Case 1
Epilogue
Perspective: ???
The visiting room was darkened on one side. I requested it so that my anonymity be kept. There will come a time when I can walk freely among my fellow ponies. But it is not this day, no, the plan is not completed yet. The pieces have not fallen into place. The board is not even set up yet.
But that will all change, once some pawns are set up.
The door opened and on the other side of the glass was Tabletop. He was clad in a prison uniform and his expression told me he was not exactly happy to be here. The guards slammed the door behind him, and Tabletop angrily stomped over to the seat. We were alone, no other visitors were here today.
He took the telephone in his hoof. His horn had a extra strength inhibitor ring in case he tried to run away. Perfect, magic shouldn’t be used by those who don’t deserve it. He’d only been in prison for a couple of days, but it did little to help him.
I took the phone in my own hoof, not wanting to show anything. I held it to my ear and said, “Comfortable Tabletop?”
“Are you my lawyer? Because I sure as hell need one,” Tabletop replied, “I’m hoping to get these ridiculous charges dropped.”
“Do you not recognize who, or better yet, what I am?” I said, gazing at him as recognition entered his features.
“You, you...” He glared at me. “You were the one who suggested this plan in the first place!”
“You seem to forget Tabletop, it was you who came looking for me,” I reminded him.
“I asked you to help me with a plan to dispose of my brother!” Tabletop blustered. “You gave me the needle gun, set up that gas leak in the castle so that I would be able to host the gala.”
“And that pulled Lord Blueblood out of his manor and right into your lap,” I replied, “yet, you proved to be a sorry shot.”
“How was I to know that damn butler would get in the way!?” Tabletop roared into the phone.
“Look twice, shoot once.” I said, a slight smirk coming to my face that he couldn’t see.
“It was all that damn detective’s fault!” Tabletop retaliated. “Had he not have interfered, your precious plan would have gone without a hitch!”
“Whoever said my plan was to have your brother killed?” I asked.
“You...” Tabletop was absolutely dumbstruck. “There’s no possible way you could’ve predicted that all of this would happen.”
“I didn’t predict the exact events, nopony could have,” I replied. “However, I knew one way or another, Private Eye would’ve found you guilty and in this prison cell.”
“You, you knew he’d be there!” Tabletop realized.
“Of course. Did you think I’m not smart enough to figure that out? It would be he and his wife’s first public appearance following their marriage. Logically, they would have shown up one way or another. Even if they didn’t show to the gala, I knew that Celestia would send for him.”
“What could you possibly gain by finding me in this damnable cell!” Tabletop demanded.
I paused for a moment, and then said, “The reason I went along with your plan, was to get the Bluebloods out of the way. With you, your sister, and brother in law in prison, all of your assets go to your nephew for the time being. As you have no children or extended family apart from your sister, your nephew is in charge of your estate.”
“You, you knew nopony would take him seriously.” Tabletop said, looking at me “You knew his rants during the gala would cause many to lose trust in him. So, you plan to ruin our family? Is that it?”
“Oh, you ponies don’t need my help to cause ruin. You are more than happy to do so yourselves,” I replied, again with a smirk he couldn’t see.
“Then what is your plan!?” Tabletop demanded “Tell me this instant!”
“Let’s just say, Canterlot has been on top for far too long...”
“Those are words of treason!”
“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”
“I will inform the guards! They’ll kill you this instant!”
“The guards, are gone now.”
“What?”
“They had to deal with a prison riot that happened to occur as we are talking, followed by a slight power outage...”
The lights went off as I spoke. This would take care of the cameras.
“What, what are you doing!?” Tabletop shouted, as he started to look around in the darkness.
“Simply tying up loose ends.” I said, leaning back in the chair.
“You can’t kill me!” Tabletop shouted, “There’s glass between us!”
“Did you enjoy the bread?” I asked.
“It’s prison food what do you thin-” He stopped speaking as he suddenly put a hoof to his throat. “You...you...”
“A slow acting poison that I convinced a prison guard to lace into your bread while you were busy sulking in your cell. Nopony was the wiser when it was brought to you.” I said, looking at him.
“But, why?” He said, trying his best to breath as the poison took effect. “Why kill me?”
“Let’s just say, you made a grave mistake during the plan. Die now, knowing that you have brought ruin, but that you death will suit a purpose...”
Tabletop suddenly fell to the floor, coughing and wheezing as the poison did it’s work. “Who...who are...*cough* who are...you...?”
“You, are the first of many...the first pawn to be taken by a king...”
For I am the precursor to the new world. I am the unseen hoof that guides the world to a new age. An age where the old is cast aside forever. I am change.
I...am Shadowhoof...