Game of Shadows

Chapter 5

Reading the tea leaves

The next day as Yellow star, Nimbus, Prince blue blood, Prince Sun Dancer and Ocean breeze slept on their mats in the ballroom with the wooden gate closing it off and the small table set up with Sugar Cube and Butterscotch drinking coffee.

Sugar Cube astonished replied, “That Opera was great. I didn’t realize how good Sun Beam could sing?”

Butterscotch then said, “It was nice, I haven’t been to an opera since my 16th birthday. Thank you.”

Sugar Cube then said “Your welcome my love.”

He paused and said “Butterscotch I’ve been thinking did you tell any pony where you were going when you went to your house to change?”

She then said, “One of my friends I passed her along the way, there was a guard he did stop me and asked if I needed an escort. Of course, I declined. That was all.”

Sugar Cube asked, “Who?”

Butterscotch then said, “I don’t know his name he wore a helmet so I couldn’t see his mane but he had a dark grey coat and blue eyes.”

Sugar Cube replied, “Thank you, Butterscotch.”

She then said, “You think he’s the one who destroyed my father’s clock?”

Sugar Cube replied “was he a unicorn?”

She shakes her head and said, “I believe he was a Pegasus.”

Sugar Cube sighed, “I’m not going to worry about it right now.”

She then said, “Do you have a theory?”

Sugar Cube looked at her and said, “Okay here’s the things I know. Butterscotch your parents do have a backyard but it’s all stone patio correct?”

She nods then Sugar Cube continues, “So there’s no grass and there’s not trees or plants near their house. So I’m wondering how did that mud get there? There weren’t any hoof prints on your parent’s carpet so if the pony who traced the mud on your parent’s wall didn’t trot through mud or at least never entered the house. Then I believe the pony who did it, I believe was a unicorn a unicorn could open your parents door with their magic and brought mud with them then used their magic to create the message and smash your father’s clock. Then all I have to do is fine a unicorn who has access to dirt who knew your parents or has a connection to me knowing you. My best bet is that we’ve been watched.”

Butterscotch replied “Really?”

He nods and said, “Your father is making a clock for a very important wedding. It’s being held at the first manor hall of the founding 6 and they’re going to do it outside. I’ve already got Lance to ready a security team and Celestia will hold up a powerful spell shield and only those invited will be allowed in. The thing is, the mare being married is apart of the bank her name’s Crystal Heart she’s the one backing Shadow mane’s proposal to shut down Lord Silver’s bill. The only reason Death wants me to go to that wedding is to witness that he will murder her in front of every pony and watch me fail to protect her.”

Butterscotch then said “This is all theory though?”

He nods and said, “There’s no other reason he would leave that message then to taunt me he wants me to be at that wedding. But by leaving that message he knows you and your family and he wouldn’t have known those things if he wasn’t investigating us which means he has a pony who’s been following us.”

Butterscotch then said, “The guard I talked to he could be your mystery informant. It was odd. There was really no reason for him to ask such a question.”

Sugar Cube nods then said “Later today I’ll talk to Lance see what else I can find.”

Sugar Cube was then with Lance that afternoon who was picking up his daughter she rushed him and shouted “daddy!” He smiled as he picked her up with his hooves and hugged her then Sun dancer came trotting up then said Ocean breeze turned to sun Dancer who had tears in his eyes.

He then said “I hate it when you have to leave.”

She smiled and hugged sun dancer who hugged back then Lance looked sternlly at sun Dancer then he smiled and then he looked up at Sugar Cube.

Sugar Cube replied, “Actually could I ask you a few questions?”

Lance then sighed, “Fine hey sweetie.”

She looked up.

Lance replied “Me and sugar cube have some grown up talk you can play with Sun dancer a bit longer.”

She laughs then the two go galloping back to the toys where they were building a city made of blocks. Then sugar Cube sat down with him at the table.

Butterscotch then turned to Lance and he said, “What’s the problem?”

Sugar Cube then said, “Butterscotch you tell him?”

Butterscotch then said, “A guard two days ago asked if I needed an escort. I know he was just being polite. Then my father’s clock was smashed as you’ve heard. “

Lance nods then Sugar Cube said “”I don’t think he’s the one who did the crime. I do believe that he’s been keeping tabs on us. But of course this is theory I’ll need to speak with him.”

Lance replied, “Sure that’s fine who was it?”

Butterscotch then said, “I don’t know his name he wore a helmet so I couldn’t see his mane but he had a dark grey coat and blue eyes.”

Lance then said “Cloudy sky? Your right though he has been acting strange recently."

Sugar Cube then said, “Strange how?”

Lance replied, “Well he would always greet me with a cup of coffee every morning but for the last week he’s completely forgotten and on top of that he’s usually talkative and social but recently he barley speaks to any pony.”

Sugar Cube then pauses for a second and said, “I have a question do you know something about him? “

Lance then said, “He has a wife and a filly on the way. That’s all.”

Sugar Cube replied, “I need to speak to his wife.”

Lance replied, “Are you serious?”

Sugar Cube then said, “Look, I think I know why he’s been acting strange but when I confront him I’m going to need more proof on something. His wife knows him best i’m going to talk to her and see what she can tell me about him and why he’s been acting so strange. Trust me I won’t do anything that will compromise your trust with him.”

Lance then said, “This is kind of out of bounds, even for you.”

Sugar Cube then said “Lance I’m racing against the clock I need to know who’s been gathering Intel on me and fast.”

Lance replied, “Alright you know that sandwich place the one where you saved Iron hoof his house is three blocks down the road take a right. His house is the second one down on the left side.”

Sugar Cube then nods and said, “You’ll thank me later on this.”

Lance then said “Alright Sugar Cube, Okay Ocean breeze time to go.”

She looked up then she turned to Sun dancer and said, “I’ll be back tomorrow like always.”

He sighed then said “okay. “

They hug then she flies over to her dad as they left.

Sugar Cube went up to Sun Dancer then said, “Hey how was your weekend with your mom?”

He smiled and said, “It was great she played hide and seek with me in the garden! she helped me build a big tower! and she read to me! and she let me sleep in her bed!”

Sugar Cube smiled then said, “That’s wonderful.”

Sun Dancer replied, “Sugar Cube are you my daddy?”

Sugar cube starred at him then sighed and he had flash backs of North Star and his promise to him.

He bends low to him then said “No I’m not and it’s not my decision to tell you about him okay?”

Sun Dancer smiled and said “Your my best friend right?”

Sugar Cube ruffled his mane then said, “Right, come on help me put these blocks away.”

He replied, “Okay.”

He trotted to the blocks and started picking them up with his mouth and placing them in his toy chest.

Then he turns to Butterscotch and said, “I’m sorry to ask this but can you watch him?”

She kisses Sugar Cube then said, “Go investigate.”

He then said “Thank you.”

Then he opens the small wooden gate and leaves.

That afternoon sugar cube went over to the house of Cloudy sky’s wife he wore his white cloak and his leg braces. She opens the door she was a pure white Pegasus with a silvery grey mane and yellow timid eyes she was side as she was well I her pregnancy and her mark is a teapot.

She smiled and said “I know you, your that stallion every pony’s talking about the one who saved Shadow mane.”

Sugar Cube bows then said, “My name is Sugar Cube and I’m a friend of Lance, and I came to speak about your husband.”

She nods then said “I’m Rose petal and I’m glad you came. Please come in.”

She leads him inside the house was nice with a yellow carpet and a beautiful white coach there was a hearth and the walls were painted yellow. By the couch was a tea set with a large pot of tea and a few cups.

She then said, “I sell and make tea, If you haven’t notice.”

He smiled and said “I ‘m more of a coffee pony.”

She then slowly sits on the sofa the said “I do Coffee too. But I love tea more.”

Sugar Cube then sits across from her he then said, “Mam I’m only here to ask few questions. Not much more.”

She smiled and said, “I know it’s my husband he’s been acting strange.”

Sugar cube then said “Since when?”

She then said “For the past week. One day he came home and didn’t even tell me how my day was he always asks. When I talked about our filly he just nods and barley enters the conversation. Then he didn’t something that didn’t make any since.”

Sugar Cube then said “what?"

She replied, “Well his father died in king Sombra’s war and every year he would go to his grave and place flowers on it. He didn’t do it this year he never he even spoke about it.  Since i’m pregnant I thought maybe it’s just him worrying but I fear it’s something more.”

She looked down and sighed, “He’s hiding something or he’s angry.”

Sugar Cube replied, “What if I told it was neither?”

She looked up then Sugar Cube then said, “Please I don’t want to frighten or worry you but I believe your real husband has been fillynapped and a changeling has taken over in your husband’s place.”

She then said, “You have any proof?”

Sugar Cube then said “No not yet, but look he hasn’t captured your husband’s mannerisms so there’s a chance he didn’t copy his memory either. Tonight when he comes home from work I’ll hide somewhere and you ask him questions. Questions your husband would know no matter what. Your first date, his proposal, how you met ,things he would remember distinctly without fail. In fact ask him how his father's doing.”

She smiled and said,”If I ask him about his father and he replied with he’s doing fine."

Sugar Cube nods then said, “The thing is knowing your husband is the key to capture the changeling. This is all based on theory though.”

She then said, “I can do it.”

Sugar Cube then said “Alright.”

Cloudy Sky came in stripping off his armor and placing it in the closet by the hearth. His light grey man fell over his dark grey coat and his blue eyes shined and he had a cutie mark of a spear going through a storm cloud.

Rose petal was drinking tea from her cup and then smiled and said, “How was your day.”

He sighed, “Boring as usual.”

She then looked stern then she said, “Do you remember something today?”

‘He looked at her and said “What?”

She then said, “You remember how you proposed?”

He gulped and said “I uh took you to a uh that dinner place down the street.”

She got up then smiled and said, “I’m just messing with you. How’s your father?”

He smiled and said “He’s doing fine just visited him actually?”

Sugar Cube cane out from the corner and slams the fake cloudy sky to the wall and held dagger to his gut.

Sugar Cube then said “Alright imposter, you’ve been caught.”

Cloudy Sky shouted, ”Rose petal stop this idiot!”

She got stern and said, “Even I’m not that stupid. Today was our anniversary  I’’ll give it that my husband might of forgotten that. However, my husband knows how he proposed like the back of his hoof. The last question though I know you’re an imposter. His father’s been dead for seven years so tell me how is he fine?”

Then Cloudy Sky then morphed into a changeling.

Sugar Cube said, “so you’ve been following me huh?”

The changeling said “Look just don’t kill me."

Sugar Cube then said “No, not here, not in front of Rose Petal. So you better start talking first of all who hired you?”

the changeling then said, “Alright, it was this unicorn. after I came here 5 years ago in the battle to take canterlot I was taken by this unicorn he placed me in a  cell it was dark and all I could see was him in a back cloak. He would feed me and let me have water that was it. Then one night he threw a guard in the cell and then said to put on his armor I did then he then told me to morph into him, I did. Then the unicorn said to follow you and whomever you met, then report to him at random locations they were different each time, the times were random too. He always wore a cloak and he never revealed himself. He told me if I didn’t he would kill me. I never wanted this I was forced to do this.”

Then Sugar Cube said “Tell me is cloudy sky still alive?”

The Changeling then said, “I don’t know?”

Sugar Cube then said, “What about the wedding is there more of you?”

The changeling then said, “I don’t know. I was in a cell for five years. Trust me I don’t know anything all I did was follow you and Butterscotch and gave the information to the unicorn you have to believe me.” Sugar Cube threw him on the ground then said, “Go. Go back to your land and never come back.”

The changeling then said “I can’t that’s the problem I would of I even tried but.”

He then turns his back and on these was a rune seal carved int his back glowing green.

The changeling said “If I go anywhere outside of Canterlot this seal would explode.”

Sugar Cube sighed and said, “Change back to Cloudy sky”

He does then Sugar Cube said, “Rose Petal i’m sorry but I’m not a monster and this changeling as you heard is being forced to impersonate your husband.”

She sighed, “Well he can stay but he sleeps on the couch.”

He nods then Sugar Cube looked at the changeling and said, “This conversation never happened you got it.” The changeling said “But I still have to keep tabs.”

Sugar cube then said, “He can keep tabs on me all he wants. I think I know how to find out what’s going on.”

He then said “One more thing. Did this unicorn smell of dirt and maybe have a smell as if he worked with plants?”

He nods and said, “He smells like a garden.”

Sugar Cube then said, “Tell me what else do you know.”

The changeling then said, “He’s the one who gave Cody the poison and a bag of five hundred bits, I was with him that night that’s all."

Sugar Cube then said “are you sure this is a unicorn?”

The changeling nods then Sugar Cube said “Tell me, two days ago what happened.”

The changeling said, “Alright I tailed Butterscotch using different forms she left unexpectedly as she never goes to your room. The thing is the unicorn I work for he told me that if I didn’t find out anything new about you two by the end of that day he would kill me. She then talked to a friend about how you asked her to meet her parents then I went to find the unicorn at one of his meeting places a random ally behind a restaurant then I told him. Then he vanishes. He does that.  Just teleports then I went back to being cloudy sky and did my patrols.”

The changeling then said, “Promise one thing if you do capture him and when you do can please let me live.”

Sugar cube then said, “You’ll live. But you know if this unicorn found what you told me your dead. So like I said before this conversation never happened.”

He nods then Sugar Cube looked at Rose petal and said “You doing okay”

She just sits on the couch mortified and said ”My husband is in a cell somewhere and I found out I’ve been living with an imposter tell me how I should feel? “

Sugar Cube then said, “Look at me."

She looks up then sugar Cube said, “I promise you I’m going to do everything in my power to find your husband and bring him home safe. Do you trust me? “

She looked up and smiled “I heard you say that a lot.”

He chuckles then said, “You know I’m planning to start a filly care center.”

She smiled and looked at herself then said “it was so unexpected me and my husband we didn’t really think we would be ready.”

Sugar Cube then said, “For helping me I want to return the favor. I know both of you work so when your filly is older I’ll care for him or her for free."

She looked up then said “Thank you, and Sugar Cube when you find my husband ill make sure you have free coffee for the rest of your life.”

He laughed then said “Deal."

He looked at the changeling and said “You protect her as well, if any pony even this rouge unicorn comes for her you protect her with your life or you die understand?"

He nods rapidly.

Then Sugar Cube looks back at Rose petal then said “Are you going to do okay?”

she sighs and looks up then said, “I’ll do fine.”

He nods then he leaves the house.