Game of Shadows

Chapter 1

“nightmares.”

Sugar Cube was sitting crosslegged on a mat in front of the door to Sun Dancer’s room. He was in the palace of Canterlot in a long hallway with the red carpet underneath and the white ceiling overhead. He was an earth pony with a white coat and a spikey white mane and a fluffy white tail. His cutie mark is a pink piece of cake with a dagger through it and his eyes are silver.

He then hears a cry and a shout “Sugar Cube! Help me!”

Sugar Cube woke from his mediation then opens the door to Sun Dancer’s room he turns on the oil lamp on his left and as the room lit up the small room with a small drawer on the left side and a toy chest on the right. On the back wall was Sun Dancer in his bed crying. He was three years old with two large wings a stubby horn and a white coat with blue eyes and a shaggy mane and tail of dark purple and black.

Sugar cube’s eyes changed to blue then he trotted next to Sun Dancer’s bed then knelt to him and said ‘”What happened?”

Sun Dancer starred at him with his small eyes filled with tears then he said, “I had a bad dream.”

Sugar Cube smiled and sighed in relief. Then he held sun dancer close then he felt his bed and felt that it was wet. He sighs then Sun Dancer was scarred again and said, “I’m sorry Sugar Cube.”

Sugar cube looked at him then said, “It’s an accident nothing more.” He then said “But I was doing so good you said so.” He started to cry again then said, “I’m sorry.”

Sugar Cube then said, “Hey you’re doing good and you’ve been going by yourself and your mom and I are so proud of you. Come on let’s get you cleaned up.”

He then picks up Sun Dancer who held him close then he took sun Sun Dancer by the hoof and took him to a drawer he picked out new undergarments. He then took Sun Dancer by the hoof to the restroom and there he stripped of Sun Dancer’s wet undergarment and then he bathed him. Then he took him from the bath and then he dried him off. Sun dancer was now happy and then he said, “I can go potty.” He then trots to his training commode and then he plops down then sugar cube.

He smiled then as he got up sugar Cube took him wiped him then said “I know you can.”

Sugar cube then said, “You’re going to tell my mom. “

Sugar Cube stroked his mane then said “I have to she’s your mother. How about this i’ll take you to her room tonight."

Sun dancer nods then said “Okay.”

Sugar cube then put’s on Sun dancer’s new cotton undergarment then he bent down and let him on his back and he carried him down the hall and as he took a left and headed to Celestia’s room he knocks on her door.

She then said “Come in.”

Sugar Cube opens the door and she smiles she was sitting at her desk reading old scrolls and books. She looked up and smiled then Sun Dancer got off Sugar Cube’s back.

He then galloped to Celestia she smiles as she picked him up then she places him on her knee then he shouted “Mommy!” She then said “Hey Sun Dancer how you doing?”

He frowns then he turned to Sugar Cube then Princess Celestia sighed and said, “What happened?”

Sugar Cube then said, “That’s also why I’m here.”

Sun dancer looked up at Princess Celestia then said “Mommy I.. I wet the bed.”

He then started to cry again, then Princess Celestia wiped the tears then said, “You were doing so well. What happened?”

Sun Dancer looked at her then he said “I had a bad dream there was shadows and they were swallowing me I couldn’t escape I got scarred then … then.”

He buried his face into Celestia then she hugged him then she said, “it’s okay it was an accident.” He looked up then said, “You’re not mad at me?”

Princess Celestia smiled then said, “Why would I be mad at you? You told me the truth.”

She smiled then said, “Well Sugar Cube cleaned me up then I showed him I can go potty.”

She nuzzled him with her nose then said, “You did! I’m so proud of you.”

Then she said, “Do you want to sleep with me tonight?”

He nods his head then said “Yeah… and can we have a light on.”

Princess Celestia stroked his mane then said, “Sure you get in bed I’ll be there in a second.”

He climbs down from Princess Celestia’s lap   then gallops to the bed and climbs under the covers. Then Princess Celestia got up and she and Sugar Cube leave the room and go down the hallway a bit.

Princess Celestia said “Thank you Sugar cube for handling that.”

Sugar Cube replied, “No problem it’s my job”

Princess Celestia then said, “His nightmare though does that mean anything?”

Sugar Cube shakes his head and said, “I haven’t sensed anything unnatural. However, Sun Dancer never wets the bed even when he has a nightmare. This was out of character.”

Princess Celestia then said, “He’s only three it could be just an accident.”

Sugar Cube nods then said, “Maybe, sorry for bothering with this I know you’re busy.”

She smiled and said, “Its fine I need to balance work and being a mother anyways.”

Sugar Cube nods and replied, “He’s grown up so fast I’m actually am proud that he did tell you the truth himself.”

Princess Celestia said, “Well it’s a team effort. I’ll get him to bed you don’t mind cleaning?”

Sugar cube then said, “Don’t worry about it. You go spend time with your son.”

He bows then she bows back and then Celestia goes back into her room.

Sun Dancer looked up then said “Mommy!”

Princess Celestia smiled and said “Hey sweetie.”

She then turns off her oil lamp then lights aa lamp on the desk and set it to dim then she climbed in bed and then Sun dancer curled up next to her.

He asked“Mommy are you proud of me?”

She smiled and stroked his mane and said, “Of course I am.”

He smiled then he said, “I love you mommy.”

He then buried his head into her then she kissed his forehead then she said “I love you too sun Dancer.”

The next morning came and Lance was trotting up the steps of canterlot’s palace he is a light blue Pegasus who wore dark blue armor and brown eyes he was trotting with his daughter little Ocean breeze with her light green coat her light green eyes and a flowing light blue mane and tail with two little green wings.

She looked back at Lance then said, “Come on!”

Lance flew up to her then said, “What’s the hurry Ocean breeze?”

She laughed “Your funny daddy. We’re already late.”

He smiled and said “Well were here now.”

He then opens the doors to the palace and then they turned a left then they entered the ballroom here a small wooden gate was closed and with Sugar cube behind it with Sun Dancer and Prince Blue blood. Prince Blue blood was four with his white coat and his wavy blonde tail and mane flowing behind him as he was being chased by Prince Sun Dancer.

They were galloping around trying to catch each other.

Then Sugar Cube turns his head then said,  "Lance your late.”

Ocean breeze laughs she flew over the gate and landed in Sugar Cube’s hooves.

she shouted “Sugar Cube!”

He held her close then Lance sighed and said, “Thanks again Sugar Cube.”

Sugar Cube then said “No problem just come by normal time.”

He smiles then said “Ocean breeze be good.”

She looked back then said, “I will daddy. Bye daddy.”

He smiled and said “bye sweet heart.”

He then flew back through the main doors.

Then Sugar cube turned to the three fillies Prince Blue blood was crying and he said, “Sun dancer cheated.”

Sugar cube sighed, “Sun Dancer.”

Sun Dancer came up then said “I didn’t cheat I didn’t use my wings. “

Prince blue blood then said, “Yes you did.”

Sugar Cube then bent down to Prince blue blood then said, “Prince Blue Blood remember what I told you about lying?”

He looked up and shouted “I’m not lying!”

Sugar Cube then said, “I watched you two and Sun Dancer never used his wings and he tagged you.”

Prince blue blood then started to cry then said, “I didn’t.”

He galloped to a corner then Sugar Cube sighed and then he turned to Ocean breeze who was building a tower with blocks.

Sugar Cube then said “Sun Dancer can you play with Ocean breeze after I talk with Prince blue blood then we’ll have breakfast okay?”

He nods then trots over to Ocean breeze and he starts to help build the tower with her. Then Sugar Cube goes to prince blue blood crying in the corner Sugar Cube lowers him to Prince Blue blood’s face.

Sugar Cube asked, “Tell me what’s bothering you?”

He looked and said, “Why don’t I have wings like Sun Dancer?”

Sugar cube smiled, “Well maybe you’re a different Alicorn. But look at me I don’t have wings or a horn.”

Prince blue blood replied, “You’re an earth pony that’s different.”

Sugar Cube then said, “Not really, but you know something? You have other things.”

Prince blue blood looked up then said “like what?”

Sugar Cube then said, “Well your, good at organizing and you like keeping yourself clean.”

Prince blue blood then smiled and said, “My mommy said royalty has to present ourselves properly? Is that true?”

Sugar Cube laughed and said, “Of course it is now do you want some breakfast.”

He nods then said, “I want cake.”

Sugar Cube then said, “No cake, were having fruit.”

Prince blue blood made a face then said “Fruit?”

Then Sugar Cube went to a small table in the far side of the room where he set up a plat of fruit and made three plates with orange slices and apple slices and peeled bananas he then set the plates on the table then he went to the tree and said, “Okay come on you three.” They all trotted up to the table then prince blue blood only ate only the orange slices then He saw Butter Scotch she’s unicorn and a mare with green eyes, a light brown coat and a dark brown and white mane that curled around her head and her tail tail curled as well. For her Cutie, mark was a red book with bright blue ABC on the front.

She smiled when she opened the wooden gate then said “Sugar Cube I see you’re already at it.”

Sugar Cube then said “Of course.”

Then she came up and said, “Wow you three eat fast.”

They all laughed then Ocean breeze shouted, “Butter Scotch!”

She flew into her hooves then she hugged Ocean Breeze then she said, “Was Lance late again.

Ocean breeze giggled and said “Yeah he’s so funny.”

Sugar Cube shakes his head then prince blue blood got off the table.

then Prince Dancer got off the table then said “Sugar Cube I got to go potty.”

Sugar Cube then said, “Alright let’s go. Butter Scotch you don’t’ mind.”

She then said, “Go. I got this.”

Sugar Cube then said, “Alright come on.”

Then he heads off with Sun Dancer.

The day passes by and the three were now in sleeping rolls napping. Sugar Cube was sitting at the table he set up. The toys were sorted and placed back the table was clean except for two mugs of coffee Butter Scotch’s has her mug  with her magic.

Sugar Cube had his mug in his right hoof he then said “ Another good day.”

She smiled and replied, “You’re so good with them I didn’t really have to teach you anything.”

He nods then said, “I couldn’t have done this without you. So thank you for helping me.”

She smiled and said, “No I should be thanking you if Diamond heart had it her way I would be working a desk job every day. This is what I want to do. “

Sugar Cube then said, “I can’t believe you left like that still what was diamond heart’s expression you have to tell me.” She then said, “She was like this.”

She crinkled her face then said “What? You quit no you’re fired!”

Sugar Cube laughed, “That was good.”

Butter Scotch replied, “Well at least I’m getting paid more here than I was at that nanny service. Anyways how are you doing?”

Sugar cube sighed“Sun Dancer had a nightmare last night.”

Butter Scotch said, “let me guess he wet himself.”

Sugar Cube nods then said, “He never wets the bed and he was really upset about it.”

He looked down then Butter scotch smiled and said, “Having memories from your filly hood?”

he looked up then said, “It’s just I ‘m trying to be a good foster father if you can say that. I just want to be better than… the pony who raised me.”

Butterscotch then said, “I understand. It’s probably why you’re so understanding.”

He looked at her then said “So anyways..”

Then Ocean breeze started to squirm then Prince Blue blood started to squirm then they both  at once started to cry.

Then Prince Blue blood shouted “mommy!”

Ocean breeze started to shout “Mommy! Daddy!”

Sugar Cube rushed ever then they all woke up then they all climbed up into Sugar Cube he hugged them then said, “What happened?”

Prince blue blood then said “Bad dream."

Ocean breeze nods then Sugar Cube looks at them.

Ocean breeze then replied, “I’m scared.”

Prince Sun Dancer bowed his head into Sugar Cube then they all started to cry.

Sugar Cube said in a hushed voice “Hey all of you stop crying now tell me would I let anything bad happen to any of you?” They all looked up.

Then Sugar Cube said, “I promise each one of you nothing is going to happen to you. I’m going to be here and stop those shadows from getting you.” They all smiled and then they hugged him then he nuzzled them then said “alright nap time’s over. Who wants to play in the garden?”

They all got excited.

Prince Blue Blood said, “I’m not going to get dirty though."

Sugar Cube replied, “Alright come on get in line and follow me.”

As they all headed out and Sugar Cube turns to Butter scotch then said, “Want to join us?”

She smiled and said, “Yeah I would love to.”

That night Sugar Cube was wearing his white cloak and his leg braces.

He was watching Princess Celestia tuck Sun Dancer into bed she then nuzzled him then said, “You like the story of the bear and me?”

He laughed then said “You got chased by bear?”

She nodded as he said, “Were you scarred?"

She replied “only a little.”

She then got stern and said, “Alright it’s time to get some sleep."

She then kissed his forehead.

Then he said, “I’m not going to wet the bed tonight I promise.”

Celestia smiled and said, “Alright, you want me to leave the light on?”

He nods then she said, “Goodnight, and remember I love you."

She kissed his forehead.

Then he said “I love you to mommy.”

She dims the oil lamp near the door.

Then Sun Dancer said, “good night sugar Cube.”

Sugar cube bows his head then said “Good night prince Sun Dancer.”

Princess Celestia heads out of the room.

Sugar Cube turned to Celestia then said, “If you don’t mind could you watch him tonight?”

Celestia nods and said, “He’s here isn’t he.”

Sugar Cube then said “They weren’t the only ones I talked around fillies all over had strange nightmares. This is no coincidence I’m going out tonight I’m not taking any chances.”

He then said “ Princess Celestia you know I’m the only one who can take him down.”

She nods then said, “I’ll stay here.”

He nods then he gallops out of the palace.