The Ringmaster

by HKS

Utopia Part.1

In a land far beyond Equestria, There was a kingdom named Utopia. Ruled by King Luz and Queen Prodosia, the kingdom for many years lived in state of constant happiness and peace....

"The obstetrician mares are requesting your presence in your room, my King." Said the butler.

"Is it here already? It has only been a few months, tell me what's the meaning behind this calling." King Luz asked.

"Apologies my king, they didn't tell me their reasoning. They only said it was important." The butler explained.

The King frowned for a second, before his body and mind were consumed by anxiousness and fear. Both him and the Queen were anxiously waiting to have a prince, so both of them were immeasurably happy when she got pregnant. But that was five months ago. Knowing that, the King couldn't help but fear for the worst.

Upon reaching his room, his beloved Queen was laying in bed crying, while the obstetrician mares were sat beside her . They all look at the King with a sad expression on their faces. The King quickly realises that his long awaited prince died before he was even born. He embraced the Queen, and shortly after he too started crying. After a few minutes, the king wiped out the tears from his face, and bolted out of the door.

"What was that!?" One of the obstetricians asked.

"He is probably going to see the oracle." Answered the Queen, no longer in tears.

Everyone at the castle had a confused look on their face, seeing the king running through the castle. He then stopped by the butler.

"I'm going to visit the oracle, take care of things while i'm away." the King ordered.

"Understood, my King." The butler responded.

The king set off to the oracle's house. Her house was behind the castle, in the top of a mountain. Despite being in the top of a mountain, there were still quite a lot of vegetation around. In particular, there was one tree that caught the most attention out of everything, it was a very big tree with a very strange shape on the top, it resembled an eye. It was thanks to this particularity, that the mountain was named "Máti tis Kataigídas". It means "Eye of the storm" in the kingdom's ancient language. Although some say i resembles more the number "6" rather then an eye.

A few hours later, upon reaching the mountain top. The king immediately looked for the oracle, she was sitting beside a small wooden cabin. Once she sees the king, she waves her hooves at him and approached.

"Oracle, i don't mean to accuse you but, i have a question for you." Said the King.

"My my, with a look like that, something big must've happened." Said the Oracle.

"Indeed, but my question to you is this. Didn't you tell me last time i was here, that i was going to have a Prince?"

"Yes?" The Oracle answered.

"Well, you never said it would be a dead one!!"

"Oh.... i see, i'm sorry for your lost but, my predictions are still correct. You will have a prince, i just never told you when." Said the oracle "Infact, i'm going to predict it again, just to show you i'm no liar!"

She quickly walked over her cauldron, grabbed a petal from a flower and dipped in the cauldron's water. Rubbing her hooves around the borders of the cauldron, the petal changed colour and started glowing and so did the oracle's eyes and birthmark, she then moved over and touched the king's chest letting out a gasp in surprise.

"This is...strange," Said the Oracle.

"W-what is it!? were you indeed wrong?"

"No no, you will still have a prince, but he looks different this time" She said. "I remember that last time i checked it was a beautiful black alicorn. But this time, is a blue one. And what's even more weird is that he has a sparkle birthmark on his chest, just like mine."

The king took a few steps back"W-what? so you're saying that *gulp* i'll have a foal with you?"

"Nonsense! even if you were stupid enough to betray your wife, with me of all ponies. I'm Infertile." The Oracle shouted. "Besides that, none of my parents or family members for that matter had this birthmark. So is possible that it's just a coincidence."

"*sigh* So you still don't know the time or the date i'll have my foal?" The King asked.

"No, but i do know something is off." Said the oracle with her hoof below her chin.

"What? did you see something else?"

"No, that's not it. The thing about my predictions is that they mostly are true, the only times that i was indeed "wrong" it was because someone messed with them." The Oracle explained. "My cabin for example, it's pretty old, so a few moons ago i made a prediction on it, just to see if it was needing some "maintenance". Sure enough it did, one part of the roof was about to collapse, so i reinforce it, and then i made the prediction again, this time i saw nothing at all."

"So what you're saying that the baby didn't simply died, but someone somehow killed it?" The King asked.

"Is a possibility, but it could've also been something that she ate or drank. i say is best if you investigate it, otherwise who knows, maybe the next baby could die before birth as well." Said the Oracle.

"You might be right, i'll look into that. Thanks for the advice." Said the King while leaving.

"Good luck, and do try to visit more often ok?" Said the Oracle waving her hoof.

On the way down the mountain, a white unicorn approached the King.

"Jester? what are you doing all the way up here?" The King asked.

"Well, i heard what happened earlier i just came here to see you. Are you alright?" Jester asked.

"I'm fine, thanks for checking up on me." The King lets out a smile.

"That's a what a big bro is for, ain't it?" Jester asked with a grin on his face.

"Yeah...speaking of it, i need your help Jester."

"Shoot." Said Jester.

"The oracle thinks that the baby didn't simply died, but that someone or something killed it." King Luz explains. "After thinking about it for a bit, i have to say i agree with her. So i want you to help me out and figure this out."

"Ok... but what figuring it out would i do? i mean the baby is already dead isn't he?" Jester asked.

"I mean yeah, but think about it. If someone really found a way to kill the baby, they clearly want to sabotage my kingdom, and i can't let them disturb our peace." Said Luz.

"If you say so." Said Jester.

Jester Orimos was king Luz's cousin, they had been best friends since they were little foals. The friendship between them took a hit when the previous king died, and luz had to step up as the new king. Jester was completely against the idea, as he was not only older, he was part of the family as well, and also had the right to be the next king. And so the previous Queen came up with a plan to decide which one of them would become the new King, both Jester and Luz would have to fight for it! Jester was a little reluctant at first but he eventually accepted... And he lost. Surprising everypony their friendship didn't end there, for years to come their bonds started to grow again. Jester eventually left the castle and became a bard, now with his own house and wife. He worked on the local tavern, and he would constantly show up at the castle to visit the Luz. And now he was going to help the King figure out what happened to his baby.

A few hours later by the castle's backdoor.

"Ok, let's make this quick! the faster we found the reason behind the "murder" the better. Let's split up, i'll go check up on my wife, i want to know what she has been eating lately. While you to ask the guards if they've seen anypony suspicious around the castle lately." Said the King.

"Aye aye Captain." Jester responded.

The King teleported to his room.

"My Queen, i know you're devastated, but that's no excuse to stop eating." Said a maid beside the Queen.

*puff*

"But this is." Said the King " The baby might have been killed! he didn't just die out of the blue!"

As the King said that, the Queen's eyes widened. And the maid left the room.

"But how? the baby was still in my womb. How could've somepony killed him without hurting me as well?" Prodosia asked.

"Poison!" Said Luz. " If somepony had putted a poison weak enough on your food, it wouldn't effect you much but could've killed the baby."

"I-it might be true. But who could've done such a thing?" Said Prodosia starting to tear up.

"I don't know yet. I'll need your help to find out who is the culprit. Although i have to say that, this is mostly a suspicion that i and the Oracle have. So there might not actually be a culprit. But we won't find that out until we investigate."

"I understand. How can i help?" Prodosia asked.

"I want to know what the obstetrician mares told you earlier today. Especifically how for long was the baby dead inside your womb?"

"According to them, no more than a day." Prodosia responds.

"Then can you remember if you've eaten anything out of the ordinary yesterday?"

"Well i was wishing for a boiled watermelon with plantain, but i prepared it myself."

Luz looked at her in disgust.

"What?" Prodosia asked.

"Nevermind... i'll go look around in the kitchen see if i can find anything suspicious."

And so King Luz walked his way into the kitchen, explaining what is going on to the other residents of the castle. Telling them to keep their eyes peeled for anything or anypony suspicious. In the kitchen Luz started inspecting everything, until...

"W-what is this thing?" Said the King with a slightly gray goo on his hooves.

The chef approached "Indeed what is this thing? i've never seen it before, where did you find it?"

"It's right beside the stove, on the ground right there." The King pointed to it.

"Weird, i swear i cleaned everything up yesterday before going home. I'm pretty sure this thing wasn't there." Said the chef.

(So if he really cleaned everything yesterday. That means it wasn't something she ate yesterday, it was today! *sigh* i still need more information)

The King then turned to a guard, that was standing on the doorway "Is Midas still in the castle?" He asked.

"Yes, my King!" The guard responded.

Midas was a very famous alchemist throughout the land. He was the one who discovered a spell that can turn ordinary objects into gold! He was also very good friends with Prodosia, before she was the Queen. After Prodosia and Luz got married, Midas thought he would never see her again. But Prodosia, offered him a room in the castle, were he can conduct his experiments without being disturbed... well mostly not disturbed.

*Thump*

"Midas i need you knowledge!" Said Luz barging in through Midas's room door.

Midas looked at the doorway, with a somewhat annoyed look and said " Oy i kno you're king and all, but at least knock at the door before entering somepony's room!!"

"Sorry about that. But this is urgent! Here take a look at this, i want to know what this is." Luz asked holding a small cup with the slightly grey goo from the kitchen.

Midas took the cup, he first smells it and then puts it on a microscope.

"Yep, this right here is mercury." Said Midas "But if ya don't mind me asking, where did ya find this stuff?"

"Oh it was beside the stove in the kitchen. But what is this mercury thing? I've never heard of it."

"Well in basic terms is a liquid metal. Very useful tho. This thing is used to make, mirrors, lamps and a bunch of other cool stuff. But what was it doing in the kitchen tho? And this amount too? that's quite a lot of mercury." Midas asked.

"Listen. What would happen if somepony had drank it?"

Midas's eyes widen in shock."D-did somepony drink that!? I mean a very small sip would already cause a bit of harm on your body. But with this amount!?" He pointed at the cup "Has a very big chance of killing somepony in less than a day!"

Luz stopped for a second to think. "So what you're saying is this thing is like a poison if you consume it?"

"Yeah duuuh. Are you even listening to me? come on tell me did somepony drank this thing?"

Luz once again paused to think, after a quick moment he explained the situation to Midas.

"Oh... then somepony definitely putted mercury on her food, but just enough to kill only the baby..strange.*sigh* poor Prodosia, girl must be real devastated, i remember the day she learned she was pregnant. She was so gosh darn happy *sigh* i'm gonna help get to the bottom of this Luz. Somepo... I mean someMONSTER is roaming around feeding a pregnant mare poison!? i won't allow it!" Said Midas. "In fact i already know were to begin."

Luz looked at midas with a surprised gaze.

"There's a coal mine, not that far away from here. If i recall correctly, there's a pretty decent concentration of mercury there." Said Midas with he's hooves under his chin. "Yeah... if i go there i might be able to discover if they had sold any amount of mercury lately. Then i'll just have to found out who bought it, that's our best chance of finding the culprit. But i'll need something tho."

"Name it and you'll have it!" Said Luz.

"Guards, that's it. You kno, just in case." Midas replied.

"Makes sense to me, i'll make sure to send the best guards in the castle with you. I don't wanna lose anypony else!"

"Then it's decided, since the sooner this get sorted out the better. I'll be departing tonight!" Said Midas as he started to pack his things.

After packing up his things, Midas went to mines together with two guards. Prodosia couldn't help but feel anxious, Luz comforted her. It was pretty late in the night, everypony was already in their houses sleeping. But the Queen was wide awake. Walking back and forth on her room.

"Come on love, i've already told you. Midas will be fine, he said he would send us a letter by the morning. So just try to rest up a little." Said Luz while laid down in bed.

"Oooh i just can't sleep, Midas is like a brother to me. I've already lost somepony important today, i-i don't wanna lose another one. W-what if he gets attacked by the traitor? what if the guards are not strong enough!?" Prodosia was panicking.

"Yeah what will happen then?" Said Luz."will you be there to help him?"

Prodosia starts to tear up, Luz got up and hugged her.

"*sigh* Listen, i know how much you are worried about him, trust me i am too. But there's nothing we can do but wait. And you already been through alot today, you need to rest. If you fall sick, it will just be one more problem up my hoof."

She nods and lays down in bed together with him.

"Did the Oracle made another prediction today?" Prodosia asked.

"Actually she did. But it was strange, she said our baby alicorn will be blue and have the same birthmark as her." Luz explained.

"Oh that is weird. Why would an alicorn need that mark?" Prodosia asked.

"What do you mean need?"

"Think about it, the Oracle is a earthpony with powers. And every time she uses her powers the mark glows. Clearly there's a correlation there!" prodosia explained.

"You're right.... That just makes things even weirder *sigh* no point in thinking about it for now. I'm really tired, i'm gonna get some shut eye. You should do the same. Goodnight love." Said Luz closing his eyes.

"Goodnight babe." Said Prodosia looking out the window.

"Meanwhile....."

In that same night. In the oracle's cabin, she was about to go to bed when she is approached by a mysterious figure.

"Took you long enough." She said it while looking a them.

"*pft* I should've known i wouldn't be able to catch you by surprise." They said.

"Betraying a hole kingdom for such...petty reason? you are just as pathetic as i remember. If not even more pathetic than before." She said it as she hits a nearby table with her hooves.

As she hits the table, the mysterious figure grabbed the oracle's neck with a rope, and started suffocating her.

"*struggling* I've already contacted the guards you know!" Said the Oracle.

In surprise the figure loosened up the rope, and the oracle manage to hit them with her hoof. Looking around the figure noticed something glowing on the table, it was communication device!

"You wench!" Screamed the figure as they charged towards the Oracle.

She resisted and manage to land another hit on them. Giving her enough time to run to the kitchen where she grabbed a knife! The figure didn't hesitate, and charged towards her again. The oracle manages to cut the figure in the face, missing their eye by an inch. The figure screamed in pain. Now irritated the figure revealed to be an unicorn, used their magic to grab the oracle by the neck with the rope again.

"G-guards! HE has a scar on his face!" The Oracle screamed.

The unicorn screams in rage.

*snap*

The oracle's eyes slowly lost their color, as her life was taken from her body. But her life wasn't the only thing that came out...

"Huh?" the unicorn looked at the oracle's dead body, and noticed that her birthmark had came out as well. It looked like some kind of jewel. The unicorn grabbed it, and left the place in a rush.

Author's Note:

Quite the cliffhanger eh?

If you read my previous fic, you'll notice something is different. Well i took my time to read the writing guide to improve my writing. Hopefully it was effective! Here's a few notes.

1. Cut me some slack on the oracle's place illustration ok? i'm no artist and i tried my best XD
2. Part 2 might take a while, since i'm still working on my fangame you kno?
3. Especial thanks once again to my friends "Salza4president" and "Noizzer" for pre-reading it.
4. There's no soundtrack for this one, since Noizzer's lazy "flank" wasn't "inspired." lol

See y'all on the next part!

Comments

[Eversong]

This seems fun