Game of Shadows

Chapter 10

“The shadow of Lord Silver”

It was the day of the wedding and the main ceremony  was over and the ponies were now talking, laughing, and eating. A steel fence surrounded the old style building made of white wood and a small bell on the top. In front of the podium was a dance floor where they have colts and mares dancing together with a band playing dance music. On the left side was full of small tables and chairs and the buffet. Princess Celestia was looking over them then lord Silver strode up and trotted up to Black Heat and Crystal heart sitting around a small white table with Sugar cube and Butterscotch. Black heat wore complete black with a black suit and black blouse and his fiery mane and tail was combed back. Crystal heart wore her wedding dress with her veil turned back smiling. Sugar Cube wore his normal black suit and his white blouse and Butterscotch wore a beautiful red dress.  Lord Silver in a dull grey suit with a white blouse his mane and tail combed back trotted up to them Crystal heart’s smile turned stern.

She then said “Lord Silver.”

Black heat looked down as Lord Silver sat before them.

He then said, “I just wanted to give my congratulations to you two.”

Crystal heart then said, “Thank you, it was also nice of you to buy all your former supporters their tickets for the galloping gala.”

Lord silver replied, “Well they deserve it for all the hard work we put behind that bill.”

Sugar Cube sighed, “So why are you here.”

Lord Silver then asked, “Really I wouldn’t mind talking with all of you since my former servant is now the husband to one of the wealthiest ponies in Canterlot.”

Black heat looked at him then said “Thank you.”

Lord silver then said, “So what are you doing now?”

Black heat starred at him then said, “Well I’m a servant now working for other bankers.”

Lord Silver Chuckled then Sugar Cube said, “I’m wondering why you cancel the bill, then buy the tickets of the galloping gala for one hundred ponies. When did you become so generous?”

Lord Silver then said “When I realized that everything I’ve done up until recently was only for me and my power. Now I’ll try to fix what I did wrong.”

Crystal Heart then said, “You’ve been doing a great job. But I’m more concerned with your health you barley eat you don’t sleep are you feeling okay?”

He looked at her then said, “You always put others first before yourself.”

He sighed and said, “I’m fine I’m just adjusting.”

  Butterscotch eyed him and said, “You heard about the deaths of Cody and root?”

He nods then said “Tragic, I went to both funerals gave them my blessings and their families a generous donation.”

Sugar Cube then said, “Bits won’t bring them back.”

Lord Silver then said “But they will fill in what they earned and keep their families on their hooves.”

Black Heat then said, “I remember the night I came here most ponies eyed me weird some laughed at me seeing me with no cutie mark. I didn’t know what to do where to go. I had no education, no job, I had nothing then you stopped me on the street, took me in taught me how to clean and to cook and to work you gave me everything and in return asked for nothing. All these years I never asked why?”

Lord Silver then said, “ I did it because I saw your potential you learn fast and you will find your place in this world.”

Black heat smiled and then said “Thank you.”

Crystal heart replied “Lord Silver Black Heat wanted me to thank you for the engagement ring.”

Lord Silver bows his head then said, “It’s my pleasure.”

Black heat nods then said, “I wanted to thank you but Crystal heart wanted to tell you herself.”

Lord Silver then said, “It’s my pleasure, now I think I overstayed my welcome.”

He gets up, then Sugar Cube said, “ You take care.”

Lord silver then said “To you as well.”

He trotted off then he sees princess Celestia.

She then said “Lord Silver.”

Lord Silver then said “Princess Celestia.”

She replied, “You know something every time I trot by most ponies bow to my presence they don’t ask they do it out of respect. But you you never bowed once.”

Lord Silver then said, “ I don’t mean this to be rude but I never considered you to be my princess nor have I ever condone you being here.”

She  replied, “Why do you hate me? What have I ever done to you.”

He started to tremble then said, “It’s not that I don’t like you. I just do not like the way you do things. You’re kind honest generous and full of heart and passion but you lack something but, you lack the ability to bring upon true judgement. Let me tell you a story before you came the banks and the farmers agreed that we owned them they would work the fields give us their produce distributed all over Equestria. They were given only a quarter of what their produce was worth, while the ban kept the rest. It was practically slavery and I allowed it to happen I condoned what happened because it kept the land secured, and everything seemed to work, but after you came, Snowstorm, and Crimson’s rebellions I realized I’m the one responsible for every single pony that died. I deserve judgment for what I’ve done.”

Princess Celestia starred at him then said, “You want me to put you in prison?”

He chuckled and said, “No, you can’t put me in prison because I wasn’t the only banker who allowed the system to continue. You would have to arrest every banker except for Shadow Mane Iron hoof and Crystal heart the only three who actually fought against the system. The rest though even those that follow Shadow mane and Crystal heart were a part of the old system and the founding six allowed it because they were still trying to build this kingdom. Its how things are, justice can’t be done because once they’re arrested who will replace them? No, judgement cannot be for all. Only for those who haven’t changed”

Princess Celestia then said “So the ones that helped you. May I ask why did you buy their tickets you even had them given to you at your manor?”

Lord Silver then looked at her then said, “Soon everything I’ve done for the last few months will make sense.”

Princess Celestia then said “Let me tell you you’re not responsible for any pony’s death. Crimson and Snowstorm caused that rebellion. I was destroying that old system you know that we had many meetings over it. Yet every time I fought for reform even after the rebellions you fought me at every turn and you made my job a lot harder. I had to find loopholes and try to keep ahead of you. Tell me if you are so concerned with the welfare of every pony why would you keep fighting for those who are selfish and care for only themselves?”

Lord Silver then said, “I fought you to defeat those who followed me. Think about it, every time we had a meeting I lead those selfish ponies and gave you the power to change their minds gave you the time and effort needed to loop hole around my bills and the banks laws. You changed them arranged the  tore the old system bit by bit without me you would be floundering in the pool of debris left by the scum who call themselves the privileged. They don’t care about you, or me or the earth ponies working in the fields or the pegasi making our weather. They do it for one thing and one thing only, themselves and they will never change they will always be that way and you will forever be working trying to stop them from destroying you. So be ready because when I’m dead you’re going to wish I was still around.”

He then started to trot away.

Princess Celestia starred at him then said “Why? Why would you do that   if you hate me so much?”

He looked at her then said, “I never said I hated you I said I never considered you a princess they bow to you because they gain their safety and their power from you. I look at you as who you are. You may have knowledge but to me your still naïve about how other ponies are.  Remember, some ponies are evil and they don’t have to murder or steal they just live their selfish lives and allow the rest of the world to rot.”

She then starred at him and said, “So you’re going to judge those for what you believe is good. Is that right?”

He looked back at her then said, “Tell me what do you believe to be Good?”

Princess Celestia then said, “I thank you for helping me but I really don’t understand your way of thinking. You want to help others yet you condone the ponies who do not meet your standards. You are no different from those you fight against. If you want instead of trying to destroy them help me change them help me show them that helping others working together is a better way to support Equestria.”

Lord Silver then said, “I’m sorry but I don’t believe they can change. Besides I’m not going to do anything.”

He then trotted out of the gates and left the wedding.

Later that night Black heat was sitting alone on the couch Crystal heart’s house with a single oil lamp on the table.

Lord silver was in front of him who then said, “Black heat I’m so sorry but what I’m telling you is the truth. Your wife will die if you don’t follow what I say.”

Black heat swore and said, “You’re telling me you were working for Oblivion the whole time!”

Lord silver nods then said, “He came to me decades ago. Right after you were unsuccessfully given into the pool of shadows. The Tome of Oblivion liked he told me about it,  the idea was that a unicorn and Alicorn can use the book to curse a single object then the first pony to touch said object dies. However, Oblivion learned a pony or Alicorn cursed with the pool of shadows curse multiple objects touched by this book can be given that same curse and then be used to destroy any pony. You will curse all four hundred tickets and I’ll give them to those ponies who  call themselves my friends and that night at the galloping gala you will deliver vengeance.”

Black heat looked at him then said, “So is that the book?”

The book was on the small desk and Lord Silver nods then said, “Yes it is, and it will be the tool for a new dawn one where the selfless will rule over the selfish.”

Black heat then said, “So I’m guessing you tore out the page the one you cursed the engagement ring I gave my wife.”

He nods then said “Of course.”

Black heat then drops his head then said, “I’ll do it.”

Lord silver bows then said, “I’m glad.”

As he trotted down then he stops then turns his head and said, “You want to know what Oblivion wanted you to do?”

Black heat looked at him then Lord Silver then said, “To curse every bit in Equestria and use you to control them all. Not a single pony will know who would die and when they will die and they would never figure who was doing it. You and I were made to rule, but when I saw you, I saw how soft you were, how pathetic you really were. I devised a new plan one that will secure Equetsria’s future.”

He then teleported then Black heat fell on the couch and laughed then Crystal heart came galloping down the steps then Black heat said, “You believe me and Sugar Cube now?”

She nods then said “I heard everything.”

Black heat replied, “Sugar Cube’s plan’s working.”

She then said, ”I know the plan and it’s working but the book’s a fake right?”

He nods then he turned the pages of the book to the middle and there was a scale from a changeling then Crystal heart sighs then said, “Even if you knew about the ring and he did curse me would you…”

Black heat stroked her face then said, “I would tell you. I would also do as were doing now, find a way to beat him and save every pony.”

He got up then she came over to him and said, “Well there a few things I would like to know, stuff about your past, who you really are.”

She then kissed him then he said, “I’m sorry for keeping this a secret for so long.”

She then said, “Don’t be. You chose to be good over evil. No matter what any pony says no matter if you have a cutie mark or not you’re my husband and this is our wedding night.”

Black heat then kissed her and then the two fall onto the couch.