The moon hangs high in the sky as an Earth Pony is walking down a wide ally accompanied by a Gryphon female. The Earth Pony mare has a Persian blueish grey coat with a greyish blue violet mane and tail. Her eyes are a light turquoise with greyish blue violet eye shadow, the only see-able clothing on her is a one piece dull faded blue dress with a black belt around her waist.

"Explain to me again Maud why we are in Canterlot?" The Gryphon female asks looking frustrated.

The Gryphon has a moderate gamboge coat with white feathers that has pale light greyish heliotrope edges. Her eyes are a light brilliant amber while her talons are a brilliant gold. She wears a normal length jacket and blue denim shorts with a gold choker around her neck.

"Chrysalis sent us to retrieve a package while she visited Larvali... Shouldn't be too far now." Maud explains as they continue walking.

"I don't see why Verdammnis couldn't have done this stupid assignment... All she does when in Canterlot is stay holed up in her little 'fun house'... It's only a matter of time till the government gets suspicious, that old theatre won't house her forever..." Gilda states sounding very annoyed.

"That's a very interesting little tidbit of information." A creepy sinister voice states from behind them

Maud pulls out a knife and cuts her neck before manipulating the blood to form a rock styled mask all around her head in the helmet style. Gilda activates her choker making it form a helmet around her head in the Gryphon style. Both of them stand in an offensive stance as they turn around to spot Discord.

"Well, that's a pleasant way to greet somepony... Wouldn't you agree, daughter dearest?" Discord leans on a fully metal steel umbrella.

"Hehe yup, very rude indeed, papa!" The playful voice comments from behind them making Gilda turn to face the owner.

Gilda can see a violet Earth Pony with a dark purple mane and tail that has white edges. She wears a kids propeller hat, purple shirt, dark violet jacket like Gilda's with suspender shorts.

"Shit... I didn't think we'd run into Discord here..." Gilda muses as she grits her teeth.

"I don't recognise the girl... Proceed with caution..." Maud states with calm precision as Discord spins his umbrella around his finger.

"Screwball, darling. Deal with the mouthy one for daddy while I try to squeeze some info from this, rather monotone mare..." Discord states stopping his umbrella and readying himself.

Gilda stares at the mare addressed as Screwball and scoffs. "How is a pipsqueak like you gonna 'deal with me'?" Gilda asks cutting her hands with a pocket knife and spreading blood over her talons.

Gilda narrowly dodges something which smashes into the wall behind her. When Gilda glances at where the object impacted, there is a circle hole with a blood red thread coming out of it. Screwball smiles widely as the thread is jerked harshly and the wall practically explodes as the object is tugged back out. Gilda looks back at Screwball who catches a silver ball which is coated in blood, Gilda notes that when Screwball throws the ball up in the air and catches it repeatedly that the blood red thread is attached to the centre of her hand.

"Neat isn't it! Uncle Sinclair said it's a modified silver ball which was melted down and mixed with the same modified metal that can harm us Kansen. Word of advice... Dodge!" Screwball playfully states as she pitches the ball at Gilda, who rolls to the side as it goes past her and Maud.

Discord readies his umbrella like a baseball bat and smacks the ball back towards Gilda. Maud rolls out of the way and sprints towards Discord.

"Ha! Is that all you can do? You pathetic-" Gilda is cut off when the ball suddenly impacts her back making her cough up blood.

Screwball jerks the ball back into her hand and giggles at Gilda who is writhing in pain on the floor. Maud is now fighting Discord with spiked blood gloves and appears to be holding her own.

"Oh? I thought you were talking... Least you were, till you took a ball to the back!" Screwball jokes as she pitches it at Gilda again.

Gilda preforms a sudden flight manoeuvre to take herself backwards slightly as she stretches.

"Ugh! You little dick... I'm gonna fucking end you!" Gilda yells as she runs towards Screwball.

Screwball jerks the ball back and pitches it again, but Gilda dodges and cuts the blood tread making it stay where it lands, in a dumpster. Gilda attempts to preform a punch, but it's dodged and Screwball giggles as she slams her free fist into Gilda's stomach. Screwball then begins using both her fists to hammer Gilda's various body parts with harsh punches and shear strength. Every impact is met with either breaking or cracking of bones which echo in the ally with her own screams of pain.

"Silly little Gryphon!" Screwball states with a giggle before interlocking her fingers and slamming her hands down hard on Gilda's head planting her face hard into the floor.

Gilda groans weakly and flinches her talons briefly before the blood on them returns to liquid and drips onto the floor. Screwball rips her mask off and throws it to the side before picking up Gilda's pocket knife and spins it around in her hand. She then sends out her blood thread which seeks and brings her ball back to her.

"Sorry... Maud..." Gilda manages to say before Screwball throws the knife down into the side of her head.

"I dealt with the mean Gryphon papa!" Screwball states with glee to Discord.

Maud jumps back and spits out some blood before looking towards Screwball.

"Gilda! You-" Maud is cut off when Discord slams his umbrella into her head. The impact knocks her against the wall and she falls onto the floor. Her blood mask and blood gloves do the same as Gilda's talons. Screwball skips over to them after putting her metal ball away in the back pocket of her suspenders.

"She isn't dead, my dear. I simply decided to finally put her to sleep... Shall we return home? I believe we still have some ice cream you can have for a reward." Discord informs Screwball who claps her hands gleefully before picking up Maud.

The pair begin to walk out of the ally as it starts raining hard.

The sun shines in the sky as the once night time streets of Canterlot have become somewhat busy with the coming day. Erlöser and Scorpia are walking down the street towards the district with Berry Punch's bar. Scorpia now wears better fitting jeans with a pitch black hoodie, he has his hood up hiding his face.

"So... Does this place look much different than where you're from?" Erlöser asks as they weave in and out of people.

"Depends on where you are... Some places yes, others look quite different. There is just one place I hope is not here." Scorpia states, trying to keep his face hidden.

"Which place is that? Also you don't have to worry much about hiding your face during the day, Pathogen really only come out to get us at night as that is when the majority of the normal ponies are asleep or in clubs and such." Erlöser inquires as the wait at a pedestrian crossing.

"It's better I don't tell you... That way if it does exist, I don't have to know..." Scorpia remarks slightly annoyed as he remembers something.

"I see... I was told to take you to Rarity, but we call her the mask lady as she makes the Kansen their masks. She also still does clothing which is helpful for you. Got any love interests back home?" Erlöser inquires further as they start to cross the road.

"Yes. I'm curious as to why exactly you're asking me such a question..." Scorpia asks raising an eyebrow.

"Just trying to make conversation... Between the time I spend with Fluttershy, in the arena and working at the video game store, I don't really have much time now to just talk with many ponies outside the normal group there..." Erlöser states as they walk past some food establishments.

"Either A: Make time. Or B: Talk to your customers who come into the store." Scorpia comments.

"You know what I mean... I spend the majority of my time with Fluttershy so I rarely get to talk to other new Kansen who I don't have to kill at the sound of some bell..." Erlöser sighs deeply.

"So you don't just want somepony to talk to, but somepony who is also like you... I can see how, in this place, that is troublesome." Scorpia sighs himself as he remembers last night.

"Hence why I'm being overly talkative with the new guy... You're new and wield the same blood power... Likely us talking will mean little to you in the long run, but it relieves some of my stress when Vinyl's club doesn't get harassed by thugs every other week... I'm kidding by the way... Mostly." Erlöser dryly jokes as they head towards Berry Punch's bar.

"If you think all that is stressful... Try living with my two friends where we do for a week and get back to me..." Scorpia replies as they enter the bar to see Berry Punch at the bar.

Rainbow Dash is drinking a glass of blood-whiskey while Berry Punch is leaning close to her with their foreheads touching before she notices Erlöser and Scorpia. Berry Punch leans back into her normal standing position.

"What can I do for you Erlöser?" Berry Punch asks as she continues to clean a glass.

"We just came to see Rarity about getting Scorpia some proper clothes and a mask made. Hello Rainbow." Erlöser states as they walk past Rainbow.

"Oh, now you're fucking talking to me... You switch trainers, don't even notify me and then you spend so long away from the store we hardly know what the fuck you're doing anymore... So hello to you too... Fucking asshole." Rainbow Dash rants to Erlöser while she sips her drink.

"Rainbow... I wanted to, please believe that. It's just that Fluttershy had me running around and keeping me so close I couldn't do much of anything... I'm sorry, if that means much right now..." Erlöser tries to apologise.

Rainbow Dash stands up and turns around throwing a quick punch at Erlöser which he dodges and it heads for Scorpia instead. Without so much as thinking he grabs her fist and holds it in place. Rainbow Dash stares into Scorpia's eyes not exactly moving her fist from his grip. Scorpia lets go of Rainbow Dash's hand and looks at Berry Punch.

"So where exactly can I find Rarity?" Scorpia asks, ignoring the conflict.

"She is in the back. You can't miss her." Berry Punch gives directions.

Rainbow Dash looks down and mumbles something before heading for the other back door.

"Berry I'm gonna go sleep this off..." Rainbow Dash states to Berry Punch, who receives a kiss before she leaves the room and up some stairs past the door.

"Want me to come with you to see Rarity or?" Erlöser asks unsure.

"If you want to tag along, be my guest. I don't really mind." Scorpia comments before heading to the back door.

Erlöser decides to sit at the bar and talk to Berry Punch while Scorpia enters the back room to see Rarity working on a pair of headphones that are blood red with Vinyl's cutie mark on them.

"You must be the new Kansen Larvali messaged me about, do come in and make yourself at home." Rarity states, without looking away from her work.

Scorpia shuts the door and walks over to Rarity before sitting down and looking at the headphones.

"What are you working on?" Scorpia asks.

"I am working on a pair of headphones for a clients daughter... She has the equal temperament to her mother. I imagine you need clothes and a mask, otherwise I can't see why you'd be sent here." Rarity finishes the headphones and turns to Scorpia before crossing her legs.

"Both would be nice, yes. I'd like something that can cover up my identity as they have already seen my face." Scorpia explains.

Rarity chuckles before standing up. Scorpia can see all manner of masks about the room on various ponyquin busts or full bodies, mask can also be seen hanging on the wall.

"I did hear about some colt who fell from the sky last night during the Pathogen ambush in the centre not far from here. Or should I say I had such a lovely view from the rooftops. News travels fast along the Kansen network and rarely a Pathogen raid goes unwatched by one of us. I must say, darling, you aren't exactly lacking in certain areas are you." Rarity comments as she prepares some materials and measuring tape.

"I'm flattered, but I am also spoken for." Scorpia states, clearing his throat.

"Do not worry, I don't date clients. Plus having a partner would distract me from my work and that simply wouldn't do. Too many kansen, so little time. Any idea what clothes and mask you want?" Rarity comforts him as she begins drawing his outline on a large sketch pad which sits on an artist's easel.

"Nothing in mind exactly for the clothes. Just something that hides who I am as I likely won't be going out in the day much. As for the mask... surprise me." Scorpia explains.

"I see... I believe I have just the thing. You can wait outside with Berry Punch if you want, the items should be ready by tonight. I do highly recommend the blood-whiskey, it's simply divine." Rarity states waving her hand to Scorpia asking him to leave.

Scorpia nods in thanks before leaving the room to see Erlöser drinking the same whiskey as berry Punch.

"How'd it go with Rarity?" Berry Punch asks, pouring Scorpia a whiskey of his own and sitting it beside Erlöser.

Scorpia sits down beside Erlöser and pushes the drink to the side making Berry Punch raise an eyebrow before taking back the drink to consume herself.

"Quite well I believe, whatever she is making should be done by tonight she said." Scorpia informs Berry Punch.

"Sounds about right for her working speed. So what do you morph your blood into mainly? We all seem to use something unique to us that works with our style of fighting." Berry Punch asks.

"Wassup Berry, Erlöser and the new colt." Vinyl's voice can be heard behind them.

"Oh this is the fellow who fell from the sky last night... You're causing quite the fuss back at HQ." Octavia states making Scorpia's ears twitch.

"Is that so..? It's not like I did much... I fell from the sky, that's about it." Scorpia replies not turning round.

"Well... You're being blamed for the death of agent Sweetie Drops a.k.a Bonbon. While still a normal government her partner is... Well... Given our loss counter against the Kansen recently, she was promoted to Pathogen and will undergo her experiment next week." Octavia informs Scorpia.

"I didn't kill her... That was not me. Anyway, you said 'our loss' as in..?" Scorpia inquires.

"Oh yeah... You're the new guy. I should probably mention that my baby Octavia here is one of the members of Pathogen... More specifically known among us Kansen as the Final Requiem. No Kansen who have heard her song leave the area alive." Vinyl explains as she sits down at the bar.

Scorpia's ears twitch again and he sighs before abruptly leaving the bar. Vinyl looks at everypony and shrugs.

"Was it something I said? Octy? Erlöser? Berry? Was it something I said?" Vinyl asks looking slightly worried as she hugs the blood-vodka bottle Berry provides her while wearing a depressed look on her face.

The Pathogen gym on the top floor of the government building is fairly empty aside from a very light aquamarine Unicorn that has a mint green mane and tail with white highlights, her eyes are a Brilliant gamboge. She wears a tight pair of cyan shorts with a white short sports top, on her hands are a pair of fingerless cyan battle gloves. The Unicorn is sparring with a punching bag near some weight benches.

"So, you're the specimen they promoted to the Pathogen group... I guess your physical fitness will allow you to endure the experiments... It's your mental state that is more at risk." Dr. Sinclair states from behind her making the Unicorn turn around.

"I don't need your concern... Kansen need to be purged from our world in order for peace to be instated." The Unicorn explains before turning round and throwing a few kicks at the punching bag.

"Oh, my dear... Being in the normal government you have no clue what is really going on... Your kind are simply sent along with the wolves as bait, nothing more. the abilities of a Pathogen agent far outrank anything one of the normal government could do. However, you are no longer bait... You have been promoted as I understand it. You, my dear, are now a wolf." Dr. Sinclair begins to explain.

"What in the name of Equestria are you even on about?" The Unicorn asks, turning around confused.

Dr. Sinclair smiles and begins to walk away making the Unicorn pick up her towel and follow him.

"Surely you heard everything about Pathogen?" Dr. Sinclair asks, placing his hands in his lab coat pockets.

"Crazy strong, weird abilities, above the normal government in every possible way including rank... I miss anything out?" The Unicorn asks with a deadpan expression.

Dr. Sinclair takes her down some hallways before they enter his lab and leads the Unicorn over to some racks which hold various blood vials.

"That sounds about right for the standard report... However, now you are about to become a member... You will learn the true nature behind Pathogen and the methods we use to combat Kansen. Lyra Heartstrings... We do not simply fight Kansen. No, under normal circumstances we would fair no better than the normal government. What we do instead... Is create Kansen..." Dr. Sinclair grows a creepy smile across his face as he moves over to the canister Hémolyse was in before.

"I don't know what you're talking about..." Lyra states, looking over the vials of blood.

"Blood transfusion and replication. These are the main experiment areas I focus on. Every member of Pathogen aside from Twilight Sparkle and Trixie are artificial Kansen made in this very lab. The process is very painful and mentally taxing which is why some of the previous subjects failed..." Dr. Sinclair explains happily.

"So you're saying I have to become what I hate in order to fight them effectively... Seems legit... I mean it explains why Pathogen is so much more effective than the normal government." Lyra sighs.

"No, my dear, it explains why 'we' are so much more effective. Provided you survive you will be one of us. So pick your poison and let's get started." Dr. Sinclair walks back over to Lyra who is reading the vial labels.

"How does this work exactly?" Lyra asks confused.

"These are blood samples gathered from various high rank Kansen. As you can guess they were taken from the subjects using various forceful methods. They are named with titles we know the Kansen to call each other, these often refer to their ability and rank within Kansen society." Dr. Sinclair explains further.

Lyra looks over the vials and picks up two with names she likes. Looking them over she shows them to Dr. Sinclair to get his opinion.

"Ah Back Beat and Turn Table. Both are harmonic based Kansen with both of them branching out with their abilities. Back Beat is reported to use her blood in tandem with harmonic frequency's making it a projectile weapon which, as we have experienced, is a lethal weapon indeed. Now Turn Table takes a very different approach, using their blood they summon various forms of blood creatures which they can augment with harmonic frequency's. Depending on which route you desire to go down, those are the base abilities available to you." Dr. Sinclair takes both vials and explains.

Lyra thinks for a second before pointing at Turn Table's vial. "That one sounds most appealing to me. Either way using my musical ability should aid in strengthening either one, but this one sounds more like my style."

"Excellent, just lie down on that table there and we can begin stage one." Dr. Sinclair gestures to the operating table.

"Doc... Level with me here... How much is this going to hurt?" Lyra asks looking slightly worried.

"Oh, not much... It'll just feel like your veins and insides are burning and Tarturus itself is trying to enter our world using your body as a conduit." Dr. Sinclair smiles as he begins to set up his equipment and puts Back Beat's vial on the rack again.

"Not much then..." Lyra swallows hard and sighs deeply.

Author's Note

I apologise for taking so long to do a new chapter, things have been a little hectic recently. I plan to write more in the near future, but currently with college and the Xbox one, writing isn't going so well. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and will look forward to the next chapter that should arrive soon.