The Fool of Hearts

Chapter 5
Dark Relocation

Silence assaulted Cicero's ears. The silence was torture, it was punishment. Arcane Arts was furious at how the jester had botched the job and had been seen. The pony however, even when warped by the influence of having Sithis speak directly to her was unable to enact physical punishment. But she knew how to punish Cicero nonetheless. The angry mare stared at Cicero, demanding complete silence as penance for his mistakes. Cicero knew he should have finished off all the guards in the building, but there hit a point where the killing became less of an art and more of just a common fight.

Even in his deranged state of mind Cicero had pride in his assassination work, a work that as the keeper he had been unable to take part of for quite some time before his death. The pride of being a professional was still there though, and that is what had stopped him from fighting the rest of the guards. Cicero also questioned his ability to fight any of the magic using ponies in a straight fight. Spells were a dangerous thing if allowed to be cast, so Cicero was all too happy to stick to his cloak and dagger method of dispatching the unicorn ponies. Even the kick from the pony he had killed carried amazing force though, Cicero had to tend to a few cracked ribs from the blow he sustained.

Arcane sighed aloud and shook her head, "You have to be more careful and not get caught out there. My nephew looked like he suspected something, but we were lucky and he let it go last time."

"Mother I'm sorry! Cicero promises to do better!" Cicero said in a pleading tone.

Arcane was about to speak but she grunted in pain and closed her eyes as a wave of nausea washed over her and her stomach cramped up. The doubled over and curled up where she lay on the large pillow. Cicero ran over to her and pulled off his gloves. He then put a hand to her face and felt her warmth for signs of sickness, only to realize he was not sure how warm a pony was supposed to be.

"A-are you alright mother?" Cicero asked, voice brimming with concern.

As the wave of nausea passed Arcane Arts slowly righted herself into a sitting position with her legs curled under her. The mare took a moment to take deep breaths clear her head. The mare shook her head and then met Cicero's golden eyes.

"Can you get me a glass of water? I should be fine then..." Arcane said.

Cicero tore off out the door and down the stairs, his soft boots making no sound as he raced out of sight. Arcane sighed in relief. A sudden *pop* sounded and Arcane's eyes shot open. A scroll had appeared and dropped in front of her. Arcane slowly levitated the letter and opened it, quickly scanning the contents. Arcane's hooves trembled as she reached the end, and she quickly scanned it over again to confirm the contents.

Cicero returned with a glass filled with water in his hands. The jester set the glass next to the frozen mare and sat down with his legs crossed under him, hands in his lap as he waited patiently.

"Are you still feeling unwell?" Cicero asked in a caring voice.

"Shining Armor fears for my safety with all of the murders that appear to have political ties. He fears that as a relative to him and Twilight I could be a potential target and he and his wife are going to move in to watch over me..." Arcane said, a distant stare affixed to her face.

Cicero's face fell at the news. He was no longer going to have free reign of his mother's residence anymore and would have to go into hiding like a rat in a sewer, just like he did in the old days back when the sanctuaries were being found and purged. Worst of all though, he was being forced into this by the very pony that his mother loved like a son, the very pony that hunted her. Jealous rage boiled inside of Cicero, but he kept his face clear of the rage.

"Cicero understands, He will make sure to be extra careful and find a place to hide." Cicero said with his downtrodden expression.

"Cicero... You may want to go into hiding right now..." Arcane said hesitantly.

Cicero adopted a questioning look on his face as he cocked his head to the side.

"They are going to be here any minute, if this letter can be trusted..." Arcane said casting a glance at the scroll.

When Arcane looked back to Cicero she blinked as the jester was no longer there. Arcane Arts heard a knocking at the front door and she picked herself up off the pillow and trotted out of the room.

"I will watch over you from the shadows mother, I will keep you safe..." Cicero whispered in Arcane's ear.

Arcane did not even flinch, she suspected he would be tailing her in the shadows, she just did not expect it that close. The blue mare then made her way to the front door and unlocked it with her magic. Arcane then slowly opened the doors and gave her nephew a big hug as he came inside.

"Oh Shining, thought I appreciate the sentiment you should give me some more of a heads up." Arcane laughed in a scolding tone.

"Sorry Auntie... But if we had a solid plan the killer might have decided to make an act before we could set up a perimeter." Shining Armor said with a smile, beckoning for Cadence to come in.

"Isn't that a bit much for just me?" Arcane asked with a confused look.

"Not at all, you are the head of the Royal Research Facility's spell branch, and you are related to the element of magic and a prince!" Shining said as if it were obvious.

"I hardly doubt anypony would gain from having me killed other than any of my underlings at the facility. Even then they would have to produce a substantial find before becoming the next head of the branch, something they could do at any point without going through the trouble anyways." Arcane said with a small chuckle.

"Is your job really so cutthroat that everypony strives to take your job. You seem to have considered the possibility of being targeted..." Cadence asked.

"No, no... They are all good natured ponies, I was just making a point." Arcane said as she shook her head with a smile.

"So how has the research been going? I heard Sigel has been spending a lot of time going over notes with you, his wife is a guard you know. She is always complaining about his work." Shining said with a chuckle.

"Still at an experimental and top secret stage. But lets not talk about that, would you care for some tea?" Arcane asked .

"That would be lovely." Cadence said with a bright smile.

Arcane turned and made for her kitchen. Shining watched his aunt like a hawk as she left the room, he then noticed something move in the corner of his eye, but when he turned his head he could not see anything there. Shining squinted his eyes as he looked around the well lit manor entrance.

"He's here..." Shining whispered to Cadence.

"Are you sure?" Cadence whispered back, concern in her voice.

Shining Armor merely nodded in response. The captain of the guard stalked over to where he saw the movement and lit his horn, casting his magical light around the area making sure not to miss a single shadow. Shining found nothing at all and frowned before returning to Cadence's side and waited for Arcane Arts.

Cicero meanwhile silently exhaled the breath he had held as he hung from the molding that ran across the ceiling. The jester's hat threatened to fall off, but stayed on nonetheless. Cicero gave a silent prayer to Sithis as he watched the two intruders.

"Here we are, why don't you join me in the lounge. I was just about to take a break from my research anyways, and I would like to hear more about your wedding." Arcane said with a smile, "You know Cadence, the reason I was unable to get time off to attend was because somepony, not naming who, forgot to send his aunt an invitation until the week of..."

Shining Armor froze as his wife shot him a glare. The guard captain began to sweat under the angry gaze of his wife, and he finally hung his head in defeat before muttering an apology and following his aunt down the foyer and towards the lounge.

Cicero waited for a few seconds after the intruders were taken by Arcane deeper into the mansion. Cicero held his breath and stared at where they had vanished, and in a few seconds Shining Armor stuck his head around the corner of a door and scanned the room Cicero hid in. The captain of the guard grunted in frustration before activating his horn and teleporting back to where his wife and aunt were. Cicero then let himself fall and land silently on the floor, before crouching and stalking toward where his mother had gone.

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Arcane Arts sat in her study jotting down notes as she sat across from Cadence. Cadence in the meantime sipped some tea and watched the fire crackle. Cadence glanced over to her aunt in law and furrowed her brow. Arcane Arts definitely fit the bookish type, and it kind of reminded her of Twilight. Cadence wondered if Twilight too would end up like her aunt, too fixated on her important job to find a special somepony.

"Arcane...?" Cadence asked timidly.

"Yes dear?" Arcane asked her niece in law.

"Did you ever... Find anypony special in your life?" Cadence asked.

"Well, no... I have always just been to engrossed in my work to meet a stallion and consider a serious relationship." Arcane said, setting her notebook down, and tucking it under the cushion she sat on.

Arcane then stood up and stretched her legs as she moved over to where the teapot had been set. The blue mare then poured herself a cup and magically heated it. Arcane returned to where she sat before and sipped her tea as she addressed Cadence.

"Why do you ask?" Arcane inquired.

"Well, this house is so big. You don't even employ any butlers from what I can tell from the enchantments you have cleaning this place. Don't you ever get lonely?" Cadence asked with a sad tone in her voice.

"Well Cadence, I spend so little time her usually I don't notice. It's actually nice to have some solitude after spending most of my time in the cramped labs of the institute." Arcane said with a small smile.

Cadence thought about that for a moment, and once more her thoughts drifted to Twilight. The young librarian may have gotten her looks from her mother's side of the family, but she without a doubt got her personality from her father's side. Arcane Arts in a way was a spitting image of Twilight, and if Cadence had heard correctly Arcane was almost as talented as Twilight was when she was her age. Cadence frowned at the thought of Twilight living such a lonely life.

"What is the matter Cadence?" Arcane asked with a curious expression.

"Nothing, I was just thinking of something..." Cadence said as she shook her head of the thoughts.

"Why don't I fetch us some dessert, brighten our mood while Shining is off on duty." Arcane said thinking Cadence was worried for her husband.

The older mare stood once more and trotted out of the study and down towards the kitchen. Cadence watched her leave and stood herself, stretching her legs and wings. Cadence then carefully lifted the cushion in search of the notebook, but it was not there. Cadence cocked her head to the side at this and levitated the entire cushion, but it was in vain, as the notebook had disappeared.

Cadence frowned in wonder at this but shrugged. Arcane had said she was doing top secret research that not even the captain of the guard was allowed to see. Cadence wondered briefly however how Arcane had hidden it when all she did was push it with her hooves under the cushion, she had not used magic to hide it else her horn would have lit up.

Cadence then moved over to a large chest that sat in the back of the room. The princess of love attempted to open the chest but her magic was unable to pick the lock. Cadence then tried to simply pry the lid, but the chest reacted to the attempt at a forced entry, and erected a magical barrier. Cadence took a step back and blinked in surprise.

"Now now Cadence, I know you have to be curious about my research but it is by royal sanction that the research is kept under wraps. Only Celestia or Luna may view this research outside of my task group." Arcane Arts said with a quest laugh as she levitated a plate containing a piece of cheese cake over to Cadence.

"Oh my... I'm so sorry for snooping..." Cadence said bashfully as she accepted the dessert.

"No problem Cadence. So tell me, what has Shining been up to? He seems to be pretty busy..." Arcane said as she sat once again on her cushion.

"Oh um, you haven't heard? He has been spearheading the investigation of the murders that have been popping up around Canterlot." Cadence said before taking a bite of her cheese cake.

"Ah, well I do not get out much these days..." Arcane said as she took a bite of her dessert.

Cadence gave her aunt a mournful look. Cadence considered if maybe her husband was wrong on his hunch, and she knew that both of them really hoped he was wrong.

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Cicero crept into the open window and closed it quietly behind him. The jester looked around the room before spotting the pony he was looking for. Cicero tumbled across the distance, gracefully landing on his feet next to the sleeping mare. Cicero slowly crept his hand towards her and shook her gently.

"Wha- Who's there?" The mare asked.

"Mother, there are guards everywhere. They are surrounding the manor..." Cicero said urgently.

"What." Arcane Arts said, immediately awake.

"I just finished the job you left on the notebook for me, and on my way back I found those intruders gathering around. Cicero made sure not to be seen, but they are surrounding the entire place..." Cicero said urgently, his voice cracking.

"Cicero, why are they doing this so suddenly?" Arcane asked, her face incredulous.

The door opened and Shining Armor strode inside wearing his battle regalia, sword sheathed at his side, and helmet floating next to him. Shining Armor looked around the room but only saw his aunt Arcane Arts.

"Auntie... How could you..." Shining Armor asked, tears in his eyes.

"Shining, what is the meaning of this?" Arcane asked, feigning ignorance.

"Cadence heard you say only princess Celestia and Luna have authorization to check up on the research you were doing. Under that sanction they questioned your partner Sigel. He told us everything when questioned, we then searched your study and found a chest full of bits, blood money..." Shining said with his head held high, a gesture not matching his tone and face.

"Shining... I really did not want you to get involved in this." Arcane sighed wearily.

The captain of the guard took a deep breath, and sigh out a choked breath as he put his helmet on, "Arcane Arts by royal decree you are under arrest for crimes of plotting murder, and harboring a criminal."

"Don't kill him." Arcane Arts said.

Shining was taken off guard by the statement and opened his mouth to ask his aunt what she meant. The moment his mouth opened though, a knee came into contact with his throat. Shining Armor fell to the ground clutching his hooves at his neck as he gasped for air. The murderous creature stood over the guard captain.

Arcane Arts moved to get up from her bed, but found herself unable to rise. The mare grunted in pain as the wave of nausea hit her and made her unable to rise to her hooves. Cicero moved over to her and looked her over. Shining Armor looked up at the two as he choked for air.

"Come mother, Cicero will get you to safety..." Cicero said as he lifted the mare and held her against him with one arm, drawing his dagger with the other.

Shining Armor watched with a hate filled eye as the strange creature walked off with his aunt. The jester stepped over the prone form of Shining Armor and walked down the hallway. Shining slowly dragged himself to his hooves and coughed as he struggled in deep breaths. The captain then slowly followed his quarry.

Cicero set the mare down next to a grandfather clock and opened it up. Reaching inside Cicero pulled on the pendulum. The clock clicked as it popped slightly into the air, Cicero then pushed it to the side and ushered Arcane Arts inside.

"Get as far as you can, I will join up with you as soon as I can. Be safe mother..." Cicero said as he took one last look at Arcane Arts before sliding the clock back into place.

Arcane Arts huffed a ragged breath before making her slow progress down the tunnel she had installed in the mansion. Cicero on the other side of the hidden door turned to face half a dozen guards. Cicero gritted his teeth as the guards advanced on him.

"You dare defile the sanctity of the night mother? Treachery and debauchery!" Cicero screamed madly at the guards who backed off slightly at the outburst.

Cicero let out a high pitched scream of madness as he dove at the guards, dancing around their spear thrusts, and slashing the weak points in their armor, hitting their necks and ripping open their bellies. Cicero fought as hard as he did the day he fought the betrayer Astrid and her husband. Cicero managed to only sustain minor cuts and scrapes as he finished off the guards.

"Sweet Celestia..." Princess Cadence muttered as she beheld the sight of the mad jester soaked in the blood of half a dozen guards that lay dead on the ground.

Cicero strode slowly toward the princess with his blade held in a backwards grip as he approached her. Cadence began to light up her horn as she prepared to defend herself. The jester was too quick however and landed a spinning kick across the princesses face. Cadence hit the ground, unconscious and Cicero pulled a scroll out from inside of his tunic. The jester opened the scroll and placed it at the front entrance of the manor.

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Arcane Arts stopped for a breather as she looked down the tunnel. The exit was not much father down now, and she would be out of the city limits in no time. After that it was just a matter of time before she could make it to the sanctuary Sithis had her prepare.

"Auntie, stop... It's over." Shining called from behind her down the tunnel.

"Shining, why must you continue. I only want you to back off so Cicero doesn't kill you." Arcane said as she slumped against the tunnel wall.

"Is he forcing you to go along with him? Sigel said you were chosen by something in the void... What does that mean? Please, if you cooperate we can help you..." Shining said as he came into view.

"No, it is too late for me. Sithis owns my soul, and with Cicero around he even owns my actions." Arcane said in a defeated voice.

"Sithis? That is the name of the deity that Sigel mentioned. Listen, Celestia can help you if you are being controlled. Just... Please, please come back with me auntie..." Shining pleaded.

"No Shining, you know that will not do. Ponies are dead, I will be executed for being associated with all of this. You know that..." Arcane said as she looked over her shoulder at her nephew.

"Then you leave me no choice, I am truly sorry..." Shining said as he drew the sword from his side.

Arcane collapsed to the ground and writhed in pain while she cradled her stomach, Shining halted in his tracks to look more closely at Arcane Arts. The mare did not look well, and she was sweating from the pain and strain she was enduring.

"Can you really do it Shining?" Arcane asked, her voice suddenly cruel.

"W-what?" Shining asked, taken off guard by the question and the tone that it was delivered in.

"Can you really strike down a pregnant mare?" Arcane asked as she rubbed a hoof over her belly.

"Pregnant! But who?" Shining asked incredulous.

"I have been granted a gift from my dark lord. You see Shining there was a reason that I stuck to my studies and never bothered to find a special somepony... I was born barren, unable to have children. But I have been gifted with offspring from Sithis, I am a holy virgin mother..." Arcane said in a crazed voice.

Shining Armor backed off slightly at this revelation. His aunt always did seem to like his company when he was only a child. Was it perhaps because she could not have a little colt or filly of her own? Shining Armor thought over his options, on one hoof he could not let Arcane go freely. But on the other hoof he could not harm her if she was pregnant for risk of harming the children. Shining looked deeply into his aunt's eyes, searching for any scrap of the mare she was before. But all Shining saw was the angry eyes of a strange mare that looked oddly like his beloved aunt. Shining had made up his mind, he posed his blade to strike with his magic. Shining Armor took one last look into the hardened glare of the mare before lunging.

The blade pierced easily through the chest, puncturing the right lung, but not hitting anything vital. Shining Armor's eyes filled with tears as he looked at the bloody blade. He then looked into the eyes of his Aunt, whose eyes had softened into the familiar ones of the aunt he loved so much.

Cicero put his hand on the guard captain's side and pulled his blade out. Shining Armor crumpled to the ground, his blade clattering harmlessly on the tunnel ground. The stallion watched as Cicero knelt over his aunt and cupped a hand to her cheek.

"Like Cicero said, he will keep you safe sweet mother. Forever,and always..." Cicero said as he gently picked the mare up.

Arcane Arts wrapped her forearms around Cicero for support and to comfort herself as she looked over the man's shoulder at her bleeding nephew. Cicero began to hum soothingly as he walked off with Arcane down the tunnel and toward where the sanctuary had been built.

Down the tunnel, the sound of an explosion went off, and the sound of a building collapsing on itself could be heard. Shining Armor looked down into the darkness from where the sound came from, then looked back to where the jester walked off with his aunt. shining stared as the form of the two slowly faded into the darkness. Slowly Shining Armor lost the ability to maintain the light from his horn, and the world went completely black for the stallion.