Chapter VI:
The Magic of Silence

A group of ponies shyly approached to the meeting place, the abandoned industrial zone. A complex of offices, storages, and factories of all sizes and shapes. Not so long ago it was an important area for the economy of Canterlot. But after the stock market collapsed ten years ago, ponies simply gave up about that place. Even there were rumors that it was haunted by the spirits of those who killed themselves after they lost everything.

In normal circumstances, ponies would simply avoid the place. But the invitation they received said that they had to go there if they really wanted to learn magic. And they did wanted it. Being born as non-unicorns, the probability to learn magic was too tempting for them.
But none of the assistants were as half as excited as a young earth pony called Irish Coffee, and a member of the Royal Guard. A pegasus called Flash Sentry.

Suddenly, a pegasus spotted a shadow moving by its own around them, and a warehouse opened its doors all by itself. Flash, as a trained soldier, jumped in front of the group, ready to win as much time as he could.

But then the shadow solidified, revealing itself as a pegasus with a black tunic, and blue cape with a hood, and a black mask with a blue smile. The stranger raised a hoof, asking for peace. “I’m glad so many of you came here despite the location. Allow me to introduce myself…”

She removed her mask. “My name is Cream Cone, and it’s a pleasure to meet you all. Well, not all of you. I already knew one of you, right Suzette?”

A golden brown earth pony, with orange mane smiled at Cream. “Cream Cone! Are you really a Knight of the Silence? That’s so cool!”

“I am. I studied under the guidance of the Great Master herself, and many of you will do it as well, when you are ready.” Then, she materialized a bunch of chairs with her magic. “Come on, take a seat. From now on we are together in our search for knowledge, and as long as you want to learn, I’ll be your unconditional support and guide. I’ll be your teacher.”

One by one the ponies sat on the chairs offered by Cream Cone.
There were fifteen ponies present on that meeting. A couple of them were afraid, other two seemed to distrust her, but the majority looked at Cream expectantly, and with a hint of adoration. Pretty much the way she looked at her Great Master.
And then Cream understood that for those ponies, she was the Great Master.

Cream made a small nod, and began. “Just like many of you, ponies laughed at me when I was little only because I wished to learn how to use magic since I knew of its existence. I asked my teacher, my unicorn friends, and all I got was mocking, and eventually a condescending smile. Do you know how frustrating that was?”

The ponies began to mumble among each other, sharing similar experiences.

“That’s why I dedicated myself to make desserts. And I’m not bad at it but…”

“Your ice-cream is the best of the academy!” said Crepe Suzette happily, making everypony chuckle.

“I appreciate your support, Suzy.” said Cream Cone with a smile. “But anyway, my true dream was to learn magic. And I thought I would never be able to fulfil it until I met the Great Master. She is really powerful, and unlike most of the teachers of this world, she will teach you everything she knows and expect nothing in exchange. And I follow that very same path. I won’t ask you for anything except that you are willing to learn. So, tell me, are you willing to learn?”

“More than anything!” shouted Flash Sentry, and then took a seat, with his face red.

“Do not feel embarrassed for wanting to learn!” smiled Cream Cone. “That’s why we’re here. Now, this is my very first time teaching so you will forgive me because I have no idea how to proceed.”

An earth pony made an annoyed groan. “See? That’s why I wanted the Great Master!”

Cream stared at him. “What is your name?”

“Bushroot. What do you care?”

Cream made a dismissive movement with her wing. “Tell me, Bushroot, does it make you feel good to mock others? Is that your especial talent?”

Bushroot smirked. “No, my talent is to be a gardener. A hell of a gardener if you ask me!”

Cream nodded, happy that it have worked. “Okay, how you do it?”

“My work?” asked the pony proudly. “Is something that a confectioner like you would never understand. But you start with a bunch of soft soil, I put my hooves inside, right to the bottom and remove it, to make sure it breaths. Then you add up a bit of chemical fertilizer mixed up with organic, and finally you put on the plant. As a finishing touch you put a cape of dead leaves and fruit peels, and then you have it, a small life ready to grow big and strong.”

Cream nodded and turned to her friend from the academy, Crepe Suzette. “What about you, Suzy? How is that you make your famous crepes?”

Suzette giggled. “Oh, is the best thing ever. You start by sieving the flour, making a small volcano over a bowl. Then you make a hole on it with your hoof, and carefully you add up a cup of milk deluded in three cups of water, eggs, a teaspoon of olive oil, sugar, and just a little salt. You remove it carefully.”

Cream smiled at her friend and turned to another earth pony. “How about you? What is your name and what’s your talent?”

“My name is Irish Coffee and I’m a bartender. My specialty is the Irish coffee.”

“And how you do it?” asked Cream.

“Oh, well, you start with a high-quality espresso, made with fresh grains directly form Saddle Arabia. Then I make whipped cream, by hoof, and pour it on the espresso. Then I add brown sugar to the mix for consistency and flavor…”

Cream Cone indicated her to stop, and turned to the rest of the group.

“There is magic inside of any of us, our Cutie Marks are proof of that. And did you see that enthusiasm when I asked them about their especial talents? That enthusiasm, or spark, is the manifestation of the essence of the ponykind. What makes us what we are. It is our desires, our individuality, what define us. Not the race. We have been taught that the essence of pegasi manifests exclusively through flying. That the essence of the earth pony appears only by their strength, and the unicorns through magic. And our especial talents must be based on our capabilities of members of a race. But it is wrong. Our individuality is what makes us, not our race.”

Flash tried to make sense of what this pony was saying. “So, according to you, our talents are our ways to manifest our souls to the world.”

“Yes!” answered Cream. “And since your soul is yourself, isn’t only logical that you are who control how you manifest your soul? Your bodies are not your limiters, only vehicles to manifest your soul. So, what is magic?”

“A way to manifest our souls!” said Irish, getting the idea.

A pegasus raised a hoof. “If it’s that simple, why spell books are so thick? Why don’t we simply use our soul to manifest our desires and only that? I mean, what about the spells that use recitation in order to work?”

“You are right, controlling your soul is the key of everything. However, to concentrate in order to make it work is a real challenge. Easy spells require less concentration, but the most power the spell requires, the most you need to concentrate. Recitations, rituals, and such, are meant to keep you focused in the result you want.”

Cream looked at her students, they all seemed to get the idea, but still they needed guidance.

“Okay, I need you to concentrate in your especial talent, or passion, and think about it with all you have. Focus.”

They obeyed, as Cream began to walk among them, reading each soul. They needed to concentrate more in order for her to help them. Then she met Bushroot, with his eyes closed, and smiling.
Cream smiled too, feeling the strong connection between him and his talent. This is what she wanted.

“This is what I meant. Bush, keep focusing in your talent, and your love for what you do.”

Bushroot closed his eyes, trying harder to focus. He had been the first to get the idea of what Cream was trying to teach them, and she knew that because she read his soul. She could see a deep love for what he did, and a strong soul.

“You are ready.” Said Cream. “Bushroot, I’ll touch your soul with mine, only a small touch. The rest is up to you.”

The gardener nodded, and Cream concentrated her power in her shadow, just like the Great Master did to her when they first met. Bushroot was surrounded by pure power, but he continued to focus only in his own ‘soul’. Then, felt it, the small touch from Cream’s soul. It wasn’t much, but more than enough for Bushroot to be conscious about the magnitude and versatility of his own soul. He found it malleable, and as willing to do his will as any other organ of his. Because he was his own soul, and it answered only to his true desires.
If he wanted to learn magic, he will, because his soul was there for him.

“Now that you’ve mastered your magic, let’s start with something simple.” said Cream. “With the most basic ability of the Knights of the Silence. To see as clearly in darkness as you see in light.”

It wasn’t too much to ask now that he was connected to his soul. Slowly Bushroot focused on this desire, and when he opened his eyes, he could see as clearly as they were in daylight.

Bushroot was delighted, he, an earth pony, have successfully casted his first spell!

“Impossible!” he gasped.

Maybe the others couldn’t feel Bush’s soul, but they clearly saw the magic spark on his eyes when he made that spell. He have made it.

“That’s why I need you to really focus.” said Cream. “If you focus enough, I can take a glance of your soul, and then, give you the push you need!”

Irish Coffee focused in her delicious cocktails, of how much she enjoyed making them, and the smiles on her costumer’s faces when they tried them. All of her drinks, but her favorites would always be the Irish coffees. She loved what she did, and because of that she was great. How does it feel to do what I love? Well, pretty good actually. Each time she made them with all her heart it was like learning about the magnitude of her soul and how powerful she really was.

Everypony gasped when they felt the enormous power coming from East Wind. Even Cream Cone was speechless.

“Wow. As you can see, there are ponies who don’t need the extra push. They just haven’t realized they had this ability all this time.”

Suddenly, Irish opened her eyes, smiling. “I can see! I can see!”

Cream smiled excitedly. “This is not a quick process, and not all of you would be able to do it at first try, but I’ll guide you until you want me to. Do not forget: what’s important here is the desire to learn. As long as you have it, you can do it. If a teacher fails teaching you, is because his/her failure. Not yours. Magic does not depends on something ugly growing from your head. It comes from your own soul.”

She smiled at Bushroot and Irish. “What are you waiting for? Explain them what you felt.”

“Is not that complicated, just think in what you love to do. Your passion.” said Irish.

“And if you need help, Cream Cone is here.” added Bushroot.

The other thirteen ponies separated, and tried to make it by their own.
Cream was satisfied, knowing that none of them would give up without trying. The fact that two beginners could make it at first try motivated them all, and she felt quite optimistic about it.
The hours keep passing, and some ponies got the idea faster than others. But it didn’t matter. Cream would make sure everypony make it, maybe not that night, but the next one.

“Hey, teacher!” called her Flash Sentry.

“Yes?” asked Cream.

“Do you think you can teach me how to make a shield just like the one Shining Armor does?” he asked.

“I don’t know, yes, maybe. If you believe in yourself, I can teach you everything. But remember you have to work on your own sometimes.”

“I’m aware of it, thank you, teacher.”

“I’m just glad that you don’t invited unicorns. They would rub in our faces that they can do magic easier than us!” complained somepony.

Cream Cone shook her head. “Hey, that’s not nice. The system makes them learn magic from birth, and they master it easier than you guys, but if you work hard enough, you may be able to get to their level. Even surpassing them. At this moment, my partner is teaching magic to the unicorns who joined us. And once you get the basis, you’ll have the choice to join my friend who teaches advanced magic.”

“But is not fair! They are learning advanced magic as we are stuck on the basis! We’ll take ages before we get to their level!”

“Hey, don’t blame them for how the system works!” scolded Cream Cone. “Besides, you can get to their level if you try hard enough. All of you can. For example, I took only two months to get to my friend’s level, and he is a skilled and strong unicorn.”

“Hey, isn’t he the one who humiliated Deep Knowledge?” asked Flash.

“Yes. Emerald is a bit impulsive but not bad. A bit vengeful, only.”

“I heard that after Knowledge was fired, he continued to stalk and bully him until he had no choice but move away from Canterlot. He even convinced several ponies to do the same, until it was too much for him to handle.”

Cream Cone sighed, unfortunately, it was true. Emerald made sure that everypony knew about Deep Knowledge’s secret. And since he had rejected so much students, they did not rest until he left the city in tears.

Irish Coffee smirked. “He was a parasite of the education system. He laughed at me only because I went to the Academy to ask for the free courses. ‘No miss, without a horn, you shouldn’t think in even cross the door. We don’t need unskilled ponies here’. I hate that moron, and I’m glad he left the city.”

Cream rolled her eyes. “I do not approve what Emerald did. But, as Knights of the Silence, we limit to teach. Judging is none of our business. What you do with what we teach is up to you.”

They continued for the night, and as Cream thought, the ones who got it helped their fellow students in order to achieve the goal.
At the end of the night, everypony knew how to see as clearly in shadows as in daylight.

“I work differently from my partner.” explained Cream Cone. “I try to teach you the basis in order for you to learn easier the spells that will come. I mean, the Magic of Silence or Shadow Magic. This is the very basis of the rest of magics. If you master the shadows, the beginning of everything, you’ll be able to master the other spells from the other elements.”

The sun started to raise in the horizon. “Okay, we’ll reunite in three days. I don’t know where yet, but I’ll make you know as soon as I find a place. We cannot risk to be captured.”

And she disappeared in the shadows, as the others began to walk back to their homes.
Cream was satisfied, everypony was advancing really fast.

As for Emerald, he waited in the forest near Canterlot, when the group of new students approached.

“Good evening, everypony. Are you ready to begin? Are you ready to learn?”

“Yes, we are ready!” jumped an overly excited pony. “What’s first on the curriculum, teacher?”

Emerald laughed. “Curriculum? If there’s something that the Great Master have showed me, is that structures in education doesn’t work. There’s a saying, the worse places for education are prisons, and classrooms.”

The ponies mumbled among each other, and Emerald walked to the enthusiastic pony from earlier. “You, what do you want to learn?”

“Me? Advanced magic.”

Emerald face-hoofed. “I know, what kind of?”

“Huh, well, advanced teleportation!”

Emerald nodded. “Okay, that’s your starting point.”

“What you mean? Isn’t there a general plan for all of us, teacher?” asked another unicorn.

Emerald shrugged. “Guys, if I focus in making an specific plan for all of us, the only thing I’ll get is that a lot of you end up feel frustrated and abandon your studies halfway through. But if any of you dedicate to the specific thing you want to learn, or to improve, I know you’ll dedicate your life to learn it. And, maybe some of you have some common interests and you can help each other. I am a guide, and if what you want are specific basis and an structure, it is my duty to give it to you. But always basing in what you want.”

The ponies exchanged a look, and then they nodded. It had sense.
What did they want to learn?

“I may not be as gifted as the Great Master, but I’ll do what I can. You chose me as your teacher, and I have to guide you with all I have. This is the way of the Knights of the Silence.

The first night was dedicated to annualize what did they want to learn, and how to achieve that goal. With that they prepared the basis for their studies. Most of the goals needed a lot of effort, and to reanalyze the basis, so Emerald would have to practice with them until they had the proper level.
And those who had common interests, exchanged opinions about their goals, sharing their points of view.

And just like that it was the beginning. That night marked a new era, the era of the Knights of the Silence.

Author's Note

Again, the Knights are not bad guys, only people with a strange ideology that appeals to youth. I hope you liked it, this is only the beginning.
Next chapter will have more of the Undead Knights.

Read ya’ later!