Horse of the Year

by Moonlit Novel

Chapters

Darkness Chapter Five: Cleaning House (RAW)
Prologue: The Dark Spell/A Cursed Blessing
Light Chapter One: A Deed Worth it's Weight in Gold
Darkness Chapter One: One Sided Conversations
Light Chapter Two: A Second Attack and Vulnerable
Darkness Chapter Two: Finding Someplace to Stay
Light Chapter Three: Stiff Drinks
Darkness Chapter Three: Proving Good Will
Light Chapter Four: The Free Press/Horses (RAW)
Darkness Chapter Four: The Truth Revealed
Light Chapter Five: The Interview
Light Chapter Six: A Friend Willing to Pay The Price of Freedom (RAW)
Darkness Chapter Six: Fraught With Strife (RAW)

Darkness Chapter Five: Cleaning House (RAW)

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Prologue: The Dark Spell/A Cursed Blessing

Author's Note

Edited by Mary Bloss who took time out of her schedule to edit the chapter

Prologue: The Dark Spell/A Cursed Blessing

Title: Horse of The Year
Rated: M
Genre: adventure/ fictional history
Pairing: OC/human
Warnings: Death, Human/Pony pairings
Summary: as John F. Kennedy rode on that fateful parade where he was supposed to be killed, a pony intercepted the bullet a pony with blue fur, pink mane and tail, and most curiously, a horn…
This story is AU of Court Magician AND of our history, however there are spoilers for all of my Court Magician stories so read at your own risk

Prologue: The Dark Spell/A Cursed Blessing

Being a Court Magician had agreed with Shadow Eyes, and for the past eighteen years she performed her duties to the crown, and to her foals admirably. The Changeling War had taken her lover, and nearly stolen her away from her family, but now looking at her grown foals, and the second mother of her eldest foal, she smiled. Physically, she had barely aged at all. A combination of her strength in magic, and an unfortunate blessing gone bad from Celestia and Luna meant to bless her with a long life with her loved ones. That blessing had caused a lot of discontent with her family as it had accidentally gave Shadow Eyes near immortality unlike that of the alicorns. She would still be ravaged by the passage of time, just so slowly that by the time she would get wrinkles, there would be none but herself, the alicorns, and the dragons that would name her as a Tenebrous Magus from a past age. She hated it. She would outlive her loved ones unless somebody killed her first...

This was the life Shadow Eyes had to look forwards to until one day she, on a mission for the crown she came across a pony using magic so dark, that even she refused to cast it. For it banished targets to a world, not only devoid of harmony, but also wracked with darkness so powerful it overflowed the boundaries of that world.

“In the name of Celestia, I demand that you stop!” Shadow Eyes cried as she ran towards the pony intent on stopping the fool when the pony looked as her and grinned wickedly. With a final burst of magic they cast the spell in its entirety and she was pulled with the mad pony, into another world…

Light Chapter One: A Deed Worth it's Weight in Gold

Author's Note

Edited by Mary Bloss who took time out of her schedule to edit the chapter

Light Chapter One: A Deed Worth it's Weight in Gold

As Shadow Eyes took a moment to reorient herself after being thrown through the walls separating the worlds, the crazed pony escaped into the crowds that were gathering on the side of the street.

“Damn it all! Where'd that…” Shadow Eyes trailed off as she noticed that all the beings in her magical sight were almost like hairless minotaurs, except they had no hooves for feet some seemed to be wearing things on their feet. Others were barefoot in their homes with the windows open cheering for another one of those creatures that was sitting in a carriage not being drawn by ponies or another of these creatures. Then well within the two miles of her sight she saw one of the creatures with a weapon reminiscent of a gryphon musket rifle, but seemingly more advanced, and she noticed that the rifle was being aimed at the creature in the moving carriage. Unable to gather up the magic to block or otherwise stop the projectile from leaving the rifle, Shadow Eyes teleported between the creature and the projectile as it left the rifle. Not knowing if she was saving a warrior being praised for his kills on the battlefield, a leader for his peaceful methods, or even just someone important to the town…

A pinching feeling. That is what Shadow Eyes remembered as the projectile pierced the side of her flank, barely missing any arteries or veins, stopping the projectile before it could hurt the creature. She hardly had a chance to cast a spell that burnt the perpetrator with a brand of guilt, a target on a skull, before passing out from the pain that shot through her the moment after…

Waking to a rhythmic beeping Shadow Eyes shot up to a sitting position wincing as an IV was ripped out of her casting a minor healing spell to stem the bleeding and heal the hole in the side of her flank.

‘Okay, someone important seems an accurate description of the creature I saved’ she thought as she looked around it looked like a very secure room and with the small gap under the door, with the lack of carpet, she saw the guards standing outside her door with similar weapons to the rifle on their hips and dressed in suits if she had to guess. “H-hello?” she called out…

There was scramble outside as the guards drew their weapons and entered the room and swept the room looking for the source of the voice thinking that there was no way for a pony, even one that apparently was a unicorn, to be talking. As far as they knew their President was crazy in believing that this creature knew what it was doing when it saved the President.

“Hello? I’m Shadow Eyes, Court Magician under Princess Celestia, and I would know if I am a prisoner” said the mare as she stared down the barrel of the gun now pointed at her shaking in fear. “I do hope you don't intend to shoot me, getting shot once is enough for me” deadpanned the mare as one of the guards reached in his pocket and started to pull out a walkie.

“Keep to runner, the package is awake, and the eagle was correct. Repeat, the package is awake, and the eagle was correct”

“I am assuming I am the package, and the eagle is someone of importance that can't be named in casual messages over wireless” said Shadow Eyes as she noticed her sunglasses on the table beside her bed and she went wide eyed as she grabbed for the sunglasses before shoving them on her face. “I-I-I’m sorry you had to see my eyes” said the mare ashamed of the telltale sign of her blindness she would have gotten rid of it a long time ago if she could. But even the Changeling Spell could only do so much in that regard, it can't give her working eyes, it could only change the color of her eyes…

“Can't you say something? It's weird talking to myself…” said Shadow Eyes as the creature she had saved walked in with two more guards.

“I’m sorry, they were under strict orders not to say anything until I arrived” said the creature and Shadow Eyes deadpanned once more before grinning wickedly making the four guards nervous.

“This is where I say, 'take me to your leader’ I do believe” she said before cracking up laughing at their incredulous looks before choking up a bit as tears started to run down her cheeks, “Why couldn't you just let me die? I am doomed to live past my race’s years, now away from the ones I love!” The creature she saved was the first to get over his shock of her rapid change in emotions as he walked over and hugged her causing her crying to increase as she suddenly grabbed the creature, her tears soaked his jacket, after a good long while Shadow Eyes calmed down. Pulling away the mare took her glasses off and rubbed her eyes dry with her fetlocks. “I’m sorry, I lost so much today, my foals and my lover… I don't even know if I will see them in the afterlife when I die” said Shadow Eyes as her voice cracked a couple times from the stress.

“Mr. President, you need to step away from it we don’t know if it could be dangerous” at that Shadow Eyes gave a hollow laugh as she picked up an IV pole with her magic causing the guards with the creature to draw their weapons and point them at her, though a couple of them were shaking as they pointed the weapons at her.

“If I wanted your… What did you call it? President? If I wanted it dead, I could have just let that projectile kill it”

“I am John Fitzgerald Kennedy, President of these United States of America, one of many nations, though collectively considered one of the best and most powerful of the nations of the world” said the creature proudly.

“Well John, I am Shadow Eyes, Court Magician under Princess Celestia of the principality of Equestria… And Tenebrosus Magus…” said Shadow Eyes, mumbling the last part.

“Pardon? I know what Magus is, but unless you mean tenebrous, I don't know what you mean by Tenebrosus Magus.” Shadow Eyes looked at the President with a look of surprise. Surely they had Dark Mages here, but then again, she felt very little magic in the air, and although she could still see as well as she normally did, she couldn't…

“Do you not have Mages here? I mean all of your devices, don't they run on magic?”

An hour later Shadow Eyes’ face was facing her bed as fresh tears rolled down her face, what she said earlier never seemed more true, there was not enough magic to even attempt to return home and there was no guarantee that any attempt would be fruitful, in fact as far as she knew she may end up on a world completely devoid of magic and then she would be completely helpless…

“What is to become of me? A pet for your entertainment? A weapon to throw at your enemies? If I am to endure until I die, I must know what I am to do until then” said Shadow Eyes in a hollow voice and John was surprised.

“Is that what your people would do if one of us showed up on your world?” he asked and Shadow Eyes plastered her ears back flat, her upper lip lifted in a snarl as she struck the sheet covering her in her annoyance.

“The gryphons might, the minotaurs would test you for loyalty, but ponies? We would embrace you as a friend and unless you proved us in error for that assessment, you would be welcome as a friend for life” said Shadow Eyes annoyed at the President.

“Then why would we? You just proved that you can be trusted, you saved the leader of this great nation-”

“Sure, but all I really did was save you from death, I've killed before, I don't like it, but war makes it a necessity”

After explaining the Changeling War to the President, John looked to his watch, surprised at the length of time spent already with the self proclaimed 'pony.’ He stood from the chair he had brought in for him and walked over to the mare, put his hand out in an effort to shake not thinking for a moment as his mind just saw another sentient being, not a horse. Shadow Eyes faced the hand for a moment before she put her hoof out and they shook.

“Don't worry about the medical bill, or anything ever again, I will personally see to it your every need is met, the least I can do for saving my life” said John and Shadow Eyes turned to face him revealing that the bandage has fallen off, and her bullet wound was healed. “I see ponies heal fast, most humans, that's what we are, would take about eight weeks, it has only been two weeks, and with you, we weren't even sure you would pull through your structure is so different from what we are used to.” Shadow Eyes went wide-eyed for a moment before she reasoned that because they had no magic themselves therefore they wouldn't have healing magic…

“I healed what was left, your doctors did well with what they had. Magic, well, it has its uses” said the mare as she slipped from the bed and onto the floor up to her withers she was three feet tall. As she did so the guards… No the Secret Service as she was informed had slowly calmed down but every time she moved anywhere towards the President they tensed up ready to draw their weapons and shoot her at the first sign of aggression. “You know, if I wanted him dead at this point you wouldn't have a chance to stop me, or even retaliate. I am a killer, any soldier is, but I am much more efficient than most.”

“I’m curious, are all your fellow soldiers called Court Magicians as well?” asked John causing Shadow Eyes snorted in an almost laugh.

“A Court Magician is second only to princesses in theory, in reality, it was more of a figurehead position as I only had the power given to me by Celestia. I was warrior, diplomat, spy, assassin, ambassador, healer, whatever the princess needed me to be. I am the scion of the Noble house of Star.” said Shadow Eyes as she gave a short bow and the President shook his head as he lift her up from the bow.

“The American people may be worthy of such respect, but I am only their President, we have no king, no queen and no nobles. The people decide who will lead them every four years…” and so John Fitzgerald Kennedy explained to the best of his ability the public knowledge on the workings of the government.

“Tell me, is there something you said you won't do that your, what did you call it? Vice President?” John nodded, “That your Vice President said he would do and had the support of others in a position of power?” at her question John F. Kennedy swallowed. “I see… This may have been a contracted hit, and it failed. They would be fools to try again so soon while your protectors are on high alert. If you have traitors in your midst they would be even more foolish to try again and reveal themselves.” said Shadow Eyes as she shifted to a more comfortable stance, seemingly becoming relaxed, though she was still ready to spring if any of them made a move. Suddenly blinking and tensing up as she remembered something of urgency. “Tartarus! That son of a hippogriff! Mr. Kennedy, there is another pony here, another unicorn, I need to find them! They are dangerous! I don't know how trained they are in the dark arts, but if they are even half as well trained as I am, they could cause untold amounts of damage to your world. They are the reason I am even in this world.”

“Then, we will look for them. If they are as dangerous as you say we need to find them as soon as possible” said John as he shook his head. “Although I owe that pony my life as well, if they are so dangerous that they give you pause, perhaps it is better if we capture them.”

Darkness Chapter One: One Sided Conversations

“I made it, just like you said, but the Court Magician followed me here” said the pony as she twitched and tilted her head to the side as if listening to someone. “Well I saw a person in a horseless carriage and the Court Magician jumped beside him and was shot.” she frowned, “He had brown hair… His wife? She had brown hair too…” she gave a confused look, “Sure it looked like a parade… No I couldn’t tell… Police?… I don’t know what those are, are they the guards for your world?… I’ll be sure to stay hidden…”

“They still don’t know I am here… No, I promise you… But you promised!… I know you said to be careful… But… I know… I-”

Light Chapter Two: A Second Attack and Vulnerable

Shadow Eyes looked around with her magical sight and as there was a chopping noise, they thought that covering her eyes would prevent her from seeing, seeing a machine that they were headed towards with what looked like blades on the top chopping through the air made her stop and start to back up.

“No, I am not getting anywhere close to that thing” she said and the secret service that were assigned to her had to try to push her on to the helicopter with little success when another one of these creatures stepped out of the helicopter this one obviously a female and she walked over to the mare who was trying to back away from the copter. “No, no, not going to happen.” as Shadow Eyes slowly pushed the two men back the woman made it up to her.

“Is something wrong, Shadow Eyes? You seem petrified of the helicopter” she asked and Shadow Eyes snorted again reminded that others couldn't see as well as she could.

“Can't you tell? Those rotary blades are about to fall off!” Shadow Eyes all but screamed and the woman frowned before looking at the Secret Service agents who ceased pushing the mare and moved to the copter and making a slitting motion at their necks and the sound of the motor died off as the chopping sound slowly stopped. As soon as the rotary blades slowed down enough one of them fell off and another flung off and landed hard about a foot away, bolts and metal shavings landing near the copter. As everything started to settle, John Fitzgerald Kennedy got out of the copter and was wide-eyed as the the pilot who seemed just as worried about the blades. The Secret Service agent had a gun pointed at the pilot.

“It would be better if you didn't take that whirligig.” said Shadow Eyes as she shook her head, the screeching from the metal had caused her to pin her ears back in pain and annoyance.

Shadow Eyes and the Presidential family waited in a secure building. She didn't like it, if she was honest with herself, but she got roped into protecting the President.

“Can't your Secret Service protect you? I have things that need to be taken care of, namely the unicorn on the loose that uses magic so dark, even I won't use it, and I liberally use dark magic” said the mare and the First Lady frowned at her.

“Surely you have a husband, why did you-”

“My lover, the father of my daughter, was killed in the Changeling War, but that is neither here nor there, what would my marital status have to do with anything, I am able bodied, and I am worth just as much as a stallion, perhaps more” snapped Shadow Eyes, the Minotaurs often looked down at her because she was a mare, they didn’t have the courage to do so towards Princess Celestia or Princess Luna, but the other mares in positions of power were fair game to the two faced cowards.

“Now then, that is my wife you are talking to, Ms. Eyes” said John and Shadow Eyes snorted.

“I am sorry, but I will not have my lack of husband be used against me, I am more than able to outperform most stallions in most areas.” said Shadow Eyes with a roll of her eyes before sighing and shaking her head. “We as a people learned a long time ago there is no special treatment due to either sex, when a mare is pregnant that is a different matter entirely, but without that, there is nothing special between the sexes. We have mares that pursue jobs in the Royal Guard, even in the Royal Navy, and we have stallions that choose to stay home and take care of the house and foals. There are no stallion jobs or mare jobs short of what is biologically given, and even that can be thrown out the window with the right spell” ranted Shadow Eyes and the President looked at her regarding what she said carefully. Apparently this Shadow Eyes did not like being coddled and was more than prepared to take out dangers that came her way. After ten minutes of tense silence John spoke up…

“What do you want to do? Short of finding this unicorn, what do you propose to do after we catch them? Short of working with this unicorn there is no way to find your way back home, and even that, from what you have said, is not a guarantee to get back, will you stay and help us better the world, obviously you as a people seemed to have a lot less of the issues we as a race have yet to clear” said the President and Shadow Eyes regarded him for a bit thinking on how to respond before sighing.

“I would not be worth my title of Court Magician if I do not at least try to get home, but if all else fails I will attempt try to help you better this planet you call home. I am no alicorn, but I was not the top student at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns for nothing. Given enough time, of which I have plenty of, I can help you better your medicine, and with time work on some of your civil matters as an advisor. I will not tell you what you have to do, I am no leader. Despite what Celestia says. But will all of your nations be willing to listen to, for all intents and purposes, an alien telling them what they should do? Or will they do the opposite just to spite me? I may not be infallible, but I will not talk to hear myself talk”

“You seem to have yourself resigned to the fact you may be staying here” said Jacqueline. Shadow Eyes turned her head to the ceiling, as a few tears welled up in her eyes again, but before she could respond a Secret Service agent entered the room and said they were ready for the three of them to leave the building and to a secure car Shadow Eyes scoffed but never the less got up and headed to the door.

“Let’s see if you are correct this time, I hate doing other’s jobs, it takes away from my own work” said Shadow Eyes obviously having no respect for the agents after seeing how badly they were performing their jobs. She stopped for a moment on the other side of the door and sighed. “I’m sorry, there was no way you would have known that the whirligig’s blades were about to come off. I don’t see as you do, but I see better than most. the closest approximation I have for my version of sight is a cross between a radar and a sonar, just… A lot clearer” with her apology given she headed to what they called a car, it was rather large, though she assumed it was to account for her joining the President on his trip…

As soon as they were underway Shadow Eyes became uncomfortable, even when she took the flying carriages back on Equestria she could see the general area of where she was, in the enclosed vehicle she did not have that luxury her sight, true to form, still could not pierce solid walls and windows.

“So, Ms. Eyes,” started Jacqueline.

“Please, Shadow Eyes, or Shay if you need to shorten my name. Ms. Eyes is just…” said Shadow Eyes as she jumped from the sudden bump in the road.

“Fair enough, Shadow Eyes, why don’t you tell us about your home” Thankful for something to distract her Shadow Eyes began to describe the wonders of Equestria, from the city of Canterlot to the flying city of Cloudsdale to the running of the Buffaloes in Appleloosa, and was about to talk about the history of Equestria when Jacqueline interrupted. “That’s all nice, dear, but what about your home, and your story?” asked the First Lady and Shadow Eyes stopped and grew quiet for a little bit before she turned to the window and for all intents and purposes it seemed like she was lost in the sights outside the window, when in fact she not only could not see out the window, but was also she was more lost in thought before she sighed and gave a sad laugh.

“Where do I begin? My birth name is Bright Star, heiress to the noble house of Star, I was nearly raped by a fellow student at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, I ended up killing the would be rapist bucking him in the face, driving the bridge of his nose into his brain, I was sixteen at the time, I ended up on the run for ten years where I met a Tenebrosus Magus that taught me the majority of my dark spells, the cost, at first was nothing, simple tasks he couldn’t do himself without risking capture, and when it became clear I was his to command he started making me pay for it in more… Well I was not all too upset when he died fighting a Magus Venator. I took up the name Shadow Eyes in a morbid sense of honoring what he taught me, a way to take the name and wash it clean of the stains he had ground into it. While I was doing that I was on the run from other Magus Venatores. Saving lives became hard when most believe all Tenebrosus Magus are out only for themselves and don't care about anypony else. After a while I hid in plain sight, until a ship I was on was attacked by pirates and I ended up joining their crew just to survive. Oh I could have killed them all, but that would have left me stranded in the middle of the ocean with no way back as the crew I would have saved would have turned on me and left me on a longboat first chance they got. It was there in an ironic twist I met the mare that would be the mother of my son, and I don't mean by adoption. I had used a spell that transformed me into a stallion, with all the working bits. I loved her, she was beautiful, knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid of trying to obtain it-”

“You loved a mare? But aren't you, yourself, a mare?” asked Jacqueline and Shadow Eyes regarded her.

“Love knows no bounds, not even that of sex, and might I remind you, for all intents and purposes I was a stallion at the time… Where was I? Ah yes… She and I spent a majority of time sequestered, I couldn’t get enough of her, but even that highlight of my life was brought to an end as the pirate ship made landfall and I fled from the ship, for the next year, I wondered Equestria and helped ponies as I found them, sometimes having to exploit their thankfulness to survive, once or twice taking on threats no sane pony would ever face alone, and I overcame them, even though magic in all its forms is my special talent, my gift to the world was making it so one more pony, one more family, one more village survived threats that would obviously destroy them before the guard would arrive. I took what was dark and evil and made it good. I turned the name Shadow Eyes from something to be feared to something whispered in awe, but still I was hunted. Princess Celestia hunted me to protect me, her sister, Princess Luna, hunted me to put me down.” said Shadow Eyes as she felt the car slow to a final stop and heard the door open, as soon as the door started to open for the back of the car Shadow Eyes had a full view of the area surrounding the car and teleported out of the car and frowned there were a lot of… What was it? Humans? Around the vehicle and she noticed, a lot of them were heavily armed, and some of them had their weapons trained on her and she gave a smirk…

Darkness Chapter Two: Finding Someplace to Stay

“I’m at the address, there is nothing here… What do you mean I have to wait? Why aren’t you here?… WHAT!?” the unicorn shrieked as she heard what he had to say. “But that means we can’t be together yet!… No I will not calm down, I wanted to be held in your arms!…” the unicorn made her way to a small wooded area and hid as police cars came driving past and searched the area. “I need to get somewhere to hide until we can be together, is there any place you know of that I can hide?…” she asked and she nodded, “Okay, I’ll do that… Just promise me you’ll always-” she stopped and drew further back into the woods as a child ran past the open lot…

The unicorn snuck around to a house on the richer side of town when she got there she hesitated.

“What should I tell them to get them to trust me?… Al-alright…” she said before knocking on the door and a gentleman with brown hair and mustache opened the door and looked around thinking that he was hearing things he started to close the door when the unicorn cleared her throat.

“Dear God! A unicorn! Just like the one that saved President Kennedy!” said the man and the unicorn mare gave a weak smile before biting her lip, now was the moment of truth.

“Please sir, I need help, there are those that are looking to hurt me, I need a place to stay. I will gladly pitch in around the house, but please, let me stay here and be safe” the man was shocked the creature was not only talking, but was asking for help! It took him a moment to find his voice.

“C-can you please wait a moment? I need to talk to my wife” said the man and he slowly closed the door and the unicorn looked worried. A little bit later there a commotion behind the door and this time a woman with black hair opened the door and and stood there with her mouth open in shock.

“Please! I need a place to hide, I am in danger the longer I stay in the open” cried the unicorn and the woman shook herself out of her shock and looked at her husband for a second before turning to the unicorn.

“Who are you?” the woman asked and the unicorn flinched before sighing.

“I am Golden Amethyst, now please! I need somewhere to stay”

“But we don’t have any stables, where would you sleep, or do your business?” asked the woman and Golden Amethyst trotted in place nervously.

“I assure you, I am 100% housebroken, and I sleep in a bed just like any civilized being” said the mare as she looked over her shoulder as if expecting the Court Magician to just magically appear and force her back to Equestria and away from her only chance to be with the one she loved.

“I… I suppose you can stay, for a little while, but what are you running from?” asked the man after exchanging glances with his wife, the mare just laughed, her body shaking in fear and worry.

“I’m running from a mare that would tear me away from my destiny all because I took a path she wouldn’t agree with” said Golden Amethyst and the couple let her in…

“Of course there is nothing there, you’ll have to wait… Because I am not born yet…” said the human and he gripped his head in pain as the unicorn shrieked, “Calm down… And you will! Just not yet, I promise we’ll hold each other as soon as possible, you know as well as I, you have a longer lifespan than me” he said before sitting and thinking on what she asked. “Well you could try my grandparents’ house, they should live relatively nearby… Of course I’ll always love you”

“Tell them that you need shelter from those that would hurt you, that should be enough to get them to help you” said the human and there was silence for a bit before he heard her talking to his grandfather, “Be careful you don’t reveal too much, history is probably already reeling from the last hit you gave it”

Light Chapter Three: Stiff Drinks

“Well, more weapons aimed at me then I can remember in recent ages, perhaps I need to-” started Shadow Eyes as she lowered herself to the ground. As this was happening the President climbed out of the car and made his way over to the men aiming guns at the unicorn.

“Stand down! For the love of God, stand down!” shouted the President and the men lowered their weapons and Shadow Eyes stood up confused these men were dressed differently from the Secret Service members surely they weren’t… “Shadow Eyes, what were you thinking? You could have been killed!” admonished the Chief of Staff and the mare had the decency to look ashamed for a moment before she frowned.

“These aren’t Secret Service-”

“No, but they are not enemies. They are the United States Marines, a sect of our military that is actually older than the country they serve. The United States Marine Corps was founded November 10, 1775, a little less than eight months before the writing of the Declaration of Independence.” said John and Shadow Eyes again had the decency to look ashamed.

“Sorry, I assumed…”

“Mr. President, Air Force One is waiting for you to get on so we can take off” said a marine without taking his eyes off Shadow Eyes and the mare in a bout of mischievousness winked at the marine who moved to raise his gun when his fellow put his hand on the carbine and pushed it down shaking his head motioning to the president who had his eyes on the marine.

“Thank you son, my wife, and Ms. Shadow Eyes will be joining me on the flight, can I count on you to get us to Washington D.C.?” the marine nodded and John turned away before hearing something that made him stumble and the marine blubber.

“Don’t knock it ‘til you try it, you never know you might like it.” teased Shadow Eyes only for the marine to raise his carbine and open fire at the unicorn. The grinning unicorn blocked the bullet with a barrier ,made of something that only be described as pure magic, from other side of it. As the carbine ran out of ammo, before anyone could do anything, the barrier exploded forwards and toppled the soldier and Shadow Eyes pounced on him and held him down, her grin changing to a snarl. The other soldiers stunned at the attack. “Never underestimate a unicorn, we can be as weak as a gryphon chick, or we can be as strong as the alicorns themselves, and until you know for sure, err on the side of caution. There is another unicorn that is here, that is not your friend and she will most likely kill you if she has a chance to do so” she slowly backed off of him and sat in front of him as he sat up, “I am not your enemy. Also, for the record even if I meant that you aren’t my type, I haven’t been one for those in positions of authority, I prefer to be the one with authority, leave little room for my partner to worry about”

“Enough, Ms. Shadow Eyes, I would prefer you don’t instigate a fight with our marines, though you may be able to take them out, there is a sniper-”

“To the southwest of here, under a mesh netting with leaves and twigs and what appears to be a long range weapon” said Shadow Eyes without missing a beat and everyone there paled at that implication, if she knew where the sniper was, who else did? There was a scrambling as they started radioing and racing around attempting to see how badly their security was compromised. As they did this they ushered the president to a hangar after clearing it. Shadow Eyes sighed before teleporting beside the president. “I seem to have overturned an anthill” said Shadow Eyes and John looked at her annoyed, they weren’t listening to him even though he tried to explain that to his limited knowledge she has just seen him, but the implications that she could see that far and that well despite being blind were momentous. It was possible she might be able to help them cure blindness.

“Why couldn’t you have just left it be?” he asked curiously

“And let your men think they had a false advantage? I saw the shooter that tried to kill you that day I was shot, I just wasn’t able to stop him in time to keep him from firing. If this unicorn studied me, she..” Shadow Eyes sighed and turned toward the President. “Look as powerful as I am, I have no idea how powerful this mare is, she could be just strong enough to cast the spell that transported us here, or she could rival my strength, if she knows how my sight works she can duplicate it and see just as well or better than myself.”

“So you would rather spook them, than have them unprepared? Couldn’t you use more tact than that?” asked John and Shadow Eyes made a face.

“I may have been used as a diplomat, but I am more of a blunt instrument, not a fine precision tool. I know the subtleties of diplomacy, but I prefer the simplicities of battle.” said the mare as she watched the Marines and Secret Service begin to calm down and started to question her, much to her chagrin. “You’re the ones that went crazy without even asking me how I knew, I could have told you that I can see better than most”

On the plane Shadow Eyes quivered in discomfort not being able to see where she was in the world, knowing that she was over thirty-six thousand feet in the air, the earth well beyond that of her sight’s reach, did not help her any.

“So, Shadow Eyes, where were we?” asked Jacqueline as she poured drinks for everyone which made Shadow Eyes frown.

“What do you mean?” she asked and Jacqueline simply smiled.

“Why, you were telling us about your life. You just were telling us about leaving the pirate ship”

“A-alright” said Shadow Eyes before making herself comfortable on a seat across from the family that she had inadvertently tied her fate to, “It was years but I eventually felt comfortable enough to return to the ‘world stage’ as it were, hunts for me had died down but ponies still whispered my name in awe, as if just mentioning my name would cause me to show up and right the wrongs in the town or village. I made my way to Manehattan under a tried and true disguise. I hid in the city for a few years, and had begun to settle down when it was bombed by, what the Equestrian Strategic Information Service later determined was Changeling operatives, I met the father of my daughter in that city, a regular Robin Hood, though he didn’t start off that way, he needed money to get by and he stole for that as well.” Shadow Eyes’ voice grew light and loving as she described the stallion, the softness of his mane, the care he gave her even when she nearly killed him after finding out who he really was. “It was a year after him and I were together with no more lies that Princess Luna found me, as did Celestia. I barely managed to break into the shield guarding ESIS’s Manehattan headquarters, even now, there is no way I can take the princesses in a fair fight, and even a fight where I fight dirty is iffy where Luna is concerned. But never Celestia.” she said a look of awe crossed her face as she remembered the moment she finally felt safe. She went on, in explicit detail how her life changed, how she originally wanted to give up her dark magic, all for the leader that had forgiven her for being a murderer, the pain when that same leader asked her to keep using dark magic, and then realization that it was to keep her true to herself. “I was twenty-six at the time, and had recently been named Court Magician. I was given the most powerful position given to a pony short of the princesses, and yet I didn’t know what to do with it. Years later, when I was twenty-nine, I was sent to a village that was attempting to pass a law to have all not schooled foals work in factories, it was there that… In a event that must have been predestined, I met my son, though I didn’t know it at the time, I fell into a parental love for him all the same and decided to protect him from all that would seek to harm him. I stole him away from the village and smuggled him to Canterlot, where I lived and introduced him to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, and they drew up adoption papers after hearing his story and I adopted my own foal, a foal I still didn’t realize was mine by blood.” said Shadow Eyes before she bit her lip and started to talk about the tenseness of Canterlot in the days leading up to the Changeling War. “It was during this time I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, but the missions I was sent on were so crucial I couldn’t trust them to others, and I continued to use the dark magic I was so skilled at to end threats, gain alliances, and then one day, my water broke and I couldn’t leave my home for months at which point the first open attack by the Changelings happened, my lover stayed with me as long as he could, but one day while he was on a mission for ESIS, Changelings attacked my family” she snapped a look of rage crossed her visage. “Attacking me I can accept, but attacking my family? I had to defend my family, my son, bless his heart was standing protectively over my daughter wielding that wooden sword dad had given him, I had been sleeping in the next room when they broke in, he got to her first, I was never so scared.” she continued to relay what happened in her life until John stood up and went to the bar pouring a glass with scotch, the peat smell filling the air as Shadow Eyes scrunched up her nose as she picked up smell. The President walked back and handed her the glass that she took in her telekinetic magic, looking at in confused.

“Not many I know go through what you have, and not need a stiff drink when they recount the time their son and daughter were in danger, heavens knows I would if, God forbid, something happened to my son” said John and Shadow Eyes nodded her thanks and drank the scotch as she would cider before hacking and coughing a storm.

“Oh my! Are you alright?” asked Jacqueline as she got up and rushed over to the mare. And knelt in front of her putting a hand on her withers and another on her own knee to keep her balance Shadow Eyes just glared and attempted to calm her breathing and after a few failed attempts she managed to do so.

“You aren’t kidding about it being a stiff drink, the cider I am used to is nothing compared to this,” said Shadow Eyes...

Darkness Chapter Three: Proving Good Will

“She is a liar, at least to herself” said Golden Amethyst as she drank the milk given to her by her request.

“Is the president safe with her?” asked the man and Golden laughed.

“Safe? Nopony is safe on this world, but he is perhaps the safest on this Luna-forsaken planet with her around” Golden was honest now that she had a moment to collect her wits. “Thank you for letting me stay with you” she added with gratitude before she swirled her drink, looking sullen. “When her gaze is on you, one of three things happen, you are protected, you flee, or you die. She chose to protect him, it takes a lot to make her change her decision”

“But she got hurt in the process”

“Pain is nothing new to her, she is a fighter, a soldier, a mother…” said Golden wistfully as she got to the mother part, something she would never have; even if she got together with her love.

“Are you alright?” asked the woman and Golden smiled sadly and shook her head. She got off the chair at the table and placed the glass down.

“I will be”

Golden Amethyst bit her lip as the couple asked again why she was hiding from someone she seemed to admire and after a bit she let out a choking laugh.

“I don’t admire her, who can admire a mare that lies to herself, and fights for a government that sees those like her locked up, or killed. I am scared that she will find me and force me to find a way back home and return with her instead of letting me live my life here in peace.” said the mare as she walked to the back window of the house and looked out it, putting her hooves on the counter in front of the sink, when their daughter first saw her, she had squealed, now the little girl was outside playing with dolls, waving when she saw the pony looking out the window. “I have a vested interest in your family, my… destiny, let’s call it, is tied to your family’s” said the mare as she watched the girl play outside a smile on her face.

“What do you mean?” asked the man and Golden turned to him lowering herself to the ground.

“I…” she started before a sad smile crossed her face, “What do you know of magic, Mr. Hooley?” she asked lightly changing the subject. The woman tensed…

“Tim…” she said quietly and Golden’s gaze flickered over to the woman…

“I know that those that practice magic, are sinners, in the eyes of God.” said Tim and Golden Amethyst chuckled before picking up the a glass from the drying rack with her magic and levitating it around.

“Does that make me, something that in your culture is a pure being, a sinner, Mr. Hooley?” she asked and Tim clenched his jaw as he tried to think of an answer. “The unicorn that saved your president, and myself, are magical, what we use is called magic, it is as natural to us as walking. All ponies in Equestria have some form of magic, Earth Ponies having stronger ties to the earth have an easier time raising farms, or finding gems, or other precious materials. Pegasi have stronger ties to the sky, and control the weather, the princesses raise the sun and moon, or have strong ties to other forces within our world, Princess Cadence has strong ties to the power of love, where as Princess Twilight is the Princess of Friendship.” said Golden as she made her way to the doorway of the kitchen. “Magic, by itself is of no danger to anyone, this world has magic, and it is natural, you cannot tell me that something that is so natural is vile to some deity.” said the mare as she continued onto the living room. When she got there she collapsed and started to whisper to herself. “Why did he say something like that?… Why? If it weren’t for magic their president would be dead… Yes, But why?… Alright, but what am I supposed to do? I am not putting their foal in danger… Obviously… I don’t know! If I knew that I wouldn’t be asking you, love. We need to figure out how to get your grandfather to trust me, and magic. That way I can be around when your mother finds your father and I can gently nudge her in the right direction…” Golden snorted as she looked around and focused her magic in an aura around her and slowly everywhere around her became clearer as she practiced seeing with her magic. “I would never hurt a foal, anyone that spends a moment with me knows this” she murmured as she walked over with her eyes closed stumbling every few steps as she was not used to seeing in all directions…

“Because he was raised Catholic, and most Catholics see magic as a bad thing… If it weren’t for you, he would still have died… Because if neither of you were there, he wouldn’t have been saved, but you need to convince my grandfather that magic is a good thing, maybe saving my mother… Of course not! That would risk me not being born!… Then what do you suppose we do then?… We’ll have to think on it, be careful, telling my grandfather you are magical was a dangerous move, he might kick you out unless you can convince him you are not going to hurt my mom…” the human sighed, “You know that, I know that, but my grandfather doesn’t, just be careful…”

That night there was a sound of broken glass, and Golden jumped out of the bed she had been given and with a flare of magic used her magic to see the whole house and she saw a human climbing in through the kitchen window and she snarled.

‘No pony is going to hurt this family’ she thought as she carefully walked out the door of her room and she nearly ran into Tim who was focused on finding out what the noise was.

“Did you break something?” he asked the mare and Golden shook her head frowning.

“There is someone in the house, in the kitchen” she said and he gave her a nod.

“Go back to bed I’ll deal with it” Golden wanted to argue, but assumed that would make things worse she slunk back into the guest room and channeled her magic. The image, while clearer than normal sight up close, was no where near the level of clarity that Shadow Eyes had with her sight, but even so, she watched as the two men struggle until there was a bang and she jumped as she saw Tim fall over and the man who broke in start to grab more stuff. With a snarl she teleported into the kitchen and with a flick of her horn the man was slammed against the wall and she went wide eyed as she suddenly saw the man had a gun. “So you came with the intent to kill to keep your spoils, creatures like you are rotten to the core, die!” she said as she ripped the gun out of the human’s hand and turned it on him and fired once in the chest before throwing the gun out the window. She quickly made her way over to Tim and bit her lip, theoretically she would be able to heal this, on a pony, but… “Okay, I’ll try, for you…” she channeled magic through her horn and extracted the bullet, as well as slowly knitted flesh and bone together, careful not to weave the separate organs together, or to the bones. She as soon as she was done, Tim gasped in pain as she sent a jolt through him.

“Heal him, please love…”

“I-is this heaven?” he asked looking at the ceiling and she chuckled.

“No, and your wife would have been very sad if you had died”

“You saved me, why? What do you want?” he asked leery after learning of her magic and worried she was going to force him to serve her like some evil witch.

“My fate is tied to this family, I can’t have you die, otherwise where would I go?” asked Golden Amethyst as she helped him sit up the and he caught sight of the would be robber.

“What did you do to him?”

“I killed him, I had to protect all of you, and if he was willing to kill you, who’s to say he wouldn’t have tried to kill your whole family!” as she said this, the wife walked in and screamed seeing the dead body.

“Lilian! Lilian, calm down, everything will be alright, thanks to Golden Amethyst… Quiet down woman! Do you want to wake Cristal!?” he shouted at the end and Lilian shut up at that and gave a choking sob.

“I heard the gunshots, I was so scared…” said Lilian as Tim hugged her trying to comfort her.

“Ms. Amethyst, how did you kill him? Because I need to explain something to the police, and if you really don’t want to be found, I need to think of something fast” said Tim and Golden looked at him thinking and she explained that she shot the man with his own gun. “Where is the gun now? I need to at least have my fingerprints on the gun so that they assume I killed him in self defense” Golden pointed out the window and he walked out letting go of Lilian and picked up the gun bringing it in before dropping the clip on the floor of the kitchen making Lilian flinch and he emptied the chamber before pointing the gun at the ground and pulled the trigger. There was a click but he had done what he intended to do and dropped the empty gun on the floor. “You need to find someplace to hide, I need to call the police and tell them of the break-in so that they won’t arrest me for murder, or find you while we are unawares” he said and Golden nodded before making her way to the guest room and gathering some blankets. Returning with the items in her magic she turned to Tim.

“Mr. Hooley, where should I hide? Unless you know of a place I don’t know what to do” she asked and Tim thought about it for a minute.

“Come with me, I have an idea, Lilian call the police tell them we had a break in and we killed the thief, and tell them that I went to check on the shop to make sure it wasn’t broken into as well” following Tim to the car she climbed in and he started driving down to the store he owned and locked her in the store, it was a general store with little bit of this and that all around it. “Just stay here until I come to get you in a little while, it might be a day at most before I can get you, but there is some food in the back of the store, and there is running water in the bathroom, you may have to sleep in the back room though”

“Don’t worry about me, will everything be alright?”

“Don’t worry, just be careful, stay away from the front of the store during the day, I don’t want the cops called here and have our ruse unraveled because we weren’t careful.”

Light Chapter Four: The Free Press/Horses (RAW)

Light Chapter Four: The Free Press/Horses

“Well Normally one does not sip scotch, drink it, yes, but not sip it” said John and Shadow Eyes gave a choking laugh as her ears popped as the plane began its descent.

“Fall with me and you’ll see. A world of Glory and might.” she whispered to herself.

“Excuse me?”

“Nothing, just a bit of a sonnet that the pegasi used to play, ‘Fall with me, and you’ll see. A world of Glory and might. Never fear, for I am here. Your sword amongst this frigid flight.’ It’s supposed to be a romantic yet tragic song about a high ranking pegasi soldier and an unicorn stallion who dreamed of flying with the pegasi, there were twelve verses I think, written back before Equestria was founded,” said Shadow Eyes as she sat there thinking, “I always found it to be romantic, a pegasus falling for a unicorn, or any ground walker for that matter, was almost unheard of in those days. Well the pegasi that the song was talking about fell inlove with a unicorn noble, and he with her,” with a smile her her lips she recalled what she read of the story “whenever she was stationed near him, she would sneak off when she was off-duty, and frolic with him while the other pegasi waged war. But his wife found out, and she threatened to have him killed if the pegasus mare so much as glide over the estate.” Shadow Eyes then frowned as the plane bounced in the air on it’s way to land at Baltimore international “It is here that history and the song differ, the song says that he learned how to use gossamer and morning dew to form wings and he flew out to meet her over a field where they would spend days just being together.” said Shadow Eyes a ghost of a smile on her lips. “Again the wife found out and tried to kill the husband for being unfaithful to her, although it had been an arranged marriage, when the pegasus pushed her lover out of the way of a blast of magic, the blast shattered her wings.” she gripped the armrest as the plane bounced on the tarmac as it landed. “Her armor saved her, but when she pushed him out of the way, she caused the wings he had made to fall apart and he fell to his death. Feeling vindicated the jilted wife returned to the estate, and soon found out why the pegasi soldier was able to sneak out as often as she did when a battalion of pegasi razed the estate to the ground, the pegasus that loved the noble? She was carrying his foals and gave birth to two healthy pegasus fillies and, because of her being earthbound, a healthy unicorn colt.” as she told the story, a secret service agent made his way to the president and whispered something in his ear.

“Thank you for the story, Shadow Eyes, I should warn you though, there are cameramen and reporters waiting to interview you, and myself in regards to the last few attempts on my life. We aren’t likely to get to the car without one of them getting a photograph of us, and if we don’t want them making up their own stories-”

“I get it, we should talk to them if only to allay their fears that I am somehow controlling their leader” said Shadow Eyes as she stood up from the chair, the plane having stopped and was being wheeled to the hangar where a podium was being set up in front of a bunch of reporters that were waiting to talk to the president and though the reporters didn’t know, the one that saved him.

“Mr. President! Mr. President! How does it feel to be saved by a mythical creature?”

“Is it true you believe that this animal can talk?”

“What are your thoughts on the war going on in Vietnam?” the reporters were all talking over one another and Shadow Eyes was getting annoyed, particularly at being called ‘this animal’

“I don’t know, why don’t you ask her yourself” she shouted over the shouting reporters and they all fell quiet in shock. “Now if you don’t mind, one at a time, I am sure your president can answer all of your questions if you just give him the chance to do so” she said calmly though one could tell she was still ready to scream, if they knew her well enough.

“Mr. President, why are you in the presence of a demon from Hell?” asked a reporter and Shadow Eyes snorted.

“Shadow Eyes, is no demon” said John

“Then how come she can talk? No creature other than man can talk unless a demon is using it”

“First off, that is not correct, Saul’s donkey in the new testament talked because God gave him the ability to do so. Also she is not from this Earth” as soon as he said that there was an explosion of questions.

“Where are you from Ms. Eyes?” asked a reporter

“Is this proof that there is life on Mars?”

“One at a time!” shouted Shadow Eyes and the questions started to die down. “I am from the principality of Equestria, on the planet of Equis. I am the Court Magician, under Princess Celestia” said Shadow Eyes into the microphone before giving a flourished bow. “I don’t know of what this Mars is, I just appeared here through a dark portal.”

“A dark portal? As in a portal from Hell?” asked a reporter.

“No a portal made of Dark Magic, ‘Cast me when all hope is lost, and I will save you from your fate, but be forewarned, where I take you is far worse’” said Shadow Eyes quoting the spell’s text. “A place where magic is scorned and my species is considered lore… Which implies that there have been others that have been here” said the mare.

“Are you attempting to control our species?”

“Why would I? Better question, how can I? Mind Control magic is prohibitively difficult, and from what your president said if I wanted to do so, I would have to take control of several members of your government. No I just want to find the mare responsible for bringing me here and force her to take me home, bar that, I will do all I can to help better your society.” said Shadow Eyes and there was an other explosion of questions.

“Quiet down, yes, what is your question?” asked John.

“Do you intend to follow some alien when your job is to lead the American people?”

“Now see here-!”

“This, what was the word? Alien? As you call her saved my life and has not asked anything in return, if we ask her for advice on difficult problems, we would be more indebted to her then we already are, however, she has already offered such services. Her people have none of the problems we have, no segregation because of race, no pay difference for someone based on the color of their skin.”

“There is many things I can teach you all, but I am not a politician, I say things like it is, and some of the ways you do things…” she shook her head…

“I hate your press” said Shadow Eyes as she sat in the limo, she had convinced the Secret Service to allow her to crack the window just a bit, breaking the seal that prevented her from seeing outside of the vehicle. Jacqueline laughed a bit and John smiled softly. “What? No reporter in their right mind would have attacked the Princesses like that”

“We have what is known as Freedom of the Press and Free Speech written in our constitution, and we have a media that helps the citizens keep an eye on the politicians.” said John and Shadow Eyes scoffed before sighing.

“Just watch that that, ‘Watchdog media’ does become an enabler hiding the truth from your people, and attacking others that show the truth”

“I take it that has happened?”

“Not in Equestria, but in the Diamond Dog’s nation of Caninda they had similar setup, and their, what did they call it? Mainstream Media? Well, they began to hide the faults of certain politicians, and defaming anyone that spoke out against them. They falsified facts to support their claims, and the undereducated and/or trusting common citizens believed them, the ones that were educated, and/or untrusting, got their news sources from alternative sources that still held true to the principles of Watchdog Media, but they were again defamed by the Mainstream Media.” said Shadow Eyes as a warning and John looked at his wife in worry, surely that wouldn’t happen in the United States. “Tell me something about your history” said the mare as she focused out the window, and around the car.

“There is a lot to tell, and not a lot of time to cover it. Perhaps we can talk about getting you citizenship while you are here in the United States” Shadow Eyes froze as it crossed her mind, becoming a citizen to the country she was stuck in, probably for the rest of her life…

“I… Would I even be able to do so? Would I be correct in assuming that you only have humans as an intelligent species on your planet? If so you wouldn’t even have any laws pertaining to unicorns, or pegasi, or even earth ponies” said Shadow Eyes.

“Earth ponies?”

“Ponies that are neither unicorns or pegasi, the ponies of my…” she trailed off as she caught sight of a police officer on top of a horse…

“Are you alright, Shadow Eyes?”

“I didn’t realize you had your own equines, I figured that you had some Equestrians show up here and that is why you knew I was a unicorn… Tell me, how do you get the equines to let you ride them?” John and Jacqueline shifted uncomfortably. “What?”

“Horses aren’t… They aren’t sentient” said John and Shadow Eyes turned to face him and regarded him for a bit.

“You can’t mean that” she said and John nodded and she was quiet for the rest of the ride…

Darkness Chapter Four: The Truth Revealed

It had been a couple days since she started hiding in the store, she had been brought food while Tim Hooley made a show of cleaning the shop over the last two days. Still, Golden Amethyst hid as the door to the store opened…

“It’s just me, Golden” said Tim and Golden peeked out of the back room and saw he was alone.

“Sorry, I am just scared that I’ll get discovered” she said and Tim gave a sad look and Cristal ran in and hugged her causing the unicorn to plop down on her rear and wrap her forehooves around the girl.

“I would never let something happen to the one that saved my family”

“Thank you for saving my daddy” said Cristal and Golden gave a pained look.

“I couldn’t let him get hurt” said the mare and Cristal kissed her on the cheek and Golden scuffed the floor nervously.

“Cristal, go wait in the car” said Tim Cristal looked at her dad for a moment before heading out of the store.

“You said your fate is tied to our family, I want to know what you meant by that, you saved my life and for that I am grateful but I don’t want danger to come out of the blue like that again, though I know the home invasion wasn’t your fault, I want to be prepare for whatever magical threats might come for my family.”

“You really don't want to know. Because knowing will make it that much harder.” said the mare and Tum frowned.

“All the same, I still want to know”

“If I tell you, you can't tell anyone else… It's too dangerous to be common knowledge.”

“Just tell me”

“I’m in love with your grandson, and he with me, I came to this world attempting to meet up with him, but the spell went awry, this President Kennedy was supposed to die, and everything was supposed to go right. However…”

“How can you be in love with someone not even born yet?” said Tim trying to keep it together as not to upset the pony that saved his life.

“You can call me crazy, but I hear him, go on ask me something only you and your wife would know”

“What are you doing?… God… Alright…”

“You probably would just read my mind”

“It isn’t possible to read minds with magic, there is a creature that can read emotion, but that is as close as you get on Equis” said Golden Amethyst as she looked at Tim studying him.

“What did I tell my wife when I first met her?”

“What did you tell your wife when you first met her?…”

“Yes” said Tim frowning not understanding why she repeated what he said.

“I’ll ask, give me a moment…” said the human and he called his grandfather. “Hey grandpa, what was it you told grandma when you first met her?… Well I was curious… Okay, thanks!” he hung up not that Golden Amethyst heard the hanging up of the phone…

“You were at a diner and she was sitting alone being bothered by some soldiers being sent to Korea and you outranked them. You walked up to them and sent them on their way, and she invited you to sit with her to keep others from bothering her, and the first words you told her was that you were sorry for the behavior of the soldiers that had been bothering her” Tim was quiet and he clenched his jaws before he sighed heavily, hanging his head.

“You are right… That doesn’t mean I happy that my grandson is going to partake in beastiality”

“Is it really beastiality? I can give consent, and I can honestly pursue him, or not, of my own accord” said the mare and Tim sighed.

“Am I correct in assuming that you will keep yourself to yourself while he is a child?” Golden gave a sputter at hidden accusation.

“I would never sleep with a foal, nor would I do anything that was unwanted, I promise” she said and Tim sighed another sigh before looking out the door, where night had long since fallen,

“The police said they had all that they needed from us and I believe it is safe for you to return to the house, but neighbors are talking, they believe there is more to our home than that of any good christian home” said Tim and Golden bit her lip.

“Do you want me to leave?”

“No, I would be a bad host if I did that, especially after you saved my life”

“Then what do you suppose we do?” asked Golden Amethyst and Tim just shook his head.

“I don’t know!” he said exasperated. “If you hadn’t saved me that night would have been your last night staying with us, because I believed magic was not used for anything good. Always used to cheat God, and God Fearing men of their rightful place in heaven, but after nearly dying… I don’t know, I thought I was ready to die at any time but…”

“Perspective is always important” said the mare and Tim nodded as he ushered her to the car.

“Thank you for saving my husband” said Lilian as Golden Amethyst entered the house in the dead of night, Cristal asleep in Tim’s arms.

“I did nothing special, anypony would have done the same”

“But you aren’t just anypony, you are the one that saved him. Thank you” said Lilian and Golden’s eyes misted up and she reared up on her hind legs and hugged the woman.

“Thank you, I have worked in the castle in Canterlot cleaning and scrubbing, I have healed the wounds of the soldiers that came back from the Changeling War, and I have never been thanked so genuinely. Thank you” she cried into the woman’s shoulder until she heard Tim clear his throat and she chuckled embarrassed as she and the woman walked into the house…

Light Chapter Five: The Interview

It was a few days of staying in the White House’s guest room when Shadow Eyes walked, with an escort, to what the Americans called the Oval Office, and for good reason.

“Am I actually going to get to see him? I doubt he makes time to meet every caller, nor would that be feasible when there is a threat to his life” rambled the mare and the Secret Service agents just walked quietly…

“Shadow Eyes, it is good to see you. I’m sorry that I have pushed you to the side since we got here, but the French Ambassador was adamant about getting to see me” said John and the French ambassador looked at her with curiosity.

“Bonjour, ambassadeur, comment allez-vous cette belle journée?” ‘Hello, ambassador, how are you this fine day?’ said Shadow Eyes in perfect French, or Prench as it was in her world. The French ambassador responded enthusiastically surprised to hear the unicorn that, from the interview at the hangar that was televised, spoke perfect English, also knew his language.

“What do I owe this visit?” asked John after waiting politely for a little bit for the duo to have a conversation in French that he only caught parts of, when Shadow Eyes responded in English voicing her disapproval, things about the war in Vietnam.

“You said I would not want for anything, but there is one thing I need, a house, even if I were to become a citizen, I will not allow myself to be homeless” John nodded before sighing deeply, and asking the French diplomat to leave.

“There is a situation I need to deal with before I can demand a home for you.”

“The attempts on your life” she said with certainty and John nodded.

“Among other things, my Vice President is pushing for some form of aid to be given to the South Vietnamese…” said John and Shadow Eyes gave a confused look and John shook his head. “A war that’s been going on for over a hundred years, one of my predecessors made it a policy to fight communism, a form of government, the theory is that all people are equal and that no man should have more than another. The practical application thereof has continuously fallen short of this and has threatened the basic human rights of everyone that was not rich in those countries. Well North Vietnam is Communist, and has been attacking South Vietnam, which is a republic, in the loosest sense of the word, hence why I am hesitant to lend military aid.”

Shadow Eyes sat in front of a camera again, answering questions about her world, a polite smile on her face.

“So you are from a Monarchy?” asked Walter Cronkite the news anchor for CBS Evening News.

“Not really, with three princesses, all having equal power, albeit having more in certain areas, it is more of a Triarchy” said Shadow Eyes politely, as she grabbed a pitcher of water and glass—she specifically asked for if they were going to interview her—in her magic the green aura enveloping the two items and she poured the drink and took it close to herself and sipped it.

“Are you getting this?” asked Walter surprised and Shadow Eyes chuckled. “I know those of you at home can not see this, but the pitcher and glass were covered by this green aura and on its own it lifted and poured our guest a glass of water”

“I’d ask if this was the first time you have seen magic in person but in some regards it is” said the mare with a polite little smile before motioning that they should move on, Walter cleared his throat and straighten his tie.

“How did you get here?” he asked her and Shadow Eyes frowned and swirled the glass a bit before answering.

“A dark spell, designed to save it’s caster from death, but in exchange it traps them on another world, with no manner of return”

“You speak as if traveling to other worlds isn’t something out of the ordinary” prompted the anchor.

“For the average citizen it is out of the ordinary, in fact the only non-royals that I know of that ever traveled to other worlds are Council of Friendship, and even then it was through the magical mirror and they had a way home”

“So there are things your princesses keep from you? That doesn’t sound like total benevolence”

“Do not mistake a parental nature for tyranny. Princess Celestia has attempted to keep us safe, all while encouraging our own growth, her sister, Princess Luna would rather the crown had more of a hand in the development of the country. It was only Princess Twilight that helped tip the balance in favor of allowing ponies to develop at their own pace.”

“You sound like you admire this Princess Celestia”

“If you ever met her, I have no doubt you would admire her yourself, a being over millennia of years old, and a mother to all her subjects. Willing to forgive ponies of horrendous things, but still punishes them”

“I was told you used to be a criminal on your world, can you tell me about that?” Shadow Eyes regarded him for a second.

“I was, am, a what loosely translates to Dark Mage, however, I am one of a few magic users who have delved into the dark arts and not become corrupted by the very nature of the magic I use” she said finally just as the silence started to become uncomfortable.

“You said earlier that it was a dark spell that brought you here, did you cast it?”

“Not in a million years, I have foals back home, I was on my way home when I encountered another Tenebrosus—sorry, Tenebrous Magus, she was casting the spell out of the blue and when I called out to her she must have been spooked or something because she had to have increased the magic she was using and I got pulled in too”

“You are a mother? But from what you have described you are one of the most worked citizens in your country!”

“I still make time for my family, Princess Celestia, who is literally my employer, may give me jobs and Royal Guards that are at my disposal, but she also lets me take my time on those jobs” said Shadow Eyes as she took another sip from the glass of water in her magical grasp.

“Do you miss your… foals was it? And do you think that they are alright with you being stuck here?” Shadow Eyes took a deep breath and sighed.

“I miss them wholeheartedly, and they should be fine, Bilgewater was almost twenty by the time I left and Meteor Shower… Well I trust Bilgewater with taking care of his sister”

“Many would ask, how even with you saying you made time for family, how you could have been a good parent”

“And many would have asked how a Tenebrosus Magus could have the love necessary to raise a foal” countered Shadow Eyes and Walter looked at her confused before shaking his head.

“Moving on, we can see you are a unicorn, but are all the citizens of your home unicorns?”

“No. There are unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies.”

“Earth ponies?”

“Ponies that are neither unicorn or pegasus, they also have a unique bound with the earth, and can grow better than most, and have been at the forefront of our inventive force”

“What is your military like?”

“It is… Our military is primarily split up into three forces, the Royal Guard, the Wonderbolts, and the Royal Navy, within those, there is a further divide between the three princesses, although to fight one is to fight the other two, the divide allows all of our forces to have different jobs without a princess stepping on another’s hooves”

“And where would you be? You said that your employer was Princess Celestia, surely you weren’t expected to fight?”

“I was a soldier, a diplomat, an assassin, scholar, a sword, a shield, a quill, anything Princess Celestia needed, I fought in the Changeling war like any good citizen of Equestria”

“So you were a bad citizen if you were against that war?”

“No, but if you did anything that actively hurt the war effort… Well, I may not agree with Princess Luna on a lot, but I was going to return home to my babies no matter what and I agree when she made it a crime punishable with exile to the badlands”

“So you stifled free speech?”

“Did we? There were still protests, and there were still ponies that refused to fight, there were still those that passively hurt the war effort by refusing to aid us. But those that went out of their way to hurt the war effort, making it impossible to get critical missions complete safely, costing us untold number of lives, both abroad and at home as the Changelings used them to kill our forces. I was also tasked with defending these protest rallies by Princess Celestia, and arrested those that harmed the rally, I arrested two five star generals that attempted to silence the protests and I have arrested protesters that have attacked military installations.”

“I do hope you know you will not have that authority here”

“As long as I am treated with the respect you owe to a fellow human being, I don’t care.”

Light Chapter Six: A Friend Willing to Pay The Price of Freedom (RAW)

Light Chapter Six: A Friend Willing to Pay The Price of Freedom

Two weeks prior:

“My fellow Americans, we stand here a bastion of freedom in a world being encroached by Communism, we stand here on the brink of war. The Republic of Vietnam has called for our aid, as have our allies the French, and in accordance with the powers given to me by you the people, I have decided, with a heavy heart, that we must commit troops to support the Vietnamese. A general draft will be issued for all men born between the years of 1944 and 1950. At the behest of my wife and of the unicorn that saved my life, if you refuse to fight you must prove you will support our troops going to aid the South Vietnamese. Even if you do not support the decision of mine to commit troops, I beg of you, please support our troops they do not get a choice on where they are sent to fight.” said John Fitzgerald Kennedy as he practiced the speech.

“You really don't need to mention me, let alone mention the fact I saved you on an Address The Nation, it makes it look like I am using that to influence the course of your nation” said Shadow Eyes and John’s eyes flicked over to her and nodded before sighing heavily, “What's wrong? Do I need to get your wife? Or Marilyn Monroe?” asked Shadow Eyes making John nearly sputter and faceplant into the desk.

“Can you be any less discreet? My wife may know, but-”

“You really think your citizens don't know that you have been sleeping with a big movie star? I would be surprised if they didn't, besides you aren't the first leader to have indiscretions, especially with your wife knowing. If I am not mistaken as long as you keep it out of the oval office, no one will care”

“Why are you here?”

“You asked me to help you with your speech”

“Exactly, not my love life” Shadow Eyes smiled at that.

“I’m glad” she said quietly and John narrowed his eyes.

“Excuse me?”

“I’m glad we can banter like this even when you are so stressed, it shows a certain strength of character to keep your work life and personal life separate” she clarified and John was quiet looking at her curiously. “What?” she asked nervously shifting in place.

“What goes through that mind of yours? Just last week you were drinking, partying as if tomorrow would never come, flirting with many bar patrons. And then last you seemed to be drinking to forget some trouble or some event that haunts you” Shadow Eyes swallowed hard turning her face away. “Tell me, is everything alright?”

“Need you really ask… it was Meteor’s eighteenth birthday…” said Shadow Eyes as the President continued to stare her before shaking his head, standing up, and heading to the bottle of scotch on the small table to the side as Shadow Eyes watched him with her magic. With a pop the stopper was pulled from the bottle and he poured her and himself a glass.

“Then let’s drink to your daughter, and her eighteenth birthday” said John as he handed her one of the glasses and she swirled it around. “To your family, wherever they might be, I wish them long and happy lives” he said toasting her and Shadow Eyes gave a weak toast her mind elsewhere, more specifically, it was in Equestria, thinking about her lover and her foals. After drinking the scotch, and hacking a bit as she was still not used to the strong kick of it, she sighed and turned towards the president. “Now let’s get off the subject of things we-”

“I want to start going through the process of becoming a citizen… We’ve searched for years for that pony, with no luck, and now I want to do my part for this war you are about to send your troops on” said Shadow Eyes and John studied her for a good thirty seconds and just as the silence started to get uncomfortable JFK nodded.

“I will have the necessary materials sent to your room, I already have the support of Congress and the Senate in regards to this, I knew that if you decided to become a citizen the Constitution would need to be amended, and they seem receptive to having a pony like yourself a part of our nation, though I would be careful outside of our nation if you decide to do traveling, the USSR didn’t take kindly to us having first contact and not them, and they will likely try to force an issue between us. Likely saying we are diluting the population” said John and Shadow Eyes looked at him considering what he said.

“So your legislative branch agrees, but what about your judicial branch? I can't see those old stiffs liking the fact you are about to make me a citizen, with all the rights and privileges there of” said the mare and John laughed.

“They were more than happy to take away your diplomatic immunity, with those rights and privileges comes the trappings of citizenship” Shadow Eyes studied him.

“If it is at all possible, I would like to have the books in Braille and before your address, because I want to enlist, consider it my contribution to what very well may be my new home” John Fitzgerald Kennedy was silent for a while.

“While it may not be possible, while you are not technically a woman, even if you are female, you are blind… are you sure you want to do this?” he asked and Shadow Eyes made a face.

“I may be blind, but I can see the details of everything in a two mile radius better than anypony, excuse me, anybody”

“Then why are you asking for braille?”

“That’s…”

“And if that were true, why were you so nervous when the car was driving until you got Secret Service to crack the window?”

“FINE! There are some limits to my sight, I can’t see flat images or writing, and I can’t see into, or out of a sealed container!” Shadow Eyes turned away from the sitting president and John stood up and walked over to the pony and knelt down, putting a hand on her withers.

“I understand that you want to serve, but where magic may be commonplace in your world, science is here, and we have nothing that would equate to your-”

“I know… But I want to help, use me as you would a sword, or a dagger, throw me against your enemies, I owe you that much” said Shadow Eyes and John got a firm look.

“Never, you owe me nothing, all I’ve done was pay you back for what I owe you for saving me, for allowing me to be with my son.” at the mention of his son Shadow Eyes sighed heavily.

“You could have been the most despised person on this planet, and as long as you have a child that loves you, I would have saved you” said Shadow Eyes as she turned to face the ceiling.

“And yet you are talking about going out and killing men who most likely have children and wives that love them. Do you see the irony in that?”

“You don’t understand, if I have to fight to help my home, then I will do so. The death of an enemy doesn’t bother me anymore, killing doesn’t bother me at all, not since… Anyway, You need to work on that speech of yours, the Republic of Vietnam won’t stand on its own for too much longer” said Shadow Eyes as she got up and walked to the door of the Oval Office, “Go on, you need the support of your people, even if it is to support the troops being deployed” with that she left the room and JFK gave a pained look as he realized he just hurt a friend, the pained look disappeared just as fast as it appeared as he stood up and went back to his speech…

Darkness Chapter Six: Fraught With Strife (RAW)

Darkness Chapter Six: Fraught With Strife

“So war…” said Golden Amethyst and Tim nodded as he started to head out to the car, he was going to do something about this, “Well Shadow Eyes said something rather intelligent when we entered the Changeling War… ‘Support your troops, they have no choice’ They really don’t” said Golden and Tim stopped his hand on the knob.

“Is war the only option? We really shouldn’t police the world” said Tim from the door and Golden looked at him.

“Many ponies said the same when we entered the Changeling War, but the truth was, we started that war, we were just finally committing troops, when your presidents decided to fight Communism wherever it shows itself, they started this war, now you are just committing troops, it’s time you as a people realize that war is not the end of things, there will always be survivors” said the mare and Tim clenched the knob tightly teetering between calling for a town council meeting, that will undoubtedly be called regardless—having his objections heard—and just returning to the chair in the Television room. “I have a feeling you are thinking about something” said Golden not looking towards the man and Tim turned towards the pony in shock although he couldn’t see her through the wall leading to the room. “Why don’t you tell me what it is?” she asked and Tim swallowed as he returned to the room, Lilian had returned having left the room to get something stronger than juice for the three of them.

“I have no doubt there will be a town meeting in a fortnight to discuss this sudden declaration of war, without the congress’s approval-”

“One thing I learned about politicians be they princess or king, if it is war they seek, they will say it, this isn’t a war, per-say, it is at best a conflict. I have a feeling that if he meant it to be called a war, he would have said that you were going to war” said Golden interrupting and Tim sighed before looking at her silently asking her if she were finished.

“It doesn’t help that there will be children who will grow up with conflict going on, and with a draft, depending on how long this war goes, they might find themselves joining a battle that is not of their own making” said Tim and Golden giggled as she materialized a pen and paper and started to write. “What’re you writing?” He asked and Golden looked up to regard him before sighing.

“This nation of yours is going to need those that support it until this conflict is over, and Shadow Eyes… She may be ignorant of the princesses’ actions, she remains one of the most powerful unicorns I know, both in diplomacy and in combat. She may be lying to herself, calling herself Tenebrosus Magus, but she certainly is not without a certain bag of tricks…”

“What does that have to—you are writing her a letter, aren't you?” said Tim and Golden nodded.

“She won't have a return address so that should make it harder for her to find me, but just to be safe, can you mail it out of state?” Tim looked at her like she was crazy. “While I don't like her, because she is lying to herself, but she is one of the best ponies here to help point out during war, she believes in a pony’s right to protest, but she is also very dangerous on a battlefield, Tartarus help any who are her enemy. Me? I am just of interest because I may be her only option to get home” said the mare as she finished writing it and placing the folded letter in an envelope, licking the adhesive so it would stick and closed it.

“Can you trust her though? After all you said unicorns have magic, so that would mean-”

“If I was sending this through magic she might be able to track it, but by sending it through mundane ways…”

“Golden Amethyst, please remember to clean the living room while we are gone” said Lilian and Golden bowed her head in acknowledgement a smile on her face as she got up from the sewing machine, a bunch of black and white fabrics and white lace.

“I promise the living room will be clean before you get home” said Golden with a small bow and Lilian and Tim looked at her with worry, it had been faint at first, but over the past few days ever since sending that letter, her coat took a more crystalline appearance, and if she was hit hard and sudden, it would not give, just like a crystal, but if she was touched lightly it had the same consistency as fur from before, and though it was likely unrelated she seemed more upbeat more positive, she cleaned the house without a single word of complaint.

“Thank you, also the Melbourne's will be over to visit tonight, and there might be a mess in the sitting room after they leave.” said Tim and Golden Amethyst nodded a content smile on her face.

The mess was nothing compared to some of the messes nobles made while at their private parties in the castle in Canterlot.

“Sorry, you didn't have much fun at the party.” said Lilian, Golden just gave a smile and continued to work on cleaning the sitting room. Lilian moved to help and Golden got in the way.

“Don’t, this is my job, I would be remiss if I allowed you to sully your hands with what is my duty to this family, besides” Golden grinned at the woman, “You should be relaxing, and not drinking alcohol, or smoking for, oh about nine months”

“What are you talking about?” asked Tim and Golden smiled with a mischievous grin.

“Well, Casanova, your wife is pregnant” Tim looked dumbstruck, was this more info from a grandson he had yet to meet? Or something else?

“H-how do you know this?” Tim asked a worried glance at his wife, she had been all but barren since the birth of Cristal…

“Almost all ponies can tell when a loved one is expecting, and I love you three like family” said Golden Amethyst with a loving smile.

“What do you think of this, Miss Amethyst?” asked a city council member in the middle of their meeting and the pony went wide-eyed as she obliged and bit her lip before standing to address the room.

“I don't know what your world is like, not when it comes to war. However…” Golden Amethyst took in the sight of the entire room, they seemed to be waiting for her to finish with baited breath… “however…” she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, she did not like being the center of attention, “I believe that support for the troops, at the very least, is necessary. Even if you have no love for this conflict, the soldiers have no options but to obey, he is not asking anything that violates your Constitution…”

“He is asking us to send our children to die for people we never met!” Shouted Mrs. Tosberry and Golden shrunk back before standing straighter and more confident then before.

“The greatest enemy of good, is not those that aspire to commit evil, but those that sit back and do nothing, I believe one of your greatest scientists said something similar” said Golden Amethyst with a confident grin. Sure she had heard it first from Shadow Eyes, but it was no less true.

“So we must throw ourselves on the fire? What is wrong with taking care of ourselves first and foremost?” countered Mr. Tosberry and Golden Amethyst smiled brilliantly.

“You already threw yourselves into the fire when you took up the battle against Communism, committing troops is just the next logical step. You already are taking care of yourselves first and foremost, from what I know of the USSR, they are trying to change the whole world to be like them, even though they are slowly collapsing into financial ruin. Unequal amounts of wealth or equal amounts of poverty. That is what you are fighting for.” said Golden Amethyst…