“Chapter 19”

The pool of reflection

For a whole two weeks Sugar Cube and Chocolate butter covered the entire landscape of Equestrian heading south. They soon came upon the great plains of the undiscovered land.

Here Sugar Cube then stopped their trek then said, “Chocolate Butter I’m not lying about the buffalo their territorial do not go into that valley understand?”

He nods as they crossed through  the grassy hill. Here a group of Buffalo showed up one shouted “Halt and state your business?”

Sugar Cube takes off his hood then they nod then one said “Shade it’s been too long?”

He looked then said “I’m no longer Shade I go by sugar cube."

The two buffalo chuckled.

Then Sugar Cube said “something funny?”

Then the left giant buffalo said “alright Sugar Cube why do you come back south?”

Sugar Cube then said “I am passing though nothing more.”

The buffalo on the right then said “Fine then come.”

They were lead down the hill and they soon came upon the encampment hidden between two mountains female buffalo cared for the young playing in the grass as the males were smashing each other in the fields below with other males cheering them on. Sugar cube then said “Is shaman eagle eye still here?” the left guard then said “He knew you were coming we didn’t think it true but as they say he’s never wrong.” They enter the small tent in the middle of the camp here an elderly buffalo with a large headdress sat before a fire he had his rear legs crossed and he wore an old baggy wrinkled face he looked up with greying eyes.

He then said “Sugar Cube you’ve returned to us.”

Sugar cube knelt before the fire as the two escorts left then Chocolate butter knelt by Sugar cube without a sound.

Then the shaman chuckled and said “Chocolate butter don't worry we mean you no harm .”

He sighed then Sugar cube said “I came for both passage and guidance as before when I first left the monastery. You taught me how to heal wounds and I have been able to save lives with these skills. You taught me to use my head and not focus on emotion you taught me how to see everything around  me not using my eyes but all my senses but there is still on thing you yet to teach me my purpose in life. Why don’t I  have a cutie mark yet?”

Shaman Eagle eye then said “Sugar cube did you ever consider that you lost the chance to be a normal pony is this why you ask?”

Sugar cube then looked up and said “I know my parents are dead and I came here for this reason.”

Chocolate Butter then said “But the master?”

Sugar cube shakes his head then said “He was lying I knew it the whole time he was just baiting me taunting me he wants me to go back to the monastery. However the question is do I still go to the monastery to seek out the reason for my master wanting me to return there or go back to canterlot?”

The shaman then said “the choice has to be yours sugar Cube you must choose whether to believe your master or not and if fighting the darkness underneath that monastery or leave it alone.”

Sugar cube then said “The same darkness that consumed me the one he placed within me. I feel it every day the empty cold feeling.. Tell me what is it?”

the shaman then said “I don’t know Sugar cube I’m a soothsayer not omnipresent but there may be a way I think you’re ready for the pool of reflection. “

Chocolate butter looked puzzled then said “ the what?”

Then Eagle eye replied “Sugar cube you know the dangers and the risk the waters of the pool of reflection can tear you apart must never return but if you can control your emotions I think you can make it through and maybe the choice the next decision will seem like the choice to choose.”

Sugar cube got up then said “Is their some kind of ceremony I have to go through?”

The shaman shakes his head then said “ When I went through  the things I’ve seen haunt me to this day but you will also see one beautiful thing one vision that you know when you draw your last breathe and die that will be the image you die with."

Shade then said “Did these visions help you in any way?”

Eagle eye then said “They did I discovered this valley learned  the lessons from my ancestors took the information and used it to create peace among many of the buffalo clans. But if you fail the pool will consume you.”

Sugar Cube then said “I need to do this .”

  Then  the shaman got  up and said “I’ll take you there myself.”

He turns to chocolate butter then said “you should stay here."

There are berries and roots in the back eat your share but I suggest staying in the tent. Chocolate Butter just nods and grabs some food and fills a bowl.

Then Sugar cube follows the old shaman down the reads of grass and into the valley of the ancestors here the Shaman says a prayer and then a guard comes forward then the shaman said “Halt he’s with me.”

The guard  stares at him then said “are you sure we should have our ancestors rest be  disturbed by this outsider?”

The shaman then said “As long as he’s with me he has my permission.”

They then go through the sandy desert and then by sunset they came upon an old cave.

then Shaman eagle eye said “You must go alone.”

Sugar cube swallows then goes into the cave as he enters he finds a giant pool of water and a Alicorn his coat was grey he had two large grey wings and he had cold dead grey eyes he looked up with a shaggy white mane that dripped to the floor.

He then said “Is that sugar cube?”

Sugar cube bows then said “It is.”

The old Alicorn spat then said “Get up I’m not a prince.”

Sugar cube got up on all fours then said “I came to seek my destiny.”

The old Alicorn chuckled then said “You should of seen to that years ago kind of late don’t you think?”

Sugar cube then said “sure it is but  it’s not  like I had time.”

The old Alicorn then showed his mark it was a large eye with a dark pupil.

He then said “You know what my destiny is?”

Sugar Cube shakes his head then he said “My duty is to record everything that happens on this world and in this book very birth every major action and every death.”

Then the quill next to him went into a small ink pot and kept on writing.

Then he said “this pool can view the entire world and everything that was that is and the future possibilities but I try to stay away from those.”

Sugar cube then said “I have a question is there any way  to change the past?”

the old Alicorn chuckled then said “The funny thing about that if you go back in the past you will just end up causing the very thing you tried to prevent. It’s called the grandfather paradox let’s say I want to save a pony from being killed by another pony I go to the pony who will soon become a victim and tell him to leave his village  but as he leaves he is killed by a bandit on the road. The past is unchangeable time will correct itself.”

Sugar cube then said, “So you can’t interfere with the past but what about the present?”

The Alicorn then said, “No, I can’t leave this  cave I wanted this destiny you see I didn’t care if good or evil took over I only cared of keeping tabs on what happens and in a place where I can write my book.”

Sugar cube then said “What if this world was going to be destroyed ? You will just sit here and let it happen?”

Then the old Alicorn said “Then the world will be destroyed something’s can’t be  prevented. Everything has a beginning and an end it’s how the universe works.”

Sugar cube then said “Okay enough philosophy tell me what I have to do.”

The old Alicorn then said “It’s simple first clear your mind and enter the pool and then dive down and hold your breath things will morph and you will enter two stages of the pool one is fear and the other is desire . The pool will show you many things and what they are no pony or Alicorn can say. But be warned you stray in one of these alternate realities for too long and you may end up staying there forever and this world will continue on without you.”

Sugar cube swallows then flicks his tail then said “ I’ll do it.”

He then slowly enters the pool. The thing is the water didn’t feel like water it didn’t feel like anything it was like stepping into thin air as he dived down into the pool the world buzzed and he felt like he was drowning….

Sugar cube wakes to the darkness swallowing him he then hears and echo and then he hear laughter but it was cruel and far-gone.  He then see’s he was in the palace of canterlot and was sitting at a dining room table but at the end was king Sombra drinking a huge mug of ale. He then saw Eclipse necro’s new form sitting on a throne but his eyes had the symbols of Omega with them.

king Sombra then said, “Damn that was good ale.”

He dropped the goblet then he looked up and said “shade why did you stop eating? We are celebrating?”

Shade then stuttered, “Celebrating what?”

King Sombra laughed then said “The deaths of Celestia and Luna their dead and gone Eclipse tore them apart  thanks to you.”

Shade then said “I had no part in that? “

King Sombra laughed “ As noble as ever. Come on you assassinated princess cadence Obsidian Pine lord Royal heart king Sol Silver rose their son prince blue blood. I had to say though killing princess cadence the way you did even I did not think you were that cruel. However we won. The pony race is now under our control and it’s all thanks to you.”

Then the grand master came forward then said, “It’s thanks to me king Sombra or have you forgotten it was I who trained him?”

then Eclipse shouted in a dark sinister voice “Shut up all of you. Your banter annoys me we still have enemies, pockets of resistance who refuse my power are increasing in the south they must be crushed.”

King Sombra finishes his ale then said “ I’ll destroy them I’ll gather an army of our best and head out immediately.”

Shade then said “What’s happening why is the world like this? “

The three ponies stared at him then Omega said “There’s something wrong with Shade it’s him but it’s not it’s as if another presence entered him?”

King Sombra laughed then said “Maybe all that killing finally got to him and he’s going crazy.”

He places a hoof on his shoulder then said “Come on maybe you need to see our work.”

They went to the balcony and above are a dark red moon with the omega symbol engraved in it the ponies were in rows and columns they all wore stern faces and the omega symbol could be seen on every pony’s pupil.

King Sombra raised a hoof then shouted “Hail omega!”

They all saluted then he said, “Shade this is your destiny you were born for this reason,”

Shade then took out his dagger then slammed Sombra in the chest with it he then slammed him down.

Then as he screamed he fleet the blood spurted everywhere he then gets up and shouted “I’m going avenge them I don’t care if the Shade in this world did those vile things I’ll avenge them I’ll avenge them all!”

He see’s Eclipse rise and shouted “You cannot win this is the end I have won and everything will be mine as I predicted.”

Sugar Cube then rushed him as he tried to blast him he then dodged the forest strike then maneuvers as he was basted by another he felt the power go over him

He then said “You should have just accepted my power.”

Then Sugar cube screamed as he was swallowed by the darkness.

This time he was back in the dark cell in his younger body he was five again and he could see his urine as he looks up to another smash to the face the master stood over him and then he was slammed to the cell door.

Then he shouted, “You failed again I told you to do one hundred strike positions but you collapsed then you piss everywhere you pig.”

He throws Shade to the ground as he got up he then said “Master I’m sorry I .. I’ll try again.”

The master then said “Of course you will you will keep trying and keep going until you master the one hundred strike positions I taught you. If you do not then you will not get any food or water, understand. Now clean yourself up."

As the master left shade fell on the ground then said “This isn’t real. This is just an illusion.”  

He then see’s the a pail of water and starts soaking up the urine on the stone floor as he rinsed it then he got up and continued to practice then his master came back and picks him up by the ear and slams in the ground.

He then said “You didn’t even try to fight back I told you where is the power where is your drive fight back.”

He kicks him in the gut again and again he could feel his ribs crack as he looks up then he grabs his master’s hoof then throws him down he gets up.

Shade then said “I won’t die! I won’t!”

He attacks his master he throws  himself on him and punches him repeatedly in the face. Then he sees a dagger and then he pick it up with his teeth he came close then he saw the fear in his master’s eyes.

Then Sugar Cube screamed and threw the dagger and said “I swore I won’t kill out of revenge I’m not a murderer.”

Then the cell turns to black and he fades away…

Shade wakes in a pouring rain he gets up and see’s that he’s in a village of some sort but the place was vacant he looks up to see a giant statue of Celestia then he shakes his head and says “What the hell happened.”

He looks at his small hoof then he stares into the pool of water and sees his small round face and blue eyes he shakes his head then said “another vision however where and why?”

Then he looks around the vacant village and then he sees a small alligator and then he said “Guess you’re lost too.”

It looked up at him with vacant eyes.

Then Sugar cube smiled and picked it up and said “What are you my spirit guide?”

Then a light in the back flicked open and then a pink pony with bouncy hair came over she was in error let late teens  and she had a cutie mark of three balloons she smiled then said “Hey I’ve never seen you before?”

Sugar cube placed the gator on his back then said “Yeah I’m uh new.”

She then said “So where’s your house.”

He then said “I don’t know I’m kind of lost.”

She smiled then said “come on you can stay at my place.”

He followed her inside a bakery and here he found a big blue female earth pony with a long red mane and a skinny yellow earth pony they smiled then she said “Pinkie pie who is this?”

She then said “I’m sorry I forgot to ask your name? “

He then stuttered it’s, “Sugar cube”

Then the yellow earth pony then said “What’s with the baby alligator on your back?”

He looked over then said “I found it outside I thought it was lost like I was.”

The mare then said “Where’s your parents dear?”

He then said “Uh they . Uh we were shopping then I went exploring then you know I got lost.”

The parents starred at each other and pinkie pie was staring at him suspiciously.

Then Sugar cube said “Is it okay if I stay here for the night?"

They all nod then Pinkie pie jumps up and down.

then the mare earth pony said “Your parents must be worried sick about you?”

Sugar cube turns his head.

Then pinkie pie said “Well they shouldn’t they should know I help  any pony in trouble."

She then jumps on the table then said “are you hungry?”

Sugar cube nods then he goes to the table “Then they set down to plates of lettuce and tomatoes."

  Then Sugar cube ate the food slowly then the male skinny earth pony said “ So Sugar cube we never seen you before where  do you come from?”

Pinkie pie then said “Come on on he doesn’t want to talk about that. Let’s talk about something else when is you’re birthday?”

Sugar cube looked up then said “I don’t know?”

Then pinkie pie said “Oh come on you had parties before right?"

He looked up then shakes his head then continued to eat the lettuce.

Then Pinkie pie said “Excuse me.”

She then takes the colt yellow earth pony by the ear with and his wife followed the two and they all whisper. Sugar cube places the small gator on the table then said “Why did the pool bring me here. What is the point of all of this?"

The gator just blinked then Sugar cube got up then Pinkie pie galloped upstairs then Sugar cube continued to eat then the mare earth pony came over then she said “so you like it?”

He nods then said “Its good thank you.”  

Then she said “That gator seems quiet.”

Sugar cube starred at it then said “yeah it hasn’t done anything since I found it.”

Then he saw Pinkie pie come downstairs then said “Okay it’s ready.”

Sugar cube went up the stairs with pinkie pie and then he saw the whole room was full of décor and a small cake was in the middle she then said “since you can’t remember your birthday I decided today will be your birthday.”

He smiled then said “You did this for me? “

He bows then said “Thank you.”

He then goes to the cake then said “So this is cake?” He took a piece and bites into it then he swallows he never felt anything that good before he continued eating it. Then he swallowed it whole.

He then said “That was amazing.”

Pinkie pie laughed then said “Thank you I helped make it."

Sugar cube then said “You did? Well I have to say that was the best thing I have ever eaten.”

She smiled then said “Thank you.”

Then he turned to the gator climbing up the steps and it sounded a single meep then Sugar Cube’s mind clicked he stared at pinkie pie tr then he realized… This was far in the future. Then the rest of the night he was taught pinkie pie’s favorite songs and dances . That night he fell asleep with the gator wrapped around him he was given a soft mat with a pillow. He then stroked his gator silently as it meeped again

Then he said “I know what I have to do know I have to keep fighting . If I give in if I let darkness win then this future will never be true.”

He then feels a rush then he wakes to the  mark appear and it was a dagger going through a piece of cake. He placed the small gator on pinkie pie’s bed.

Then he said, “Thank you I’ll never know you I’ll never  see you again. However you gave me something no pony ever gave me and that was joy just pure joy. I wish I could stay I wish I could live here but I have to return to my time to my destiny. I have to fight the darkness.”

He smiles as he creeps down the stairs and he then he opens the front door and closes it softly then he starts to ran across the rain drenched street then he saw pinkie pie ahead staring at him.

She then said “Where are you going?"

He turns his head then the young Pinkie pie said “You don’t know your birthday, I’ve never seen you before, I can see pain in your eyes tell me are you an orphan?”

He turns then said “I am.”

She then said “I’m sorry if you want you can stay with us I can ask the cakes tomorrow you can be their son.”

He turned then said “You barley know me?”

She smiled then said “Last night was great I never had so much fun you even forgot your gator.”

She held the gator then Sugar Cube came up to her then said “You weren’t sleeping when I said those words huh?”

She shakes her head with tears Sugar cube hugs her then said “I wish I could stay here I wish I could just leave all my pain behind but I have to go. Forget about me I’m going to leave and you’ll never see me again keep that gator and don’t mention me don’t speak about me tell your parents I left and found mine. Promise me that.”

Pinkie pie the said “Who you are?”

Sugar cube lets go Pinkie pie the holds his head high then said “I’m just an avenger.”

He turns then she said “ Gummy I’m going to name him gummy.”

He turned back then said, “Gummy is a good name.”

He then looks forward and then he goes to the statue of Celestia and jumps into the water then he was gone and Pinkie pie in shock takes gummy and with tears  goes back to her house.

Sugar cube wakes in the pond and then he swims to the surface he then coughs up  the water.

  He goes to the surface then the old Alicorn wrote something then said “What you  just did was very dangerous.”

Sugar Cube then said “blame the damn pool how the hell would I know it would drop me off in the future?”

the old Alicorn then said “That was one future there’s thousands similar to that one “

Sugar cube then said “One last question what is the darkness what is this darkness?”

The Alicorn chuckled it is a secret as old as the world I was not even born when the darkness the vessel underneath the monastery resides exist. But are you willing to go ?”

Sugar cube turned his head then said “Yeah I am.”

He takes his cloak and wrapped it around himself then said “I’ll never doubt myself again.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 20 chains of fate Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 24 Minutes