosumi seated himself at the board. He looked at the grid before him and it seemed to be impossibly large. I won’t have a chance against a 5 dan without some stones. “Princess Luna, I know we’ve never played before. It’s just that you’ve got a lot more experience. I just don’t want you to be disappointed in the game – I don’t think I could be much of a challenge without a handicap.”

Luna looked over to Mr. Komi, who thought for a moment. “I would suggest two or three, considering that you two have never played before. More might be necessary, but I don’t think either of you would be disappointed with just a few stones.”

Looking back across the board, Luna said, “Alright, Kosumi. You will have two stones against me.”

Kosumi nodded. “Thank you, Princess.”

The Princess smiled. “When we are seated across a go board, you may refer to me as Luna.”

For a moment, Kosumi didn’t know how to respond. He was going to say, “As you wish, Luna” immediately, but that seemed to still be too formal for what Princess Luna was looking for. On top of that, Kosumi didn’t want to simply call her Luna. Instead, he said, “Okay. I’ll treat you as I would any opponent.”

“I hope my play is good enough that you will see me as more than just another opponent, Kosumi.”

“And I hope mine is good enough for you, Luna.” There was a slight hesitation before he used the Princess’ name like that, but Kosumi was able to say it.

“Of course. You may place your handicap stones.”

Kosumi saw that Luna was observing him now, as anyone he played for the first time did, but this time there was something more. She was observing him beyond the curiosity of how an earth pony could place stones. It was like she was looking for something in him. Something in his play beyond the unusual nature of setting down stones with hooves. Let’s hope I can show you what you want to see, Princess. Reaching into the bowl with his hoof, Kosumi removed a stone at a time, placing one onto the top right star point and one onto the lower left.

Princess Luna wasted no time. She immediately raised a stone with her magic and set it as a low approach to Kosumi’s lower left stone.

She’s not taking a corner... Kosumi had of course expected Luna to take the upper left corner. That was how every two and three stone handicap game he’d played had begun. Instead, the Princess had approached. I should go take my own corner. No, I need to respond. Or do I? Kosumi considered the double approach variations he knew for a star point stone. He had never liked the results for the one on the inside. Obviously someone who got two moves was at an advantage, but it always seemed like the one on the outside got too much when black forced his way out to the center on an open board like this.

So he was going to respond. How? A part of him liked the simple low pull back. It was solid and would help secure the corner. But as Kosumi prepared his stone he glanced up at the Princess and again saw her observing him. What does she want from me? From this game? Why is she looking at an amateur player like that? Kosumi looked back at the board. It looked so large with only his two corners taken. I can’t just play solidly here. The Princess needs to see that I am not afraid of more complicated moves.

Raising a stone, he played the long-knight’s response and then looked up at Luna. She was nodding. Then she observed the board herself and debated for a moment. Raising her own stone, she approached Kosumi’s other corner.
Mr. Komi nodded to himself. This is exactly what I have come to expect from Luna. Her style is direct and she isn’t afraid of making moves that go against what everyone else does. Yet there are few flaws in her play. But that response from Kosumi... that’s new. I know his move is proper – at one time it was the only response to an approach – but he usually favors the more solid play. He seems determined to prove his ability. And Mr. Komi smiled. Let’s see if the Princess can match his determination with her skill.

Again, Kosumi responded with the long-knight pull-back. Finally, Luna took one of the corners with a 3-4 stone. And now her approach moves made sense. She wanted to play a 3-4 stone, but didn’t want it facing away from either of my star point stones, so she played the approach moves for extra support. Now an approach of my own isn’t as strong. Kosumi pondered over how to take the last corner now. A part of him wanted to play a star point stone. That would have been the most obvious move. But he still preferred the 3-4 point and, on top of that, he wanted to see how Luna would respond to his threat of making an enclosure facing one of his extensions.

The Princess did respond. As soon as she saw that he played a 3-4 stone she raised one of her own and approached him low. Kosumi smiled at that. Ever since he’d earned his cutie mark he had fallen in love with the diagonal response to this approach and, without hesitation, he played it. It wasn’t necessarily the best in this situation. A high pincer or a knight’s move would have probably been stronger, but this move was fine.

Then something that Kosumi hadn’t expected happened. He heard the Princess laughing.

Looking up from the board, he saw the Princess with a hoof over her mouth giving a strong laugh. “Is everything okay Prin... I mean, Luna?”

“I apologize, dear Kosumi,” the Princess was still smiling as she lightly cleared her throat and stopped. “Forgive me. It is rare that I see a move played on the board and also represented on a cutie mark only a few feet away.”

Kosumi looked back at his flank and then to the board. He realized that, from the Princess’ angle, the move and his cutie mark were even had the same orientation. And he starting laughing as well. Then Mr. Komi started laughing and Luna started up again. It took a few moments, but eventually the three calmed down enough for Luna to continue. Kosumi was still smiling. He could feel some of his tension had left him through the laughter. The Princess really is another pony, just like anypony else. Then Kosumi re-evaluated his own thought. Okay, perhaps not anypony else. But she isn’t a stuck up royal figurehead like I’d imagined.

Instead of responding locally, Luna played a high enclosure for her 3-4 stone. This was actually what Kosumi liked best about the diagonal move – his opponents were discouraged from responding. It was too slow on a mostly open board. So he played the usual follow up to press Luna’s stone down. A shoulder hit.

After thinking for a bit, Luna responded with a one space jump. Now Kosumi took time to examine the whole board.
Luna’s enclosure was facing the left side, but it was a high enclosure. That meant that the top also had good potential. There was obviously no way he could break up both in one move, so he decided to work on the top first. A pincer would encourage Luna to come out if she wanted to battle for the top, but her stone would be headed toward the group Kosumi had just made toward the bottom and it would allow Kosumi to grab a large corner and/or influence toward the left side of the board. He played a low two-space pincer. Just firm enough that Luna would need to respond locally, but not so tight that he couldn’t still play an extension as a strong approach move to Luna’s enclosure.

On the next move, Luna thought for a while. While thinking she even smiled and said aloud to them, “Yes, I am either going to go into the corner or jump out. I simply need to decide how I wish the next 15 moves to go.” In the end, she dove the corner, which Kosumi had not expected. However, he welcomed the prospect of getting influence while Luna took the corner.

Kosumi blocked to split the stones. The two played a joseki and then settled their groups.

“Luna,” Kosumi said as they were playing out the sequence.

“Yes, Kosumi?”

“I’m curious... was this a joseki when you played go 1000 years ago?”

The Princess shook her head. “We did not have the modern concept of joseki back then. There were proper responses and some move sequences that would be called joseki today, but none for a situation this specific. If there were any low-approach, long-knight response, tenuki, two-space low pincer joseki from those days, I was not aware of them. And, to be truthful, I do not know any now.”

Kosumi played the next move in the sequence. “Do you study joseki today? Now that they exist?”

Again, Luna shook her head. “My instructors used to teach me only technique. Our focus of study was on either life and death or proper responses. Those have served me well enough and Fair Komi has still taught me in this fashion.”
Luna came away with sente and took the time to strengthen her group on the right with a base. After that, Kosumi made a three space extension for his own group on the top in order to more severely threaten Luna’s corner. However, Luna then jumped out from her approach stone and a fight began as Kosumi worked to attack Luna’s group with his wall and then, suddenly, Kosumi was working to help his wall escape toward the center.

The game then moved around the board as Luna first invaded the bottom and then built up the left. Throughout the game Kosumi asked the Princess more about what go was like 1000 years before. Apparently most of the game’s etiquette and strategy did not exist, but the rules were basically the same. “Apart from the komi rule,” the Princess said. “I was surprised by how little had changed in a thousand years. The board, the stones, and even the players are not all that different.”

“But you didn’t have pros back then, or did you?” Kosumi asked.

“We had no professional players. There were players paid to be teachers and there was money to be won from winning tournaments or gambling, but no. The idea of a professional player did not exist. Even with that, the strong players of a thousand years ago had the same level of dedication that any professional has today. Society has changed much, but ponies themselves have changed very little in all this time.”

Chapter 3 – A Discussion Overheard

The game went on. Try as he might, Kosumi was not able to build much for himself in the center and, after about 170 moves, Kosumi saw that he could not win the game. Luna would win by at least a dozen points.

“Luna,” Kosumi said. He had gotten more comfortable saying her name as the game had gone on. “I don’t think I can win from here. I resign.”

Princess Luna bowed her head to Kosumi. “Agreed. You have played a good game today, Kosumi. For one so young, one who has only recently been shown this game, you have impressed me.”

Kosumi blushed. “It was an honor playing you, Luna. You’re really good. I had no idea our Princess of the Night was such a strong go player.”

“You both played a splendid game,” said Mr. Komi, coming over to the board. “Princess, would you have time to review the game with us?”

“Of course, Fair Komi. As my instructors have always told me, one must review every game if one is to be successful.”

“Um, could that wait a minute,” said Kosumi, standing up and frowning.

“What is the matter, Kosumi?” asked Mr. Komi.

“I need to use the little colt’s room...”

On his way back from the bathroom, which was honestly the nicest bathroom the young filly had ever been in, complete with a stallion waiting with towels to dry his hoofs, Kosumi did take a few minutes to locate the go room again. The palace was enormous. He needed to ask one of the guards where the go playing room was and it took the guard a moment to remember what room he was referring to. This somewhat surprised Kosumi, especially considering that the palace guard was a unicorn, but he knew that not every unicorn was familiar with go.

The whole while walking back Kosumi felt as happy as a pegasus walking on fresh clouds. I got to play go with a Princess. A Princess told me to call her by name, even! This was surely a game and an evening he would never forget. Oh, most glorious of nights.

When he finally approached the room, Kosumi realized the door had been left open a crack and he could hear the Princess and Mr. Komi talking. Just as he was about to enter, he stopped because he heard his name.

“...you brought Kosumi to me tonight. He is a remarkable colt. And he does remind me of Slate Placer.” Princess Luna said.

“I have been curious for some time now as to whether there might be a connection between the two. Kosumi has said nothing about his family’s history, but I find it uncanny that a yellow Canterlot earth pony would play go just as Slate Placer did.” Mr. Komi was speaking. “Of course, I had never even heard of Slate Placer until you told me of him and when Kosumi entered my shop months ago I had no idea that he would be interested in the game. I love go, so of course I showed it to him, but to be honest I thought he would be like all the other fillies and colts I show the game to – and the fact that he was an earth pony just made it less likely that he would play.”

“It is true that earth ponies and pegusi were virtually unheard of even a thousand years ago, but Slate Placer was one of the best go players. It is also true that he was resented by some of the older unicorns that still felt the division of the three tribes even after all those years, but many of the younger players in my day studied his games. I still find it hard to believe that only a few of his records remain. I searched the Canterlot Archives a few weeks ago and found five games – only two of them complete.” The Princess continued. “Slate Placer was impressive. I only saw him play once in person. It was in a room in the old palace, the one that now lies in ruin within the Everfree Forest. There I was in charge of overseeing a tournament and Slate Placer entered despite threats from the unicorn elite that he should not. His games were amazing. Sometimes I felt like he was playing a different game from the rest. Only the very best ponies could match his ability. Some of his opponents would sit down at the table disgruntled that they had to play a ‘meager earth pony’ who used his hooves, but they stood up from the table in awe of him. I can see how reactions to Kosumi would be similar.”

“When I first told you about Kosumi,” said Mr. Komi. “I was shocked to hear from you that there was once another earth pony who played go. Never in all the years I’ve played have I seen an earth pony or pegusi do more than handle a stone or two.”

“Even all those years ago this was true,” Luna agreed. “I have heard that Princess Twilight is playing host to the Unicorn Cultural Festival this year. She will also want to hear about him, assuming he will be attending the tournament.”

“Of course. I will make sure he is there.” Mr. Komi declared. “If his parents do not agree to it then I will sign him up. His case is too interesting for him not to be given this chance.”

“You have taken a liking to this colt, Fair Komi,” said Princess Luna. “I have never seen you this passionate about any of your other students.”

“Well, as you can see from tonight, Kosumi is very special.”

“If his parents do not support him, then how does he afford your lessons?”

Mr. Komi laughed. “It may be crazy of me, but I haven’t even charged him a single bit to this day. I’ve been teaching him all of these things simply out of the goodness of my heart and my love of go.”

The Princess laughed a bit as well. “I can imagine what some of your past students would think if they knew a young earth pony was getting free lessons from you. Don’t most 9 dans charge dozens of bits for a single personal lesson?”

“All I care about is building in him a love of the game and the strategy to put that love to good use. Charging Kosumi for lessons would only hinder his progress at this point,” then Mr. Komi’s voice was dipped with a touch of anger, “especially considering his parent’s attitude. Can you believe that they haven’t even bought him a board?”

“This colt has been studying exclusively at your shop?” Luna seemed surprised.

“I think I may invest in giving him a board and some of my old books before long, so that will no longer be an issue.” There was a moment of silence, then Mr. Komi changed subjects. “But enough on that topic, how are things going with the Crystal Empire? I’ve heard that you have been working more closely with Princess Cadence as of late.”

Kosumi didn’t wait for Luna’s response, but backed away from the door and walked down the hall a ways. The colt didn’t know what to think. He had overheard a lot of information. So I’m not alone. There have been other earth ponies who played go. He made a mental note to find out more about Slate Placer. And Mr. Komi does sound really determined to help me now. But... One nagging thought kept coming back to him.

Do they only like me because I’m an earth pony?

Epilogue

Pointing to an intersection on the board, Kosumi looked up to see Mr. Komi smiling his "well done" smile. The two were seated in Mr. Komi's shop and it had been less than 24 hours since Kosumi had been playing on the board in the Princess' Castle.

“You are exactly right. This point is going to be vital for the success of black’s moyo. By taking it now white will be able to reduce him enough to win.” At that, Mr. Komi began removing the stones from the board and placing them in their respective bowls. “I think that’s enough for our lesson today. ”

Kosumi nodded and stood to leave. He found that he had enjoyed this practice less than any other. Not that the material wasn’t interesting, but because the bitterness in his heart had grown overnight. With every lesson he was given, Kosumi remembered that they would have cost him several bits if he wasn’t an earth pony. With every move placed on the board, he felt ashamed that it was his hoof placing the stone. Still he had been polite and would be now. “Thank you again, Mr. Komi.”

“Wait a moment,” Mr. Komi stood up as well and cantered toward the back of his shop. “I want to give you something.” Kosumi already knew what this was. It took a moment, but Mr. Komi returned with a go board and two bowls of stones. It was a table board, just a piece of wood with lines on it, not like the fancier floor boards that could cost hundreds of bits, but it was nice nonetheless. “I know your parents haven’t done much to invest in your go playing, but I want you to know that you have my full support.”

Since their conversation the night before, Kosumi had been considering his response to this gift. On the one hoof, the board was clearly something he wanted. Having a board to play on at home would no doubt help him both in passion and ability. He could hardly count how many times he had thought about owning one. But still, this was a gift given in pity. If I wasn’t an earth pony Mr. Komi wouldn’t even consider giving me this. And then there was a part of Kosumi that he didn’t like, yet had won out in the end. Who cared if it was a pity gift? This was a board like the dozens that Mr. Komi owned. It wasn’t worth much to him and it was worth a lot to Kosumi. Selfishly, bitterly, he had decided he would accept it.

The board was placed on top of the floor board the two had finished using and Mr. Komi continued. “I know it may not look like much, but this set is special to me. There are few things as precious to a player as their first board. And this one here was the very first board I ever bought with my own money.”

Mouth falling open, Kosumi gazed down at the board. He could see the marks on it – the small dents and scratches signifying years of use. Records of stones placed by Mr. Komi’s magic Celestia knew how long ago. This was indeed a hand-me-down board.

“I saved up bits from chores and odd jobs around town for weeks to afford it. Even to this day I kept this one in my room. I still took time to set up problems on it and replay games. I’ve studied on this board for more hours than I could count. But now, I want you to have it.”

By the time he had finished, Kosumi was shaking. Why? Why did it have to be this board? Why couldn’t it just be a board off the shelf? “I couldn’t, Mr. Komi. This board is important to you. If you want to give me a board, why not just give me one of the ones here in the shop? You have plenty of table boards.”

And Mr. Komi smiled. A wide happy smile that churned Kosumi’s stomach. “I had considered that. But Kosumi, you are my favorite and most faithful student.” Kosumi couldn’t help visibly flinching at those words. “I wouldn’t want anypony else to—” Mr. Komi stopped smiling, his words trailing off. He had noticed Kosumi’s reaction. “What’s wrong?”
Kosumi’s muzzle crunched and tears formed at the edge of his eyes. “I don’t deserve this. I haven’t done anything. This is just because I’m an earth pony.”

Mr. Komi’s brow rose. “What do you mean it’s ‘just because you’re an earth pony?’”

“I overheard you and Princess Luna talking. You think I’m special because I’m an earth pony that plays go. You want me to be like Slate Placer and be a great go player just so you can show me off and have people be surprised by me. If I was a unicorn you wouldn’t even care about me. And you wouldn’t give me this board.”

“Kosumi! How could you think that? I haven’t—”

“Because its true!” Kosumi yelled at his teacher. For the first time he raised his voice to the old shop keeper. Mr. Komi went silent and listened. “I know that other ponies – unicorn ponies – would pay dozens of bits to get the kind of lessons you give me. You’re a pro. You teach the Princess how to play! I get all this for free and then you give me more stuff and now I know that the only reason is because I’m a Canterlot earth pony and you want to impress people with me. ‘Come and see the amazing earth pony who can pick up stones with his hooves!’” Tears streamed down his face. Kosumi wanted to say something else. He felt so much more inside than what he was able to say.

Lacking words, the young colt took his hoof and punched one of the wooden bowls holding the stones they had used earlier. The bowl slid off the floor board and fell to the ground, falling open and spilling black stones onto the ground. He then raised his hoof again to hit the white stones and glanced up at Mr. Komi. The stallion was quietly watching him. This reaction angered Kosumi even more – how could this old pony not care how he felt? Why was he just standing there as his student cried and screamed and trashed his shop? But there was something else going on. There was also a tear sliding down Mr. Komi’s face. And this single drop of water stopped the colt’s hoof midair.

The two stood silently. Each looking into the other’s eyes. Kosumi’s face messed up with snot and tears from his tantrum and Mr. Komi’s face looking sullen with the lone tear.

And it was Mr. Komi who ended the scene by walking over to his student and placing a hoof around him. The embrace was a surprise to Kosumi, but it was not unwelcome. He wrapped hoofs around the old shopkeeper and started to cry more.

And it was Mr. Komi who ended the silence as well, “It’s alright Kosumi. I understand how you feel. Truly, I do.”

And it was then that Mr. Komi told Kosumi the story of why he left the world of professional go.

Chapter Go Problem

First, the answer to the last problem:

1-2 is an important shape point to remember in these types of situations and, often in life and death, the 1-2 points should be examined. An old go proverb states “Strange things happen at the 1-2 point” and so it is often good to look at the possibilities of this move in corner situations.

This go problem is harder and comes from this story. It is the dan level problem that Kosumi and Princess Luna look at. I’ve narrowed down the choices to make it a bit easier. It is White to play and save ALL of his stones. Black has many possible responses that need to be accounted for, so think carefully. Remember – in a real game, you only get one chance to make the right move.

Author's Note

While I have said that I do not want this story to become Hikaru no Go, I decided to take a page out of that author’s book and use a real historical game as the basis for the game between Kosumi and Princess Luna in this chapter (many of the games in that series are based on real go games). Because Kosumi has been learning an older style of go from Mr. Komi and Princess Luna obviously would have a much older style – but one that would have been updated by Komi’s teaching, I chose to use a game from the 1800s. It is between Honinbo Shuwa and Shusaku – the player who is famous for his diagonal response that Kosumi’s flank bears. If you would like to see the game I based Kosumi and Princess Luna’s play on, here is a link to the game record: http://gokifu.com/s/nr5-gokifu-00000000-Yasuda_Shusaku%282d%29-Honinbo_Shuwa%287d%29.html
If you like being able to look at the game record and follow along (and/or using real games as the basis of the games in this story) let me know and I’ll do this more often.

I would like to apologize for not getting this out sooner. It took longer to write than anticipated and college came at me like a truck. I'm on break now so I hope to get out another chapter or two before classes start up again.