Chapter 12

“The shadow of guilt.”

Obsidian sat on the throne gazing among the guards lined perfectly down the aisle with a group of mares and gentle ponies in the middle of the hall. He wore his black armor and he had his double edge sword strapped to his right side. There in front of him was lord Royal heart had a deep red coat, his eyes a deep blue and his perfect mane flowed over his left shoulder and his large impressive wings stretched end to end and his mark a shield with a heart for the sigil and a sword going through the middle.

He then said “Obsidian even though Princess Celestia gave you her authority. I cannot feel but concerned that it is you who rules in her stand.”

Obsidian then said, “Why is that Lord Royal Heart?”

He then said, “Do I really have to say it? Every pony, this is the son of king Sombra.”

Every pony gasped as Obsidian’s hoof grasped the throne’s right armrest.

Then lord Royal Heart continued “not only that when King Sombra took the crystal empire and killed King Gold Horn Obsidian who became captain of the guard after captain steel was killed in the attack. Obsidian then bowed to him and pledged his sword to King Sombra did you not?”

Obsidian then said, “I do not deny the allegations presented in front of me but Lord Royal Heart this is not why you are here? Your family was attacked in your castle far in the Crystal Mountains and we have offered you sanctuary but before Princess Celestia left she handed me her power as steward.”

Lord Royal Heart “Yet does she know how traitorous and dishonorable you are? I stand here and now to the court that this pony not only betrayed the king but the queen as well. Queen Sapphire was then executed that same day after king Sombra attacked did he not? You stood by as she was hung in the public square!”

Obsidian then said, “Yes I did.”

`Every pony looked even angrier and some started to whisper amongst each other.

`Then Prince Royal Heart turned to Obsidian then said “Now I see your plot you used king Sombra’s favor only to support Princess Celestia and Luna in dispatching king Sombra and then after that you gained their favor to escape your own death and you even used the crystal heart making you a traitor and a threat to princess Cadence’s throne.”

Obsidian then said, “I used the crystal heart but I denied my right to the throne destroying my wings I am no longer an Alicorn.”

Lord Royal Heart then said, “Probably just so you can still be alive. Anyways your crimes are clear as day. I suggest Obsidian is placed under arrest until Princess Celestia and Luna return and then they’ll have an official trial.”

The ponies in the court all nodded some even said, “Yes place him in a cell.”

Obsidian turned to princess Cadence who was shouting “stop it you can’t arrest Obsidian! What are you doing?”

Shade held her with his hooves and started talking to her in a hushed voice.

Obsidian got off from the throne then said “Lord Royal Heart you cannot place me under arrest. I pleaded guilty but that does not change the fact that Princess Celestia left me in charge over the affairs of Canterlot. Now if you want to you can stay and there will be no more talk of my trial until Princess Celestia and Luna returns. On a more pressing matter we will provide additional security to your rooms and around the castle we will double the watch and keep the wonder bolts flying day and night.”

Prince Royal Heart then said “My personal guard will keep me and my family safe you just stay away from my wife and my son.”

Then the he left the throne room followed by his wife a beautiful Alicorn with a white coat and blue eyes with a perfect mane of silver hair and a tail to match with large wings folded into her sides and a mark of a rose with a white aurora surrounding it. Soon every pony in the court left the guard all looked at Obsidian with stern gazes and Obsidian sat there feeling the hatred of every pony on him.

Later that night as Obsidian was in his private washroom and drying his black coat in the mirror. He looks at himself in the mirror he saw his black coat and then he looks at his white flowing mane his blue eyes and his mark he sword half of it full of shadow the other full of light. He sighed then he heard a knock then he heard “It’s Shade.”

Obsidian left the washroom and entered his small chamber with a bed and a desk.

He then said “Come in.”

Shade entered his still wearing his white cloak lined with an array of daggers and his white coat and blue eyes to match.

He then said, “I heard what happened.”

Obsidian then said, “It’s not what I expected but it’s how things are.”

Shade then said, “There’s more to your story then you’re letting on.”

Obsidian then said, “I really don’t want to talk about it.”

As he passed Shade then said “Look at me Obsidian you know right now every pony in Canterlot is going to charge you with high treason you’ll be executed or exiled and I’m not going to let that happen now tell me why you betrayed king Gold horn?”

Obsidian turned to Shade then said, “You want to know the truth? “

Shade then said, “Not just me, Core was going to knock you in the stomach again Pine is with Red wing watching over the city but as of right now were all worried about you.”

Obsidian then said, “Well, the truth is much worse.”

Shade then said, “Lay it on me.”

Obsidian then said “You can’t tell any pony I’ll tell Lord Royal Heart myself try to make him see reason I’ll even tell Celestia and Luna but this is a story I don’t want being spouted about.”

Shade then said, “Alright go on with it.”

Obsidian then said, “Twenty years ago my father Sombra he was actually a normal unicorn. My mother told me he was once handsome with a coat of black fur and a black mane and tail with a set of green eyes. My mother met him early on before she was forced to wed Gold Horn. He then left her he wanted to create a kingdom of his own but he had no power or armies, so he headed south. My mother returned to the crystal empire heart broken and she had me. She secretly placed me with captain Steel. Then King Sombra returned and attacked the Crystal Empire. During the siege, my mother revealed herself to me, gave me the crystal heart to protect it from being discovered, and gave her authority of the crystal heart to me. She also had me swear to protect princess Cadence’s life at all costs no matter what. Then after King Sombra attacked the city and razed it. He killed king gold horn and then found about princess cadence. Even king Sombra did not kill the filly so instead he decided to kill my mother. So after the siege I pledge my sword to king Sombra and plotted to destroy him hence forth.”

Obsidian stopped then he swallowed and then said “The night before her execution, I pleaded to her to leave. But she wouldn’t.

she only said “I made a deal with king Sombra as long as he has my life he won’t harm princess Cadence.”

Obsidian then sighed and then continued, “That is the truth and why I did what I did.”

Shade then said, “No wonder you were quiet about it.”

Obsidian then said “Its’ why I didn’t say it out loud I don’t want Princess Cadence to know I don’t want her to feel the same pain I feel, at least not yet. “

Obsidian sat on the bed.

Shade then said “Tell prince royal heart the truth then have him convince the court to stop the trial because honestly only the truth is going to see that you make it out alive."

Obsidian then said, “Your right if I’m going to stay alive for Princess Cadence’s sake I’ll tell lord Royal Heart.”

The two get up and walk through the dark castle’s halls. They soon found his chamber.

Obsidian then said, “You hear that?”

Then he heard a plea of mercy then the sound of a knife plunging into flesh. Then shade whispered stand back. He then went to the guest room by royal heart’s room he enters through a small panel at the top of the ceiling and climbs on top of a wooden bannister and then crosses it to the other room. He sits there and see’s through holes in the plaster two guards earth ponies holding the lord royal heart and his wife the beautiful queen Silver Rose with their daggers. Silver rose crying seeing her husbund stabbed through the chest laying on the floor.

Then a pony revealed his face Shade swore silently. He was older and thinner and he wore a mosaic cloak with a diamond pattern on the back. Than the earth pony he had a small twisted beard under his chin, he had slanted brown eyes and his coat was a dirty brown with a crop of black for a mane.

He then said, “Please you calm down we just want to know where princess Cadence is”

Princess Silver Rose shouted, “I will never tell you."

The left guard drove his dagger deeper into her flesh she grunted in pain

Then the grand master said, “Please I don’t have time for this.”

He then smiles and stares at the filly in Silver rose’s hooves sleeping soundly. He was small and plump with a pure white coat and wisps of blonde mane for a tail and mane.

The grand master then said “I’ll let your son live if you tell.”

Shade dropped down through the plaster then as he did he threw two small knives into the guards behind him as they dropped. The grand master lifted his body into his two back legs then with a sickening crunch he twisted his front legs forward then he had two daggers protrude through his mosaic cloak

The Grand Master then said “So you are still alive.”

Shade then said “ For 15 years I’ve been preparing or this moment."

Shade lifted himself onto his two hind legs as well.

Then the master said,  “Shade you want to know where your parents are?”

Shade shouted, “They’re still alive?”

The master then said “I’m the only pony in this whole world who knows where they are Shade, I’ll let them free and bring them here all you have to do is kill Silver Rose and her son.”

Shade starred at them then he turned back to his grand master then attacked he galloped at his former master then as the two blade’s crashed Obsidian smashed the door open.

Shade got up and said,  “Obsidian get these two out of here now!”

Obsidian then escorted the royalty out of the room and had them go down the hall then five more assassins appeared from the shadows as one threw their daggers Obsidian took out his sword and then blocked the attacks from the behind then Silver Rose took up one of the knives’ in his mouth. Then he turned to see the five in front of them were all dead with Core and ten guards coming from the stairs.

Obsidian went to meet him then said “Core right now we need to get these three to safety they're the target.”

He then turned to see five more running down the hallway.

Core then said “Obsidian I can’t just leave you.”

One guard came up he then went to Obsidian’s side and two others.

Then Core nods then said, “You colts make me proud.”

They salute Core he salutes back then he escorts the royalty down stairs.

Then as the five assassins attacked the three guards, Obsidian got on his hind legs and then was attacked two of the assassin’s. Obsidian jumps back to block the attack of the first assassin as his dagger collided with Obsidian’s sword. He then jumps back as the second assassin attacked from the above the young guard threw his spear at the assassin and then as he fell Obsidian jumped back from the third assassin who was about to cut through the other. Two guards but the young guard who saved Obsidian’s life came up and blocked his attacks with his spear. Obsidian came forth and then attacked the last assassins. The two then used a combined attack on the last assassin but he jumps back then he attacks from dodges the attack then the young guard was slammed down by the assassin then another guard shoved his spear into the assassin attacking Obsidian. As he fell, Obsidian galloped at the assassin trying to kill the young guard and drove his sword through his side as he threw the body off the young guard.

he pulls him up then said “What’s your name?”

He takes off his helmet revealing a young male earth pony with a dark brown coat and dark brown eyes with a long swirling mane that had a mix of light brown and light yellow.

he then said “My lord I’m chocolate butter.”

The other guards laughed then Obsidian gave them a stare they became silent.

Then Obsidian turned and said “You’re the most capable soldier I’ve seen in a long time. I have to check on a friend lead these two down stairs and make sure Silver Rose and her filly are safe.”

Chocolate butter salutes then said, “I will my lord.”

He then leads the guard down stairs then Obsidian ran back to the guest room.

Shade blocked the grand master’s attacked then he said, “Shade why did you betray us!”

Shade jumped back then said, “Did you know my real name is Sugar cube?"

The master then said, “Had no idea."

Shade jumped downward then attacked with grace as he slashed through his defenses but the master kept on blocking his attacks and keeping up with every flip and dodge. The master then kicked him into the wall then came at him with his daggers then Shade blocked the attack with a downward attack using his dagger then he head-butted the master and sent him back a few spaces away/

Then as Shade got up he then said, “You took everything! my life, my fillyhood my parents. I could have been a chef a baker a normal pony. You stole it all away you stole my innocence turned me into a weapon!”

He then picked up his master and threw him into the wall he held his dagger to his throat.

Then the master said “You bested me."

Shade then said, “of course I did. Now before you die tell me where my parents are!”

The master then said, “They’re in the cells under the monastery.”

Shade then said, “The brotherhood dies today and I’ll make sure another one never returns.”

Shade then twisted his head with the dagger in his mouth then Obsidian came in then said “Shade stop!”

Shade stop midway with his dagger then Obsidian said, “This isn’t right he’s unarmed he needs to stand trial.”

Shade swore then Obsidian said, “The reason I couldn’t kill king Sombra before I met you was because I was scarred not of vengeance but the thought of becoming him. Shade don’t become him, don’t become a monster.”

Then Shade slammed the grand master in the face with his right hoof then goes back on all fours.

He turns to Obsidian then said, “I’m sorry Obsidian.”

Obsidian came forward and then placed his right hoof on his shoulder then with a small smile said, “You did well.”

Shade smiled then said “Thank you.”

Then Shade and Obsidian galloped over to lord royal Heart's corpse.

Shade then said "I wish we could of saved him."

Obsidian then said "we did what we could."

After the grand master of the assassins was places them in a cell and placed under guard. Obsidian went down stairs to find Core who was with his guard guarding another small room.

Core turned then Shade and Obsidian came forward

Then Core said, “So the assassins are dead?”

Shade then said, “There wasn’t much when I left only ten but this attack was highly coordinated on top of that two of Royal Heart’s guards were sleeper cell agents. Lord Royal Heart is dead.”

Core swore then said, "You two should go tell Mare Silver Heart but be weary she's still shaken up."

Obsidian and Shade both nod then the two enter the room where they found Silver Heart stand up she then said “Obsidian care to explain?”

Shade then said “I will explain, the grand master was going to assassinate all of you but because of some lack of info. He was delayed since his orders were to kill all royalty he did not know where Princess Cadence was. Anyways Obsidian lead the attack and saved your lives.”

Obsidian then said “Not just a young guard named Chocolate butter saved your lives as well he was good.”

Silver Heart bows then said “”I thank all of you. But Obsidian how can i trust you?”

Obsidian then said, “About that I was actually going to your room to explain that I did not betray your sister I was acting out her final acts. I switched my alliance to King Sombra to defend princess Cadence against him and she gave me the crystal heart with the intention to use it against him. But, I never could muster up the courage to it knowing full well if I did I most likely would of ended up like him nor did I have the ability to weaken him. Therefore, when Pine contacted me he was going to have Celestia Luna and North Star fight and defeat King Sombra I accepted not because I wanted vengeance I wanted peace. I was tired of the war tired of the fighting tired of trying to be something I am not. All I want is to be a brother to princess cadence care for her teach her how to be strong like her mother because she was strong. Silver Rose,  she died to save her daughter King Sombra only wanted her dead and would of killed them both if Queen Sapphire didn’t follow through with the execution. After her death I did whatever was in my power to keep princess Cadence safe”

Silver Rose bows her head then said, “I’m sorry I can’t shake your hoof but I want to offer you my gratitude and my apologies for my husband. he wasn't evil.. he was good.. he....” She bows then starts to weep and she held her son close.

Obsidian bows his head then said, “So what’s his name."

She then said “Prince blue blood, want to hold him.”

Obsidian then said, “I’m good thank you though,”

As they left the room Core then said, "Pine saw no movements outside and all the wonder bolts are doing their rounds how did they get into the city?”

Shade then said “We have the grand master in our custody we can question him tomorrow.”

Core then said “Alright then, well I’ll wish both of you a good night.”

They both bow. Then they see the guards dragging the assassin’s bodies

Shade then said, “Burn them. Also have Lord Royal heart's body be prepared for burial”

They all nodded then they continued up the stairs then Shade saw Princess Cadence walking sleepily down towards them then she said “Obsidian I had a bad dream. “

He knelt to her picked her up then said “I’ll put you back to bed you want to sleep with me tonight?”

She nods and he carries her off on his back.

Shade smiled then he said “Obsidian stay strong.”

Next Chapter: chapter 13: The light in the darkness Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 7 Minutes