Chapter 20

“Chains of fate”

Two months go by and the two make it far south they soon came upon a ravine and here it came down a steep hill and then Sugar cube halted the movement.

He then said “Look Chocolate Butter when we enter the monastery leave the fighting to me.”

Chocolate butter then said, “You know I never expected to fight, but I’m here if you need me.”

Sugar Cube then said, “Thank you Chocolate butter.”

They continued down the path then sugar Cube stopped and starred down the ravine and said, “I was hoping to never stare down this road again.”

Chocolate butter then said “Are you sure that there’s still assassins down there?”

Sugar cube then said, “I don’t know I was only partners with one other. The rest never spoke to me and ignored me.”

Chocolate butter then said, “You had no pony to talk to for ten years. How did you survive?”

Sugar cube then sighed and said “I didn’t I gave up I went up this road on the intent to kill every Alicorn and Pine. They were not ponies to me they were targets. Now I come back knowing I have friends and family real things worth fighting for.”

Sugar cube then said “Alright let’s go.”

they slowly go down the path and then they came upon the monastery here they saw the giant castle. It had three spiked towers jutting from the top and then they came upon the front entrance here they entered inside was the main training ground wooden posts with knives and daggers in them in the middle was a sand pit and then Sugar cube moved along then he saw the stone seat above the pit.

Then Chocolate butter said, “Why did these earth ponies join such an order?”

Sugar cube then said, “From what I know they’re earth ponies who felt that their kind would been enslaved by the Alicorns so they decided to help King Sombra’s take over. The problem was they never had the numbers there was only few of them, I was their main prodigy and I was supposed to lead the attack, however I disobeyed my orders and instead I helped King Sol keep the peace and watch over Celestia and Luna during their journey east.”

Chocolate butter then said, “So they were just hired killers.”

Sugar cube nods then said, “They chose to kill for bits.”

He then left the room and they continued down a small hallway then they came upon a dark hall and then they cross the cells. Then they came on one here sugar cube stopped he entered the cell it was small with nothing but a hole on the left side of the room and with no windows and straw on the right side. On the back wall were etched marks that said, “What is hope?”

Sugar cube looked at the cell wall then a tear fell down his cheek then said, “I was almost beaten half to death when the master saw that.”

He left the cell and then he continued down the hall then he found a single stone stairway.

Here he then said, “I haven’t been here for years.”

He then took his hoof under the handle then opened and then he lifted the door he could hear the doors creak and saw the dust fly everywhere. Then he heard a creak then he entered the cell door and entered down a long steep stairway they soon came to a large hall. Here they came upon a giant door sealed with a large omega symbol then in front of the door was ten assassins they all stood silent unmoving uncaring.

Sugar Cube then said, “Chocolate Butter stay behind I got this.”

He came downstairs then in front of them a earth pony with a black mane.

He then said, “Shade has returned as the master told us he will. He will bring back the darkness.”

Sugar cube came forward then said “I will not accept the darkness I came here to seal it.”

They all chuckled then the earth pony said, “You will accept through your own free will or we will force it upon you.”

Sugar cube then flicked his front legs and two daggers entered the rotation cuffs he then said, “Please all of you just leave.”

Then they attacked all at once Sugar cube then came on his hind legs then he smashes the first assassin in the face with his head then he flips back then blocks a couple of  knives with a flick of his left front leg. Then two assassins attacked forward trying to keep him off guard as a third tried to attack from behind. He flipped forward with his back legs and slammed two of the assassins downward. Then he slammed one dagger up the chest of the last assassin coming at him. He then threw his body over him then he jumps over another trying to dive at him he then  moves sideways and avoids another dagger throw then he slams a dagger into the side of an assassin and as he dropped he then turned to the last two and smashed their heads together. He gets up to see five more they surrounded him twirling their daggers on their rotation cuffs he breathes then he snaps his daggers in place. He was attacked on all sides; he then jumps backward to avoid the attack. He blocks the attack of one assassin with his left front leg twists that assassin’s leg then picked him up and threw him onto another knocking them both unconscious he then threw his knives at the last three trying to attack him on all sides and they all go down. However, none of them were dead they moaned and groaned some were unconscious but none of their wounds were fatal.

Sugar cube then said, “You should be glad I'm feeling merciful.” He looks up to see the last earth pony still standing there next to the gate that lead to the darkness and then it opened and he galloped inside.

Sugar cube shouted “Chocolate Butter you watch these ponies alright!”

Chocolate butter comes down the stairs and nods then Sugar cube goes through the open doors into a large circular room here there is a single portal of swirling black magic. Then he sees the earth pony in the black cloak enter he screams as chains wrapped around his body then.

He opens his eyes then said, “This was to be your power now it’s mine.”

He then gallops at Sugar cube but he jumps back as the chains came down slamming onto the stone floor then as he then reverses himself and dodges a chain going through his left front leg. He then backs up and sever the dark chains that went through his right front leg he then turns and gets up blood was dripping from his wound Shade quickly gets a cloth from his saddle bag and ties it around the wound and stops the bleeding. He gets up but the earth pony was gone. Sugar cube gallops full speed at the portal then as he entered he felt his body disintegrate and he soon evaporated into nothing.  

He was now in front of a cave with the room where he came from was behind him. In front of him was a single stone bridge and surrounding the giant stone bridge was a giant swirling mass of dark energy. Standing over the precipice.

The assassin he turns then said “Shade you’ve came to the void as it was your destiny.”

Sugar cube got up then said “Killing is not my destiny I will no longer be a part of these chains.”

The pony then said, “You were given its power though? You have it within you it is how you fight so well. Why don’t you give up? Stop resisting the power of the darkness.”

The earth pony eyes glowed black then his body was absorbed by the shadow then he gathered himself then he said “But my master has given me one last trump card.”

Then he lifts a chain and attached were two older ponies one was female with a dark brown coat and a dark brown mane and the other a pure white earth pony but he was longer and he has deeper blue eyes and blonde hair falling out of his mane.

Sugar cube then said, “They’re still alive?”

The earth pony then held the chain over the void then said, “Accept the power accept the shadow or they will die that I promise. Become the weapon you were destined to be.”

Sugar Cube in tears then took out his daggers then said, “I’m sorry but I see through the illusion.”

Sugar cube gathered himself at galloped full speed at the black earth pony he roars as the images disappeared then he shouted, “You want to die fine!”

Then the chains came out of his body and then Sugar Cube dived down and slid sideways but is smashed by a barrage of chains and fell into the shadow.

He wakes his body on the stone below. He gets up he could feel that some of his ribs were broken but he gets up anyways and then he spits out blood he then sees the black earth pony above on the bridge. He then connected the chains to the void and shouted “He wouldn’t yield so I killed him he was not worthy of your power now grant me your power let me command the shadow in his stead.” The void then gathered itself then entered the earth pony his eyes went even darker and a dark shadow came over the entire bridge.

Then Sugar cube spat and then said, “I can’t have him leave this place.”

Sugar cube climbs the rocks and then gets back on the stone platform where the bridge meets the stone path to the real world. He then gallops to the entrance.

Then the earth pony came forward then said “Shade get out of my way you’re just going to get yourself killed.”

Sugar cube got on his hind legs then said, “Give that power back into the void or you won’t leave this place.”

He laughs then said, “Like that’s happening, look at yourself wanting to be a normal pony. This is your destiny you were born to kill to fight for good or evil your life will always be a tragedy you will never find happiness.”

Sugar cube then said, “You may have taken my parents and taken my true destiny but I have a grandmother who loves me as her own. I have friends who all have their own broken lives and dreams yet they are still happy. So you’re wrong no pony is ever truly deprived of happiness.”

The earth pony laughed, “Who taught you that?”  

Sugar cube got up then said “A pony who taught me there is still joy in this world even when there’s so much pain.”

Then the black earth pony then said, “Gaze on this void Sugar cube and tell me if our world is not screwed we are at the edge of darkness we live in a world where the smallest action can lead only to death and doom. Tell me knowing you might fail why fight knowing that even if you die, that your death won’t amount to anything and the darkness still wins?”

Sugar cube then said, “I won’t let it win.”

The black earth pony then lifted the chains and said “The shadow the void the power within Omega this place will never be destroyed it will be here until the end of time darkness will eventually win.”

Sugar cube then said, “We will just have to see.”

The earth pony lifted the chains then said “You know I won’t kill Celestia or Luna I’m just going to kill the rest of the Alicorns that’s all just let me through to do the job you were supposed to do!”

sugar cube lifted his daggers then said “no.”

He then galloped full speed at Sugar Cube with the chains out stretched Sugar cube breathed then his eyes opened and then he drops low to avoid the attack then as the chains tried to stab him again he backed up more and then one chains slammed forward trying to swipe at Sugar cube. However, Sugar cube opened his eyes and they were glossy white now he then blocks the attack then he blocks another attack from the chain. Then he jumps up and tries to slam his daggers into the black earth pony he jumps back then he gets up and then chains surround Sugar cube. Then one of the chains came forward and tried stab Sugar cube he gallops up the chain links and throws a dagger at the black earth pony who takes it in his left front leg.

He screams then he backs up then Sugar cube jumps back then raises his daggers and then stood at the entrance and said again “Give the power back and end this fight.”

The black earth pony screamed, “No I see I won’t be able to beat you. Then I will give my whole soul to the darkness.”

Then the void underneath rumbled then the black Earth pony screamed and then his body was torn apart by the shadow his body became a shadowy mist with two red dots for eyes and then it said, “Sugar Cube it’s nice to finally to actually meet you.”

Sugar cube then said, “You can talk.”

The shadow then said, “No, I’m using this body to talk but what this idiot said before is true even if you beat me even if you seal this cave some pony or Alicorn like the years before will seek me out. Those who crave power always do.”

Sugar cube then said “so why do you fight then?”

The shadow then said, “I love to see your kind suffer. I have all of eternity so I keep myself busy giving ponies and arrogant alicorns power. Omega then Chaos and now the brotherhood of daggers another will take their place.”

Sugar cube then said, “After I seal this place you will no longer cause pain or suffering. This place will be your tomb.”

He laughed then said, “How can a mere earth pony stop me? Even with your abilities you will just be crushed.”

Sugar cube looked up then said, “I won’t give up.”

The shadow then said “Your bold but it won’t save you because this idiot gave me his soul now I don’t have long to be in this body. Therefore, I will try to take yours and when I do you will follow your orders like a good assassin and kill your friends and those they love. That is what I’m going to promise you."

The shadow then attacked Sugar Cube and Sugar Cube stood his ground.  

The shadow form of the earth pony attacked the shadows filled the area and Sugar cube raised his daggers and then scanned the room and then he could feel the shadow trying to pour within him. Images of him being beaten by the grand master flooded his mind, him killing the royalty. Then he thought of playing with pinkie pie, his grandmother, his friends, and then the dark images faded and Sugar cube stood his ground. Then the shadow form of the former earth pony attacked he jumps back then goes toward the back of the precipice and now he sees the darkness coming from behind. Here he looks up to the shadow coming forward again.

Sugar Cube gallops on the stone bridge giving himself more room the shadow figure of the earth pony laughed then said “There is no way you can win."

He gallops straight at him then the shadows blasted the stone bridge Sugar cube sees an opening and slides under the darkness strikes and then follows up with an attack using his blades coming forward piercing the shadow’s vital regions he then stabs repeatedly into the form. The shadows shimmered then they broke out like spikes piercing many regions throughout his body, then the shadows retracted. Then Sugar cube backed up but the dark form of the earth pony was also oozing black blood from where it was stabbed by Sugar cube. Sugar Cube gets up then as he bandaged his wounds.

The shadow pony got up then said, “You’re more powerful than I expected.”

Shade got up then said. “Like I said I won’t give up.”

The shadow pony got up then said, “Let’s see how long you can last.”

Sugar Cube gets up then raises his daggers forward then the shadow earth pony attacked again sending more shadows at Sugar Cube he backs up and then he dodges them repeatedly. He flips backward to avoid a few more strikes then he throws a knife and then it entered the left hind leg of the shadow earth pony as he fell on the ground.

Sugar Cube came over him then said, “You won’t be able to move I threw it through the knee cap.”

The shadow earth pony chuckled and said, “You’re something else. Why don’t you just kill the Alicorns? Why not have my power? Take this world you can do it be the first earth pony to rule.”

Sugar cube then said, “I could. I could take your power and rule. However, what would I accomplish if I do that? I won’t let that happen I swore to a pony that I will stop the darkness and create a world where she can live in peace that is my oath and until that day can be achieved I won’t stop fighting.”

He then plunges his daggers into the earth pony releasing the shadows back into the void underneath the stone.  Then he rises and then he stares into the void.

Then he heard a voice from behind him “So this is what you meant?”

He turns then he sees Pinkie Pie. She smiled with her hair more flamboyant than before.

Sugar Cube shouted, “What are you doing here?”

She then said, “I don’t have much time I just wanted to tell you  I don’t forget my friends even if they’re from the past. I wanted to congratulate you for fighting the darkness and winning.”

He smiled back then said, “Seeing you and knowing that the future I saw was real is thanks enough.”

She smiled then she  took out a whole cake off her back then placed it on the ground and an envelope then said “I know how much you love cake."

He smiled then with tears in his eyes,

he then said “Thank you.”

She then said “No thank you. I know what you been through Princess Celestia told me. I will never be able to repay you I just wanted to give you something to remind you that even in the future you will still be remembered.”

Then she was gone and Sugar cube went to the cake and lifted the top on the top was in icing was “Don’t give up sugar cube.” He opens the envelope and he sees a picture of pinkie pie with five other ponies and a small purple dragon. He sighs then he turns to the back of the card and on the back were their names. Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow dash, Fluttershy Pinkie Pie, Apple Jack and Spike.” He nods and puts the note in his cloak. He then places the cake on his back and carried it out of the void.

He was now back in the dark room and then he places the cake down then he takes a dagger and slams it through the seal on the wall and the portal closes.

Then he turns to the assassins then said “All of you listen up!”

they were leaning on the walls cleaning their wounds  as they looked up.

Sugar cube then said “all of you can change your destinies change your marks you will no longer kill. You will no longer be assassins from this day forth you will strip all vows. The brotherhood is dead, this is your only warning you ever attack Equestria in any way I‘ll be there and next time I won’t be so merciful.”

They all gazed down then he carried the cake on his back up the steps and then he found Chocolate butter sitting on the steps.

Chocolate Butter  looks at the cake then said, “Where did you get that?”

Sugar cube smirked and said “That’s a secret, but you can have some I’m not going to be able to finish this by myself.”

They sat on the steps and continued eating the cake when it was finished the other assassins started to climb the steps one then said, “Where are we supposed to go then?”

Sugar cube got up then he takes the plate and puts it in his saddle bag then said “That’s up to you if you go to Equestria you’re going to find new jobs you’re going to forsake fighting and find actual work and change your destinies.”

They all starred at him then he said “I will like I said when I know for sure that the threat to Equestria is gone I’m going to hang up my cloak and daggers.”

He then turns and heads up the stairs with Chocolate butter following behind.

Next Chapter: chapter 21 a night to remember Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 10 Minutes