Game of Shadows

Chapter 2.

“Poison in a wine glass.”

Sugar Cube raced through the streets he gathered more speed he past a garden shop and then he grabs a few herbs with his mouth then he threw a bag of bits at the table. Then he stuffed the plants in his cloak then he came to a house. Then he looked up and saw the dark window he then climbs up the wall using his fore legs then he flips back ward and slams the window with his back hooves and flips inside. Then he sees a giant yellow Earth pony with green eyes and swirling golden mane she wore a beautiful gold dress with a string of pearls around her neck. The room was huge with a giant master bed and a wardrobe with fine woodwork and the carpet was beautiful velvet.

She held her husband an older back unicorn with a brown mane and brown eyes he wore a black suit with a white blouse and then the wife looked up then said, “Who are you?”

Sugar Cube galloped to her husband then said, “I’m here to save your husband.”

He took the plants from his coat and crushed them with his hoof and put some of the crushed herbs into a syringe and then he shouted, “Water I need some water!”

She nods then goes to the bedside table where there was a jug of water she rushes over and hands it to Sugar Cube.

He then said “poured a little in the vial.”

She poured some and then he said, “Alright you can put it back now.”

She nods then he shakes the syringe until it turned a light green then he opens the black suit feels for the heart then feels for the pulse on his neck then said the “poison hasn’t reached his heart.”

He then takes the vial then slowly places it into the upper right portion of his front right leg. His wife gasps but then after a few minutes her husband began to breathe normally then he coughed then Sugar Cube removed the syringe and took a bandage from his cloak, and pressed hard then he wrapped it around  where he placed the syringe.

Then he said, “He’s going to be fine.”

The black unicorn then looked up to sugar Cube then said, “You saved my life.”

Sugar Cube then said, “Don’t mention it.”

His wife hugs Sugar Cube and starts crying then said, “You saved my husband’s life.  I’m eternally grateful.”

Her husband then said “dear stop being a drama queen.”

She let go then said, “You almost died and you tell me not to worry?”

He got up then said “My suit’s ruined damn it.”

He looked up and said, “Well at least I’m alive.”

Sugar Cube nods then replied, “So can you tell me what happened?”

The husband then said, “Maybe let’s start this with introducing myself. I’m Shadow mane and this is my wife Sun Beam.”

She then said, “I remember you? You filly sat for my son and daughter a year ago.”

He then said, “Yeah it’s nice to see you two again but we should discuss…”

A little black earth pony with golden eyes and a fluffy golden mane followed by his sister a yellow unicorn with a brown mane and brown eyes.  The looked up and then the mom went over to them snuggled them.

She then said “Hey you two. What are you doing up?”

The black earth pony then said, “Yellow Star had to go potty. I helped her.”

She then said, “You’re so courteous like your father.”

Then Yellow Star said “What about me?”

Her mom went into her then said, “You’re smart like me.”

She smiled then they both saw Sugar Cube.

Then the black earth pony said, “Sugar Cube!”

He galloped across the room into Sugar Cube then said, “I missed you.”

Sugar Cube nuzzles him then said, “It seems your teaching your little sister.”

He nods then his father said, “Nimbus talks about nothing but you. He does miss you.”

Sugar Cube puts him down then said, “You know what I’m set up at the palace but if you want I could come by and have them come to the palace while you two are at work.”

Then the Shadow mane then said, “You would do that?”

Sugar Cube then said “Well why not?”

Nimbus then looks at his father then said “Really?”

His father replied, “In actuality none of the nannies I’ve hired do you justice Sugar Cube you actually engaged with my fillies not just watch them.”

He smiled then said, “If you want I’ll come by here every day during the work week and pick them up at 7 and drop them off at 4.”

Shadow mane nods then said “Alright, what about your rate?”

Sugar cube then shakes his mane then said, “I’m already being paid enough through Celestia so I’ll watch your fillies for free.”

They both got excited then Yellow star came in and said “Nimbus told me your nice. Are you?”

He smiled and said, “I try to be.”

She then said, “Well I like books do you have books?”

Sugar Cube then said, “I got tons of books.”

Sun Beam then said “Alright you two let’s go back to bed.”

Nimbus then said, “Can sugar Cube stay the night?”

Sun Beam turned to Sugar Cube then sugar Cube looked at her then said, “I can try to get permission from Princess Celestia. Her son is my main priority but if she allows it, I can watch your fillies for the night.”

They both got excited then Sun Beam said “Alright, you two he said maybe. I’ll tuck you two in.”

She then leads them out the door then Shadow mane sighs then said, “Fillies are so much work but the effort is worth it.”

Sugar cube nods then said, “Well they seem to be doing fine.”

He then said, “So I guess you want to know what happened?”

Sugar Cube then said, “I’m sorry to ask this but did your fillies have strange nightmares?”

Shadow mane then said “They did actually the other night Yellow star came screaming and ran to our bed she wouldn’t speak of what happened Nimbus being more timid wet his bed and my wife had to sleep with him.”

Sugar Cube and said “okay thank you. Now For my next question, I already know the poison was in your body and I dissolved that concoction to counteract it. However, it seems the dosage was small maybe only a single ounce. Tell me what did you eat or drink tonight?”

Shadow mane then said, “I had a glass of wine with my wife we were celebrating she got the lead role at the opera.”

Sugar Cube nodded and said, “Did your wife drink the wine?”

Shadow mane nods then said, “She’s fine right? she’s going to be okay?”

Sugar Cube replied, “If the wine was poisoned both of you would be on the floor what about the glasses or any food?”

Shadow mane then said, “Well we have two special wine glasses we got them at our first honey moon hers was black and mine’s golden. It’s symbolic for our bond.”

Sugar Cube replied, “So the poison must have been coated in your wine glass. I would need to take it for evidence. I should also take your wife’s and the bottle of wine.”

Shadow mane nods then goes to the table with the bottle of wine and the two glasses he uses his magic to give them to sugar cube.

He then said, “Don’t worry once I find out who did this and have them thoroughly cleaned. I’ll give them back.”

He then places them his coat then said, “Okay what about any food?”

Shadow mane shakes his head then said, “We had some pasta earlier but nothing unusual happened.”

Sugar cube then said “What about your house? Who entered the house today? Did any pony look suspicious?"

He shakes his head then said, “The wine was given to us by a special winery down the street grapes and cherries I believe. I got the vintage especially for my wife.”

Sugar Cube and said, “Tell me did the butler ever enter the house?”

Shadow mane shakes his head then said, “He delivered the wine to our door. “

Sugar Cube paused then said, “Did any pony other then you touches your dishes.”

Shadow mane then said, “We do have a servant named Cody but he wouldn’t poison my wine?”

then sugar Cube said, “Tell me did Cody come today.”

Shadow Mane paused then said, “No he was sick we got a replacement his name was uh I forgot but he was an earth pony had an orange coat, blue eyes, and a yellow mane. He’s in his mid-twenties your age I would suspect.”

Sugar Cube then said, “This was all pre-planned what if this new servant is helping the pony I’m after and why only target you? Tell me, what do you do for a living?"

Shadow mane then said, “I work at the bank I’m head of the loan company.”

Then Sugar Cube said, “Any pony failing to pay could be a suspect but let’s narrow the list. What about any pony who knows your wife and yourself, a pony who would know that you drink from a specific wine glass and knew your wife was going to be here drinking with you tonight?”

Shadow mane paused then said, “No pony knew other than my partner Lord Silver. However, at the moment we are at odds over a certain bill he’s trying to pass you see he’s mad were giving the earth ponies that work the farms have their own land without us owning them. So he’s trying to redirect it saying if they fail to pay their bills the bank will repossess their farms Of course I’m against it and I’m trying to get support to stop it.”

Sugar Cube then said, “I’m sorry Shadow mane but I bet your partner lord Silver is behind this.”

Shadow mane shakes his head then said, “No, he’s greedy sure but murder? He would never stoop that low.”

Sugar Cube then said, “All the evidence points to him being the only pony with the information knowing what you and your wife were doing tonight and he knew about the wine glass on top of that he would never pull the murder off himself. He would hire another to do it. I’m sorry but the evidence points to the facts.”

Shadow mane plops on the bed “Lord silver my own partner tried to kill me.”

He then sighed and said “What about the pony I mentioned how he fits in all this?”

Sugar Cube then said, “Tell me did this pony have any feeling of dread like something was off?”

Shadow Mane shakes his head then said, “He seemed normal.”

Sugar cube then said “Tell me the name of the building where you normally hire servants they must have an employer. If I can find out if he actually works there we can get him to talk.”

Shadow mane looks up then said “it’s call the spick and span clean-up crew, their building isn’t far take a left and then keep going straight the building’s next to a flower shop."

Sugar cube nods then said, “Okay I need you to do one more favor. Do not tell any pony that you think its lord silver who tried to have you killed. I need more evidence before I can arrest him. All I have is circumstantial evidence and a theory I could still be wrong.”

Shadow mane then said, “What about this mysterious pony that one you keep mentioning how does he tie in all this?” Sugar cube then said, “He’s  ... a monster that was sent here to commit mass genocide. However, I think he has taken a new job. He decided to kill for bits. However, that’s how I’ll get lord silver if I can get lord silver to confess that he hired at hit pony to take you out he can direct me to him and I can stop Death for good.”

Shadow mane looked up then said “I know this awkward but can we stay at the palace at least until this blows over? It is going to be all over the city me almost being poisoned. The last thing I want is for my fillies to get involved.”

Sugar Cube then said, “You and your wife should come too. Your right I do not want any of you getting hurt. “

He nods then said, “I’ll get them packing and we’ll be by tonight just making sure you tell the guard so we don’t get turned away at the gates.”

Sugar cube nods then said, “I’m sorry for being the bearer of bad news."

Shadow mane then said, “Don’t be I’m alive because of you."

Sugar Cube looks back then said, “You’re a great father caring for your fillies like that.”

He then said, “You’re the best nanny I know."

Sugar cube smiled then said, “You know it’s weird having two destinies one where I fight evil and other caring for fillies it’s so weird.”

Shadow mane smiled and said “Yet you’re doing such a great job. I have a question how do you get sleep? “

Sugar Cube looks up then said “I don’t, I meditate”

Shadow mane laughed then said, “I wish I could do that.”

Sugar cube then said, “Just get them to the palace I’ll be there.”

He nods and Sugar cube goes out the window and climbs back down to the street.

Sugar Cube was now back in Princess Celestia’s chamber she then said, “So lord silver that piece of shit tried to kill a pony under my nose.”

Sugar cube then said, “Well this is also good news it means Death is disobeying Oblivion’s orders he’s not going to kill every pony in Equestria only the ones lord Silver paid for. However, he won’t kill any of them I’m going to stop these assassinations and were going to gather more evidence and nail him. Then we get him to lead us to Death and we end this no blood shed no massacre no pony dies not under my watch.”

Princess  Celestia then said, “If Death is this smart though he would never tell Lord silver where he’s hiding."

Sugar Cube chuckled then said, “We draw him out Lord Silver needs to meet with Death to plan these murders we can use lord silver as bait.”

Princess Celestia then said “alright but your right before we can do that we need more evidence we need the pony that cleaned Shadow mane’s wine glass and get him to talk first.”

Sugar Cube nods then said, “I will but the shop is closed and so is the winery. Therefore, I’ll visit both places. I took the bottle of wine and the other wine glass as well for evidence. I tested all three and found out that the wife’s wine glass was clean, so was the wine, Shadow Mane’s cup was coated with a  very small dose of a untraceable poison that when consumed traveled through the blood stream to stop the heart. Luckily I galloped by an herbal shop with a few herbs I picked up and nullified the toxin by injecting into his veins just as the poison reached it.”

Princess Celestia then said, “So we’re dealing with an assassin skilled with poison.”

Sugar cube then said “I bet Death has found a way to condense his shadow powers if he used them I would trace him. He probably figured that out so he’s going to use other means to kill ponies. The best way to stop him is to find the most likely targets. This bill the one being put to a vote I need to know who are against it and their families and where they live I need to know where they go, where they stay, what they’re doing.”

Princess Celestia then said, “The galloping Gala is a month away as well, the day after that were going to vote.” Sugar cube stopped then said “the galloping gala…you mean he could try to pull a stunt then as well.” He then said, “We need to stop Lord silver well before then.”

Princess Celestia then said, “So what will you do?”

Sugar Cube replied, “We tell every pony that yes shadow mane was poisoned and have every pony know that there will be curfew until this dilemma has passed. On top of that, I need the help of every guard. They will be placed with the families of the ponies I’ve mentioned earlier but Death will try to kill them and I’m going to need every ounce of luck and ability I can muster. “

Princess Celestia replied “Alright what about Shadow mane and his family."

Sugar cube replied, “They should stay here until this is over. If death knows, he failed. They could still be targets the palace is the most secure for them and I’ll watch their fillies in fact. Could they stay in sun dancer’s room? It will be easier to be able to watch all of them.”

Princess Celestia nods then said, “That’s fine besides Sun dancer would love the company.”

Sugar cube nods as he then said, “Alright and Celestia get some sleep. Even if I can’t sense Death I can sense every other pony and if I feel anything out of place I’ll be there.”

Princess Celestia nods then said “Alright and Sugar Cube good luck in catching him.” Sugar Cube then said, “Thank you, for having faith in me.”

Sun Dancer was laughing with Nimbus as Sugar Cube tucked them in.

Sun Dancer then said, “I wish we could stay up a bit longer?"

Nimbus then got stern and said “Yeah Sugar Cube I thought you were fun?”

Sugar cube then said, “If you stayed up all night you would be too tired to have fun tomorrow.”

Yellow Star trotted up behind him then said “Sugar Cube would you protect us and save us like you did for daddy? “

He looked at her bends low then said, “Look at me and tell me would I let anything bad happen to you?”

She smiled and said, “I know you won’t.”

She then hugs him and he hugs her and then he then picks her up and puts her into Sun Dancer’s bed.

As they all cuddled next to each other he then said, “I’ll leave the light on and have the door open so it will be easier to get to the restroom okay?”

They all nod then he said, “I’ll be outside so if you need anything just shout.”

They all nod again then Nimbus said “But were too excited to go to sleep!”

Sugar cube bent down then said “Then I’ll tell a story it’s called North Star fights the shadow.”

They all starred at him then he said, “Once upon a time prince North Star was in the woods and alone he was scarred of the darkness just like you. He did not know what to do and it was coming for him, and he knew it. However he then takes out this little amulet and then he lets it glow and then the shadows go away then he held onto this little light and threw it into the sky making the North Star.” He points to the star outside the window then he said “look at the stars and the moon there’s always light in the darkness.” Then they all clapped then

Nimbus said, “So there’s light in darkness. Even those scary shadows.”

Sugar cube brushed his mane then said, “Of course there is. Now you three still need sleep.”

He then gets up then he trots out of the room and he leaves the door ajar then he turns the corner

He sees Sun Beam she smiled and said, “You ever thought of having fillies of your own?”

He looked at her then said, “I did but right now there’s a lot going on. Maybe after this I’ll be able to finally settle down.”

She nods then said, “My husband is he going to be okay?”

Sugar cube then put’s a hoof on her shoulder.

Sugar Cube replied, “He’s going to be fine, go to him and spend the night with him he probably needs you now. I’ll take care of you fillies.”

She smiled then said, “Alright I’m going to go check on them still."

Sugar Cube got out of the way then Sun Beam entered then he heard the fillies shout “Mommy!”

Then she said, “Hello my dears I just wanted to say goodnight.”

Nimbus and yellows star then said, “Is daddy going to be okay?”

She then said, “He’s going to be fine Sugar cube and Celestia are here they’ll protect him and you.”

Then Nimbus said, “He told us there’s light in darkness. Is that true?”

Sun Beam chuckled and said, “Of course it is. You don’t ever have to worry about darkness because of the stars and the moon just like Sugar cube said. Now I just came to say goodnight.”

She then kissed Nimbus on the forehead and she bent to Yellow star and did the same.

Then Sun Dancer said, “My mommy said good night to me already."

Sun Beam then said, “I bet she did. “

She then said “alright you two behave I’m going to be down the hall if you need me.”

Yellow star and nimbus shout “Okay!”

Then she left Sun dancer’s room and smiled at Sugar Cube then said “Good night.”

He bows then said “good night.”

As she left, he took out his mat from Sun dancer’s room laid it on the ground on the right side of Sun Dancer’s room then he knelt on the mat and then he breathed through his nose and out through his mouth, his eyes turned silver and he went into his trance.