Game of Shadows

Chapter 7

“Judgement.”

Lord Silver woke in his bed that morning it was a large bed and his room has a black carpet, and his walls were painted perfect grey. He had a wardrobe that faced him and a hearth on the left side with a small table a book  on it a bottle of wine and a wine glass that was half full he also had a large window on his right side of the room that had large black drapes over it. He was a dark silver unicorn with large blue eyes and a perfect white mane that was a bit wild is head as his tail was large puffy tail as he strolled out of bed and trotted to his door and opened it he went through the hall and came down the center flight of stairs. His butler a dark brown earth pony with a grey mane and tail tied in a perfect braid and he had brown eye. As he was dusting, the staircase he drops the duster from his mouth and bows.

He then said, “Good morning master Silver.”

Lord Silver grumbles, “good morning, is my breakfast ready?”

The butler bows then said “A cup of black coffee with an ounce of cream two eggs cooked sunny side up and a side of toast with a bowl of hot oatmeal no flavor added, as always sir.”

Lord Silver bows his head then said “Very good Iron mane.”

Iron mane got up and said, “Master, would you want me to fix your bed and tidy your room?”

Lord Silver then said, “No, I’ll do it. Just come with me for a moment.”

Iron mane rises then Lord Silver goes down the rest of the stars into the main room here the front doors faced them with a large empty room all there was two black couches on either side and a portrait of princess platinum hanging on right side. He looked at her for a second then he turns to the left and enters his dining room It was elongated with a large glass door leading outside in the back and on the table on the front of the table  was his bowl of oatmeal and his plate of food and his coffee.

He sat and then turned to Iron Mane who came in then Lord Silver silver staring at his food then said “Iron mane. What is evil?”

Iron mane then said, “Master, well personally I think it’s anything that tries to harm ponies or a pony trying to harm another pony for their own personal gain.”

Iron mane chuckles and said “Yet look at us we built this kingdom on the blood of those who never believe in it tell me wasn’t it evil for us to take those lives?”

Iron mane then said “If we didn’t we could be living under tyranny or in complete chaos. Princess Celestia brought guidance and she doesn’t abuse her power.”

Lord Silver looks up at his grey ceiling with a large chandelier overhead then said “Yet isn’t the reason we collapsed was because we worshiped the Alicorns? Aren’t we just making the same mistake twice?”

Iron mane shakes his head” Master, Princess Celestia learned the mistakes from the past she rules but we also have political power. As before only Alicorns had political power.”

Lord Silver then said “No not just that, they cling to her because they think her beings justice and focuses on their safety. However, she’s blind to a simple truth.”

Iron mane then said, “What is that?”

Lord Silver then said “Justice Iron mane. True justice, you see I am partly to blame for the rebellion of Crimson I raised their taxes to support our kingdom in return they retaliated. Sure Snowstorm killed some, but I feel partially responsible. For four years I’ve been living with this guilt, then Celestia did it she dispensed justice on that savage Snowstorm the only problem was she did it too late. Snowstorm killed Crimson because she was scared to act. That hesitation could be our downfall.”

Iron mane then said “Isn’t good she thought about it though? Killing shouldn’t be an easy thing to do, Even if it is the right thing.”

Lord Silver then said, “I’ve been thinking about that for a while. Wondering, contemplating, the thing is I canceled the bill last night.”

Iron mane smiled and said, “I heard every pony is quite pleased that you did. But may I ask why?”

Lord Silver gulped and said, “Because I know my true calling now. I know now what I am, who I am. I thought that I could use bits to control every pony make them fall in line but Celestia’s kindness is reflecting on us and now their kindness turned to weakness. Equestria needs me Iron mane she needs my judgement.”

Iron mane smile turns stern he then said “Lord Silver what do you mean your judgement?”

Lord Silver then said “Don’t worry about it Iron mane I meant my way of thinking on politics I’m not going to do anything rash.”

Iron mane bows then said, “The manor is perfectly cleaned except for your room of course.”

Lord Silver then said, “Leave Iron mane you can go home early.”

Iron mane smiles then lord Silver said, “Actually take the entire week off I mean it. I can take care of myself I just need time to think.”

Iron mane bows then said, “Thank you again. I mean my lord.”

Silver then said, “Actually I’m not that hungry you can have my breakfast just make sure you clean the dishes.”

Iron mane looked at him then said, “Are you feeling okay sir?”

Lord Silver sighed then said, “I’m fine like I said I’m turning a new leaf. I guess it takes time to adjust.”

  Iron mane bows again. Then lord Silver leaves the dining room and heads back upstairs then he goes to his room and then he goes to the book on the table.

He opens it then he sees a glowing hoof print then said “Root I’m so sorry, you did well really well, better than I expected. Not only did you keep Sugar cube busy but also, you gave me time to prepare. I am sorry my old friend I really am I could not give you the justice your brother deserves shadow mane is a fool but his death will not benefit me now. For Equestria.”

He places his hoof on the piece of paper and said, “Destroy.”

He turns the page then said, “Cody you fool, I was hoping maybe trying to poison Shadow mane would be enough but you really wanted her didn’t you? The love you never had? I am truly sorry.”

He then places his hoof on the paper then said “Destroy”

He then turns the paper then said, “My changeling I still have uses for you, I won’t kill you yet.”

He then closes the book then he goes to the fireplace, there beneath the wood was a small hidden door; he opens it with his magic and places the book inside and closes the small door and places the logs over it.

Then he sits on his chair takes his wine with his magic and drinks it then he said “Now on to phase two.”

Sugar cube was escorting Root in hoof cuffs trotting up the steps then a giant green rune appeared on his back.

He  then muttered “Brother this was for you. “

Then Root fell to the ground blood poured from his eyes and mouth. Then Sugar Cube starred at him in awe and shock. Then the guards came down the steps Sugar Cube knealt to him then he felt his pulse nothing he was dead.

Sugar Cube then got up and said, “Take his body down to the hospital now I need to know how he died.”

The guards nod they all hoisted his body and then Sugar Cube and the guards carried him back downstairs.

Princess Celestia was on her throne when one of the guards rushed her he goes next to her and says, “Princess Celestia … Cody is dead.”

Princess Celestia rose and said “what!”

the guard then said “I was down in the cells  doing my rounds I saw Cody crying muttering to himself then a giant green flash appeared on his back then he died. I don’t know how but he’s dead.”

Princess Celestia then   flew down to cells there in the dungeons was Shadow in the cell next to Cody he was dead on the ground blood pouring form his eyes and mouth. Princess Celestia starred at him then Shadow with his dark brown coat his messy black mane and tail that’s unkempt and dirty and he now had a long beard.

He muttered “Oblivion’s tome."

Princess Celestia then said, “What did you say?”

Shadow looked up and said “Oblivion’s tome that spell I recognized it. Oblivion was experimenting with the pool of shadows he placed some of its power in a book he used it… on a few ponies. Only a unicorn or Alicorn can wield it. What it does is that you place an object within the book and then the first pony to touch that object is cursed with the power or the wielder can directly place the curse on you. Once the curse is on then all he or she has to do is place his or her hoof on a page of the book and the power from the book will instantly kill the pony who was cursed.”

Princess Celestia starred at Cody then said “Tell me do you know who has it?”

Shadow shakes his head then said, “I don’t know what Oblivion did with it. I haven’t seen its power in decades.”

Princess Celestia swore then said “Guards! Take his body to the hospital he needs to still be examined."

She starred at Shadow then said, “I feel like you’ve changed.”

He looked up then said “I know what I was doing was wrong now.”

She starred at him then Cody then said, “I still can’t trust you yet your sentence is twenty years but I’m reducing it to 15.”

He nods then said “thank you.”

She then leaves the dungeon with the guards.

Sugar Cube and princess Celestia were both in the waiting room of the reformed hospital it was bigger now with a front desk with a clerk behind it and the tile floor was pure white as was the walls and the ceiling. The doctor cam in his eyes were wide he was a white  earth pony with a giant red cross for his cutie mark his mane was brown and his eyes brown with a small brown brown beard.

He looked up then sugar cube said “so what happened to them?”

The doctor swallowed and said “It’s quite disturbing. All their eternal organs including the brain exploded inside their bodies. I don’t think it’s wise for any pony to see them.”

Sugar Cube looked down then said, “Did they feel any pain?”

The doctor shakes his head then said “I doubt it form what it looks like, they died instantaneously.”

Sugar Cube looked down and muttered, “I don’t care if they were criminals they didn’t deserve to die like this.”

Princess Celestia starred down then said, “Was this Death?”

Sugar Cube looked at the doctor and said, “Doctor is there anything else you can tell us? Are you sure that they didn’t die from something else?”

The doctor then said “Sugar Cube I examined many bodies mostly those brought back form king Sombra’s war nothing no weapon or magic I know of could cause damage like this.”

Sugar Cube nods and said, “They at least deserve decent burials.”

The doctor nods then said, “I’ll take them to the morgue.”

He then leaves the two then Princess Celestia said, “This is lord Silver when until I get my hooves on him!”

Sugar cube then said “But why… they didn’t know anything? why kill them what’s the point it doesn’t make any…”

Then he collapses on the bench.

Then princess Celestia said, “I should just go to lord Silver’s manor and force him to tell us what he did.”

Sugar Cube then said “Then you’re no different from him.”

Princess Celestia looked up then Sugar Cube looked up then said “Even if you go to his manor, he probably hid the book and if we cannot find it, we will not have any evidence or real reason behind going there. Princess Celestia going to attack him now will only cause more problems than it solves.”

She then said, “We both know he’s going to do something at the wedding.”

Sugar Cube sighed and said “Princess Celestia I’m going to need the guest list of the wedding including staff.”

Princess Celestia looked at Sugar Cube then he got up then said, “If we’re going to defeat Silver then we need to do this right.”

She sighed and said “No your right. I will get you the guest list."

Sugar Cube nods and said, “Were going to capture lord Silver, do you still trust me?”

She looked up and smiled and said, “I never doubted you. I just needed to vent. “

He nods then said, “Alright let’s go then we have a wedding to save.”