Dreams of a Thief

All the things one has forgotten scream for help in dreams. Elias Canetti. The human Province, 1978.

As days passed Grey Mane's memory slowly came back to him in his sleep. Though this reduced the amount of pain that he would feel, it also made him think it was his fear venting out threw his dreams. Where as unknown to him it was the steps he took that made him become the thief he once was and still is.

The memories started back with his oldest ones. Back when he was an orphan, helping run an orphanage along side his adoptive sister who was also an orphan. The two of them didn't have a name and where known around the place as brother and sister. While his sister took care of the books and trying to keep the place up and running, he helped the the few workers there keep an eye on the foals.

Till one day he learns the truth in his sisters office, that the orphanage was being closed down.

Shocked by what he has heard his pupils narrow as he slams his hove down on the desk. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHERE CLOSING THE ORPHANAGE...DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY YOUNG PONIES NEED US TO STAY OPEN JUST SO THEY HAVE A HOME AND FOOD?"

"Yes. including us and the staff there is a total of one thousand five hundred seven, but we are out of bits to keep this place going. We've been out of bits since you and I first got here fifteen years ago, when we where only a few months old. And to add to the problem we have only five years left until this place closes. And unless we can come up with ten thousand bits to cover the dept this place has accumulated over the years as well as another five thousand to keep us on our hooves then there is nothing we can do."

As the pupils in his eyes slowly began to fade from his anger he ran threw his mind making sense of everything, and trying to come up with a solution. "NO, there's nothing you can do...you need to stay here and keep running this place, I'm going out into the world to help us get more bits...even if I have to work till I drop."

From the many years she knew him, she could tell when he was messing around like a foal and when he was serious. "And what should I tell every pony here? Namely the young one's, you know they all look up to you." She replied as she shook her head.

Knowing they would cry from being separated from not just each other but from him leaving he turned and walked to the door saying the first thing that came to mind. "Tell them...tell them what they should know, and that I left to help them."

As he walked to his old chest his head hung low and his eyes where barley open, many knew the was something wrong but the foals ran up to him with toys thinking he was sad. Believing his sadness was just because no pony would play with him several of them had surrounded him. He said nothing, only reaching to give them a long hug good bye with tears in his eyes not knowing how long he would be gone, or how far he was going to go. Other foals rushed over to join in.After five minutes he let them go and gathered a few of his best work clothes and what bits he had saved up over the years and walked to the door. As many said good bye to him the foals all asked if he had finally been adopted by a family.

Knowing she couldn't tell them all the truth, his sister reached down and gave the filly a small hug with tears in her eyes. "Yes...he has."

He traveled far and wide asking any who would help him, going from town to town, village to village, door to door, and even from one pony to the next asking if there was anything they could give to help out the orphanage or where willing to give him some work. Many looked down on him thinking he was just some beggar, others would spit in his face, and the rare few would tell him a lie just to draw him into an alley and beat him with in an inch of his life, only to hear them say at the end 'why don't you just get a job.' This did little to stop him knowing what was at stake, after many months of searching he found a tavern full of ponies that called them selves day laborers.

Having found a place that would grant him work he spent three years taking any and all jobs that came up. It didn't matter how dirty, how humiliating, or how hard it was, he would answer the call for work. Near the end of the third year he started feeling down from working in a distanced land as a day laborer, while asking every noble pony he could find for a little extra help only to be turned down day in and day out. He slowly started to lose hope and began to doubt himself. Believing he failed not just his sister, but the orphanage as well he attempted to drown his sorrow in a pint of ale

.

The thought of what could happen to everypony there just made his heart sink farther, and drag him deeper into disrepair. Looking over from the far end of the bar the tavern keeper who kept a close eye on every pony there and knew their drinking habits, found it odd to see him with his new choice knowing he had never seen him drink ale or any kind of alcohol since the first day he walked in. Knowing that a change like this could only mean one thing he pulled out the house special cider, a warm brew made fresh every day and served hot with no added alcohol and flew over.

"Oi, me laddy have a pint of cider on the house." He said with a smile while placing the tall wooden glass on the table.

He looked up with his eyes pinkish red and full of tears, and saw him holding the large steaming glass with a grin.

"Uh...oh thanks umm?" he said with a tremble in his voice as he reached up for the glass.

With a cheerful tone to try and keep his spirits high he chuckled. "McTavorn, and ye must be brother...or so I hear them lazy lay about call ye any way. But that's not the point, ye seem down...more so than usual...and ye've been here for three years now, and each month you look worse. Now I know ye the best day laborer here so finding work can't be that hard for ya. Its a mare isn't it, ye be hav'n girl trouble?"

"Don't listen to McTavorn when it comes to the ladies, he gets shot down faster than he down a pint." Claimed the pegsai as he flew past them with a tray full of drinks and food

.

With a smile on his face McTavorn turned and pointed at him. "Now what have I tolled ye John?"

As he took the first sip of cider he felt a warm feeling grow from with in himself. "You could say I'm having some trouble with a mare."

"Ah aye knew it...tell old McTavorn all about it."

"I'm tell ya, you don't want his advice in this. Unless you're looking for a one night stand or a quickie, then he has all the answers." John stated as he flew back behind the counter.

With a big grin across his face McTavorn pulled out a bat with the words engraved on it 'Whacking Stick', and pointed it at John. "I'm warnin' ye."

"Put that damn thing away... ...nopony here want's to see you're stick. No mater how small it is." John joked as he grabbed several bottles and loaded his tray.

Putting the bat back under the bar as he chuckled. "Get ye mind out of the gutter."

"Its my sister." The young stallion managed to mutter out between light sobs.

Seeing the distraught look on his face the smile he had slowly began to leave his own face. "... ...John...that group in the far corner is about to start their poker game. Go take my place and clean 'em out." As John left with several bottles to join the game, McTavorn started to read his face. "Aye...family...come now tell me all about it."

"Well to start she and I are orphans we adopted each other, we...where orphans to began with. We took over the orphanage almost four years ago, and now we are about to lose it. All because of unpaid taxes, and the ponies coming to collect will just toss us out even the foals." As he explained tears started to form and roll down his eyes.

"Here...drink up, it'll calm ye nerves. Now I see what ye problem is, but ye work so hard. Days, nights, weekends, even holidays. For the first month ye was here I thought ye mite have been a puppet of one of these unicorns, that is till ye passed out on me bar. Now is there any thing old McTavorn can do to help ye?"

As he drank the cider it claimed his nerves, but still full of doubt he said, "Not unless you have fifteen thousand bits just laying around here."

As he started to laugh he attempted to contain it under by letting it out threw his teeth. "Fifteen thousand...I wish I had that much to give...aye, and as hard as ye work ye should have at least three times that by now."

Expecting him not to believe anything he tolled him, from the many years of getting beaten down and called a lair. "I would...but most of the ponies that I've worked for promised a lot of bits but only give me less than ten percent of what they promise, then they either fly away or threaten my life with magic or guards. I've only made enough to cover the rent here for the next few months and that's with food and drink...I had four years to come up with the money and I haven't even come close in the three years I've been here. I failed them."

Knowing how bad it was he replied with a mono tone in his voice, "Aye...that be too much burden for a pony of ye age to bare. And I know the ponies ye talking about, undesirables we call them. Clients that no pony here wants to work for, be they corrupt guards, politicians, or rich, none here will take work from them. And I wish I had that much...but I can still help ye."

With half the cider gone and his eyes watering up he stared at the pegsai with a small hint of hope. "How you said you didn't have that much bits."

Gulping down the untouched pint of ale with a twinkle in his eye he slammed down the glass. "Ye right I did say that...but I can still help. What would ye say if I tolled ye there be a pony that could help ye get all ye need and then some, to help keep ye orphanage open for a long time."

Finishing off the last bit of cider in his glass he arose to his hooves. "If that's the case then what are we doing here wasting valuable time? The orphanage only has another six months to a year left, and I don't want to wast a second."

"HAA HA...that be the spirit...Cake John, keep an eye on the place till I get back it'll be about a month or two!" He shouted with excitement in his voice.

With the sound of anger and annoyance in his voice he floated into the air. "For the last time its John Cake. Ya alcohol loving pegsai."

Rushing out the door he grabbed his bowl hat and exclaimed, "Atta boy ye know how to hold down the fort."

Not fully knowing the area around the tavern he pondered and thought about all the places that could take a month to travel to. "Where are we going that takes a month?"

Knowing the danger of what could come if followed he shut the door and whispered into his ear, "There be a cavern to the north, the trip only take two days but I need the extra time off."

As they traveled McTavorn looked back behind him not just to make sure the young earth pony was keeping up, but to make sure that no pony was following them. The location had to remain a secret from all for many, especially anypony associated with the royal guards in the world, for reasons that he would not explain. For two day's he kept this up, knowing that many would jump at the chance for fame the likes of which no pony could fathom, till late in the evening on the second day they came across the side of a mountain.

As they approached it McTavorn took to the sky and flew as fast as he could giving the surrounding area one last glance before landing. "Aye...its clear. Now here be the situation the pony we've come to see is not very well liked, but he be the only one that can help."

"What are you talking about there's nothing here, you said there was a cavern but all I see is just the face of a mountain."

Grabbing a small stone as he laughed the wall slowly vanished as he picked it up and put it back. "That is because he made it appear this way. It may be an illusion but while it's active its real to the touch, not sure how it works but then again I'm not able to use magic."

As they walked in McTavorn reached up and pulled a small rock out of place and watched as an illusion spell sealed the entrance so no pony could follow them, once this was done he reached out in the darkness for a hidden torch as well as a flint and steel to light. Once the flame was lit they traveled deep into the cavern until they meet an earth pony who's appearance, though shrouded by the shadows he sat in made it difficult to see him, was so aged it seemed as if death forgot him...or chose to mock him by granting a continued existence with out youth.

With a boastful smile full of confidence McTavorn walked forth "Oi, I tink I found the one ye been look'n for."

Watching the old pony rise to his hooves and walk around a stone pillar that seemed to be holding the roof up he vanished and reappeared behind them still concealed by the shadows. "McTavorn, is it already time for you to come by...I still have plenty of your grand cider to last me the year."

"Aye, it not be the time for me to come by. However this one be in need of ye help, and I think he can help ye in some small way as well."

As the young stallion turned around the old pony once again vanished and reappeared where he once was. "How are you doing that? Earth ponies and pegsai can't cast magic."

"Your right we can't due to the fact that we let our selves become narrow minded...but we can still preform illusions."

"That's just another form of magic." He stated with nothing but doubt.

"Wrong, an illusion is optical, audio, physical, and in some cases mental deception. You see me standing here but when I step behind the pillar you thought I would walk around the other end, instead I took a step back and slipped behind you. All suffer from tunnel vision it is this trick I use to appear as if I'm casting magic when in truth I'm just walking, running, or just simply moving around you."

Trying to keep his eyes on the old stallion he watched him as he stood there. "So then all I have to do is just make sure you don't trick me then?"

As his eyes never left the pony that stood in the shadows he heard his voice come from the far right. "Well you could but I know all the ins and outs of illusions, I've even tricked a unicorn who proclaimed to be the master of illusion spells."

Haven fallen over on the floor laughing McTavorn found it hard to breath. "Oh Grey Mane when are ye gonna stop play'n with the poor boy?"

"Wait...did you just say Grey Mane? As in the legendary thief Grey Mane? The old ponies tail Grey Mane?" He exclaimed in disbelief.

"Ye he be the one and only laddie."

"How do you know him?"

"Oh boy'o few ponies back at the tavern knows he's real." As he began to explain his voice took a dark and hateful tone as tears started to form and roll down his face. "I was just a young colt when I first met him, twenty five years to the day it be now. I grew up much like ye, an orphan, but unlike ye I grew up in the streets. Never knew me parents, all I can remember is the beatings I would get from this one small group of corrupt guards at the end of each week. One night while I was sleep'n they came to me in a drunk'n rage, ye could still smell the alcohol on 'em. The first hit that woke me up shattered me lower rib, the beaten felt like it lasted for hours. Then when I lost all hope, Grey Mane came and saved me with out hurting the guards, he just put them to sleep with a wave of his hove. Few days later I awoke here under his care and protection, and if not for him neither ye nor them other ponies would have a tavern to call home away from home. He done more for me than any pony ever have, he saved me life, and I know I can never repay that dept."

As McTavorn tried to cover his face to hid the tears Grey Mane walked up to him and put his hove on his shoulder. "Let it all go, whats in the past must stay in the past. You have done more than enough to repay me, you have given back the life I saved a thousand fold. And that is far more than I could have ever asked of you."

Wrapping his hooves around Grey Mane knowing he could not hold back his emotions as he fell to his flank. "And what would ye have asked of me?"

Pulling McTavorn in closer Grey Mane started to pat him on the back to calm his nerves. "To live your life as you see fit, and you have more than done that. You have given a home to ponies that need it, food to the starving, and drink to the thirsty. I could never have asked for anything more from you or John."

Astounded the young stallion looked at the two of them. "Wait... ...John knows of him as well?"

As he dried the tears from his eyes the tone in his voice seemed to calm its self. "Aye... ...John was saved by Grey Mane as well, his story starts off happy but turns tragic real fast. He was the son of a captain to the pegsai army, but his father knew too much about one politician who payed off his commanding officer and a few other soldiers to have him killed. So in the dead of the night they burned him and his family alive, John barely survived. His burns where so horrible he would have died, but like me Grey Mane found him and brought him here. I know not what be in that gourd of his, but it saved John's life. A few ponies back at the tavern found out about us thanks to him as well, but that's a different story."

Lifting his gourd and taking a small sip the stallion gave his guest a small look over. "And as I said whats in the past must remain behind us, other wise we can never move on. Speaking of which, you said he can be of help to me, but all things have their price. What is it that you ask of me?"

With a smile on his face McTavorn nudged him forth, "Go on boy'o tell him."

As he stumbled forward his eyes jumbled around as he tried to find the right words only to turn around and question the situation, "When you said he could help I didn't think it would be the legendary thief...who by the way is suppose to be just some old ponies tail. But at this point in time I can't be picky, now can I? I come here to ask you for fifteen thousand bits to help save a failing orphanage, I'll do any thing you ask...just please don't let anything happen to the ponies that live there."

As Grey Mane carefully walked around he pulled on his beard pondering the situation that was presented before him.

As he slowly walked around the room he pondered how far this young stallion was willing to go. "Any thing you ask...well then I have to ask you, how much are you willing to give up for this orphanage?"

With out missing a beat he shouted. "EVERYTHING...I was born an orphan and I know what its like out there, and I would rather die than to see a single filly or colt go with out a roof over there head; food in there belly; or even a warm bed to sleep in, not even for a second."

With out a shadow of a doubt in his mind Grey Mane smiled. "One in exchange for many...McTavorn you where right, this one is different. You know where I keep my money take ten times the amount and go give it to his orphanage."

Walking to the small rolling hills of gold McTavorn bowed then raised his head with a smile, "Aye...consider it done."

With a surprised, yet shocked, smile on his face the young stallion started to cry, but with held the tears as best he could. "What about me?"

Knowing he had finally found his replacement, or his heir, smiled as he walked up, "Stay with me. For I have chosen to adopt you. The only thing I ask of you is, that you take my name. Here is a map mark where McTavorn is to take the bits."

Confused as to what was going on he marked the location down and watched as McTavorn left with a cart full of bits. "What...but...hold on, why would you need me to take your name?"

Once McTavorn was out of ear shot Grey Mane gave a grim but blank stare. "Simple...I am dieing and the world still needs there to be a Grey Mane to help keep the balance of power."

Still unsure of what was going on he inquired with doubt filling his mind. "What do you mean by that 'keep the balance of power'...your just a thief, how can a thief keep the balance of power?"

He chuckled as he began to explain. "The current balance of power is with all the royal families that are out there in the world. And they all have kingdoms of their own, however with out a common enemy they will go to war with each other for power and domination. That is where we come in, to be that common enemy for them."

Knowing the old story he stares for a moment pondering how an immortal such as him became as aged as he was. "But according to every pony you can't die...in fact many say you've out lived thousands of alicorns and will continue to do so."

With a chuckle in his voice he thought back as to how he once made the same statement. "Is that what they have said about me...well lets set that strait. I am the forty-ninth grey mane to have lived we each live for about a thousand or more years longer than our normal life span. And I only out lived one alicorn, he was the captain of a royal guard and he died of exhaustion from hunting me down, all be cause I stole the hart of the unicorn he loved...but hey things happen. So what do you say?"

With a smile full of acceptance knowing that not only could he continue to help the orphanage, he had also finally been adopted by somepony after all these many years, never knowing who his real parents where. "When do we start father?"

After taking the time to walk over he put his hove on the young stallion's shoulder. "First there is a vow I would like for you to take."

"A vow?" He inquired as he pondered what a thief would need a vow for.

"Yes, it will help you in your darkest hour, to make the hardest of choices, ones that no pony can ever make. The ones that only we can make."

With a dumbfounded look on his face he tilted his head ever so slightly. "What kind of choices do you mean?"

As the smile slowly left his face his bright blue eyes slowly faded as storm clouds appeared to take the place of his true eye color. "Life altering ones, the kind that can make or break ponies."

Feeling the small change in his attitude he could see how dire the topic had become. "And you say this vow will help... ...in some small way?"

As the young stallion stared into his eyes he could faintly make out images that seemed to past choices, and former regrets that Grey Mane once dealt with. "In some small way... ...no. It helps it a big way each choice we make could change the path or fate of the ones we love or the ones around us. Do not take these choices lightly, or this vow lightly either. Do you understand?"

Looking deep into his eyes he could tell how dire this was. "I understand."

As he took the vow he stared deep into Grey Mane's eyes and watched as the storm clouds slowly receded and his natural blue eyes slowly returned. As the vow came to an end he pondered if he was right for the task, could he carry on such a task as if he had done so his entire life? Weather he liked it or not the new path he had chosen in life was now to be the next grey mane, the only thing he did like about this was the orphanage was saved.

As he finished reciting the vow he could see the playful nature that was once in Grey Mane's eyes had returned. "So... ...what do I get to learn first, picking locks, pouches, how to trick ponies into believing I can preform magic, or what about..."

As he stopped the young stallion in mid sentence, he put his hove on his chest and gave a small shove. "We'll start with eh...working on your balance and hove work to better prepare you."

As he stumbled to keep standing, he nearly fell. "Prepare me...for what?"

As Grey Mane walked over he moved his adoptive son's hooves into place. "For fighting, though it is best that you avoid any and all conflict as much as possible, it is also best that you know how to defend your self. I'll teach you the improvised style that has been passed down and perfected with each new Grey Mane. This hove to hove fighting style was developed by the third Grey Mane, She was the first to ever really get into a fight, sadly it was against a minion of Tartaros. Having barley survived the fight she ran to the closest kingdom and hid for a while, it was there she learned the basics of what she later developed as the improvised style, over time we each learn something new and adapt it to our fighting style to give us an edge over others. Be warned this is only to defend your self, or others that need it other wise stick to the shadows and remain unseen."

As he began training his adoptive son a familiar voice came forth to the old ponies mind from the astral plane showing its serpent like form only to grey mane. *Grey mane...is this one the right one?*

With out losing focus on teaching he carried on the telepathic conversation. *Yes he is the one to take my place.*

Knowing the danger of picking the wrong pony the voice reminded him of what could happen. *Just so you know, if he is the one from the prophecy...I will end him and pick a new one.*

Knowing full well what he spoke of he repeated the old warning. *The prophecy clams that 'a foolish, arrogant grey mane could cause the destruction of an entire nation because of a single choice.*

*And that is what worries me*

*Yes I know but its says he could, not he will.* He stated with the greatest of optimism.

*Then I have no choice other than to trust you and hope for the best, and I expect no less from him as I did for you and that means his training must be finished in one and a half years*

As he showed the young stallion proper hove movement, and several hove stances he gave a small smile as he carried on the telepathic conversation. *For an all powerful creature you do a lot of that...but I understand why. I just hope one day he does.*

Having made the choice to stay he learned all he could from his father. Days turned to weeks, weeks into months, each passing second brought something new for him to learn. Each day he started growing stronger, faster, far more cunning, and also bonding to his adoptive father.

He learned how to read a ponies movements from just looking at the tiniest reflection out of the corner of his eye. He learned the hove to hove style known only to the grey mane's as improvised, mixing all the different stiles of the world, and threw out all of time it had been perfected with the first lesson being that this style will never have a master due to its constant change. Once he learned to defend himself properly in any situation he learned when it was best not to engage in a fight and when to use stealth to get around as well as use it to take out large groups one by one.

The hardest lesson that took him weeks to learn, was fighting an opponent he couldn't see. "Okay tell me again why are we in the crystal caverns, and why am I blind folded? Its pitch black in here, I couldn't see in here even if I tried."

"Now don't lie to me my son, I've taught you how to adjust your eyes to see in the demist of lights."

"Ya that's dim lights not dark."

"Its not that dark in here and you know it, light constantly shines into this place threw the small opening at the far end, its reflections make it near dark and I know you can see just fine in that."

"Fine you've caught me there...now why the blind fold? ... ...Father? ... ...AHH!!!"

"Come now my son have you learned nothing? When you can't see your must... ..." He paused for an extended time to see if his son could figure it out.

"Learn to hear, feel, and anticipate everything."

"Good. Now lets try again. And this time really try and expand your mind, the slightest vibration from the ground, sound in the air, all these things can tell you where I am, when I will come at you, and how."

It was weeks before he learned what it took to fight when he could not see. As the weeks passed he got better at it, there wasn't a single movement that he couldn't anticipate coming. Feeling the vibrations from the ground tolled him how many and how fast they would come, the sounds he heard echoed in the cave but this only made locating his father easier. The sound of dripping water echoed threw the cave drowsing out and separating his own breathing from that of his fathers hove steps.

As the old stallion lightly pounced off the wall he cocked back his front left hove and prepared to attack with all that he could. As his hove slowly made contact with the back of his son's head he saw him make a quick yet fluid motion binding his body around the punch and quickly grabbing his fathers leg tossing him to a wall. Just as his body was about to make contact he spun his body around and landed safely on his hooves making him parallel to the wall as he pounced off it kicking a small piece of crystal in the opposite direction in an attempt to draw his attention else where.

As he landed behind a small mound of crystals he looked to where his son was only to see he had used the opportunity to vanish from his last known location, as he started to ponder where he had gone a hove found its way to his left shoulder. "Looks like I finally managed to land my hove on you."

As he closed his eyes he sighed with a great smile finding its way across his face. "Indeed you have my son. I thought you would have tried to hit me."

"You taught me better than that. If I recall the lesson you said, defuse the situation with little to no conflict and if at all possible break the line of sight and escape, and if I can not then I must single out the one that refuses to give up and put him to sleep with out truly harming them. It is better to not to harm, for if we hurt any pony we are no better than bandits, or common thugs."

As he turned around he wrapped his hooves around his son's neck and hugged him as he whispered into his ear. "You make me so proud my son. You've learned well and have mastered your senses. You may remove the blind fold."

As he removed the blind fold his eyes adjusted to what little light was in the cave. "Finally it feels good to see again, sort of, I think I tied this thing too tight."

As the old stallion smiled he gave a small chuckle as he turned to walk away. "Come now you must learn how to pick locks of all types then following that I sh... ..." As he began to set out a list of what was next for his son to learn he fell to the floor with a feverish sweat, coughing up blood.

"FATHER!!!" Rushing to his aid the young stallion removed the gourd from his fathers hip and popped the cork to pour no more than a swig down his fathers mouth. "Hold on your going to be okay."

As the small amount of clear liquid made its way down his throat, his sweating stopped, and his coughing came to a slow yet steady stop. "Thank you my son."

Giving a small sigh of relief as he sat down he put the cork back into the gourd and gave it back. "You really shouldn't over do it, that was way to close. And I would hate to think of what could happen if I wasn't here."

As the old stallion smiled his ears twitched to what he thought was a faint sound of a bell, and behind his son he could see a shadowy hooded figure holding an hour glass with the sand nearly gone, and the last bit brought to a slow stand still. "Its okay my son, for when my time comes a friend will be there."

As the old pony took the gourd and put it back on his belt line he looked up and saw the saddened expression on his son's face. "Father...I..." Trying to find the right words he turned the topic of death off into a new direction. "You're gourd is nearly empty, perhaps we should make more of the medicine."

Knowing he had hid the truth from him it became harder for him to tell his son the truth. "Oh don't worry about it... ...I'll make some more later...now where was I. Ah yes after learning to pick locks of all kinds I shall teach you how to make a powder that can teleport you. And I shall also teach you a small amount of ventriloquism to make ponies think your moving around or in many places at once. Then after that I shall teach you the more advanced techniques in the improvised style."

Knowing his father was dodging the conversation he chose to follow his example, seeing as to how one of his earlier lessons was to avoid any and all questions that could compromise who he was. "After I learn the advanced techniques will have mastered the the improvised style?"

"Oh my no... ...the improvised style can never be mastered, so long as there is still much to learn and adapt to it there can never be a master."

"Okay but answer me this, when will I learn to get past magical locks or even barriers?"

"In time it will come to you."

As his lessons continued he learned how to pick locks with what most ponies would say is impossible to do. Using a tooth pick to just knock a few of the more important components loosen causing them to fall out of place and releasing the locks. At first it seemed impossible to do this but once he had it down his next lesson was to pick the lock just as he learned but while under attack, and much later while he was also blind folded and under attack to better prepare him for any and all situations.

His final lessons comprised of making tools for scaling walls, and picking locks. Making a powder for teleporting, and putting an opponent to sleep when they least expect it with a grappling maneuver or a sleeping powder when necessary, with every lesson he had to learn the meaning to each phrase of a vow he would one day take. His last and final lesson was learning how to deal with magic of all types, and how to get past barriers or magical locks. Once all that he could learn had been taught his father passed down his cloak, an old but specially enchanted item that had been passed down since the first, the enchantment on the cloak was a difficult and rare spell for slowing decent.

"This enchantment my son is what has granted us the illusion that we can fly even if we are not pegsai...though many of your forefathers and mothers where pegsai that tried to keep the idea that we where always earth ponies. Funny now that I think about it, many ponies are coming up with the believe that we could be an alicorn...though there was one of us that was an alicorn. Sadly his life was short lived even for an alicorn, he was dieing of a rare disease that no pony could cure at his time. It is more than likely it has been cured by now. We picked up the spell from a distant land filled with a race of ponies called zebra, they have learned how to cast magic using rune like symbols, I shall teach you the one that was used on this cloak here should you ever need to use it later."

Hearing that he was going to be using magic drew up red flags in his mind. "Hold on, first of all you said that you couldn't use magic. And second even if you lied to me, we still can't cast magic due to the fact that we are earth ponies."

Giving a small chuckle as he started to draw a circle with strange writings in side of it. "Well I never lied to you, I merely bent the truth. And we can cast magic if we expand our minds and learn how, for you see having a closed mine is what makes it easier for any pony to be deceived. This is also true for ponies that have an open mind, that is why it is important for you to learn to see threw all kinds of deception. I shall also teach you how to see threw them, starting with this." As his son watched on he saw a faint wave in front of his eyes as a horn made its way into sight. "I've been concealing my true look from you with an illusion spell, but this enchantment believe it or not was taught to me by an earth pony, the Grey Mane that came before me to be more specific. I'm showing this to you now not only because you must know, but because I've grown too tired to hold up the spell."

As time went on he slowly mastered even this basic enchantment, along side making the two powders he would be using later. Once he learned all that his father had to teach him, he was fully dressed in the same appearance. His tools, and powders well hidden to appear as if he never had them, his cloak enchanted for a slow decent from high areas under his control. As he looked toward his father he could see nothing but pride in his eyes, as a final test to make sure he was ready he was required to review everything he had learned with his blind fold on.

As the time they spent slowly came to an end the old stallion constantly hinted away that his time was nearly up.

"My son...do you hear a bell?"

"Father I can hear many things in this cave but no bell." As he peeked up from his blind fold he could see his father slowly growing weaker by the minute, barely able to stand.

As he peeked threw the blind fold he frowned at what he saw. "Father...are you alright...do I need to get you your gourd?"

He gave a small smile of reassurance as he looked back hoping not to scare him. "No my son its quite alright...when you get to be my age you start to hear things that aren't really there. Come now come now, on with your training, I want you to be more than prepared for what is out there in the world."

All in the span of one and a half years he trained and learned everything from crafting tools out of just plain old garbage, to picking a lock with nothing more than just a tooth pick or several splinters if necessary. Being that the old stallion was a unicorn that used an illusion spell to conceal his horn, he even trained him to handle himself in a fight with anypony that can use magic. Until one faithful morning when the old stallion fell griping his hart.

Being blindfolded for months on end he heard him fall and rushed to his aid tearing off the rag shouting in fear. "FATHER!!!"

Knowing he could no longer hide his condition he gave a mournful smile as he spoke between gasps of air. "So...(wheeze)...this...(wheeze)...is it."

With the fear of his father dieing he started to cry and give words of hope. "No its not you just need your medicine where is your gourd?"

Reaching beneath his cloak he pulled out the gourd he had been hiding as not to worry his son. "Its here...(wheeze)...beside me where its always been...(wheeze)...but its empty...(wheeze)...there isn't anything any pony can do my son."

Fearful of what came next and how he had no idea how to handle the on coming situation he began to doubt what was happening before his very eyes. "NO...NO...there is still something I can do...tell me how to make the medicine. I can still save you."

Knowing that the time had come he smiled once more and put his hove on his son's shoulder as he tolled him the truth. "You can't make it...(wheeze)...it was filled with water...(wheeze)...from the fountain of youth."

Stunned with the truth he had no idea how to react."What are you talking about?"

Passing the gourd to his son he started to explain. "That is how all of the grey manes have lived thousands of years past their time...to tell the truth, I was already dead long before you ever came to me. The only reason I have been alive so far is because I have been sipping on the water all this time."

Knowing the tails of the fountain he looked at him and thought it was a lie. "But you've been aging all this time how can it be..."

"Because my son, over time the water stops regressing ones age from its constant use, until all it can do is ward of death until there is no more. Its the curse of the water, if one wants to use it to live using the water they can never go too far from the fountain."

As his fear took hold he started sobbing as he starting thinking of ways to save his father's life. "But there has to be something I can do."

"There is...(wheeze)...in fact there are a few things you can do."

With out hesitation and a smile full of hope he asked. "Tell me...what can I do."

"Take the gourd it is the only thing of value here to all the grey manes...and here...this necklace as well...it was a gift from my beloved. I want you to have it now. And as for the gold...(wheeze)...the trinkets; they mean nothing its just there to let us help ponies that need it the most. The second thing you can do is this...(wheeze)...take my body (points) and all three books over there to the sacred burial site of the grey manes...in the middle of the site is an old library lost to all but us, and I want you to add my books to the library."

"But...I'm not ready, I'm not ready to be grey mane...to take your place...I don't think I can do this."

"Oh your ready my son...though you may have only trained for only a year and a half, you are more than ready. If you have any doubts take the time to read for the next six months and learn from us all there is a map with the books to guide you there...just remember this you will be ready for all things physically and mentally. Spiritually and emotionally however...you will never be ready, I know this because I was never spiritually or emotionally ready."

"What do you mean...was any grey mane ready spiritually or emotionally?" He asked with tears flowing down his face.

As the smile faded from his face he started to explain. "No...none of us ever where...not until the end. Which brings me to the last thing I would like for you to do. It is when the black bell rings for you when your time comes, do as I do...as we all have done. When the reaper comes for us we've all greeted the reaper as a friend."

As the smile left his face he looked at his son and started to frown as he confessed the few things in his life he regretted.

"I'll tell you the one thing I never tolled any pony...that unicorn I fell in love with...(wheeze)...when she died I was at her bed side...(wheeze)...and I cried my hart and soul out. She and I wanted to have a family, but I knew that it would never work and she would always be in danger...not following my heart...that's what I truly regret...but in the end you came to me. And be came my son, I finally got what I wanted. And the alicorn...(wheeze)...the captain of the guard I mentioned, when he died I was at his bed side and even then I cried, and when I did he woke up one last time to ask me 'why do you cry? are you not glad that I am passing from this world to no longer chase you?' to which I replied, 'no...for you are the closest to a friend I ever have or will have.' he passed from this world with a smile on his face to know this. I even cried when the grey mane that trained me died. Just remember this vow my son. I take upon the name grey mane and title legendary thief; not for fame and fortune; but for life and love; though I know that my life is forfeit no matter what, I shall not harm the young and innocent, and I will not take a life for all life is precious and must not be wasted; let it be known in this life and the next that I will never sway from this path...even when tempted with one filled with my hopes and dreams. Now go my son...and live...and live...live...free...(sigh)."

He felt his fathers life leave his body as he held him in his hooves and began to cry. "Father...FATHER...FATHER..."

As he cried a voice spoke into his mind that felt as if it came from every where. *Grey mane I know that now is a painful time for you but you must continue on with out him and do as he asked...this world needs grey mane to help keep the balance go now.*

As the tears continued to fill his eyes he shouted out with a voice full of rage. "Keep the balance? WHO ARE YOU...WHAT ARE YOU...ANSWER ME."

*I don't answer to the grey mane...for they are my advocate, go now and be as free as the wind but know this...when the time comes I will call upon you to do a task that only you can handle.*

"I shall...but only because its the least I can do for him; my father and every pony that needs me."

*That's what I expect out of you now go.*

So grey mane traveled to the far north west, following the map and transporting his fathers body and his books filled with research, notes, and his dairy. The trip took him three weeks through rugged terrain and winding paths until not even the map could tell him where to go, let alone tell him where he was. As he stared out to the ocean he gave the map one last look and saw the words inscribed 'iftah ya simsim'. As he uttered the words a path shot up from out of the water that seemed to go on for days.

He walked the path and saw that for every ten steps he took the ten behind him crumbled back into the ocean, an odd spell he thought, if it was indeed truly a spell of some kind. He walked for what seemed like hours until he came to a large burial site and just as he was tolled off in the distance  he could see a building untouched by time, and on the metal sign it read 'LOVE IS A MEMORY; A GHOST IN THE FOG'. Almost seemed like a joke of some kind since the island was shrouded by a thick fog and sealed off by a large stone wall, and the path that lead him had fallen back into the ocean, it was truly hidden either by some kind of natural force or a magical one. He could not tell which.

As he looked around he could see many head stones, each one baring the name grey mane and a number. Seeing this he now knew the truth, and how it must be kept a secret at all costs till the world was ready for the truth. Having one last look around he saw an open grave with a head stone marked 'GREY MANE 49TH' no date was inscribed for his birth, and noticing the one's next to it neither was theirs, nor the date of death. An Illusion for immortality if he head ever seen one, his father was right deception was one of the many key tricks he was going to use.

"This must be the place...hmm...father, you dug your grave years ago...its...its just waiting for you...like a friend...or a lover."

Carefully lowering his father's body into the grave brought back many memories of the time they spent together, though short, it had made a large impact on his life. All his praises, words of wisdom, and encouragement, it bought forth tears of joy that he found hard to hold back. Once he finished burying is father he closed his eyes and lowered his head giving him a much needed moment of silence.

Once the task was done he took the hint to dig his own grave and prepare for what will one day be his turn to join ponies long past. Following this he took the time to read every book in the library as he was instructed and learned everything that his father could not teach him. Far more advanced tricks and skills his father didn't have time to teach him even one such trick known as the devils curse, using a demons name to bind them to ones will required three key things. He would need to know their name, where they draw their power from, and what their purpose in life was, what made this even more interesting was that there was a list of demons and descriptions of what they look like, as well as their purpose in life, and where they draw their power. As he took the time to read all of them each one holding a new trick for sneaking around or rendering an opponent unconscious with just a simple tap or pinch, even secret tricks hidden between words should this place ever be discovered by the outside world. Until one day in his fathers books he learns about how like the last five before him had started searching for another alternative for the fountain, or even if it came to more drastic measures the purist form of immortality they even referenced something they called the leviathan and how it was always there to help.

What drew his attention even more was his fathers search for immortality, knowing how his father passed from this world with a faint smile and greeting death as a long lost friend or family member his mind started to question the reason for it. "Immortality? What would father want with that...now that I think about it all of the grey manes made a reference to immortality, and three ways to get it. Not that I would ever need it...now that I think about time and life, I need to go and see every pony at the orphanage."

As he rushes off for the orphanage he hears a voice that seems to come from every here calling out his name. As it does everything starts to turn a dark grey and wash away as if water was poured over it. He awakens from his dream to a construction pony standing over him and giving him a small shake.

"Grey mane...grey mane...grey mane...hey grey mane."

"Uh..."