Court Magicianby Moonlit NovelChaptersPrologue: If Celestia Wishes, so Shall it beChapter One: BrokenChapter Two: Where Darkness Reigns…Chapter Three: But for the Grace of CelestiaChapter Four: A Painful DecisionChapter Five: A Pony’s PsycheChapter Six: Reality CheckChapter Seven: As You CommandChapter Eight: RealizationChapter Nine: Meeting BilgewaterChapter Ten: The Mayor’s PlanPrologue: If Celestia Wishes, so Shall it beTitle: Court Magician Rating: T-M Genre: Multiple Fanfic of: My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Also if you dislike the story please tell me why so that I can get better Prologue: If Celestia Wishes, so Shall it be ~ ~ ~ "[…] And the Tenebrosus Magus knows not of mercy, only of debts that she will call on when the time is right […]" ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ I rose from the bed pulling away from my coltfriend, only for him to pull me back into his embrace, not that I really fought to get away. “I need to get up” I said and the stallion huffed into my mane. “You brought crime to a standstill Shay, you can take the day off” he said and I sighed as I lay there debating on if I should listen to him, or go out anyway. Sure it had been several weeks since crime had dropped severely, in fact, the guardsponies here actually stopped looking for me, and a few times even ushered me away from the scene, once even to the scene to get some ponies out of a dangerous situation… “No, I can’t, what if I take today off and something bad happens? Something I could have prevented?” I asked him as I rolled over to face him, though I could see him just fine, I knew ponies got a little unnerved by my brand of vision. “And what if Princess Luna herself knocks on our door and offers you a full pardon?” I was about to laugh when right then there was a knock on our door. Both of our expressions wore looks of shock for a moment before he pushed himself out of bed and made his way to the door, he looked out the peephole and motioned for me to get my disguise on, which I did, my light blue fur darkened, and my pink mane and tale darkened a few shades as well, my cutie mark, a yin-yang symbol inside of a purple star changed to a yellow and orange sun as I trotted over to him… Knock Knock Knock “One moment please” said Rich, my coltfriend and I silently thanked him as I made my way to the kitchen. as I did, he opened the door and there was a Unicorn stallion with a scroll and quill for a cutie mark, he flashed a badge, and my eyes went wide, that was a Lunar Guard badge, before he hoofed over a scroll to my coltfriend. Wait… That seal on the scroll… That is the seal of the Solar Court. I froze in the doorway of the kitchen as the stallion walked over to me. “Shadow Eyes, I am Moonlit Novel, Former Captain of the Lunar Guard, I come with a message from Princess Celestia herself, ‘Run my little pony, my sister is in Manehatten looking for you as I send this message, make your way to the ESIS headquarters in the city, you will be safe there, you have my permission to use whatever means to protect yourself from my sister.’ And this message from a Agent Silver Hoof, ‘Stay safe, Bright Star, I don’t want to lose you again’” said this Moonlit Novel, and from what I could see with my magic… He wasn’t lying, but that message from… It wasn’t possible, DAMN IT! I told that foal to find another mare! But he did it didn’t he? He also went into a life of secrets and lies… Damn him to Tartarus, I am not leaving Rich for him, even if he was my first… Of well everything… ‘Damned Lunar Guards!’ I thought as I weaved through the alleyways dodging the bat ponies, unicorns, and Earth ponies all in the Lunar Guard attire, Moonlit Novel and Rich Quick were with me as I did so. Not paying attention I ran slam into a city guard and for a moment I feared my only recourse would be to kill the guard to protect me, when he quickly glanced around and ushered me past as he kept looking this way and that, almost afraid of being caught ushering me to safety… Nearly there, dodging guards and civilians that I had either saved or otherwise knew what I looked like, we were nearly to the Manehatten ESIS headquarters when we had to stop, ESIS, ever paranoid of somebody using buildings for cover had placed a large concrete courtyard that encircled the entire building creating a space with no way for me to sneak past the damned blue alicorn that was circling the structure which apparently had a shield around it preventing me from seeing when the building looked like, one, and two, meant that Celestia had ordered them to keep Luna out of the headquarters, though it was obvious she knew why and she was determined to not let me get to the building… “I can try to distract her…” suggested Moonlit Novel though he did not sound like he very much liked the idea. “From what you told me, I am sure your partner didn’t take you having a change of heart all too well, and I doubt the warrior princess will have either, and Magus Bellum you may be, but she have centuries more experience than you do, even if I felt comfortable about letting you effectively sacrificing yourself for me-” I started when I felt him glare at me. “I am not helping you for you, I am only helping you to save Princess Luna from herself.” I grit my teeth at that he obviously felt strongly about his job, and truly thought that he was still a member of her guard, that tore out two options out from under me… “COME OUT YOU WRETCHED DARK MAGE! HOW MANY LIVES HAVE YOU CORRUPTED IN YOUR MAD QUEST FOR POWER!?” shouted Luna in her ‘Royal Canterlot Voice…’ ‘Well… Buck this…’ I thought as I suddenly casted a sleep spell on Moonlit Novel causing him to pass out as I released the glamor from me and I strode out a look of grim determination on my face. “How many lives have I corrupted? Don’t you mean, princess, how many lives I have saved from the corrupt? How this whole city is fighting against you, without me once asking them to, even after I had asked them to leave it be?” I asked as I entered her sight the Lunar princess conjured a sword into existence as she landed in front of me, “How many ponies would rather fight against their princess, than to lose their protector? So what if I use Dark Magic? It is a means to an end, not once have I harmed a pony who didn’t deserve it” “Do not try to corrupt me Tenebrosus Magus, I will purge this city of your filth and restore this city to its glory” said Luna as she drew back her sword only for it to dissipate suddenly as I shot it with a beam. “I would chose your next words carefully princess,I saved this city from corruption and crime, and I will be damned to Tartarus before I let anypony ruin all that hard work. I don’t care who you are. I will defend this city from anybody even you” I knew I was being foolish, there is no way I can match an alicorn in pure brute force, but her sister told me to do everything I can to protect myself, and I will… Princess Luna shot a blast of pure magic at me, which I dodged only for it to change direction before it could hit one of the walls and fly at me from behind I grinned at this as I ran right up to the Lunar Princess and just as the bolt was about to hit me, I teleported right up to the shielded ESIS building, on the other side of her, the bolt hitting the surprised mare as the shield opened up enough for me to slip in. I don’t think she really read up on me, pity, that would have been a battle for the ages even though I know I would have lost otherwise… Chapter One: Broken Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Chapter One: Broken ~ ~ ~ “So many ponies have lost themselves in the pursuit of the dark knowledge, and many more will…” ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ Shadow Eyes sighed as she sat down on the inside of the shield bubble keeping the Lunar Princess out she breathed heavily. Shadow Eyes knew she had been extremely lucky as she attempted to catch her breath. Though she could not see past the shield she knew Rich Quick was sneaking around to the other side of the shield, out of view of the Lunar Princess who was now… If she had to guess from the rhythmic thumping on the shield… Blasting away at the shield in an attempt to break into the facility. “Shadow Eyes, I presume?” Asked an older unicorn in a white uniform his short mane was combed back and was white as his uniform, his coat was peppered with white hairs, but the primary color still shined through, the color being a dark green. Shadow Eyes not trusting herself to speak, simply nodded before she realized her coltfriend could be caught in the crossfire. “Please… My coltfriend, he should be trying to find his way in, his name is-” “Rich Quick, former thief turned vigilante, we have been keeping an eye on you, but apparently a member of our circle deemed it fit to bring Tartarus on your head… We will get him inside as soon as he in within reach of the shield, but for now, perhaps it is best that we get you inside, there is a pony waiting to meet with you, a pony who has been looking for you for some time” said the stallion and he started to move before he noticed Shadow Eyes not moving. “It… It isn’t Silver Hoof, is it? I… I don’t think I could face him after all I did, even if he chose a life close to the path I had taken” said a suddenly nervous mare as she bit her lip and the stallion tilted his head to the side, he knew of agent Silver Hoof, one of a few that didn’t have a code name, because he had no one to protect, or perhaps because he had someone to protect… Shadow Eyes trotted in the room the ESIS agent had placed her into to wait for the pony that wanted to meet her. She could still hear the thumps on the shield and it unnerved her immensely the thumping frantic and loud even this deep in the building. “I am sorry, Shadow Eyes, or should I call you Bright Star?” said a pony as Shadow Eyes’ magic was blocked effectively blinding her, and for the first time in her life, she panicked, she couldn’t see anything she was truly blind. “I told you, Fixer 919, I have nothing to fear from her, and blocking her magic is a surefire way to alienate her” said a familiar voice, one she had not heard since her days at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns “Hello Bright Star…” Rich Quick sneaked around the shield careful to avoid being seen by the furious princess, and she had every right to be furious, she just underestimated the one mare she was hunting and lost her prey. Now he had to be careful to avoid her gaze as he- “HOLD!” ‘Well buck me’ he thought as he looked up and saw Princess Luna light upon the ground in front of him. “Where pray tell doest thou thinkest thee art going? Thou knowest that thy city is under strict quarantine” asked Luna and Rich gritted his teeth, he didn’t have the magical prowess that his marefriend had, but his mind was just as sharp, which wasn’t doing him any good at the moment… “Sister!” said a stern voice as a white alicorn landed on the ground hard beside the stallion. “How dare you! You have let this obsession of yours go to your head! You have endangered ponies all because you assume that this pony can’t be saved!” Her magic aura soothing the frightened stallion before he started to make his way towards the shield once more. “And where doest thou-” “Leave him sister, he is on his way to his lover, and he has not committed any crimes that are punishable by law” ‘If only you knew’ thought Rich as he made it to the shield and it opened enough for him to slip in and shut behind him just as Luna attempted to force her way through. “Sister! Thou know not what thou art doing! If thou would let me dispose of the Tenebrosus-” “Are you more a fool than you look at this moment, Luna!? You think I could be charmed by some lowly Tenebrosus Magus? Even one as powerful as Shadow Eyes?” “Silver Hoof…” said Shadow Eyes as she bit her lip stepping away from him, keeping her distance, as he walked into the room she had a pained look on her face as he sat down on his haunches and opened his hooves in a gesture for a hug. She bit her lip and shook her head. “I TOLD YOU TO MOVE ON! DAMN IT SILVER HOOF!” she cried suddenly backing away from the stallion. Silver Hoof’s face fell as his hooves fell to the ground. “I couldn’t move on, everypony I was with just didn’t measure up to you… I love you” said Silver Hoof and Shadow Eyes gritted her teeth as tears fell down her face. “What was I supposed to do? Get married to somepony I didn’t love?” he asked her only for her to shoot a blast of magic at him the shot was more than wide, but it blasted a hole in the wall. “Just leave me alone Silver Hoof! I moved on! You should have too! I moved on so many years ago! Do you know the ponies I have slept with? How about the Gryphons? I even had a dragon or two! If I truly loved you still I wouldn’t have done all that!” said Shadow Eyes forcefully and Silver Hoof gave a sad smile as he walked towards her the mare backing away until she was backed against the wall. “If that was true, that you didn’t love me anymore, why can’t you bring yourself to hurt me?” the mare started to charge a dark spell only for it to fizzle out as she let out a broken sigh. Silver Hoof smiled softly as he walked up to her and was about to stroke her face when he was clocked in the face by Rich Quick. “Get the buck away from my marefriend” he said with such venom in his voice as agents made their way into the room grabbing hold of both Rich Quick and Silver Hoof. “Enough, both of you! Her Highness, Princess Celestia will be in here, and I do not want to explain to her why one of her agents is fighting one of her guests!” said a pony in a solid black uniform, a stark contrast to white uniforms most of agents in the room. “Clever Ploy!” said Silver Hoof in surprise only for the pony in question to turn towards him. “You should know better, agent, these ponies are here under the invitation of Celestia herself!” snapped Clever Ploy angrily as she glowered at Silver Hoof. Shadow Eyes was silent and looked broken. “I want his head! I don't care who he is! No one hurts my mare” said Rich Quick as he fought against the agents restraining him. “Your mare? Last I checked, I was the one Bright Star loves!” Said Silver Hoof as he snapped at Rich as the other agents also held him back. All the while Shadow Eyes just stared into space, a solitary tear now rolling down her face... Author's Note Oh Shadow Eyes... Chapter Two: Where Darkness Reigns… Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit MERRY CHRISTMAS! Happy Heathwarming! And Happy Holidays! Chapter Two: Where Darkness Reigns… ~ ~ ~ “Darkness is all that is in a Tenebrosus Magus’ heart, they know not of love, for it is a weakness to them. They will say they love you, even play the part, but they will never be able to love you…” ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ Clever Ploy threw the two males in separate cells knowing that the last thing they needed was one of them killing the other, it would not help anypony. The mare sat across from the mare that was supposedly one of the darkest Tenebrosus Magus to exist since Sombra, Everything she remembered reading about those kinds of ponies didn’t seem to fit the mare, she obviously knew mercy, albeit only towards certain ponies, and she wasn’t pretending when she got here that she loved Rich Quick, or that she had some lingering feelings for agent Silver Hoof… But what was most disturbing was that those lingering feelings seem to have… Broken the poor mare, she did as asked for the most part, which caused a stir among the ponies there. Could that age old book be wrong? From what the agent that had let Silver Hoof in, Shadow Eyes had blasted towards him but never directly at him. She had been trying to scare him off… And he kept… ‘Damn him…’ thought Clever as she watched the mare in front of her mutter wordlessly as the white alicorn stepped in followed closely by her sister and Clever Ploy frowned, the last thing this poor mare needed was- “Is she alright, Clev-” There was an explosion of magical energy coming from Shadow Eyes as her emotionless visage disappeared replaced by a look of pure unadulterated fury. “I’LL BUCKING KILL HIM!” shouted the mare as the magical energy burning off of her seemed enough to melt the chair and part of the table as she shot up to her hooves. “I’ll bucking kill that son of a bitch! I told him to move on, I told him to find another mare, and he uses my heart to nearly break me?!” snarled the furious mare as she moved towards the door before she popped out of existence, or rather she teleported straight through the anti-teleportation wards that were in place, sirens going off as Clever Ploy sighed and started walking towards the door. “Well? Going to come enjoy the show? She gave him a chance to walk away and he pushed her until she just about broke, I am surprised though, she seemed broken a few minutes ago…” “What is going on? Clever, it’s not like you to just be willing to let any pony kill another pony” said Celestia clearly worried and Clever shrugged as she walked down the hall. “Truly sister, we are worried if thy top agent is this heartless” “You and me both sister.” Shadow Eyes slammed Silver Hoof against the back of his cell a look of pure rage on her face. “You think that by trying to break me you love me?” snarled Shadow Eyes as she slammed him again, the stallion was already having trouble breathing the first slam most likely breaking a few bones. “I-I’m sorry! I-I thought we could-” “You thought we could continue where we left off? Sure, maybe a year ago! But I have moved on since then! And then you use what feelings I had left for you against me! Do you know what that is like? Of course you don’t, why don’t I show you!” said the mare as she suddenly channeled a dark magic spell allowing the torment she felt when he was confronting her earlier to pass onto him and he started panicking before he suddenly just stopped, unlike before, his eyes showed no life, but when she let him go he didn’t collapse into a pile of flesh and bones, he sat there, himself a broken shell of himself. the agents outside of the cell seemed scared, if she could do that to a pony she supposedly loved, then what could she do to them? Rich Quick tried to teleport out of the cell a few times, only for the spell to fizzle out before he could get a hold of the magic all the way, so imagine his surprise when his marefriend appeared in front of him. “What’re-” “Cuddle now, talk later” she said nuzzling him and he got the message and wrapped his hooves around her, just as Clever Ploy walked into the room, followed closely by Celestia and Luna. Clever Ploy nodded to herself as the princess looked confused, they had heard the reports by the agents, Shadow Eyes had tortured Silver Hoof, but here she was being comforted by her coltfriend. “Have you come to finish me off? Maybe ask why didn't just kill the agent while I had the chance? He doesn't deserve any mercy, I was at his mercy, if Rich hadn't-” “Maybe you should take a deep breath, Bright Star,” said Celestia and Shadow Eyes flinched at the name, she knew it was possible that they knew who she was, but to get confirmation like that was unnerving, “yes, I know your name, the stallion, you just dealt with,” she said saying the last two words as though they left a bad taste in her mouth, “told me who you were he knew who you were the moment you showed up as Shadow Eyes” “Bright Star died that day” said Shadow Eyes tears welling up in her eyes, “and that is what it should say about me, Shadow Eyes’ first victim was the bright unicorn, Bright Star” said the unicorn mare angrily as tears spilled down her face. “My sister believes thou can be saved, that thou fell down this dark path because thou felt we could not protect you from something you did not need to protect yourself from. T’is was a good kill that night, no pony should force themselves upon another.” Said Princess Luna and Shadow Eyes laughed darkly. “They do though, I learned a lot in my years on the run, but after I showed ponies I wouldn't be taken advantage of, they never forced themselves on me again” said Shadow Eyes as she pulled away from her coltfriend as if to keep away from something dirty… ‘or to keep something dirty away from him?’ Noted Celestia as he tried reaching for her only for Shadow Eyes to pull away and hold on to herself. “So tell me, princess, can I be saved, a broken mare like me? A murderer like me? I am able to put the past behind me, after all this is just the body of a killer, it doesn't deserve any respect” said the unicorn mare as she glared towards the princesses. “But you wouldn't know what it is like, being on the street, where the only thing ponies respect is power. Power I had in spades, as long as I was willing to use it” Princess Luna moved to speak against this slander but Celestia held up a wing with a sad look on her face. “Your family was always one of the most loved of Canterlot, you could have seen me if you were scared Bright Star” “SHADOW EYES! BRIGHT STAR IS DEAD!” shouted the now crying Shadow Eyes, “I killed her, I had to, if I didn’t I would have been an easy target!” she cried gripping herself tighter pulling away every time that Rich attempted to pull her into a comforting hug. “Do you know what it is like to know that no matter where I go, I will always darken the world with my presence?!” she shrieked as Rich had enough and pulled her bodily into him and held her tightly. “Shhh… Calm down baby, you brighten my day every day, and the ponies here in Manehatten would say the same, all you have done to protect them. All the gangs you have shattered, all the guards you saved. Love, you brighten every pony that lives in this city’s life” said Rich Quick as he held her even as she tried to get away. “And what about you princess?” she suddenly said turning towards Princess Luna finally breaking free of Rich Quick. “We Tenebrosus Magus followed your shining example and you would punish us? How many did you kill when you delved into the dark arts? Hundreds? Thousands? Do you think by hunting us down you can ease that pain on your soul? Like I did? I’ve got news for you princess, it never goes away, the stains on your hooves remain there even as you scrub them so hard that they bleed themselves! I’VE TRIED!” yelled the younger mare as she stalked towards Luna only for Rich Quick to tackle her and hold her tightly. “That’s enough baby, I won’t let them hurt you” said Rich Quick honestly scared, he never knew she held so much back from him. “And you, Rich Quick, what do you intend to get out of a relationship with me? You should know by now I am nothing but a broken mare. Sure I put on a strong front, but by now you should also know I have nothing to offer you. Nothing but pain and death if you stay, that is what always happens when I open my heart to somepony” said Shadow Eyes tears running down her face as she gave the pony that she called her lover a way out that, in her current grief, was perfectly reasonable. Author's Note So things aren't finished being emotional for the mare known as Shadow Eyes... please feel free to review, Tell me what, if anything, you found wrong with this story. Or what, if anything, you found you like about the story. I can not get better with out knowing where I need to improve Chapter Three: But for the Grace of Celestia Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Chapter Three: But for the Grace of Celestia ~ ~ ~ “Tenebrosus Magus care only about living and will do whatever it takes to keep living, even promising more power to their captors. They will never submit to death rather they will fight to their last breath [...]” ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ “What do I intend to get out of our relationship? You, I have all I need being with you Shay” said Rich Quick feeling as if she was on the precipice of falling into a suicidal despair. “Why me? You can guess what I did to Silver Hoof, what makes you th-” she was silenced by Rich Quick pulling her into a kiss which when it broke, she bawled, grabbing on to Rich and holding on to him tightly. “I don’t want to run anymore, Rich… But I don’t want to die, I am scared” she said into his shoulder and she bit her lip before pulling away and turned to face the princesses face down and her sight disabled, unable to meet their eyes. “I’m ready to take my punishment, just… Just make it quick.” said the mare as she closed her eyes, hoping to never to see the light from the spell they would cast to end her life. “Oh Bright Star…” said Celestia as she moved over to the, at the moment, completely blind mare. Celestia then nuzzled the mare, “Those ponies you killed had killed without remorse, and without pity for the victims of their attacks. I might not approve of your methods, but you did what you knew how to do in order to save the ponies of this city…” said the white mare as she attempted to comfort her. “I still killed, they might have been saved… I-” “Doom Hoof, Silver Sickle, Brass Hooves, all these ponies you killed have records at least as long as my name and tail, Bright Star.” said Celestia and Luna swallowed. “Those gangs you shattered had ties to groups outside Equestria that would love to see this land fall to destruction…” admitted Luna as she bit her lip. “Baby, I told you, you have done so much for ponies” said Rich Quick as he hugged the mare close. Shadow Eyes started to cry again. “Thank you… I can die happier knowing I did some good.” she said through tears of happiness, her life of murder and destruction may have done some good for the ponies she sought to protect. “Thou misunderstands, thou art not going to be killed.” Said Luna grudgingly as Shadow Eyes took a breath. “Torture then? After all I am a Tenebrosus Magus” said the blind mare and Celestia choked back a sob. “N-no, Bright Star” “Please if I have done as much good as you have said, please… Just call me Shadow Eyes, I can't… I won't be called Bright Star, she wouldn't have done half the things I have done” said the mare and Celestia actually sobbed at that before nodding. “Alright, Shadow Eyes” said Celestia with a swallow and a nod. Princess Luna however spoke up angrily. “I did not run from what I did, what makes you think you can, changing your name?” “Am I running? I won’t bring a blemish to the Star household, not one as dark as mine. But what is to become of me, if not torture or death?” asked the mare and Celestia nuzzled the mare comfortingly. “I planned on offering your spot back in my school, to let you finish your schooling, and to give you a position I was planning on giving you when I learned of how skilled you were in magic, almost as skilled as my former student, Princess Twilight Sparkle, Shadow Eyes, even in her position scuffed. “Almost? I know what my cutie mark represents, princess, skill in all magic, light and dark” “As I was saying, my little pony, I plan on giving you the position of Court Magician” said the solar triarch and Shadow Eyes took a step away from the princess shaking her head. “You would take a mare that has killed, that would be willing to kill again for this city, and give her the most powerful position short of being a princess herself?!” Shadow Eyes exclaimed as she backed away from the princess slightly hyperventilating. “Are you insane? What would the nobles think!” said the blind mare and Celestia shrugged. “You have been through the wringer, Shadow Eyes, isn’t it time you caught a break?” asked the white alicorn and Shadow Eyes shook her head. “You needn’t give your answer now, I will inform the guard you have a royal pardon, regardless of your choice. However, just so you know, that is a misconception about the position. True you are granted whatever powers I deem fit to grant you during the course of the jobs I send you on, but you have very little actual powers save to practice whatever magic you deem fit enough to be kept safe for future generations. You also will be given a stipend amounting to 100,000 bits monthly, You, will have the authority to acquire an apprentice. Granted you will have a lot of political clout, you are for the most part still at the beck and call of the Equestrian princesses.” said the solar triarch and Shadow Eyes started to back away. Princess Luna was confused as well, why give this pony so much after she had killed so many? Granted, they were ‘bad ponies’ that didn’t mean she should be rewarded for being a murderer. “Sister, why art thou rewarding the mare? Is she not still a murderer?” asked Luna and Shadow Eyes nodded in agreement. and Celestia gave a sad smile. “Murders that could have been avoided if I had found her sooner, sister, it is as much my fault as it is hers, I can not punish her for those murders and not punish myself, and no pony will let me punish myself therefore better to skip the punishments and give her what I had intended on giving her from the beginning” Shadow Eyes scowled at that. “By that logic, you couldn’t punish any murderer, thief, or any other criminal. Because if you had gotten to them sooner they may not have committed their crimes” said the unicorn mare and Celestia surprised them by motioning to Clever Ploy, and then to the door. “The ponies here are all murderers and thieves, and any number of any other criminal occupation.” said Celestia and Shadow Eyes narrowed her eyes distrustfully at the ponies in question. “I saved them from breaking laws, I gave them a career that they could use their talents for the betterment of Equestria” said the white mare and Clever Ploy nodded in agreement. The mare in question was a master thief and she made a name for herself getting things that others believed to be untouchable. “Then why not offer me a job here? Why offer me a job with that much power?” asked Shadow Eyes as Luna moved to speak. “I wondered dear sister, had thou gotten over thy foolish belief that honor was more important than protecting our ponies” said Luna and Shadow Eyes turned to Luna in surprise as Rich Quick pulled Shadow Eyes into a hug. “Shay, she said you don’t have to answer yet, perhaps you should think on it before you say no” said the stallion in her ear, he knew how she was feeling, but he wouldn’t let her just say no to the offer without thinking about it, it would help her in the long run… Author's Note I am terribly sorry for not posting this when I had finished it, I honestly thought I had, I apologize Chapter Four: A Painful Decision Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Chapter Four: A Painful Decision ~ ~ ~ “Darkness is all that is in the hearts and souls of Tenebrosus Magus, They have no light in them, they kill without remorse, and they love only themselves […] They have no use for others and the light inside them, preferring to kill them than to be brought painfully into the light” ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ Grudgingly, Princess Luna allowed Celestia to lead the Tenebrosus Magus out of E.S.I.S. Manehattan headquarters, she wanted to refuse what had been right in front of her face, but she couldn’t… Royal Script, one of her closest friends and confidents from before she was banished, was wrong. How could he have been so wrong about Tenebrosus Magus? “I can't take the position…” said Shadow Eyes to her coltfriend and Rich Quick frowned at her. “The princess thinks differently,” said the stallion as he walked with her, “from what the princess said, she trusts you and your judgement” “But why? All I have done since I arrived in Manehattan is murder those I believed to be evil, regardless of if they had families, or if they were only first time offenders.” said Shadow Eyes, Rich Quick rolled his eyes at what she said. “And how far has crime dropped? All that really happens now is petty theft and the occasional drunk and disorderly. Criminals are scared to commit any crimes here.” Rich countered nuzzling her gently Shadow Eyes smiled weakly at the affection shown to her. “Why… Why do you choose to associate with me? At first I thought you would have moved on, and left me, I was content to pretend that you loved me” said Shadow Eyes as, with her magic sight, she kept an eye on the stallion who gave her a look of pity. “I do love you. Shay, baby, I love you, why else would I be with you? I don't know of many ponies that would be with somepony they don't love” said Rich and Shadow Eyes gave him a sad smile. “A pony that was scared that they would die if they weren't with that pony” argued Shadow Eyes and the stallion sputtered angrily. “I pursued you” snapped the unicorn angrily as he moved in front of her imposing himself intent on making it clear that he was not appreciating Shadow Eyes’ self loathing. Shadow Eyes and Rich Quick continued the walk in uncomfortable silence as the stallion refused to even talk to her after she blew up at him… As they entered the apartment where she had been living in with her coltfriend until today. “I’ll get my things and get out of your way” “And where will you go? I still love you Shay, I just am tired, I am already tired of this mare that took the place of the confident mare I started dating, and this mare is nothing like the vulnerable side you showed to me in the past. You are stronger than this, and I know you don't believe half the things you have said. You are a good mare, Shay, and you are one of the best mares for that job. The only mare that would have been better, in pure magical talent, is now a princess!” at that Shadow Eyes actually scoffed which caused Rich to smile, “That's the mare I know and love!” said Rich and Shadow Eyes gave a weak chuckle as Rich pressed against her. “Just, think about the position, Shay, you would never have to worry about what magic you practice ever again.” Shadow Eyes disappeared into her routine, however she would take longer than before, returning long after Rich Quick had fallen asleep waiting for her, and she would head to the bedroom and get some sleep and leave before he woke, this routine continued for three weeks before Shadow Eyes slipped up, she kissed him, missing the feel of him in her bed, just being there holding her… “Shay, baby, please, don't close me out again…” said Rich as he nuzzled his marefriend urgently, he could not deal with another three weeks of her avoiding him. “Please, I love you” as he begged he, she held him and quietly decided that nothing was worth the heartache of not being able to be with her coltfriend. “Rich, I-I love you, and I am sorry, I just can't lose you. Not to my own stupidity.” said Shadow Eyes and she bit her lip, “I’ll take the job, it would be nice to see my parents again” Shadow Eyes and Rich Quick made their way through Canterlot, everywhere they turned ponies stopped and stared, and it wasn’t long before they pulled their foals indoors and closed the shutters, it wasn’t like this in Manehattan, there she could walk the streets in full view of the guard, ever since she brought crime down, and even saved a few guardsponies’ lives during a small gang war. She flinched every time a pony pulled a foal away, her sight granting her a clear picture of the fear the ponies held of her, it was unnerving so be so distrusted when in her own city… No, she may have taken up protecting Manehattan, but it was never her city, she was home now, and her home wasn’t welcoming her. Shadow Eyes sniffed quietly before sticking her nose in the air and continuing to the castle, Rich Quick struggling to keep up with her fast pace as she all but ran to the castle. “This is preposterous! Surely you do not mean to give this criminal the position so many other ponies would be better suited for! Ponies that haven’t killed a small village worth of souls” said a noble to Celestia as she and her sister sat with the council of nobles awaiting Shadow Eyes. “Sit down Amber Mine, do not presume to know better than the princess” said Gold Star as he coughed lightly into his hoof covering up a chuckle at the immaturity the young noble was showing. “This Council was made to question the princess!” argued Amber Mine as she shook her head. Gold Star sighed as did any other number of nobles and the princesses did as well. “The purpose of the council is to advise not demand things from the princesses” said Gold Star his golden mane and tail being his namesake peppered with grey hairs. “Then I would advise the princesses to have this mare arrested before she sets foot in these chambers and casts her dark magic on all of us” said Amber Mine as she spat out the word advise as if it left a bad taste in her mouth. Just then the doors to the council chambers burst open as a slightly teary eyed Shadow Eyes, at least that is what everyone but Gold Star saw, he saw a pony he never thought he would see again, a pony he had been told was dead. “No… Is it possible?” asked Gold Star as he walked up to the mare and placed a hoof on her face. “Hi daddy” Author's Note Here you all go, a new chapter! Chapter Five: A Pony’s Psyche Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Chapter Five: A Pony’s Psyche ~ ~ ~ “Tenebrosus Magus fear nopony, only ever exhibiting fear when faced with an opponent of significantly more skill and power than themselves” ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ “Hi daddy” she said with a teary smile as fresh tears rolled down her face. The older stallion wrapped the younger mare in a tight hug and cried himself, tears of unbridled joy at having his daughter back… “As touching as this is” said Amber Mine as she stood up and motioned to the guards, “I’m afraid this criminal is under arrest for being a known Tenebrosus Magus” it was then that Celestia started giggling as she waved the guards away with her wing. “I am afraid you are late to the party on this one, Lady Amber Mine, Shadow Eyes has long since been pardoned and has a standing pardon for her use of Dark Magic, and the manner in which she has used it has also been pardoned, surely you don’t intent to persecute a pony for simply following their special talent” said the solar princess and Amber Mine gaped at the princess, she couldn’t possibly have pardoned this murderer. “Your highness! Surely-” “This isn’t Shadow Eyes,” said Gold Star gritting his teeth, “This is my daughter, Bright Star, my daughter that I thought I lost” Shadow Eyes turned her head towards the ground. “I’m sorry, daddy, but I am Shadow Eyes” “I object! There is no way we can allow this thing-” “That thing is my daughter! If Celestia wants her to be appointed then you can not stand in her way.” “The Tartarus I can’t! Celestia if you do this I will make it my life’s mission to make your life a living hell” said Amber Mine and Shadow Eyes tsked as her horn glowed slightly as she stepped forward. “I cleaned Manehattan, and if I have to do the same for Canterlot, I will” she snapped at the amber coat with black spots mare and Amber Mine reared back at the threat looking to Princess Celestia hoping for the princess to intervene only to see the Princess smiling. “Oh?” said Celestia as she pretended to finally notice Amber Mine’s gaze. “Did you want me to do something? I thought you knew better than me” said the Princess and Amber Mine panicked shaking her head. “I don’t! Please!” “Shadow Eyes you shouldn’t harm her, she is a member of the council” said Celestia and Shadow Eyes nodded gritting her teeth. “As you say, Princess” Shadow Eyes stood in an antechamber off the side of the royal court room a few ponies ‘helping’ her into a dress… “Unhoof me! I don’t need this! Let me go!” shouted Shadow Eyes as she struggled to get free of the ponies trying to force a dress on her. It was not long before the ponies stepped away from her the regal looking dress tight on her, and not in a bad way, she panted as she tried to pull the dress off of her while a unicorn held the dress in place. “If this dress is not off of me in the next sixty seconds I am going to burn it to ashes, to Tartarus with looking formal I will not be wearing this cloth torture device!” snarled Shadow Eyes as her body began to quiver… “My little ponies, I can not tell you how happy I am to have all of you here today, on a joyous day that a pony, whom many thought lost to the dark arts comes home to us all. A pony, whom, while is a user of the dark arts, never used the spells for anything other than defense of self or others” said Celestia and the ponies that had so far gathered for what the papers said would be momentous occasion, one for the history books… “No” “Come on, Shay, you said you would go through with this” “I changed my mind, I can’t go out there, I can’t face those looks of fear or hatred again, I just want to go home” said Shadow Eyes and Rich bit his lip. “Shay, there is nothing—” “I’m not going out!” “The pony in question had been hunted for relentlessly by my sister, her name dragged through the mud and her exploits of good made out to be evil machinations. Despite this, despite my sister and myself hunting her relentlessly, albeit for opposing reasons, she scraped out a name for herself as Manehattan’s protector, and the ponies of that city in turn protected her, even going so far as to go against my sister when she began a forceful search of Manehattan…” “Are you sure I can’t just go home? I want to be with ponies that won’t run at the first sight of me” “Trust Princess Celestia, I am sure she has a plan, how many times have you barely managed to get out of her hooves in the past? She is a nefarious schemer and planner, I can guarantee she has everything planned out” “Indeed, my sister does have everything planned out, except this little meeting, Tenebrosus Magus” said Luna as she stepped into the flesh having been a cloud of shadow not a moment before. an hour later: “Without further ado, I introduce, the pony of the hour, Shadow Eyes, our new Court Magician” as Celestia said that, Shadow Eyes made her way out to the area in front of the thrones a small, quivering, polite smile on her face... An hour previous: “What do you want Princess? Did you want to continue our little duel from Manehattan?” snapped Shadow Eyes her horn starting to spark and bubble with dark magic and Princess Luna shook her head causing the unicorn mare to sit down as her magic fizzled out in her confusion. “Nay, I would not be so foolish to attack you unprovoked, every time a pony has, it was the end of them. Though I doubt you could kill me, the damage we would cause in a fight between us would decimate the castle and the city in which this city stands. No, if there is to be blows between us, I will not be the instigator, I came to offer some advice,” “If it is to not do this, I am way ahead of you, the only thing waiting out there for me is the hateful glares and fearful faces of the ponies when they see me” “Nay, Tene-Court Magician, go out there, face these ponies, you may be surprised what you see” said Princess Luna as she trotted out of the room towards the hall leaving Shadow Eyes turning head back and forth between the door to the hall and the door to the throne room… As Shadow Eyes walked out of the room, all the stares on her weighed on her soul. Some of the stares, as she expected were hateful, or fearful, but to her surprise there were more ponies smiling genuinely at her, some she actually recognized from Manehattan. Or from her time on the run, the ponies she helped, even risked her life for… Celestia smiled happily towards her and she took a step forwards, tears of happiness welling up in her eyes, all these ponies came to see her, not as a threat, but as someone worth being around… Author's Note I know not the best, but I hope it is alright as usual, though I haven't asked before, please leave a comment below, I can't get better without knowing what I need to improve Chapter Six: Reality Check Okay, what to say here? Oh yes, I am sorry I took so long getting this chapter out, the truth is I am all but burnt out and am trying my hardest to just keep writing. I will be back with more as soon as I am back in shape. Until then I beg you, please have patience Chapter Six: Reality Check ~ ~ ~ “If faced with significant power, a Tenebrosus Magus will do anything to achieve said power […]” ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ “I have to go back to school? Isn’t that a little~?” asked Shadow Eyes and Celestia smiled before shaking her head “It is the law, no Court Magician can have not finished school, it was passed in an attempt to keep those who thought themselves better than others and drop out of school in an attempt to take the trials for Court Magician, not realizing that most of the trials are in the classroom, or in your case, the trials you were forced through on the run. but the law must be upheld if we don’t want the Council to find fault in how it was handled” said Celestia, with that Shadow Eyes nodded before she sighed her head turning in the direction of the school. “Princess, are you sure you can trust a pony like me? Perhaps your sister is right about me, and I will suddenly start massacring everypony in sight, I have been practicing Dark Magic for years now, it can’t have had no effect on me” said Shadow Eyes in a way that illustrated she was not completely better from her break down. “I don’t believe that we have to worry about that, Shadow Eyes, you know what you are capable of and I know you don’t want to do that” said Celestia and Shadow Eyes turned to her with a sad look on her face. “I don’t want too, but who is to say I won’t?” asked Shadow Eyes and Celestia pulled the mare into a comforting hug surprising the mare. “Shhh, be calm, Shadow Eyes, it is because you are so worried about it I am sure you won’t do that” said Celestia as she wrapped her wings around the mare comforting her as a pegasus mother would her child and instinctually it worked on Shadow Eyes, feeling the comfort of a mother’s love and she went wide-eyed, surely this paragon of purity couldn’t love a pony like herself, she was tainted by the very magicks that were the polar opposite of this pony. Yet she couldn’t count herself amongst the followers of Princess Luna, they may be ‘dark’ but they were unforgiving to mistakes, but here was a princess that was offering her forgiveness and offering her love to a pony that had fallen so far… Shadow Eyes cried and wrapped her hooves around the princess holding her tightly as if she were afraid she would disappear… After a few minutes Celestia pulled away from Shadow Eyes who blushed at how she had reacted as she brushed away any remaining tears. “Do you feel better, Shadow Eyes?” asked Celestia with a kind smile on her face and Shadow Eyes gave a teary smile as nodded. “Yes, princess” So for months Shadow Eyes sat through what remained of her classes that she had dropped out of before going on the run, and she learned spells she never thought she’d learn, she finally learned healing spells, and while she was not as proficient at them as she was with dark magic she threw herself into her studies hoping to leave that part of her life behind her. She learned defensive spells based in the light spectrum of magic. She was still going to protect Manehattan no matter what, but she wasn’t going to use dark magic ever again… Not if she could help it… “Babe, it’s been months since we last slept together… Please… I miss holding you at night…” said Rich Quick one night as it seemed after her ‘awakening’ that day she had been sleeping in a separate room. “I-” she started and he spoke up again urgency along with a base need in his voice. “I don’t care if we buck or not, I just want to hold my marefriend again… Please?” begged Rich Quick and she smiled at him, the smile not quite reaching her eyes. “Of course, Rich, I should have remembered your needs” she said as she lead him into the room she had been staying in… As soon as he was in the room she shut the door and pressed her lips to his, need obvious, as she slipped her tongue in his mouth, and slowly backed her way to the bed, leading him with the kiss… As they cuddled in the afterglow of their round of sex Shadow Eyes started to cry making Rich Quick hold on to her tighter. “Babe… What’s wrong?” And Shadow Eyes sobbed. “Me… I can’t even follow the tenets of Celestialism, how can I be a good mare and make up for all the bad I have done if-” “Babe, I doubt Celestia cares about ponies bucking before marriage, I am positive that she also doesn’t care if you follow Celestialism, or not, she just wanted to right a wrong that she let happen” said Rich Quick and Shadow Eyes seemingly glared at him. “She-” started Shadow Eyes and there was a knock at the door to the dorm in which they were staying in for the duration of her schooling making her way to the door she opened it about to yell at the pony when she stopped short, in front of her was Princess Twilight Sparkle, Celestia’s former student, and her former unofficial rival before she had left the school. “Um, Oh! Hi! I was looking for a Shadow Eyes? I don’t know if you’ve seen her, I was told she would be living here, I am supposed to teach her a little about some of the magic Princess Celestia taught me, magic I was told she would be great at” said Twilight as she shuffled uncomfortably as she didn’t recognize the pony in front of her, not off hand anyway. “I’m Shadow Eyes, come in Princess, please excuse the smell, my coltfriend and I… Erm…” she stumbled a bit unsure of how to continue, she knew she had to apologize as it was polite, even if she had not been expecting company today. Shadow Eyes stepped out of the way as Twilight entered the dorm, “No, no, it’s alright, I did come by unannounced. Besides it is not like I haven’t taken the edge off of my stress like that during finals week, anyway, Princess Celestia wanted me to tutor you in some of the dark-” “No” “No? Princess Celestia said you would be thrilled to learn some spells that no pony would have been able to teach you besides the princesses” said Twilight and Shadow Eyes faced her with a hard look on her face. “I am trying to leave that part of my life behind me, how can I- “Trust me when I say this, Shadow Eyes, even Princess Celestia has used dark magic before, she has killed before, she has done things you wouldn’t believe, things that would make you balk at even the thought of doing. Of any of us she knows what dark magic can and cannot do. I… Even I have used dark magic. None of us let it rule our lives, except for Princess Luna, who is letting her mistake rule her life… Don’t be like her” said Twilight and Shadow Eyes sat down on her rump and seemed to be thinking. “Please, if you try to do that, you won’t get any better, sure you probably won’t get any worse, but you won’t get any better” “What about the tenets of Celestialism?” Asked Shadow Eyes and Twilight looked at her for a moment the look on her face suggesting she was holding something back but failing before she burst out laughing. “Celestialism? Those ponies who see Princess Celestia as some sort of goddess? Please, as much as I am loath to admit it, she isn’t a god, she is very powerful but she can’t perform half the miracles they claim, not without some serious help, and some of them, she can’t perform at all, add that to the act she is just like any other mare, with needs but can’t afford to actually get close to anypony, she has had more one night stands than anypony is willing to count, some of them with more meaning than others such as that one time with me…” said Twilight and Shadow Eyes made a face as she tried to counter Twilight’s argument, but finding nothing to use in her defense she sighed brokenly. “Why? Why does she look so pure then? If she is so, ‘tainted’ as you say, why does she feel so safe?” asked Shadow Eyes and Twilight chuckled, before nuzzling the mare in front of her before sitting down in front of Shadow Eyes. “Because she gives everyone the love of a mother, and she treats all of us like her foals, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to protect her foals from harm, even dip into dark magic to do so” said Twilight Sparkle and Shadow Eyes bit her lip. This was not what she thought Celestia was like. She thought the princess of the sun was pure like her white coat, unmarred by the darkness that had corrupted her own soul, but… “I know what you are thinking, and she isn’t corrupted, that is how she knew you were trustworthy, because she had been able to use dark magic herself without being corrupted, and with how you protected ponies without ever asking anything in return, you proved yourself free of corruption even with your liberal use of dark magic, I can use it too, but if I do… I hear the Siren’s Call…” said Twilight biting her lip and shaking her head... Author's Note another chapter down! Chapter Seven: As You Command Author's Note: Well here is a new chapter, I managed to get out of my funk faster than I thought, but updates will continue to be slow for a while until I get into the swing of things again Chapter Seven: As You Command ~ ~ ~ “Beware the Tenebrosus Magus for they will attempt to drive a wedge between you and your family to have a better chance to corrupt you” ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ Shadow Eyes made her way to the throne room of the palace, she had been granted an audience with Princess Celestia and she was nervous. Sure Princess Twilight had made it clear that Princess Celestia was no god but it didn’t help, her not being a god made it more overwhelming if it were possible, how could a mortal resist the lure of vices for as long as she had? Even though she was a practical immortal, meaning she was ageless, and not a true immortal as far as she knew, but to be incorruptible even after millennia of dark magic use? Could she say the same would be said of her? No, ‘cause she had begun to rationalize deaths away, ‘them or her’ even though she was the one to put herself in those kinds of situations, and her loose morals on sleeping with ponies… Regardless of what Princess Twilight said, she refused to believe that Princess Celestia had slept around with random ponies, with ponies that meant something to her, maybe, but not random ponies… “Art thou going to wait out in the hall all day? I have to speak to my sister as well, but she set this time apart just for thou” said Luna as she trotted up behind the nervous mare who jumped causing Luna to raise her eyebrow, she had read Shadow Eyes’ file finally having been given access to it after swearing not to use it against her, and sneaking up on the mare should have been impossible. “Art thou… Alright?” she forced herself to ask, sure she helped her during her naming ceremonies, but that was more a favor for her sister than helping the Tenebrosus Magus. “How can someone use dark magic and not be corrupted?” Shadow Eyes asked aloud and Luna bit her lip, that was the same question that had been on her mind quite often since the official pardoning of the mare in front of her. “I do not know, I used it in the past and became possessed by the Nightmare, as far as I know, no pony has used dark magic without becoming corrupt” said the princess and Shadow Eyes turned towards Luna and it unnerved her how the unseeing eyes seemed to stare into her soul. “Princess Twilight Sparkle seems to think differently, in fact she believes your sister has used dark magic herself and came through without corruption” “LIES! I will not listen to thou spinning tales of falsehood!” snapped Luna and Shadow Eyes closed her eyes and shook her head. “This is part of the reason why I came here, Princess, I want to know the truth for myself, if she has… If it is true… What does that mean for me?” asked Shadow Eyes as she turned towards the door. “Ah, Shadow Eyes, I am happy that you came to see me, I was worried that I made you feel unwelcome” said Celestia and Shadow Eyes bit her lip as she walked through the open door, Princess Luna following soon after purposely. “Tell her, sister, tell her you never used dark magic!” Luna demanded and Celestia looked surprised at the exclamation for a moment and closed her eyes taking a calming breath. “I have” she said and Luna froze as did Shadow Eyes not expecting it. “NO! It isn’t possible, you are the paragon of purity! You are supposed to be infallible!” cried Shadow Eyes in pain, she truly didn’t want Twilight to be right! It couldn’t be true! “Sister! How could you?! After seeing what dark magic had did to me!?” cried Luna and Celestia flinched as if she were wounded. Almost immediately after, Celestia sat up to her full height and and frowned. “I did what I had to, to protect Equestria, and not once have I heard the Siren’s Call, I stopped a dragon invasion single hoofed because you were locked away on the moon Luna, I channeled the crystal of darkness spell to show Twilight a fraction of Sombra’s power, because you foolishly believed I was hunting you for defending yourself, Shadow Eyes, I did not want to use it, but I had to. However I do not regret it in any way, shape, or form, and I would do it again if the situation calls for it” she snapped and the two other ponies took a step backwards in shock. “If you came to condemn me for doing what I had to, to protect Equestria, then just leave, both of you! I would think you of all ponies would understand better than this, Shadow Eyes” admonished Celestia and Shadow Eyes flinched before she stood up straight. “I-... I need to know, is it really possible to use dark magic without being corrupted, as a normal pony, not the paragon of purity” “I am no paragon of purity, I have slept with enough ponies, that if any pony was brave enough they could call me a slut, but no pony would dare call Princess Celestia a slut, outside the bedroom anyway. And I do believe that being a virgin is a requirement for purity” “Sister? Thou art a harlot? How couldst thee? Didst not our parents teach us better than that?” accused Luna and Celestia glared at her angrily. “So I should blame you for causing my emotional pain? That I had laid with the captain of the guard for comfort from it, that I needed such comforting and finding that I liked it? That I slept with him for months, how it kept the pain away, how it made me feel normal? And how I started seeing him and talking about a marriage with him? Or how much it hurt when he died in my defense? Or the next several mares and stallions I have been with? I have been married once, and she died not long afterwards in a plot to kill me. I have lost more loved ones than I care to admit. If sleeping with ponies brings me comfort than so be it!” snapped Celestia and Shadow Eyes bit her lip, she understood how the princess felt, she had done a similar thing before she found Rich Quick, all to bury the pain of leaving Silver Hoof before she ran into him again after he had joined the ESIS. “Why did you want Princess Twilight to teach me more dark magic?” she asked and Luna stumbled a bit, forgiving the Tenebrosus Magus was one thing, it was another to teach her more dark spells, to further empower her in the dark arts. “Sis-” “Because, if I do not there will be dangers that you will not be ready for” said Celestia and Luna narrowed her eyes at her sister while Shadow Eyes nodded and bowed before turning and heading for the door. Before stopping at the threshold. “I wanted to stop practicing dark magic entirely but if you want me to continue learning it, then I will, your highness. I am yours to command” with that Shadow Eyes left the room tears rolling down her face, she had believed the time of her using dark magic was behind her, but it seemed the Solar Princess needed another pony who used the dark arts to help her, and she was the pony to the job, a pony that has never heard the Siren’s Call. Celestia gave a sad smile as she stood up. “It is my will that you remain Tenebrosus Magus, for the safety and protection of the principality of Equestria” said Celestia in a regal, but sad voice. “As you command, Princess, Tenebrosus I will remain” As soon as Shadow Eyes made it to her bedroom she collapsed onto her bed crying, she had done all she could to keep from breaking down until she got into her room and closed the door, ignoring her coltfriend’s query on if she was alright... Author's Note Here's hoping you enjoyed the chapter Chapter Eight: Realization Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Well it certainly has been a while, I am writing two totally different stories at the same time, I finally broke my writer's block for one and now I am having a small one for this one... Sorry guys, but I will try to keep writing this story as long as I can Chapter Eight: Realization ~ ~ ~ “Ne’er give a Tenebrosus Magus any power, if you e’er spare them, they will abuse said power and use it for their own aims” ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ After about a month Shadow Eyes seemed to be stronger, she knew more spells than she knew what to do with. It still hurt that Princess Celestia had ordered her to keep practicing magic she only truly learned out of necessity for survival, but did she blame the princess? These were the thoughts running through her head as she made her way to a little village along the coast of Equestria, with her was several guardsponies, ponies whom she did not ask for, nor want. She was on her way to the village to hear what the mayor of said village wanted from the crown, and it apparently was her job to hear the mayor out and give a report and her opinion on whether the crown should offer its aid or weigh in on the town’s request and Shadow Eyes was determined to show she could be trusted, and hopefully she could be trusted without an escort. Little did she know it wasn’t to watch her, it was to protect her, there were some unsavory forces that were unhappy with her change in allegiance, even if she had never been an evil pony in the first place. “Court Magician, we will be arriving in Trottendale shortly” said a guardspony pegasus, he appeared to be white and his cutie mark was blurred by the enchantments of his armor. Shadow Eyes nodded keeping her displeasure at being called by her title off her face, it reminded her too much of when she had been called Tenebrosus Magus instead of her name when she had been on the run. “Thank you, you never introduced yourself, mister?” “Private Coltsfeather, Ma’am!” said the guardspony puffing up his chest as if he were proud to be a private, which would make sense the guard was still considered a widely noble organization. “Well, Private, if I may have a few minutes to get dressed, I’ll be out shortly” said the mare and the stallion nodded before stepping out of the room and Shadow Eyes, with her magic, look forlornly at the outfit that was customary for the Court Magician to wear. How she hated clothes with a passion, she hated them as a foal and she hated them even more now, they always seemed to make her itch. ‘That is it, when I get a chance, I am going to ask Princess Celestia if I can change the uniform for the Court Magician, even if it is more a ceremonial position, when there is no conflict, no reason I should be uncomfortable in the outfit’ she thought with little understanding as to what a Court Magician was supposed to do, outside of what she had been told so far. There had not been one in centuries and Celestia did not realize that it was not a subject taught in her school anymore… The form-fitting outfit on Shadow Eyes’ body made her twitch every so often as it rubbed her on sensitive spots on her back and forelegs causing them to itch like crazy, the cape kept getting caught on snags and under hoof making her stumble, much to what she wrongly assumed the hidden enjoyment of the guardsponies with her as they kept a straight face even as she stumbled several times, a few times into the guardsponies themselves. “Are you alright, Ma’am?” asked Private Coltfeather and Shadow Eyes blushed in embarrassment as she righted herself, it would not due for her to seem drunk, when all it was her tripping on her own hooves. “I’m fine!” she said firmly as if challenging the stallion to argue with her. When he didn’t she felt sheepish but said nothing... “Court Magician? Are you pulling my leg? I haven’t heard of it” said the Mayor of Trottensdale, a rather chubby pinto earth pony stallion whose attitude left much to be desired, Shadow Eyes narrowed her unseeing eyes as she noticed with her magic a scroll with the official seal laid open on the desk. “Private Coltfeather!” she said suddenly, she figured if they were going to be there, she would make use of them. “Yes ma’am?” he said standing at a crisp salute after being called out. “Would you be a dear and read that letter with the official seal and let me know if that was the letter that Princess Celestia said she would be sending ahead of us to inform the mayor of his important visitor” said the mare and with a fresh salute the pegasus trotted over and picked up the letter and began to read it. “Now see here! That is a private correspondence!” said the Mayor and Shadow Eyes chuckled darkly. “If it was, it wouldn’t carry the royal seal upon the wax, no, I think you were hoping that you could fluster me so I would return failing at my first assignment and causing the princess herself to come here taking time away from more important matters” said Shadow Eyes feeling confident, however she knew it hinged on the letter being the one Celestia had sent to introduce Shadow Eyes to the mayor. “It is the introduction letter, ma’am” said the private and Shadow Eyes smirked. “Who are you to decide whether my issue is worthy of the crown’s intervention or not! You hold no authority here, and by order of the Mayor of Trottensdale, I order you guardsponies to arrest this mare for reading a private letter.” the guard did not move. “Did you not hear me? She committed a crime!” said the Stallion all but shrieking and Shadow Eyes giggled. “I outrank you, mayor, besides what you did was impede royal business, which is a much more serious crime, and me doing what I did was well within my rights, Princess Celestia would never use the royal mail carriers to deliver a personal letter, least ways to a fat unimportant stallion such as you, I am sure the princesses has much better tastes than you” said Shadow Eyes harshly, she was unamused by the stallion’s behavior. “How dare you!?” shouted the stallion as he stood up and tried to look threatening forgetting about the guardsponies in his anger. “Oh sit your fat ass down, I don’t have time for your theatrics. You wanted the princesses here for something, what was it? Or shall I tell the princesses that you only wanted to waste their valuable time” snapped Shadow Eyes… “He just wanted to bask in your glory, Princess Celestia” said Shadow Eyes as she gave her report to the Solar Triarch and Celestia looked troubled. “Why would he have made such a thing sound so urgent?” she asked surely there was more to this than was being said. “If there was more, he certainly didn’t tell me, in fact he seemed dead set on pretending that he didn’t know I was coming, even with the letter you sent sitting open on his desk.” said Shadow Eyes calmly though on the inside she was worried, what if all of the places she was sent were like that? “Thank you, Shadow Eyes, you’ve given me a lot to think about, you are dismissed” said the princess with a smile and a wave of her hoof. Shadow Eyes bowed and turned to leave when the princess spoke up, “Be sure to give my congratulations to Rich Quick, I heard he managed a heist that no other pony had succeed in before, and let him know if he returns the royal jewels soon, I won’t have him arrested” Shadow Eyes made her way to the dorm in which she and Rich Quick were staying for the moment, as she needed to move out soon, as she was no longer a student, part of her wanted to move back to Manehattan, but… Something was calling for her to stay in Canterlot a little longer… “Hey, Love, I see you are back, what’s new?” asked the stallion and Shadow Eyes turned to him, a glare on her face. “You know better than to steal from the crown, Rich!” said Shadow Eyes heatedly and Rich stopped mid-stride in shock, he had not expected her to find out so quickly. “W-what are you talking about?” asked Rich Quick hoping to avoid confrontation when Shadow Eyes got right up in his face and glared at him. “Celestia knows you stole the royal jewels you crazy stallion!” she snapped at him and Rich Quick paled before he grinned. “I guess I should have known the princess would have a tracking spell on it, so tell me, when should I expect the guard to be knocking at our door?” asked Rich Quick and Shadow Eyes nearly snapped at him but took a deep breath and relaxed. “You should be more worried about me, rather than the Guard. However Princess Celestia said she would give you some time before she sends the Guard, to return the royal jewels to her” said Shadow Eyes calmly but with a voice full of anger making Rich Quick back away nervously before he remembered that Shadow Eyes was not likely to hurt him. “You know I am just following my cutie mark, you can't blame me for stealing, neither can Celestia” argued the stallion and Shadow Eyes huffed and walked away with her nose in the air… At a quiet little bar a little ways away from the adult dormitories of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns a stallion sat at the bar with a mare who was in a uniform for the Equestrian Strategic Information Service. “You can't tell me I don't have the skill to join you, nopony else could have done what I did, the castle guard was tripping over themselves and they still couldn't capture me!” said the pony in front of the ESIS agent and the agent frowned. “The princess still knew who had done it, that does not speak well of your skill” said the agent and the pony shrugged and produced the royal jewels and placed them on the bar between them. “I scanned them, they have a locator spell on them, one that I could have easily removed, but saw no need when I was going to be returning them not too long after seeing you today” said the pony and the agent frowned again, trying to find a good reason to deny the pony in front of her a place in ESIS as the pony in front of her could just ask Princess Celestia to find out why he had been denied a job, perks of dating the Court Magician. Finding none the agent groaned angrily. “I will talk to my bosses, Princess Celestia included, as much as I hate to admit, you are skilled, and from what we have on you, you aren't opposed to killing to get your mission done. I may not like how close you are to the pony you want to help us keep an eye on, but none can deny your skill. You held your own against the Court Magician in the past and our files say you haven't been idle since you started dating her. You will have my recommendation” “Thank you” said Rich Quick as he got up off the stool he had been sitting on and started to walk out before turning to the agent, “regardless of who you send to watch her, she will know she's being watched, you know this as well as anypony, so why not make it somepony who is already in her life, just something to think about” he said calmly before stepping out the door and out into the quiet streets of Canterlot… As Rich Quick entered the dormitory quietly entering the student apartment where upon entering the main foyer of the apartment he saw Shadow Eyes waiting up for him. “Where the Tartarus have you been? It's damn near midnight!” snapped Shadow Eyes as there were tears on her cheeks, she had been crying. Noticing the tear stained cheeks of his marefriend, Rich Quick was quick to swallow his own anger. “What’s wrong, Shay? Why’d you stay up? You have work tomorrow!”said Rich Quick worriedly and Shadow Eyes glared at him with her clouded eyes. “Answer the damned question, Rich Quick! Are you seeing somepony else?” Rich Quick took a step back before shaking his head angrily. “How can you think that? What kind of heartless pony do you think I am? I was meeting with an ESIS agent, Cypher 0183, I was attempting to get a job with them” said Rich Quick and Shadow Eyes snapped. “You want to work for the same group that Silver Hoof worked for!? How could you!?” and Rich Quick struggled to take a calming breath, it would not do for them to get into a shouting match. “I can’t keep still, you know what happened the last time you went off on a mission for the princesses, I went and stole the royal jewels! I need a job where I can follow my cutie mark and not be breaking the law” said the stallion relatively calmly though one could tell he was close to yelling himself. “But the ESIS! Couldn’t you have found work in anything else?” asked Shadow Eyes and Rich Quick sighed and took a step towards her only for her to step away from him tears in her eyes. “There is nothing else, the crooks here that steal from the poor have the protection of the law on their side, and only ESIS has the means and the stones to make them pay without getting arrested for their trouble.” said Rich Quick and Shadow Eyes choked back a sob as part of her wanted to yell at the stallion in front of her, there had to be something else he could do! But then… Shadow Eyes sighed as she focused on her flank where her cutie mark seemed to glow with magic allowing her to see it in living color. Her cutie mark reminded her that she was following it, shouldn’t her coltfriend follow his? Author's Note Well more emotional turmoil for Shay. I hope it doesn't scar too bad Chapter Nine: Meeting Bilgewater Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Chapter Nine: Meeting Bilgewater ~ ~ ~ “I always wanted a foal, but I fear my life will be detrimental to the healthy living of a child” ~From the personal diary of the 83rd Court Magician, Shadow Eyes ~ ~ ~ Shadow Eyes faced the open train window watching the landscape fly pass as the train sped down the tracks. It had been a few years since her appointment to Court Magician, she was now twenty-nine years old and well known to be fair to callers to the throne, some were refused, their reasoning to call upon the princesses not sufficient, others were granted their audience, their reasoning urgent enough that Shadow Eyes couldn’t deny them their chance to see the princesses. However this run was different, this time she was being asked to give her judgement on a new village law that was set to come out soon, one that could change the course of Equestria as they knew it. “Private Coltfeather” said Shadow Eyes as she turned away from the window and the stallion stood at attention. “Yes ma’am?” he said as he stood stiffly at attention. “What do you think of the plans of the mayor of Hoofingston?” asked Shadow Eyes with her eyes closed as she thought worriedly about the mayor’s plans. “It’s not for me to say, ma’am” “I asked you, it is alright for you to tell me.” For a moment there was no sound besides the sound of the train running down the track as Coltsfeather closed his eyes to think. “I am worried about this mayor, he says he is for the children, but from what the document you had me read for you said… He is more for profit than for what is good for the foals of his city, and it would set a dangerous precedent, I-” “Thank you, Private, I need to think now” said Shadow Eyes as she interrupted him her eyes closed just letting her thoughts wander in the direction Coltsfeather had suggested. She didn’t like where it led… It was night by the time the train pulled into the station, the moon rising in the night sky. “I need to take a little walk, I’ll be back” said Shadow Eyes and the guard moved to take places around her so she would be protected before there was a flash and she was no longer there… On a beach near the village stood a little colt, the shore was empty besides this blue-grey dapple, he stood staring off into the waves of the sea, and although he had been there all day, he was not wet past his hocks, or his ankles. Shadow Eyes who had been walking along the beach since ditching the guard that was sent with her, a guard she still did not believe she needed, she was well known in the criminal underworld, both for being a Tenebrosus Magus, and now for being the Solar Princess’s Court Magician, someone no one would want to mess with, and with her sight it wasn’t likely for someone to sneak up on her. Upon catching ‘sight’ of the foal, Shadow Eyes gave a sad smile that quickly morphed into a more happy smile. She made her way towards the foal. “Hello, little one” she said gently as not to scare the foal. The foal did not even turn to her,instead focusing on the waves that seemed to churn angrily in the moonlight, there was no hint that he even acknowledged her existence, something she could live with, it as better than the fear some ponies still had in these backwater villages. The foal stood there as the seafoam swirled around his hooves, kissing his ankles. When he did speak up it was in an accent that seemed native to Trottingham his voice was high with excitement and strength. “Luna isn’t happy today” said the foal plainly and Shadow Eyes was forced to remember that Princess Luna still didn’t like the amount of power she had acquired by becoming the Court Magician of the Solar Court. “Princess Luna hasn’t been very happy for a while…” she agreed as she sat beside him and cast her special version of sight towards the water catching sight of the waves as they crashed into the water and rolled onto the shore. “Can I ask for your name, little one?” she asked curiously. “I’m Bilgewatah, but you can call me Billy if it’s easier. Who a’e you?” he asked and Shadow Eyes giggled into her hoof before lowering herself to the foal’s eye level. “I’m Shadow Eyes, but you can call me Shay if you want, Billy” said Shadow Eyes with a smile, “What are you doing out here on your own? Don’t you have a momma or a papa?” she asked curiously careful in her tone as she tried to keep from upsetting him. “A mama or papa? I’ve had ponies ask me to call them that before, never really do though. I’ve seen what a real mama and papa are. I never had that.” the foal spoke evenly not seeming to be hurt by Shadow Eyes’ question, and as if just stating a fact. “And what are a real momma and papa?” asked Shadow Eyes evenly as her smile leveled out a bit at the rather emotionless voice exhibited by the foal. “A real mama and papa follow a foal ‘round, making sure they are happy” said the foal looking back out to the ocean, a longing look in his eyes as he longed to have that. Shadow Eyes bit her lip as her heart told her to pick the foal in a hug and tell him it would be alright… “Are you hungry, Billy? I can get you something to eat if you are” she said as she gave him a friendly nuzzle , she hated seeing foals grow up like this, but there was little she could do. “Y… Yes ma’am” he said blushing, “Sorry ma’am” “No need to be sorry, Billy, I offered didn’t I?” said Shadow Eyes as she stood up and shook the sand out of her belly fur. “Come on then, where do you want to go?” asked the mare. “Go? There is no place I like to be more than the water” he said standing up with another look out onto the ocean. Shadow Eyes chuckled softly… “I like the water too, but unless-” “Court Magician! There you are! Why did y-... And may I ask who this is ma’am?” “This is Billy, he will be accompanying me to dinner tonight” said Shadow Eyes rather bluntly, Bilgewater looked between the two adults confused but said nothing knowing better than to dare. “Come, Billy. Let’s go get you something to eat, I am sure you are hungry, even staring out at the ocean and Luna’s stars burns energy.” said Shadow Eyes kindly with a smile on her face as she gave him a gentle nudge towards the guard. “Her stars? Why would I look at them, when her moon is pulling the ocean towards me?” “Ma’am, if I may, he may-” “May be an assassin? Hardly, he isn’t Swift Wing, and he is the only assassin within this colt’s age group. Now, less talk about these unpleasant things, take us to the village proper, Treat him as you would myself” said Shadow Eyes… Author's Note The foal Bilgewater(Billy) is not mine, but is used with permission, he is owned/created by Aricub. If you notice a change in writing style it is because I am converting a Role Play into story format, as was the plan for the parts with Billy Chapter Ten: The Mayor’s Plan Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Chapter Ten: The Mayor’s Plan ~ ~ ~ “I refuse to let a foal suffer if I can help it, to tartarus with what anypony thinks. If anypony thinks I am heartless, let me prove them wrong, Celestia save the fools that raise a hoof out of hate towards a foal” ~From the personal diaries of Shadow Eyes, The Court Magician ~ ~ ~ Shadow Eyes smiled lightly and gave the colt another friendly nuzzle, he was just… For a second her mind drifted to a sad place, before she shook herself as he told her he was watching the moon and the waves… “True, but even watching that can be tiring, and I am sure you need to eat” said Shadow Eyes as the guard started to get restless, looking left and right constantly. Frowning Shadow Eyes turned her head towards him. “Is there something wrong? Is there something you think you see that I can not?” she said careful about not admitting that she couldn’t see as far as the adverage pony. “N-no ma`am, it's just... I don't like these rural villages, they are so-” “Peaceful? I could tell you a few stories of how I used to hide out in rural villages while I was still on the run” said the mare with a nostalgic smile on her face. Those days in particular were nice as she was able to live amongst the populous for a few weeks at a time while in a rural village. “Billy, you still haven't told me where you want to go eat, you can pick anywhere you want” she said looking to the colt with a kind smile. The colt looked between the pair as they talked “I don't mind wherever ma'am” said the colt and Shadow Eyes smiled at him as she nodded for the guard to lead the way to the mayor's house where she was suppose to have gone, but instead she chose to take a small break from her duties, which, she believed, was her prerogative as the ranking member in the social ladder, it was funny, she was from a small noble family originally, and now she outranked most of the nobles, save the Sparkle household, a recent addition to the noble families thanks to the ascension of the one pony that was her ‘rival’ in school, Twilight Sparkle. Shaking her head from the nostalgia. “This way Ma`am, I am sure the rest of the guard will be happy to know you are safe” said the guardspony and Shadow Eyes simply rolled her clouded blue eyes a smile on her face. “Little one, can you be on your best behavior? I don't want to embarrass the mayor by telling him that if he won't let you eat with us, he has no place for me” Shadow Eyes said into Bilgewater’s ear, softly as not to hurt his ears, but loud enough that it really wasn't a secret what she was saying. “I… um…” he blushed looking down at his hooves quickly quieting down and Shadow Eyes looked at him worriedly. “Are you OK Billy?” she asked with the worry she felt. “Yes ma'am. But...I don't think i can promise that” said the foal and Shadow Eyes look at him confused with her clouded eyes. "Why not? Is there something wrong?" she asked worried that there was something she needed to do to help the foal. “I don’t know how” said Bilgewater and Shadow Eyes chuckled, “I try but it still happens” Shadow Eyes smiled and nuzzled him before nodding to herself . "That's fine little one, don't worry about it then, I'll handle the mayor if anything comes up" said the mare as they made it to the gated house, Shadow Eyes frowned at the segregation of status between the Mayor and the rest of the villagers, it did not bode well for the talks. The foal looked up at the large gated building his eyes darting around it. "In the'e?" He asked gulping down hard looking like a deer caught in the headlights, Shadow Eyes smiled softly and hugged him gently. "I will be right there with you, there is nothing to worry about" she said softly and Bilgewater nodded and slowly stepped forward towards it his ears down then closed his eyes shook and perked up in false though believable confidence.Shadow Eyes Smiled as the guard let them through after a few words were exchanged. Leading them into the house and then the dining hall Shadow Eyes frowned heavily at the mayor. "Ah! Hello Magician Shadow Eyes" said the mayor a portly stallion and Shadow Eyes frowned at him. "If you are going to use the title, at least have the decency to use it correctly, I am not a magician I am the Court Magician" said Shadow Eyes before she motioned for the colt to step forwards. "Little Billy here will be joining us if that isn't too much trouble?" Billy stood tall and proud as a four year old could though his eyes showed fear. the mayor obviously was torn, it wasn't 'proper' for someone of his station to associate with someone as destitute as Bilgewater, but it would he would be insulting the Court Magician if he refused. After a few moments he motioned for them to take seat, Shadow Eyes given the seat of honor, as she expected rolling her eyes, as she motioned for the colt to take a seat beside her. "It's OK Billy, I will be right here, I'm not leaving you" she whispered in his ear. Bilgewater climbed up onto the seat beside her leaving behind a slight trail of sand. The dinner while tense did not seem to go too badly so far. So Shadow Eyes thought... The little foal sat quietly listening to the adults… "I don't care mayor, the crown will not fund a child labor camp just to get them off the street, there are laws against that" said Shadow Eyes forcefully as the mayor tried to talk her into supporting his plan. "You didn't care about laws all that long ago, Tenebrosus Magus " said the mayor and Shadow Eyes stood up suddenly her horn sparking as the guards in the room suddenly got tense, unsure what to do, if the Court Magician attack, should they defend the mayor? Or should they stay out of it? Shaking herself she took a calming breath. "You are lucky, mayor, I will not scar a child's mind with the bodily harm of another pony" The colt watched playing with the things on the table in front of him to make it less obvious he was listening in on the grownups conversation, though he did not understand very much of it. The threat of a fight did not seem to phase him. "Billy, I believe it is time we left the good mayor's home. If he feels so inclined to suggest such things, I will not rest my head under his roof, shall we instead go where you live? Perhaps ponies there would be more respectable " said Shadow Eyes as she waited for the foal to get up so she could lead him out of the house. the royal guards that came with her seemingly stiff and ready for a fight to break out. "Where...where I live?" he asked squeaking "ummm...we could go back to the beach" he suggested, in a voice that worried Shadow Eyes. "Is something wrong little one?" asked Shadow Eyes as she waited for the colt to stand up and join her, her worry growing a little. He quickly jumped off the chair and followed her. "N-nothing is wrong ma'am" "You can call me Shay, Billy" said Shadow Eyes as she lead him out the guards with her flanking them as they left the building. Bilgewater nodded. "Yes miss Shay ma'am" Author's Note Long time no post Celestia I have been busy! and it is not easy converting RP to Story, even when that RP is as awesome as the one I am converting
Prologue: If Celestia Wishes, so Shall it beTitle: Court Magician Rating: T-M Genre: Multiple Fanfic of: My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Also if you dislike the story please tell me why so that I can get better Prologue: If Celestia Wishes, so Shall it be ~ ~ ~ "[…] And the Tenebrosus Magus knows not of mercy, only of debts that she will call on when the time is right […]" ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ I rose from the bed pulling away from my coltfriend, only for him to pull me back into his embrace, not that I really fought to get away. “I need to get up” I said and the stallion huffed into my mane. “You brought crime to a standstill Shay, you can take the day off” he said and I sighed as I lay there debating on if I should listen to him, or go out anyway. Sure it had been several weeks since crime had dropped severely, in fact, the guardsponies here actually stopped looking for me, and a few times even ushered me away from the scene, once even to the scene to get some ponies out of a dangerous situation… “No, I can’t, what if I take today off and something bad happens? Something I could have prevented?” I asked him as I rolled over to face him, though I could see him just fine, I knew ponies got a little unnerved by my brand of vision. “And what if Princess Luna herself knocks on our door and offers you a full pardon?” I was about to laugh when right then there was a knock on our door. Both of our expressions wore looks of shock for a moment before he pushed himself out of bed and made his way to the door, he looked out the peephole and motioned for me to get my disguise on, which I did, my light blue fur darkened, and my pink mane and tale darkened a few shades as well, my cutie mark, a yin-yang symbol inside of a purple star changed to a yellow and orange sun as I trotted over to him… Knock Knock Knock “One moment please” said Rich, my coltfriend and I silently thanked him as I made my way to the kitchen. as I did, he opened the door and there was a Unicorn stallion with a scroll and quill for a cutie mark, he flashed a badge, and my eyes went wide, that was a Lunar Guard badge, before he hoofed over a scroll to my coltfriend. Wait… That seal on the scroll… That is the seal of the Solar Court. I froze in the doorway of the kitchen as the stallion walked over to me. “Shadow Eyes, I am Moonlit Novel, Former Captain of the Lunar Guard, I come with a message from Princess Celestia herself, ‘Run my little pony, my sister is in Manehatten looking for you as I send this message, make your way to the ESIS headquarters in the city, you will be safe there, you have my permission to use whatever means to protect yourself from my sister.’ And this message from a Agent Silver Hoof, ‘Stay safe, Bright Star, I don’t want to lose you again’” said this Moonlit Novel, and from what I could see with my magic… He wasn’t lying, but that message from… It wasn’t possible, DAMN IT! I told that foal to find another mare! But he did it didn’t he? He also went into a life of secrets and lies… Damn him to Tartarus, I am not leaving Rich for him, even if he was my first… Of well everything… ‘Damned Lunar Guards!’ I thought as I weaved through the alleyways dodging the bat ponies, unicorns, and Earth ponies all in the Lunar Guard attire, Moonlit Novel and Rich Quick were with me as I did so. Not paying attention I ran slam into a city guard and for a moment I feared my only recourse would be to kill the guard to protect me, when he quickly glanced around and ushered me past as he kept looking this way and that, almost afraid of being caught ushering me to safety… Nearly there, dodging guards and civilians that I had either saved or otherwise knew what I looked like, we were nearly to the Manehatten ESIS headquarters when we had to stop, ESIS, ever paranoid of somebody using buildings for cover had placed a large concrete courtyard that encircled the entire building creating a space with no way for me to sneak past the damned blue alicorn that was circling the structure which apparently had a shield around it preventing me from seeing when the building looked like, one, and two, meant that Celestia had ordered them to keep Luna out of the headquarters, though it was obvious she knew why and she was determined to not let me get to the building… “I can try to distract her…” suggested Moonlit Novel though he did not sound like he very much liked the idea. “From what you told me, I am sure your partner didn’t take you having a change of heart all too well, and I doubt the warrior princess will have either, and Magus Bellum you may be, but she have centuries more experience than you do, even if I felt comfortable about letting you effectively sacrificing yourself for me-” I started when I felt him glare at me. “I am not helping you for you, I am only helping you to save Princess Luna from herself.” I grit my teeth at that he obviously felt strongly about his job, and truly thought that he was still a member of her guard, that tore out two options out from under me… “COME OUT YOU WRETCHED DARK MAGE! HOW MANY LIVES HAVE YOU CORRUPTED IN YOUR MAD QUEST FOR POWER!?” shouted Luna in her ‘Royal Canterlot Voice…’ ‘Well… Buck this…’ I thought as I suddenly casted a sleep spell on Moonlit Novel causing him to pass out as I released the glamor from me and I strode out a look of grim determination on my face. “How many lives have I corrupted? Don’t you mean, princess, how many lives I have saved from the corrupt? How this whole city is fighting against you, without me once asking them to, even after I had asked them to leave it be?” I asked as I entered her sight the Lunar princess conjured a sword into existence as she landed in front of me, “How many ponies would rather fight against their princess, than to lose their protector? So what if I use Dark Magic? It is a means to an end, not once have I harmed a pony who didn’t deserve it” “Do not try to corrupt me Tenebrosus Magus, I will purge this city of your filth and restore this city to its glory” said Luna as she drew back her sword only for it to dissipate suddenly as I shot it with a beam. “I would chose your next words carefully princess,I saved this city from corruption and crime, and I will be damned to Tartarus before I let anypony ruin all that hard work. I don’t care who you are. I will defend this city from anybody even you” I knew I was being foolish, there is no way I can match an alicorn in pure brute force, but her sister told me to do everything I can to protect myself, and I will… Princess Luna shot a blast of pure magic at me, which I dodged only for it to change direction before it could hit one of the walls and fly at me from behind I grinned at this as I ran right up to the Lunar Princess and just as the bolt was about to hit me, I teleported right up to the shielded ESIS building, on the other side of her, the bolt hitting the surprised mare as the shield opened up enough for me to slip in. I don’t think she really read up on me, pity, that would have been a battle for the ages even though I know I would have lost otherwise…
Chapter One: Broken Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Chapter One: Broken ~ ~ ~ “So many ponies have lost themselves in the pursuit of the dark knowledge, and many more will…” ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ Shadow Eyes sighed as she sat down on the inside of the shield bubble keeping the Lunar Princess out she breathed heavily. Shadow Eyes knew she had been extremely lucky as she attempted to catch her breath. Though she could not see past the shield she knew Rich Quick was sneaking around to the other side of the shield, out of view of the Lunar Princess who was now… If she had to guess from the rhythmic thumping on the shield… Blasting away at the shield in an attempt to break into the facility. “Shadow Eyes, I presume?” Asked an older unicorn in a white uniform his short mane was combed back and was white as his uniform, his coat was peppered with white hairs, but the primary color still shined through, the color being a dark green. Shadow Eyes not trusting herself to speak, simply nodded before she realized her coltfriend could be caught in the crossfire. “Please… My coltfriend, he should be trying to find his way in, his name is-” “Rich Quick, former thief turned vigilante, we have been keeping an eye on you, but apparently a member of our circle deemed it fit to bring Tartarus on your head… We will get him inside as soon as he in within reach of the shield, but for now, perhaps it is best that we get you inside, there is a pony waiting to meet with you, a pony who has been looking for you for some time” said the stallion and he started to move before he noticed Shadow Eyes not moving. “It… It isn’t Silver Hoof, is it? I… I don’t think I could face him after all I did, even if he chose a life close to the path I had taken” said a suddenly nervous mare as she bit her lip and the stallion tilted his head to the side, he knew of agent Silver Hoof, one of a few that didn’t have a code name, because he had no one to protect, or perhaps because he had someone to protect… Shadow Eyes trotted in the room the ESIS agent had placed her into to wait for the pony that wanted to meet her. She could still hear the thumps on the shield and it unnerved her immensely the thumping frantic and loud even this deep in the building. “I am sorry, Shadow Eyes, or should I call you Bright Star?” said a pony as Shadow Eyes’ magic was blocked effectively blinding her, and for the first time in her life, she panicked, she couldn’t see anything she was truly blind. “I told you, Fixer 919, I have nothing to fear from her, and blocking her magic is a surefire way to alienate her” said a familiar voice, one she had not heard since her days at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns “Hello Bright Star…” Rich Quick sneaked around the shield careful to avoid being seen by the furious princess, and she had every right to be furious, she just underestimated the one mare she was hunting and lost her prey. Now he had to be careful to avoid her gaze as he- “HOLD!” ‘Well buck me’ he thought as he looked up and saw Princess Luna light upon the ground in front of him. “Where pray tell doest thou thinkest thee art going? Thou knowest that thy city is under strict quarantine” asked Luna and Rich gritted his teeth, he didn’t have the magical prowess that his marefriend had, but his mind was just as sharp, which wasn’t doing him any good at the moment… “Sister!” said a stern voice as a white alicorn landed on the ground hard beside the stallion. “How dare you! You have let this obsession of yours go to your head! You have endangered ponies all because you assume that this pony can’t be saved!” Her magic aura soothing the frightened stallion before he started to make his way towards the shield once more. “And where doest thou-” “Leave him sister, he is on his way to his lover, and he has not committed any crimes that are punishable by law” ‘If only you knew’ thought Rich as he made it to the shield and it opened enough for him to slip in and shut behind him just as Luna attempted to force her way through. “Sister! Thou know not what thou art doing! If thou would let me dispose of the Tenebrosus-” “Are you more a fool than you look at this moment, Luna!? You think I could be charmed by some lowly Tenebrosus Magus? Even one as powerful as Shadow Eyes?” “Silver Hoof…” said Shadow Eyes as she bit her lip stepping away from him, keeping her distance, as he walked into the room she had a pained look on her face as he sat down on his haunches and opened his hooves in a gesture for a hug. She bit her lip and shook her head. “I TOLD YOU TO MOVE ON! DAMN IT SILVER HOOF!” she cried suddenly backing away from the stallion. Silver Hoof’s face fell as his hooves fell to the ground. “I couldn’t move on, everypony I was with just didn’t measure up to you… I love you” said Silver Hoof and Shadow Eyes gritted her teeth as tears fell down her face. “What was I supposed to do? Get married to somepony I didn’t love?” he asked her only for her to shoot a blast of magic at him the shot was more than wide, but it blasted a hole in the wall. “Just leave me alone Silver Hoof! I moved on! You should have too! I moved on so many years ago! Do you know the ponies I have slept with? How about the Gryphons? I even had a dragon or two! If I truly loved you still I wouldn’t have done all that!” said Shadow Eyes forcefully and Silver Hoof gave a sad smile as he walked towards her the mare backing away until she was backed against the wall. “If that was true, that you didn’t love me anymore, why can’t you bring yourself to hurt me?” the mare started to charge a dark spell only for it to fizzle out as she let out a broken sigh. Silver Hoof smiled softly as he walked up to her and was about to stroke her face when he was clocked in the face by Rich Quick. “Get the buck away from my marefriend” he said with such venom in his voice as agents made their way into the room grabbing hold of both Rich Quick and Silver Hoof. “Enough, both of you! Her Highness, Princess Celestia will be in here, and I do not want to explain to her why one of her agents is fighting one of her guests!” said a pony in a solid black uniform, a stark contrast to white uniforms most of agents in the room. “Clever Ploy!” said Silver Hoof in surprise only for the pony in question to turn towards him. “You should know better, agent, these ponies are here under the invitation of Celestia herself!” snapped Clever Ploy angrily as she glowered at Silver Hoof. Shadow Eyes was silent and looked broken. “I want his head! I don't care who he is! No one hurts my mare” said Rich Quick as he fought against the agents restraining him. “Your mare? Last I checked, I was the one Bright Star loves!” Said Silver Hoof as he snapped at Rich as the other agents also held him back. All the while Shadow Eyes just stared into space, a solitary tear now rolling down her face... Author's Note Oh Shadow Eyes...
Chapter Two: Where Darkness Reigns… Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit MERRY CHRISTMAS! Happy Heathwarming! And Happy Holidays! Chapter Two: Where Darkness Reigns… ~ ~ ~ “Darkness is all that is in a Tenebrosus Magus’ heart, they know not of love, for it is a weakness to them. They will say they love you, even play the part, but they will never be able to love you…” ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ Clever Ploy threw the two males in separate cells knowing that the last thing they needed was one of them killing the other, it would not help anypony. The mare sat across from the mare that was supposedly one of the darkest Tenebrosus Magus to exist since Sombra, Everything she remembered reading about those kinds of ponies didn’t seem to fit the mare, she obviously knew mercy, albeit only towards certain ponies, and she wasn’t pretending when she got here that she loved Rich Quick, or that she had some lingering feelings for agent Silver Hoof… But what was most disturbing was that those lingering feelings seem to have… Broken the poor mare, she did as asked for the most part, which caused a stir among the ponies there. Could that age old book be wrong? From what the agent that had let Silver Hoof in, Shadow Eyes had blasted towards him but never directly at him. She had been trying to scare him off… And he kept… ‘Damn him…’ thought Clever as she watched the mare in front of her mutter wordlessly as the white alicorn stepped in followed closely by her sister and Clever Ploy frowned, the last thing this poor mare needed was- “Is she alright, Clev-” There was an explosion of magical energy coming from Shadow Eyes as her emotionless visage disappeared replaced by a look of pure unadulterated fury. “I’LL BUCKING KILL HIM!” shouted the mare as the magical energy burning off of her seemed enough to melt the chair and part of the table as she shot up to her hooves. “I’ll bucking kill that son of a bitch! I told him to move on, I told him to find another mare, and he uses my heart to nearly break me?!” snarled the furious mare as she moved towards the door before she popped out of existence, or rather she teleported straight through the anti-teleportation wards that were in place, sirens going off as Clever Ploy sighed and started walking towards the door. “Well? Going to come enjoy the show? She gave him a chance to walk away and he pushed her until she just about broke, I am surprised though, she seemed broken a few minutes ago…” “What is going on? Clever, it’s not like you to just be willing to let any pony kill another pony” said Celestia clearly worried and Clever shrugged as she walked down the hall. “Truly sister, we are worried if thy top agent is this heartless” “You and me both sister.” Shadow Eyes slammed Silver Hoof against the back of his cell a look of pure rage on her face. “You think that by trying to break me you love me?” snarled Shadow Eyes as she slammed him again, the stallion was already having trouble breathing the first slam most likely breaking a few bones. “I-I’m sorry! I-I thought we could-” “You thought we could continue where we left off? Sure, maybe a year ago! But I have moved on since then! And then you use what feelings I had left for you against me! Do you know what that is like? Of course you don’t, why don’t I show you!” said the mare as she suddenly channeled a dark magic spell allowing the torment she felt when he was confronting her earlier to pass onto him and he started panicking before he suddenly just stopped, unlike before, his eyes showed no life, but when she let him go he didn’t collapse into a pile of flesh and bones, he sat there, himself a broken shell of himself. the agents outside of the cell seemed scared, if she could do that to a pony she supposedly loved, then what could she do to them? Rich Quick tried to teleport out of the cell a few times, only for the spell to fizzle out before he could get a hold of the magic all the way, so imagine his surprise when his marefriend appeared in front of him. “What’re-” “Cuddle now, talk later” she said nuzzling him and he got the message and wrapped his hooves around her, just as Clever Ploy walked into the room, followed closely by Celestia and Luna. Clever Ploy nodded to herself as the princess looked confused, they had heard the reports by the agents, Shadow Eyes had tortured Silver Hoof, but here she was being comforted by her coltfriend. “Have you come to finish me off? Maybe ask why didn't just kill the agent while I had the chance? He doesn't deserve any mercy, I was at his mercy, if Rich hadn't-” “Maybe you should take a deep breath, Bright Star,” said Celestia and Shadow Eyes flinched at the name, she knew it was possible that they knew who she was, but to get confirmation like that was unnerving, “yes, I know your name, the stallion, you just dealt with,” she said saying the last two words as though they left a bad taste in her mouth, “told me who you were he knew who you were the moment you showed up as Shadow Eyes” “Bright Star died that day” said Shadow Eyes tears welling up in her eyes, “and that is what it should say about me, Shadow Eyes’ first victim was the bright unicorn, Bright Star” said the unicorn mare angrily as tears spilled down her face. “My sister believes thou can be saved, that thou fell down this dark path because thou felt we could not protect you from something you did not need to protect yourself from. T’is was a good kill that night, no pony should force themselves upon another.” Said Princess Luna and Shadow Eyes laughed darkly. “They do though, I learned a lot in my years on the run, but after I showed ponies I wouldn't be taken advantage of, they never forced themselves on me again” said Shadow Eyes as she pulled away from her coltfriend as if to keep away from something dirty… ‘or to keep something dirty away from him?’ Noted Celestia as he tried reaching for her only for Shadow Eyes to pull away and hold on to herself. “So tell me, princess, can I be saved, a broken mare like me? A murderer like me? I am able to put the past behind me, after all this is just the body of a killer, it doesn't deserve any respect” said the unicorn mare as she glared towards the princesses. “But you wouldn't know what it is like, being on the street, where the only thing ponies respect is power. Power I had in spades, as long as I was willing to use it” Princess Luna moved to speak against this slander but Celestia held up a wing with a sad look on her face. “Your family was always one of the most loved of Canterlot, you could have seen me if you were scared Bright Star” “SHADOW EYES! BRIGHT STAR IS DEAD!” shouted the now crying Shadow Eyes, “I killed her, I had to, if I didn’t I would have been an easy target!” she cried gripping herself tighter pulling away every time that Rich attempted to pull her into a comforting hug. “Do you know what it is like to know that no matter where I go, I will always darken the world with my presence?!” she shrieked as Rich had enough and pulled her bodily into him and held her tightly. “Shhh… Calm down baby, you brighten my day every day, and the ponies here in Manehatten would say the same, all you have done to protect them. All the gangs you have shattered, all the guards you saved. Love, you brighten every pony that lives in this city’s life” said Rich Quick as he held her even as she tried to get away. “And what about you princess?” she suddenly said turning towards Princess Luna finally breaking free of Rich Quick. “We Tenebrosus Magus followed your shining example and you would punish us? How many did you kill when you delved into the dark arts? Hundreds? Thousands? Do you think by hunting us down you can ease that pain on your soul? Like I did? I’ve got news for you princess, it never goes away, the stains on your hooves remain there even as you scrub them so hard that they bleed themselves! I’VE TRIED!” yelled the younger mare as she stalked towards Luna only for Rich Quick to tackle her and hold her tightly. “That’s enough baby, I won’t let them hurt you” said Rich Quick honestly scared, he never knew she held so much back from him. “And you, Rich Quick, what do you intend to get out of a relationship with me? You should know by now I am nothing but a broken mare. Sure I put on a strong front, but by now you should also know I have nothing to offer you. Nothing but pain and death if you stay, that is what always happens when I open my heart to somepony” said Shadow Eyes tears running down her face as she gave the pony that she called her lover a way out that, in her current grief, was perfectly reasonable. Author's Note So things aren't finished being emotional for the mare known as Shadow Eyes... please feel free to review, Tell me what, if anything, you found wrong with this story. Or what, if anything, you found you like about the story. I can not get better with out knowing where I need to improve
Chapter Three: But for the Grace of Celestia Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Chapter Three: But for the Grace of Celestia ~ ~ ~ “Tenebrosus Magus care only about living and will do whatever it takes to keep living, even promising more power to their captors. They will never submit to death rather they will fight to their last breath [...]” ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ “What do I intend to get out of our relationship? You, I have all I need being with you Shay” said Rich Quick feeling as if she was on the precipice of falling into a suicidal despair. “Why me? You can guess what I did to Silver Hoof, what makes you th-” she was silenced by Rich Quick pulling her into a kiss which when it broke, she bawled, grabbing on to Rich and holding on to him tightly. “I don’t want to run anymore, Rich… But I don’t want to die, I am scared” she said into his shoulder and she bit her lip before pulling away and turned to face the princesses face down and her sight disabled, unable to meet their eyes. “I’m ready to take my punishment, just… Just make it quick.” said the mare as she closed her eyes, hoping to never to see the light from the spell they would cast to end her life. “Oh Bright Star…” said Celestia as she moved over to the, at the moment, completely blind mare. Celestia then nuzzled the mare, “Those ponies you killed had killed without remorse, and without pity for the victims of their attacks. I might not approve of your methods, but you did what you knew how to do in order to save the ponies of this city…” said the white mare as she attempted to comfort her. “I still killed, they might have been saved… I-” “Doom Hoof, Silver Sickle, Brass Hooves, all these ponies you killed have records at least as long as my name and tail, Bright Star.” said Celestia and Luna swallowed. “Those gangs you shattered had ties to groups outside Equestria that would love to see this land fall to destruction…” admitted Luna as she bit her lip. “Baby, I told you, you have done so much for ponies” said Rich Quick as he hugged the mare close. Shadow Eyes started to cry again. “Thank you… I can die happier knowing I did some good.” she said through tears of happiness, her life of murder and destruction may have done some good for the ponies she sought to protect. “Thou misunderstands, thou art not going to be killed.” Said Luna grudgingly as Shadow Eyes took a breath. “Torture then? After all I am a Tenebrosus Magus” said the blind mare and Celestia choked back a sob. “N-no, Bright Star” “Please if I have done as much good as you have said, please… Just call me Shadow Eyes, I can't… I won't be called Bright Star, she wouldn't have done half the things I have done” said the mare and Celestia actually sobbed at that before nodding. “Alright, Shadow Eyes” said Celestia with a swallow and a nod. Princess Luna however spoke up angrily. “I did not run from what I did, what makes you think you can, changing your name?” “Am I running? I won’t bring a blemish to the Star household, not one as dark as mine. But what is to become of me, if not torture or death?” asked the mare and Celestia nuzzled the mare comfortingly. “I planned on offering your spot back in my school, to let you finish your schooling, and to give you a position I was planning on giving you when I learned of how skilled you were in magic, almost as skilled as my former student, Princess Twilight Sparkle, Shadow Eyes, even in her position scuffed. “Almost? I know what my cutie mark represents, princess, skill in all magic, light and dark” “As I was saying, my little pony, I plan on giving you the position of Court Magician” said the solar triarch and Shadow Eyes took a step away from the princess shaking her head. “You would take a mare that has killed, that would be willing to kill again for this city, and give her the most powerful position short of being a princess herself?!” Shadow Eyes exclaimed as she backed away from the princess slightly hyperventilating. “Are you insane? What would the nobles think!” said the blind mare and Celestia shrugged. “You have been through the wringer, Shadow Eyes, isn’t it time you caught a break?” asked the white alicorn and Shadow Eyes shook her head. “You needn’t give your answer now, I will inform the guard you have a royal pardon, regardless of your choice. However, just so you know, that is a misconception about the position. True you are granted whatever powers I deem fit to grant you during the course of the jobs I send you on, but you have very little actual powers save to practice whatever magic you deem fit enough to be kept safe for future generations. You also will be given a stipend amounting to 100,000 bits monthly, You, will have the authority to acquire an apprentice. Granted you will have a lot of political clout, you are for the most part still at the beck and call of the Equestrian princesses.” said the solar triarch and Shadow Eyes started to back away. Princess Luna was confused as well, why give this pony so much after she had killed so many? Granted, they were ‘bad ponies’ that didn’t mean she should be rewarded for being a murderer. “Sister, why art thou rewarding the mare? Is she not still a murderer?” asked Luna and Shadow Eyes nodded in agreement. and Celestia gave a sad smile. “Murders that could have been avoided if I had found her sooner, sister, it is as much my fault as it is hers, I can not punish her for those murders and not punish myself, and no pony will let me punish myself therefore better to skip the punishments and give her what I had intended on giving her from the beginning” Shadow Eyes scowled at that. “By that logic, you couldn’t punish any murderer, thief, or any other criminal. Because if you had gotten to them sooner they may not have committed their crimes” said the unicorn mare and Celestia surprised them by motioning to Clever Ploy, and then to the door. “The ponies here are all murderers and thieves, and any number of any other criminal occupation.” said Celestia and Shadow Eyes narrowed her eyes distrustfully at the ponies in question. “I saved them from breaking laws, I gave them a career that they could use their talents for the betterment of Equestria” said the white mare and Clever Ploy nodded in agreement. The mare in question was a master thief and she made a name for herself getting things that others believed to be untouchable. “Then why not offer me a job here? Why offer me a job with that much power?” asked Shadow Eyes as Luna moved to speak. “I wondered dear sister, had thou gotten over thy foolish belief that honor was more important than protecting our ponies” said Luna and Shadow Eyes turned to Luna in surprise as Rich Quick pulled Shadow Eyes into a hug. “Shay, she said you don’t have to answer yet, perhaps you should think on it before you say no” said the stallion in her ear, he knew how she was feeling, but he wouldn’t let her just say no to the offer without thinking about it, it would help her in the long run… Author's Note I am terribly sorry for not posting this when I had finished it, I honestly thought I had, I apologize
Chapter Four: A Painful Decision Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Chapter Four: A Painful Decision ~ ~ ~ “Darkness is all that is in the hearts and souls of Tenebrosus Magus, They have no light in them, they kill without remorse, and they love only themselves […] They have no use for others and the light inside them, preferring to kill them than to be brought painfully into the light” ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ Grudgingly, Princess Luna allowed Celestia to lead the Tenebrosus Magus out of E.S.I.S. Manehattan headquarters, she wanted to refuse what had been right in front of her face, but she couldn’t… Royal Script, one of her closest friends and confidents from before she was banished, was wrong. How could he have been so wrong about Tenebrosus Magus? “I can't take the position…” said Shadow Eyes to her coltfriend and Rich Quick frowned at her. “The princess thinks differently,” said the stallion as he walked with her, “from what the princess said, she trusts you and your judgement” “But why? All I have done since I arrived in Manehattan is murder those I believed to be evil, regardless of if they had families, or if they were only first time offenders.” said Shadow Eyes, Rich Quick rolled his eyes at what she said. “And how far has crime dropped? All that really happens now is petty theft and the occasional drunk and disorderly. Criminals are scared to commit any crimes here.” Rich countered nuzzling her gently Shadow Eyes smiled weakly at the affection shown to her. “Why… Why do you choose to associate with me? At first I thought you would have moved on, and left me, I was content to pretend that you loved me” said Shadow Eyes as, with her magic sight, she kept an eye on the stallion who gave her a look of pity. “I do love you. Shay, baby, I love you, why else would I be with you? I don't know of many ponies that would be with somepony they don't love” said Rich and Shadow Eyes gave him a sad smile. “A pony that was scared that they would die if they weren't with that pony” argued Shadow Eyes and the stallion sputtered angrily. “I pursued you” snapped the unicorn angrily as he moved in front of her imposing himself intent on making it clear that he was not appreciating Shadow Eyes’ self loathing. Shadow Eyes and Rich Quick continued the walk in uncomfortable silence as the stallion refused to even talk to her after she blew up at him… As they entered the apartment where she had been living in with her coltfriend until today. “I’ll get my things and get out of your way” “And where will you go? I still love you Shay, I just am tired, I am already tired of this mare that took the place of the confident mare I started dating, and this mare is nothing like the vulnerable side you showed to me in the past. You are stronger than this, and I know you don't believe half the things you have said. You are a good mare, Shay, and you are one of the best mares for that job. The only mare that would have been better, in pure magical talent, is now a princess!” at that Shadow Eyes actually scoffed which caused Rich to smile, “That's the mare I know and love!” said Rich and Shadow Eyes gave a weak chuckle as Rich pressed against her. “Just, think about the position, Shay, you would never have to worry about what magic you practice ever again.” Shadow Eyes disappeared into her routine, however she would take longer than before, returning long after Rich Quick had fallen asleep waiting for her, and she would head to the bedroom and get some sleep and leave before he woke, this routine continued for three weeks before Shadow Eyes slipped up, she kissed him, missing the feel of him in her bed, just being there holding her… “Shay, baby, please, don't close me out again…” said Rich as he nuzzled his marefriend urgently, he could not deal with another three weeks of her avoiding him. “Please, I love you” as he begged he, she held him and quietly decided that nothing was worth the heartache of not being able to be with her coltfriend. “Rich, I-I love you, and I am sorry, I just can't lose you. Not to my own stupidity.” said Shadow Eyes and she bit her lip, “I’ll take the job, it would be nice to see my parents again” Shadow Eyes and Rich Quick made their way through Canterlot, everywhere they turned ponies stopped and stared, and it wasn’t long before they pulled their foals indoors and closed the shutters, it wasn’t like this in Manehattan, there she could walk the streets in full view of the guard, ever since she brought crime down, and even saved a few guardsponies’ lives during a small gang war. She flinched every time a pony pulled a foal away, her sight granting her a clear picture of the fear the ponies held of her, it was unnerving so be so distrusted when in her own city… No, she may have taken up protecting Manehattan, but it was never her city, she was home now, and her home wasn’t welcoming her. Shadow Eyes sniffed quietly before sticking her nose in the air and continuing to the castle, Rich Quick struggling to keep up with her fast pace as she all but ran to the castle. “This is preposterous! Surely you do not mean to give this criminal the position so many other ponies would be better suited for! Ponies that haven’t killed a small village worth of souls” said a noble to Celestia as she and her sister sat with the council of nobles awaiting Shadow Eyes. “Sit down Amber Mine, do not presume to know better than the princess” said Gold Star as he coughed lightly into his hoof covering up a chuckle at the immaturity the young noble was showing. “This Council was made to question the princess!” argued Amber Mine as she shook her head. Gold Star sighed as did any other number of nobles and the princesses did as well. “The purpose of the council is to advise not demand things from the princesses” said Gold Star his golden mane and tail being his namesake peppered with grey hairs. “Then I would advise the princesses to have this mare arrested before she sets foot in these chambers and casts her dark magic on all of us” said Amber Mine as she spat out the word advise as if it left a bad taste in her mouth. Just then the doors to the council chambers burst open as a slightly teary eyed Shadow Eyes, at least that is what everyone but Gold Star saw, he saw a pony he never thought he would see again, a pony he had been told was dead. “No… Is it possible?” asked Gold Star as he walked up to the mare and placed a hoof on her face. “Hi daddy” Author's Note Here you all go, a new chapter!
Chapter Five: A Pony’s Psyche Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Chapter Five: A Pony’s Psyche ~ ~ ~ “Tenebrosus Magus fear nopony, only ever exhibiting fear when faced with an opponent of significantly more skill and power than themselves” ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ “Hi daddy” she said with a teary smile as fresh tears rolled down her face. The older stallion wrapped the younger mare in a tight hug and cried himself, tears of unbridled joy at having his daughter back… “As touching as this is” said Amber Mine as she stood up and motioned to the guards, “I’m afraid this criminal is under arrest for being a known Tenebrosus Magus” it was then that Celestia started giggling as she waved the guards away with her wing. “I am afraid you are late to the party on this one, Lady Amber Mine, Shadow Eyes has long since been pardoned and has a standing pardon for her use of Dark Magic, and the manner in which she has used it has also been pardoned, surely you don’t intent to persecute a pony for simply following their special talent” said the solar princess and Amber Mine gaped at the princess, she couldn’t possibly have pardoned this murderer. “Your highness! Surely-” “This isn’t Shadow Eyes,” said Gold Star gritting his teeth, “This is my daughter, Bright Star, my daughter that I thought I lost” Shadow Eyes turned her head towards the ground. “I’m sorry, daddy, but I am Shadow Eyes” “I object! There is no way we can allow this thing-” “That thing is my daughter! If Celestia wants her to be appointed then you can not stand in her way.” “The Tartarus I can’t! Celestia if you do this I will make it my life’s mission to make your life a living hell” said Amber Mine and Shadow Eyes tsked as her horn glowed slightly as she stepped forward. “I cleaned Manehattan, and if I have to do the same for Canterlot, I will” she snapped at the amber coat with black spots mare and Amber Mine reared back at the threat looking to Princess Celestia hoping for the princess to intervene only to see the Princess smiling. “Oh?” said Celestia as she pretended to finally notice Amber Mine’s gaze. “Did you want me to do something? I thought you knew better than me” said the Princess and Amber Mine panicked shaking her head. “I don’t! Please!” “Shadow Eyes you shouldn’t harm her, she is a member of the council” said Celestia and Shadow Eyes nodded gritting her teeth. “As you say, Princess” Shadow Eyes stood in an antechamber off the side of the royal court room a few ponies ‘helping’ her into a dress… “Unhoof me! I don’t need this! Let me go!” shouted Shadow Eyes as she struggled to get free of the ponies trying to force a dress on her. It was not long before the ponies stepped away from her the regal looking dress tight on her, and not in a bad way, she panted as she tried to pull the dress off of her while a unicorn held the dress in place. “If this dress is not off of me in the next sixty seconds I am going to burn it to ashes, to Tartarus with looking formal I will not be wearing this cloth torture device!” snarled Shadow Eyes as her body began to quiver… “My little ponies, I can not tell you how happy I am to have all of you here today, on a joyous day that a pony, whom many thought lost to the dark arts comes home to us all. A pony, whom, while is a user of the dark arts, never used the spells for anything other than defense of self or others” said Celestia and the ponies that had so far gathered for what the papers said would be momentous occasion, one for the history books… “No” “Come on, Shay, you said you would go through with this” “I changed my mind, I can’t go out there, I can’t face those looks of fear or hatred again, I just want to go home” said Shadow Eyes and Rich bit his lip. “Shay, there is nothing—” “I’m not going out!” “The pony in question had been hunted for relentlessly by my sister, her name dragged through the mud and her exploits of good made out to be evil machinations. Despite this, despite my sister and myself hunting her relentlessly, albeit for opposing reasons, she scraped out a name for herself as Manehattan’s protector, and the ponies of that city in turn protected her, even going so far as to go against my sister when she began a forceful search of Manehattan…” “Are you sure I can’t just go home? I want to be with ponies that won’t run at the first sight of me” “Trust Princess Celestia, I am sure she has a plan, how many times have you barely managed to get out of her hooves in the past? She is a nefarious schemer and planner, I can guarantee she has everything planned out” “Indeed, my sister does have everything planned out, except this little meeting, Tenebrosus Magus” said Luna as she stepped into the flesh having been a cloud of shadow not a moment before. an hour later: “Without further ado, I introduce, the pony of the hour, Shadow Eyes, our new Court Magician” as Celestia said that, Shadow Eyes made her way out to the area in front of the thrones a small, quivering, polite smile on her face... An hour previous: “What do you want Princess? Did you want to continue our little duel from Manehattan?” snapped Shadow Eyes her horn starting to spark and bubble with dark magic and Princess Luna shook her head causing the unicorn mare to sit down as her magic fizzled out in her confusion. “Nay, I would not be so foolish to attack you unprovoked, every time a pony has, it was the end of them. Though I doubt you could kill me, the damage we would cause in a fight between us would decimate the castle and the city in which this city stands. No, if there is to be blows between us, I will not be the instigator, I came to offer some advice,” “If it is to not do this, I am way ahead of you, the only thing waiting out there for me is the hateful glares and fearful faces of the ponies when they see me” “Nay, Tene-Court Magician, go out there, face these ponies, you may be surprised what you see” said Princess Luna as she trotted out of the room towards the hall leaving Shadow Eyes turning head back and forth between the door to the hall and the door to the throne room… As Shadow Eyes walked out of the room, all the stares on her weighed on her soul. Some of the stares, as she expected were hateful, or fearful, but to her surprise there were more ponies smiling genuinely at her, some she actually recognized from Manehattan. Or from her time on the run, the ponies she helped, even risked her life for… Celestia smiled happily towards her and she took a step forwards, tears of happiness welling up in her eyes, all these ponies came to see her, not as a threat, but as someone worth being around… Author's Note I know not the best, but I hope it is alright as usual, though I haven't asked before, please leave a comment below, I can't get better without knowing what I need to improve
Chapter Six: Reality Check Okay, what to say here? Oh yes, I am sorry I took so long getting this chapter out, the truth is I am all but burnt out and am trying my hardest to just keep writing. I will be back with more as soon as I am back in shape. Until then I beg you, please have patience Chapter Six: Reality Check ~ ~ ~ “If faced with significant power, a Tenebrosus Magus will do anything to achieve said power […]” ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ “I have to go back to school? Isn’t that a little~?” asked Shadow Eyes and Celestia smiled before shaking her head “It is the law, no Court Magician can have not finished school, it was passed in an attempt to keep those who thought themselves better than others and drop out of school in an attempt to take the trials for Court Magician, not realizing that most of the trials are in the classroom, or in your case, the trials you were forced through on the run. but the law must be upheld if we don’t want the Council to find fault in how it was handled” said Celestia, with that Shadow Eyes nodded before she sighed her head turning in the direction of the school. “Princess, are you sure you can trust a pony like me? Perhaps your sister is right about me, and I will suddenly start massacring everypony in sight, I have been practicing Dark Magic for years now, it can’t have had no effect on me” said Shadow Eyes in a way that illustrated she was not completely better from her break down. “I don’t believe that we have to worry about that, Shadow Eyes, you know what you are capable of and I know you don’t want to do that” said Celestia and Shadow Eyes turned to her with a sad look on her face. “I don’t want too, but who is to say I won’t?” asked Shadow Eyes and Celestia pulled the mare into a comforting hug surprising the mare. “Shhh, be calm, Shadow Eyes, it is because you are so worried about it I am sure you won’t do that” said Celestia as she wrapped her wings around the mare comforting her as a pegasus mother would her child and instinctually it worked on Shadow Eyes, feeling the comfort of a mother’s love and she went wide-eyed, surely this paragon of purity couldn’t love a pony like herself, she was tainted by the very magicks that were the polar opposite of this pony. Yet she couldn’t count herself amongst the followers of Princess Luna, they may be ‘dark’ but they were unforgiving to mistakes, but here was a princess that was offering her forgiveness and offering her love to a pony that had fallen so far… Shadow Eyes cried and wrapped her hooves around the princess holding her tightly as if she were afraid she would disappear… After a few minutes Celestia pulled away from Shadow Eyes who blushed at how she had reacted as she brushed away any remaining tears. “Do you feel better, Shadow Eyes?” asked Celestia with a kind smile on her face and Shadow Eyes gave a teary smile as nodded. “Yes, princess” So for months Shadow Eyes sat through what remained of her classes that she had dropped out of before going on the run, and she learned spells she never thought she’d learn, she finally learned healing spells, and while she was not as proficient at them as she was with dark magic she threw herself into her studies hoping to leave that part of her life behind her. She learned defensive spells based in the light spectrum of magic. She was still going to protect Manehattan no matter what, but she wasn’t going to use dark magic ever again… Not if she could help it… “Babe, it’s been months since we last slept together… Please… I miss holding you at night…” said Rich Quick one night as it seemed after her ‘awakening’ that day she had been sleeping in a separate room. “I-” she started and he spoke up again urgency along with a base need in his voice. “I don’t care if we buck or not, I just want to hold my marefriend again… Please?” begged Rich Quick and she smiled at him, the smile not quite reaching her eyes. “Of course, Rich, I should have remembered your needs” she said as she lead him into the room she had been staying in… As soon as he was in the room she shut the door and pressed her lips to his, need obvious, as she slipped her tongue in his mouth, and slowly backed her way to the bed, leading him with the kiss… As they cuddled in the afterglow of their round of sex Shadow Eyes started to cry making Rich Quick hold on to her tighter. “Babe… What’s wrong?” And Shadow Eyes sobbed. “Me… I can’t even follow the tenets of Celestialism, how can I be a good mare and make up for all the bad I have done if-” “Babe, I doubt Celestia cares about ponies bucking before marriage, I am positive that she also doesn’t care if you follow Celestialism, or not, she just wanted to right a wrong that she let happen” said Rich Quick and Shadow Eyes seemingly glared at him. “She-” started Shadow Eyes and there was a knock at the door to the dorm in which they were staying in for the duration of her schooling making her way to the door she opened it about to yell at the pony when she stopped short, in front of her was Princess Twilight Sparkle, Celestia’s former student, and her former unofficial rival before she had left the school. “Um, Oh! Hi! I was looking for a Shadow Eyes? I don’t know if you’ve seen her, I was told she would be living here, I am supposed to teach her a little about some of the magic Princess Celestia taught me, magic I was told she would be great at” said Twilight as she shuffled uncomfortably as she didn’t recognize the pony in front of her, not off hand anyway. “I’m Shadow Eyes, come in Princess, please excuse the smell, my coltfriend and I… Erm…” she stumbled a bit unsure of how to continue, she knew she had to apologize as it was polite, even if she had not been expecting company today. Shadow Eyes stepped out of the way as Twilight entered the dorm, “No, no, it’s alright, I did come by unannounced. Besides it is not like I haven’t taken the edge off of my stress like that during finals week, anyway, Princess Celestia wanted me to tutor you in some of the dark-” “No” “No? Princess Celestia said you would be thrilled to learn some spells that no pony would have been able to teach you besides the princesses” said Twilight and Shadow Eyes faced her with a hard look on her face. “I am trying to leave that part of my life behind me, how can I- “Trust me when I say this, Shadow Eyes, even Princess Celestia has used dark magic before, she has killed before, she has done things you wouldn’t believe, things that would make you balk at even the thought of doing. Of any of us she knows what dark magic can and cannot do. I… Even I have used dark magic. None of us let it rule our lives, except for Princess Luna, who is letting her mistake rule her life… Don’t be like her” said Twilight and Shadow Eyes sat down on her rump and seemed to be thinking. “Please, if you try to do that, you won’t get any better, sure you probably won’t get any worse, but you won’t get any better” “What about the tenets of Celestialism?” Asked Shadow Eyes and Twilight looked at her for a moment the look on her face suggesting she was holding something back but failing before she burst out laughing. “Celestialism? Those ponies who see Princess Celestia as some sort of goddess? Please, as much as I am loath to admit it, she isn’t a god, she is very powerful but she can’t perform half the miracles they claim, not without some serious help, and some of them, she can’t perform at all, add that to the act she is just like any other mare, with needs but can’t afford to actually get close to anypony, she has had more one night stands than anypony is willing to count, some of them with more meaning than others such as that one time with me…” said Twilight and Shadow Eyes made a face as she tried to counter Twilight’s argument, but finding nothing to use in her defense she sighed brokenly. “Why? Why does she look so pure then? If she is so, ‘tainted’ as you say, why does she feel so safe?” asked Shadow Eyes and Twilight chuckled, before nuzzling the mare in front of her before sitting down in front of Shadow Eyes. “Because she gives everyone the love of a mother, and she treats all of us like her foals, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to protect her foals from harm, even dip into dark magic to do so” said Twilight Sparkle and Shadow Eyes bit her lip. This was not what she thought Celestia was like. She thought the princess of the sun was pure like her white coat, unmarred by the darkness that had corrupted her own soul, but… “I know what you are thinking, and she isn’t corrupted, that is how she knew you were trustworthy, because she had been able to use dark magic herself without being corrupted, and with how you protected ponies without ever asking anything in return, you proved yourself free of corruption even with your liberal use of dark magic, I can use it too, but if I do… I hear the Siren’s Call…” said Twilight biting her lip and shaking her head... Author's Note another chapter down!
Chapter Seven: As You Command Author's Note: Well here is a new chapter, I managed to get out of my funk faster than I thought, but updates will continue to be slow for a while until I get into the swing of things again Chapter Seven: As You Command ~ ~ ~ “Beware the Tenebrosus Magus for they will attempt to drive a wedge between you and your family to have a better chance to corrupt you” ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ Shadow Eyes made her way to the throne room of the palace, she had been granted an audience with Princess Celestia and she was nervous. Sure Princess Twilight had made it clear that Princess Celestia was no god but it didn’t help, her not being a god made it more overwhelming if it were possible, how could a mortal resist the lure of vices for as long as she had? Even though she was a practical immortal, meaning she was ageless, and not a true immortal as far as she knew, but to be incorruptible even after millennia of dark magic use? Could she say the same would be said of her? No, ‘cause she had begun to rationalize deaths away, ‘them or her’ even though she was the one to put herself in those kinds of situations, and her loose morals on sleeping with ponies… Regardless of what Princess Twilight said, she refused to believe that Princess Celestia had slept around with random ponies, with ponies that meant something to her, maybe, but not random ponies… “Art thou going to wait out in the hall all day? I have to speak to my sister as well, but she set this time apart just for thou” said Luna as she trotted up behind the nervous mare who jumped causing Luna to raise her eyebrow, she had read Shadow Eyes’ file finally having been given access to it after swearing not to use it against her, and sneaking up on the mare should have been impossible. “Art thou… Alright?” she forced herself to ask, sure she helped her during her naming ceremonies, but that was more a favor for her sister than helping the Tenebrosus Magus. “How can someone use dark magic and not be corrupted?” Shadow Eyes asked aloud and Luna bit her lip, that was the same question that had been on her mind quite often since the official pardoning of the mare in front of her. “I do not know, I used it in the past and became possessed by the Nightmare, as far as I know, no pony has used dark magic without becoming corrupt” said the princess and Shadow Eyes turned towards Luna and it unnerved her how the unseeing eyes seemed to stare into her soul. “Princess Twilight Sparkle seems to think differently, in fact she believes your sister has used dark magic herself and came through without corruption” “LIES! I will not listen to thou spinning tales of falsehood!” snapped Luna and Shadow Eyes closed her eyes and shook her head. “This is part of the reason why I came here, Princess, I want to know the truth for myself, if she has… If it is true… What does that mean for me?” asked Shadow Eyes as she turned towards the door. “Ah, Shadow Eyes, I am happy that you came to see me, I was worried that I made you feel unwelcome” said Celestia and Shadow Eyes bit her lip as she walked through the open door, Princess Luna following soon after purposely. “Tell her, sister, tell her you never used dark magic!” Luna demanded and Celestia looked surprised at the exclamation for a moment and closed her eyes taking a calming breath. “I have” she said and Luna froze as did Shadow Eyes not expecting it. “NO! It isn’t possible, you are the paragon of purity! You are supposed to be infallible!” cried Shadow Eyes in pain, she truly didn’t want Twilight to be right! It couldn’t be true! “Sister! How could you?! After seeing what dark magic had did to me!?” cried Luna and Celestia flinched as if she were wounded. Almost immediately after, Celestia sat up to her full height and and frowned. “I did what I had to, to protect Equestria, and not once have I heard the Siren’s Call, I stopped a dragon invasion single hoofed because you were locked away on the moon Luna, I channeled the crystal of darkness spell to show Twilight a fraction of Sombra’s power, because you foolishly believed I was hunting you for defending yourself, Shadow Eyes, I did not want to use it, but I had to. However I do not regret it in any way, shape, or form, and I would do it again if the situation calls for it” she snapped and the two other ponies took a step backwards in shock. “If you came to condemn me for doing what I had to, to protect Equestria, then just leave, both of you! I would think you of all ponies would understand better than this, Shadow Eyes” admonished Celestia and Shadow Eyes flinched before she stood up straight. “I-... I need to know, is it really possible to use dark magic without being corrupted, as a normal pony, not the paragon of purity” “I am no paragon of purity, I have slept with enough ponies, that if any pony was brave enough they could call me a slut, but no pony would dare call Princess Celestia a slut, outside the bedroom anyway. And I do believe that being a virgin is a requirement for purity” “Sister? Thou art a harlot? How couldst thee? Didst not our parents teach us better than that?” accused Luna and Celestia glared at her angrily. “So I should blame you for causing my emotional pain? That I had laid with the captain of the guard for comfort from it, that I needed such comforting and finding that I liked it? That I slept with him for months, how it kept the pain away, how it made me feel normal? And how I started seeing him and talking about a marriage with him? Or how much it hurt when he died in my defense? Or the next several mares and stallions I have been with? I have been married once, and she died not long afterwards in a plot to kill me. I have lost more loved ones than I care to admit. If sleeping with ponies brings me comfort than so be it!” snapped Celestia and Shadow Eyes bit her lip, she understood how the princess felt, she had done a similar thing before she found Rich Quick, all to bury the pain of leaving Silver Hoof before she ran into him again after he had joined the ESIS. “Why did you want Princess Twilight to teach me more dark magic?” she asked and Luna stumbled a bit, forgiving the Tenebrosus Magus was one thing, it was another to teach her more dark spells, to further empower her in the dark arts. “Sis-” “Because, if I do not there will be dangers that you will not be ready for” said Celestia and Luna narrowed her eyes at her sister while Shadow Eyes nodded and bowed before turning and heading for the door. Before stopping at the threshold. “I wanted to stop practicing dark magic entirely but if you want me to continue learning it, then I will, your highness. I am yours to command” with that Shadow Eyes left the room tears rolling down her face, she had believed the time of her using dark magic was behind her, but it seemed the Solar Princess needed another pony who used the dark arts to help her, and she was the pony to the job, a pony that has never heard the Siren’s Call. Celestia gave a sad smile as she stood up. “It is my will that you remain Tenebrosus Magus, for the safety and protection of the principality of Equestria” said Celestia in a regal, but sad voice. “As you command, Princess, Tenebrosus I will remain” As soon as Shadow Eyes made it to her bedroom she collapsed onto her bed crying, she had done all she could to keep from breaking down until she got into her room and closed the door, ignoring her coltfriend’s query on if she was alright... Author's Note Here's hoping you enjoyed the chapter
Chapter Eight: Realization Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Well it certainly has been a while, I am writing two totally different stories at the same time, I finally broke my writer's block for one and now I am having a small one for this one... Sorry guys, but I will try to keep writing this story as long as I can Chapter Eight: Realization ~ ~ ~ “Ne’er give a Tenebrosus Magus any power, if you e’er spare them, they will abuse said power and use it for their own aims” ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ After about a month Shadow Eyes seemed to be stronger, she knew more spells than she knew what to do with. It still hurt that Princess Celestia had ordered her to keep practicing magic she only truly learned out of necessity for survival, but did she blame the princess? These were the thoughts running through her head as she made her way to a little village along the coast of Equestria, with her was several guardsponies, ponies whom she did not ask for, nor want. She was on her way to the village to hear what the mayor of said village wanted from the crown, and it apparently was her job to hear the mayor out and give a report and her opinion on whether the crown should offer its aid or weigh in on the town’s request and Shadow Eyes was determined to show she could be trusted, and hopefully she could be trusted without an escort. Little did she know it wasn’t to watch her, it was to protect her, there were some unsavory forces that were unhappy with her change in allegiance, even if she had never been an evil pony in the first place. “Court Magician, we will be arriving in Trottendale shortly” said a guardspony pegasus, he appeared to be white and his cutie mark was blurred by the enchantments of his armor. Shadow Eyes nodded keeping her displeasure at being called by her title off her face, it reminded her too much of when she had been called Tenebrosus Magus instead of her name when she had been on the run. “Thank you, you never introduced yourself, mister?” “Private Coltsfeather, Ma’am!” said the guardspony puffing up his chest as if he were proud to be a private, which would make sense the guard was still considered a widely noble organization. “Well, Private, if I may have a few minutes to get dressed, I’ll be out shortly” said the mare and the stallion nodded before stepping out of the room and Shadow Eyes, with her magic, look forlornly at the outfit that was customary for the Court Magician to wear. How she hated clothes with a passion, she hated them as a foal and she hated them even more now, they always seemed to make her itch. ‘That is it, when I get a chance, I am going to ask Princess Celestia if I can change the uniform for the Court Magician, even if it is more a ceremonial position, when there is no conflict, no reason I should be uncomfortable in the outfit’ she thought with little understanding as to what a Court Magician was supposed to do, outside of what she had been told so far. There had not been one in centuries and Celestia did not realize that it was not a subject taught in her school anymore… The form-fitting outfit on Shadow Eyes’ body made her twitch every so often as it rubbed her on sensitive spots on her back and forelegs causing them to itch like crazy, the cape kept getting caught on snags and under hoof making her stumble, much to what she wrongly assumed the hidden enjoyment of the guardsponies with her as they kept a straight face even as she stumbled several times, a few times into the guardsponies themselves. “Are you alright, Ma’am?” asked Private Coltfeather and Shadow Eyes blushed in embarrassment as she righted herself, it would not due for her to seem drunk, when all it was her tripping on her own hooves. “I’m fine!” she said firmly as if challenging the stallion to argue with her. When he didn’t she felt sheepish but said nothing... “Court Magician? Are you pulling my leg? I haven’t heard of it” said the Mayor of Trottensdale, a rather chubby pinto earth pony stallion whose attitude left much to be desired, Shadow Eyes narrowed her unseeing eyes as she noticed with her magic a scroll with the official seal laid open on the desk. “Private Coltfeather!” she said suddenly, she figured if they were going to be there, she would make use of them. “Yes ma’am?” he said standing at a crisp salute after being called out. “Would you be a dear and read that letter with the official seal and let me know if that was the letter that Princess Celestia said she would be sending ahead of us to inform the mayor of his important visitor” said the mare and with a fresh salute the pegasus trotted over and picked up the letter and began to read it. “Now see here! That is a private correspondence!” said the Mayor and Shadow Eyes chuckled darkly. “If it was, it wouldn’t carry the royal seal upon the wax, no, I think you were hoping that you could fluster me so I would return failing at my first assignment and causing the princess herself to come here taking time away from more important matters” said Shadow Eyes feeling confident, however she knew it hinged on the letter being the one Celestia had sent to introduce Shadow Eyes to the mayor. “It is the introduction letter, ma’am” said the private and Shadow Eyes smirked. “Who are you to decide whether my issue is worthy of the crown’s intervention or not! You hold no authority here, and by order of the Mayor of Trottensdale, I order you guardsponies to arrest this mare for reading a private letter.” the guard did not move. “Did you not hear me? She committed a crime!” said the Stallion all but shrieking and Shadow Eyes giggled. “I outrank you, mayor, besides what you did was impede royal business, which is a much more serious crime, and me doing what I did was well within my rights, Princess Celestia would never use the royal mail carriers to deliver a personal letter, least ways to a fat unimportant stallion such as you, I am sure the princesses has much better tastes than you” said Shadow Eyes harshly, she was unamused by the stallion’s behavior. “How dare you!?” shouted the stallion as he stood up and tried to look threatening forgetting about the guardsponies in his anger. “Oh sit your fat ass down, I don’t have time for your theatrics. You wanted the princesses here for something, what was it? Or shall I tell the princesses that you only wanted to waste their valuable time” snapped Shadow Eyes… “He just wanted to bask in your glory, Princess Celestia” said Shadow Eyes as she gave her report to the Solar Triarch and Celestia looked troubled. “Why would he have made such a thing sound so urgent?” she asked surely there was more to this than was being said. “If there was more, he certainly didn’t tell me, in fact he seemed dead set on pretending that he didn’t know I was coming, even with the letter you sent sitting open on his desk.” said Shadow Eyes calmly though on the inside she was worried, what if all of the places she was sent were like that? “Thank you, Shadow Eyes, you’ve given me a lot to think about, you are dismissed” said the princess with a smile and a wave of her hoof. Shadow Eyes bowed and turned to leave when the princess spoke up, “Be sure to give my congratulations to Rich Quick, I heard he managed a heist that no other pony had succeed in before, and let him know if he returns the royal jewels soon, I won’t have him arrested” Shadow Eyes made her way to the dorm in which she and Rich Quick were staying for the moment, as she needed to move out soon, as she was no longer a student, part of her wanted to move back to Manehattan, but… Something was calling for her to stay in Canterlot a little longer… “Hey, Love, I see you are back, what’s new?” asked the stallion and Shadow Eyes turned to him, a glare on her face. “You know better than to steal from the crown, Rich!” said Shadow Eyes heatedly and Rich stopped mid-stride in shock, he had not expected her to find out so quickly. “W-what are you talking about?” asked Rich Quick hoping to avoid confrontation when Shadow Eyes got right up in his face and glared at him. “Celestia knows you stole the royal jewels you crazy stallion!” she snapped at him and Rich Quick paled before he grinned. “I guess I should have known the princess would have a tracking spell on it, so tell me, when should I expect the guard to be knocking at our door?” asked Rich Quick and Shadow Eyes nearly snapped at him but took a deep breath and relaxed. “You should be more worried about me, rather than the Guard. However Princess Celestia said she would give you some time before she sends the Guard, to return the royal jewels to her” said Shadow Eyes calmly but with a voice full of anger making Rich Quick back away nervously before he remembered that Shadow Eyes was not likely to hurt him. “You know I am just following my cutie mark, you can't blame me for stealing, neither can Celestia” argued the stallion and Shadow Eyes huffed and walked away with her nose in the air… At a quiet little bar a little ways away from the adult dormitories of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns a stallion sat at the bar with a mare who was in a uniform for the Equestrian Strategic Information Service. “You can't tell me I don't have the skill to join you, nopony else could have done what I did, the castle guard was tripping over themselves and they still couldn't capture me!” said the pony in front of the ESIS agent and the agent frowned. “The princess still knew who had done it, that does not speak well of your skill” said the agent and the pony shrugged and produced the royal jewels and placed them on the bar between them. “I scanned them, they have a locator spell on them, one that I could have easily removed, but saw no need when I was going to be returning them not too long after seeing you today” said the pony and the agent frowned again, trying to find a good reason to deny the pony in front of her a place in ESIS as the pony in front of her could just ask Princess Celestia to find out why he had been denied a job, perks of dating the Court Magician. Finding none the agent groaned angrily. “I will talk to my bosses, Princess Celestia included, as much as I hate to admit, you are skilled, and from what we have on you, you aren't opposed to killing to get your mission done. I may not like how close you are to the pony you want to help us keep an eye on, but none can deny your skill. You held your own against the Court Magician in the past and our files say you haven't been idle since you started dating her. You will have my recommendation” “Thank you” said Rich Quick as he got up off the stool he had been sitting on and started to walk out before turning to the agent, “regardless of who you send to watch her, she will know she's being watched, you know this as well as anypony, so why not make it somepony who is already in her life, just something to think about” he said calmly before stepping out the door and out into the quiet streets of Canterlot… As Rich Quick entered the dormitory quietly entering the student apartment where upon entering the main foyer of the apartment he saw Shadow Eyes waiting up for him. “Where the Tartarus have you been? It's damn near midnight!” snapped Shadow Eyes as there were tears on her cheeks, she had been crying. Noticing the tear stained cheeks of his marefriend, Rich Quick was quick to swallow his own anger. “What’s wrong, Shay? Why’d you stay up? You have work tomorrow!”said Rich Quick worriedly and Shadow Eyes glared at him with her clouded eyes. “Answer the damned question, Rich Quick! Are you seeing somepony else?” Rich Quick took a step back before shaking his head angrily. “How can you think that? What kind of heartless pony do you think I am? I was meeting with an ESIS agent, Cypher 0183, I was attempting to get a job with them” said Rich Quick and Shadow Eyes snapped. “You want to work for the same group that Silver Hoof worked for!? How could you!?” and Rich Quick struggled to take a calming breath, it would not do for them to get into a shouting match. “I can’t keep still, you know what happened the last time you went off on a mission for the princesses, I went and stole the royal jewels! I need a job where I can follow my cutie mark and not be breaking the law” said the stallion relatively calmly though one could tell he was close to yelling himself. “But the ESIS! Couldn’t you have found work in anything else?” asked Shadow Eyes and Rich Quick sighed and took a step towards her only for her to step away from him tears in her eyes. “There is nothing else, the crooks here that steal from the poor have the protection of the law on their side, and only ESIS has the means and the stones to make them pay without getting arrested for their trouble.” said Rich Quick and Shadow Eyes choked back a sob as part of her wanted to yell at the stallion in front of her, there had to be something else he could do! But then… Shadow Eyes sighed as she focused on her flank where her cutie mark seemed to glow with magic allowing her to see it in living color. Her cutie mark reminded her that she was following it, shouldn’t her coltfriend follow his? Author's Note Well more emotional turmoil for Shay. I hope it doesn't scar too bad
Chapter Nine: Meeting Bilgewater Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Chapter Nine: Meeting Bilgewater ~ ~ ~ “I always wanted a foal, but I fear my life will be detrimental to the healthy living of a child” ~From the personal diary of the 83rd Court Magician, Shadow Eyes ~ ~ ~ Shadow Eyes faced the open train window watching the landscape fly pass as the train sped down the tracks. It had been a few years since her appointment to Court Magician, she was now twenty-nine years old and well known to be fair to callers to the throne, some were refused, their reasoning to call upon the princesses not sufficient, others were granted their audience, their reasoning urgent enough that Shadow Eyes couldn’t deny them their chance to see the princesses. However this run was different, this time she was being asked to give her judgement on a new village law that was set to come out soon, one that could change the course of Equestria as they knew it. “Private Coltfeather” said Shadow Eyes as she turned away from the window and the stallion stood at attention. “Yes ma’am?” he said as he stood stiffly at attention. “What do you think of the plans of the mayor of Hoofingston?” asked Shadow Eyes with her eyes closed as she thought worriedly about the mayor’s plans. “It’s not for me to say, ma’am” “I asked you, it is alright for you to tell me.” For a moment there was no sound besides the sound of the train running down the track as Coltsfeather closed his eyes to think. “I am worried about this mayor, he says he is for the children, but from what the document you had me read for you said… He is more for profit than for what is good for the foals of his city, and it would set a dangerous precedent, I-” “Thank you, Private, I need to think now” said Shadow Eyes as she interrupted him her eyes closed just letting her thoughts wander in the direction Coltsfeather had suggested. She didn’t like where it led… It was night by the time the train pulled into the station, the moon rising in the night sky. “I need to take a little walk, I’ll be back” said Shadow Eyes and the guard moved to take places around her so she would be protected before there was a flash and she was no longer there… On a beach near the village stood a little colt, the shore was empty besides this blue-grey dapple, he stood staring off into the waves of the sea, and although he had been there all day, he was not wet past his hocks, or his ankles. Shadow Eyes who had been walking along the beach since ditching the guard that was sent with her, a guard she still did not believe she needed, she was well known in the criminal underworld, both for being a Tenebrosus Magus, and now for being the Solar Princess’s Court Magician, someone no one would want to mess with, and with her sight it wasn’t likely for someone to sneak up on her. Upon catching ‘sight’ of the foal, Shadow Eyes gave a sad smile that quickly morphed into a more happy smile. She made her way towards the foal. “Hello, little one” she said gently as not to scare the foal. The foal did not even turn to her,instead focusing on the waves that seemed to churn angrily in the moonlight, there was no hint that he even acknowledged her existence, something she could live with, it as better than the fear some ponies still had in these backwater villages. The foal stood there as the seafoam swirled around his hooves, kissing his ankles. When he did speak up it was in an accent that seemed native to Trottingham his voice was high with excitement and strength. “Luna isn’t happy today” said the foal plainly and Shadow Eyes was forced to remember that Princess Luna still didn’t like the amount of power she had acquired by becoming the Court Magician of the Solar Court. “Princess Luna hasn’t been very happy for a while…” she agreed as she sat beside him and cast her special version of sight towards the water catching sight of the waves as they crashed into the water and rolled onto the shore. “Can I ask for your name, little one?” she asked curiously. “I’m Bilgewatah, but you can call me Billy if it’s easier. Who a’e you?” he asked and Shadow Eyes giggled into her hoof before lowering herself to the foal’s eye level. “I’m Shadow Eyes, but you can call me Shay if you want, Billy” said Shadow Eyes with a smile, “What are you doing out here on your own? Don’t you have a momma or a papa?” she asked curiously careful in her tone as she tried to keep from upsetting him. “A mama or papa? I’ve had ponies ask me to call them that before, never really do though. I’ve seen what a real mama and papa are. I never had that.” the foal spoke evenly not seeming to be hurt by Shadow Eyes’ question, and as if just stating a fact. “And what are a real momma and papa?” asked Shadow Eyes evenly as her smile leveled out a bit at the rather emotionless voice exhibited by the foal. “A real mama and papa follow a foal ‘round, making sure they are happy” said the foal looking back out to the ocean, a longing look in his eyes as he longed to have that. Shadow Eyes bit her lip as her heart told her to pick the foal in a hug and tell him it would be alright… “Are you hungry, Billy? I can get you something to eat if you are” she said as she gave him a friendly nuzzle , she hated seeing foals grow up like this, but there was little she could do. “Y… Yes ma’am” he said blushing, “Sorry ma’am” “No need to be sorry, Billy, I offered didn’t I?” said Shadow Eyes as she stood up and shook the sand out of her belly fur. “Come on then, where do you want to go?” asked the mare. “Go? There is no place I like to be more than the water” he said standing up with another look out onto the ocean. Shadow Eyes chuckled softly… “I like the water too, but unless-” “Court Magician! There you are! Why did y-... And may I ask who this is ma’am?” “This is Billy, he will be accompanying me to dinner tonight” said Shadow Eyes rather bluntly, Bilgewater looked between the two adults confused but said nothing knowing better than to dare. “Come, Billy. Let’s go get you something to eat, I am sure you are hungry, even staring out at the ocean and Luna’s stars burns energy.” said Shadow Eyes kindly with a smile on her face as she gave him a gentle nudge towards the guard. “Her stars? Why would I look at them, when her moon is pulling the ocean towards me?” “Ma’am, if I may, he may-” “May be an assassin? Hardly, he isn’t Swift Wing, and he is the only assassin within this colt’s age group. Now, less talk about these unpleasant things, take us to the village proper, Treat him as you would myself” said Shadow Eyes… Author's Note The foal Bilgewater(Billy) is not mine, but is used with permission, he is owned/created by Aricub. If you notice a change in writing style it is because I am converting a Role Play into story format, as was the plan for the parts with Billy
Chapter Ten: The Mayor’s Plan Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Chapter Ten: The Mayor’s Plan ~ ~ ~ “I refuse to let a foal suffer if I can help it, to tartarus with what anypony thinks. If anypony thinks I am heartless, let me prove them wrong, Celestia save the fools that raise a hoof out of hate towards a foal” ~From the personal diaries of Shadow Eyes, The Court Magician ~ ~ ~ Shadow Eyes smiled lightly and gave the colt another friendly nuzzle, he was just… For a second her mind drifted to a sad place, before she shook herself as he told her he was watching the moon and the waves… “True, but even watching that can be tiring, and I am sure you need to eat” said Shadow Eyes as the guard started to get restless, looking left and right constantly. Frowning Shadow Eyes turned her head towards him. “Is there something wrong? Is there something you think you see that I can not?” she said careful about not admitting that she couldn’t see as far as the adverage pony. “N-no ma`am, it's just... I don't like these rural villages, they are so-” “Peaceful? I could tell you a few stories of how I used to hide out in rural villages while I was still on the run” said the mare with a nostalgic smile on her face. Those days in particular were nice as she was able to live amongst the populous for a few weeks at a time while in a rural village. “Billy, you still haven't told me where you want to go eat, you can pick anywhere you want” she said looking to the colt with a kind smile. The colt looked between the pair as they talked “I don't mind wherever ma'am” said the colt and Shadow Eyes smiled at him as she nodded for the guard to lead the way to the mayor's house where she was suppose to have gone, but instead she chose to take a small break from her duties, which, she believed, was her prerogative as the ranking member in the social ladder, it was funny, she was from a small noble family originally, and now she outranked most of the nobles, save the Sparkle household, a recent addition to the noble families thanks to the ascension of the one pony that was her ‘rival’ in school, Twilight Sparkle. Shaking her head from the nostalgia. “This way Ma`am, I am sure the rest of the guard will be happy to know you are safe” said the guardspony and Shadow Eyes simply rolled her clouded blue eyes a smile on her face. “Little one, can you be on your best behavior? I don't want to embarrass the mayor by telling him that if he won't let you eat with us, he has no place for me” Shadow Eyes said into Bilgewater’s ear, softly as not to hurt his ears, but loud enough that it really wasn't a secret what she was saying. “I… um…” he blushed looking down at his hooves quickly quieting down and Shadow Eyes looked at him worriedly. “Are you OK Billy?” she asked with the worry she felt. “Yes ma'am. But...I don't think i can promise that” said the foal and Shadow Eyes look at him confused with her clouded eyes. "Why not? Is there something wrong?" she asked worried that there was something she needed to do to help the foal. “I don’t know how” said Bilgewater and Shadow Eyes chuckled, “I try but it still happens” Shadow Eyes smiled and nuzzled him before nodding to herself . "That's fine little one, don't worry about it then, I'll handle the mayor if anything comes up" said the mare as they made it to the gated house, Shadow Eyes frowned at the segregation of status between the Mayor and the rest of the villagers, it did not bode well for the talks. The foal looked up at the large gated building his eyes darting around it. "In the'e?" He asked gulping down hard looking like a deer caught in the headlights, Shadow Eyes smiled softly and hugged him gently. "I will be right there with you, there is nothing to worry about" she said softly and Bilgewater nodded and slowly stepped forward towards it his ears down then closed his eyes shook and perked up in false though believable confidence.Shadow Eyes Smiled as the guard let them through after a few words were exchanged. Leading them into the house and then the dining hall Shadow Eyes frowned heavily at the mayor. "Ah! Hello Magician Shadow Eyes" said the mayor a portly stallion and Shadow Eyes frowned at him. "If you are going to use the title, at least have the decency to use it correctly, I am not a magician I am the Court Magician" said Shadow Eyes before she motioned for the colt to step forwards. "Little Billy here will be joining us if that isn't too much trouble?" Billy stood tall and proud as a four year old could though his eyes showed fear. the mayor obviously was torn, it wasn't 'proper' for someone of his station to associate with someone as destitute as Bilgewater, but it would he would be insulting the Court Magician if he refused. After a few moments he motioned for them to take seat, Shadow Eyes given the seat of honor, as she expected rolling her eyes, as she motioned for the colt to take a seat beside her. "It's OK Billy, I will be right here, I'm not leaving you" she whispered in his ear. Bilgewater climbed up onto the seat beside her leaving behind a slight trail of sand. The dinner while tense did not seem to go too badly so far. So Shadow Eyes thought... The little foal sat quietly listening to the adults… "I don't care mayor, the crown will not fund a child labor camp just to get them off the street, there are laws against that" said Shadow Eyes forcefully as the mayor tried to talk her into supporting his plan. "You didn't care about laws all that long ago, Tenebrosus Magus " said the mayor and Shadow Eyes stood up suddenly her horn sparking as the guards in the room suddenly got tense, unsure what to do, if the Court Magician attack, should they defend the mayor? Or should they stay out of it? Shaking herself she took a calming breath. "You are lucky, mayor, I will not scar a child's mind with the bodily harm of another pony" The colt watched playing with the things on the table in front of him to make it less obvious he was listening in on the grownups conversation, though he did not understand very much of it. The threat of a fight did not seem to phase him. "Billy, I believe it is time we left the good mayor's home. If he feels so inclined to suggest such things, I will not rest my head under his roof, shall we instead go where you live? Perhaps ponies there would be more respectable " said Shadow Eyes as she waited for the foal to get up so she could lead him out of the house. the royal guards that came with her seemingly stiff and ready for a fight to break out. "Where...where I live?" he asked squeaking "ummm...we could go back to the beach" he suggested, in a voice that worried Shadow Eyes. "Is something wrong little one?" asked Shadow Eyes as she waited for the colt to stand up and join her, her worry growing a little. He quickly jumped off the chair and followed her. "N-nothing is wrong ma'am" "You can call me Shay, Billy" said Shadow Eyes as she lead him out the guards with her flanking them as they left the building. Bilgewater nodded. "Yes miss Shay ma'am" Author's Note Long time no post Celestia I have been busy! and it is not easy converting RP to Story, even when that RP is as awesome as the one I am converting
