Equestria Noir
Side Story
“Irenius”
I never much liked the rain. It always gave Manehatten this rather drear feeling that I couldn’t explain. I was not looking forward to driving home in this downpour so late at night. My mind wondered if I should sue the Pegasus Weather Company for creating such a downpour. Aw well, even if I wanted to it was a fruitless venture to try and sue Pegasi for doing their jobs.
Where are my manners? I’m Irenius Eye, CEO and owner of Irenius Eyewear. I’ve owned this company since I inherited it from my father years ago. The business has done well for itself over the last couple of years and…who am I kidding?
Truth is all the success in the world couldn’t distract me from what I’m missing. It’s not bits or the latest sports carriage that has my heart wanting. It was the fact that just yesterday…I saw my son again.
His name is Preventus Phelps Eye, or as he’s known nowadays simply Private Eye. He’s a private detective who’s done well for Equestria. To think that it’s been ten years since I’ve spoken to him last…he’s twenty four now…so much time has passed.
I turned to my desk and tapped a button that lead to my secretary outside. “Annabelle, cancel all my appointments for this evening”
A rather nasally voice spoke on the other end “Whatever ya say Mr. Eye”
I nodded and sat on my office chair. I kept speaking “In fact…take the evening off. I’ll finish up my work here and turn in later”
“Everything okay Mr. Eye?” Annabelle asked concerned
“No it’s fine, I just want some time for myself…”
Her silence told me she understood not to push the issue further. Annabelle was a new employee but it felt like we’ve been working together for years. She deserved the night off after all the work she’s put into keeping me sane. When I knew she was gone my horn glowed a soft grey.
A nearby drawer opened to reveal a small picture frame. I don’t know how long it’s been in there. I just remember putting it in there when…my other son was born. I reached into the drawer and wiped away some of the dust covering it with a hoof.
The picture showed me in my younger years. My grey coat and dark brown mane was shared by my son, depicted in this picture as being four. But it was the third inhabitant of the picture I was focused on.
Her coat was a sapphire blue, her electric blue mane shone in the sunlight of the picture. Her grey eyes that my son had were looking at the camera as her smile graced her face.
All three of us were happy then…I sat back in my chair and traveled back…
_______________________________________________
30 years ago…
I was walking in one of the alleys of Manehatten. The night air blew in my brown mane; I tried desperately to tame it. I was going to see her tonight…I felt so nervous.
“Come on Irenius” I told myself looking at a puddle at my reflection “You can do this!”
I let out a breath and walked deeper into the alley and looked up at a nearby apartment building. I counted the windows on the building hoping that I hit the right one. I levitated a nearby pebble and threw it with my magic at the window. My ears perked up as I heard the rustle of somepony moving inside the building.
She opened the window and looked down at me with those beautiful grey eyes of hers. “Irenius! What are you doing here?!”
“Sparrowheart…” I said simply gazing at her. Luna I was acting like an idiot!
“Shh!” She looked back inside and then crawled out of her window. “What are you doing here?” She said in a hushed voice
“I came to see you” I said as I started to climb the fire escape leading up to her window.
“Get out of here!” She said her tone rising slightly. Her blue head looked back to check inside “You’ll wake up my parents”
“It’s about time they met me anyway” I said as I finally reached her. I smiled at her and she glared back at me.
“This isn’t something to joke about!” She said her grey eyes glaring at me “If father catches me with a unicorn he will…”
I heard a voice come from inside the building. “Sparrow? Are you alright?”
She stuck her head back inside and spoke in a polite voice “Just getting some air papa, I’ll be back inside soon”
The voice continued “Don’t be too long Sparry; you know how I worry about my daughter running about at night”
“I’ll fly then” She said spreading her wings after giving a small laugh “No nasty stallions can reach me if I’m in the air”
The voice laughed “Alright, just don’t go too far”
“Yes papa” She said as the voice disappeared. She turned back at me her grey eyes trying to show she was mad. “You realize what you almost did!?”
“I almost met your parents?” I said smiling a little
She rolled her eyes “Must you treat everything as a joke Irenius?”
“I don’t treat everything as a joke” I said indignantly
“Well I suggest you take this seriously…” She said as she stepped off of the fire escape. I ran to the edge and saw her hovering smoothly to the ground below.
I followed down and landed on the ground a little less smooth then she did. I dusted myself off and smiled at her “I missed you…”
She looked at me…fury was giving away to…longing? She shook her head and stepped back “Irenius…I can’t see you”
I looked at her, my blue eyes betraying my hurt “But why?”
“You know why!” She said…were those tears in her eyes? “If father or any of my relatives knew…”
I shook my head and returned her look “Sparrow you know I’m not one of them! I’m not one of those unicorns that give that horse shit about keeping the families pure! I don’t want anypony else…”
“You forget that you’re not one of us…” She said shaking her head “and I am not one of you…”
“But to me you’re all I could possibly-“
“Sparry?” I heard the voice talk again. I pressed myself to a nearby wall out of sight.
“Just me talking to myself papa!” Sparrow said tilting her muzzle up to talk to her father. “Working on…lines for the play!”
“Sure Sparry, I’ll leave you to it” The voice said as I heard rustling of somepony walking away.
I looked at Sparrowheart with a raised eyebrow “Sparry?”
She smiled a little “His pet name for me…”
I laughed a little “I like it” She flushed a little in embarrassment “And he’ll like me to!”
She frowned and shook her head “No…he is like the others…afraid” She then laughed that lovely laugh of hers.
“Imagine being afraid of somepony as harmless as you”
“You see? We can make this work…” I said hopefully
She sat on her rump and looked at me with those wonderful grey eyes of hers. Celestia they were beautiful…”I…I just…”
“What is this really about?” I said sternly “This isn’t about just me being a unicorn is it?”
She shook her head “I never could lie to you…”
“Then what is it?”
“I’m just worried you will get hurt…”
“I’ll be fine Sparrow!” I said pleadingly “I won’t be fine if you cast me aside like this!”
“Why are you so insistent on me?!” Sparrow retorted tears in her eyes “If you and I become an item I’ll only be a burden to you! Why are you pursuing me like this?!”
I ran to her, pressed her against the wall of the alley and planted my lips on hers. She struggled at first but then gave in as the kissing became deeper. I closed my blue eyes as I ran a hoof through her electric blue mane. I took in her scent…she smelled of lilacs…
When I finally stopped kissing her I simply gazed at her blushing face. “I pursue you…because I love you…”
Her grey eyes met mine…then she slowly pressed her muzzle to my neck “I love you Irenius…I can’t hold it back anymore…”
I gently took her in my front hooves and stroked her back with a hoof. She lowered her muzzle so I could rest my head on top of hers. I went to her ear and whispered “I love you Sparrow…and I will always…”
“Even if I am a burden to you…?” She said her voice muffled against my grey chest.
“Your father and brothers could all come and beat the living crap out of me…I’d just pick myself up, dust off and say ‘ready for round 2?”
She laughed into my chest and looked up at me “You always knew how to cheer me up…”
I smiled at her “I want you to be happy Sparrow…”
“That’s good” She smiled wide and moved closer to my face “Because I’m happiest when I’m with you…”
My face turned scarlet as her hoof reached up and pulled me into a kiss. She was returning the love I held so dearly for her…I was the happiest Stallion in the world…
_______________________________________________________
Present…
That love bore fruit. Against the wishes of my father I married Sparrow two years later. We were unlike other noble couples; we spent every moment we could together and rarely grew tired of each other. Those years of early marriage were some of the happiest of my life.
But life has a funny way of giving you even greater gifts then you expect. For the gift that life gave me…I almost lost yesterday…
Preventus…
_____________________________________________________
24 years ago…
I was pacing in the hospital waiting room. What if something went wrong? What if she’s being hurt in there?! What if the baby didn’t live!?
I looked down and frowned. Turns out you really can make a path in the floor if you pace in the same spot long enough. I sighed and sat on my rump on the cold hospital floor. I was beyond nervous as to what would happen.
This was my foal…what if he didn’t like me?
Suddenly a plump nurse came out of the door smiling wide. I ran to her and spoke frantically “How is she!? Is the baby okay!? What is its coat color!?”
The nurse simply smiled and gestured for me to follow her. I walked nervously beside her. Anticipation gripped me and wouldn’t let go. I only hope that the process went smoothly…
I entered a small hospital room and found Sparrow, her electric blue mane in disarray and looking very tired overall, smiling at me. I then noticed she was holding something in her forelegs. A small grey foal was there…
She smiled and spoke weakly “Irenius…meet our son…”
“Our son…?” I said simply staring at the foal. I walked closer and got a good look at my son. He was a tiny little thing with my grey coat. His hair was a dark brown like mine as well. In fact the only difference between me and my son was his eyes. They belonged to his mother, a beautiful shade of grey.
Those same grey eyes were looking around all over the place. He was taking in the world around him with wonder. I smiled and laughed a little “He’s a curious little thing…”
Sparrow smiled “Do you want to hold him?”
“Me?” I shook my head “I don’t think it’s…”
Sparrow shook her head and held out my son. “He wants to meet his daddy…”
I tentatively reached out and picked up the little foal in my front legs. I was careful with him as he struggled a little at being held by a foreign pony. I smiled down at him and met his grey eyes with my blue ones “Hello there little guy…”
His grey eyes looked up at me with wide eyed wonder. He reached out with his little hoof and touched my neck. He smiled a little and giggled. I don’t know what the joke was but maybe he was accepting me. I nuzzled my son on his soft belly “I’m your daddy…let’s be friends shall we?”
He giggled at being nuzzled and I handed the foal back to his mother. He curled up into her as Sparrow looked at me “We need to name him…”
I nodded “I was thinking maybe…Phelps?”
“Your grandfather’s name?” Sparrow said with a raised eyebrow “That’s a terribly old fashioned name”
“Then what do you suggest?” I said curiously
She looked at the foal for a while. He was napping against his mother peacefully. “I was thinking…Preventus”
“Preventus?” I said my own eyebrow rising “Where’d you come up with a name like that?”
She stroked the foal’s brown mane with her hoof “I want his name to be unique. When I was in high school there were four Sparrows…this way he has a name that’s truly his own”
I nodded and ran my hoof on Preventus’ head. He let out a little squeak at being rubbed by me. I smiled “Welcome to the world…Preventus…”
_________________________________________________________
Preventus had a good childhood. I sent him to one of the better schools in Manehatten. He made lots of friends and grew into a fine young man. But…our relationship wouldn’t always be so blissful.
We were close; whenever I was home it was always us three doing something grand together. Sparrow gave up her career as an actress to raise Preventus full time. She would not have a maid or butler to raise her son. She doted on Preventus and loved him dearly. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a stronger mother-son relationship.
I taught Preventus everything I knew about living life. He would always come to me for advice about a certain situation. I would always give him what would become known as “Ireniusisms” little quotes that Preventus probably still remembers.
We spent a lot of time together as a family. We went on vacations to far off lands together. Those fourteen years I spent with Preventus I remember with absolute joy and glee.
But everything changed when Private told me what he wanted to be when he grew up. He was twelve and told me he was going to become a Detective. I was glad he chose such a noble career…but he also told me he wanted nothing to do with the family business.
I grew anxious…I knew that if nopony was going to take over the business a lot of my investors would be gone. I then had an epiphany…I approached Sparrow about giving Private a sibling…
When it wouldn’t come fast enough…I had her take Mandrake. I knew it was a risky drug! I should never have given it to her! I let my worry over the company get the better of me…and it cost me everything worth having…
Where is she?!
She’s in the room sir…the foal is coming
Now!? It’s too soon!
She’s in surgery right now…I’m going to have to ask you to remain here
Let me see her!
Stop him!
Let me see her! Let me see my wife you bastards!!
I fell out of the flashback. I looked outside, it was still raining…just like that day. I remember when Preventus came…
Dad…where’s mom?
She’s…Preventus…
Dad…what happened?
Preventus…I’m sorry
No…no she can’t…
Preventus…
Mom!!!
Preventus get back here!
Mom!
Preventus no!!!
Mom...
Preventus…here’s your baby brother…
Mom…
Take care of him Preventus…he’s your baby brother…
Mom…no don’t leave me…
I love you Preventus…take care of him...
Beep…
Beep…
Flat line…
__________________________________________________________
I snapped out of it again…that night I lost everything. My son…
Take it away Preventus…
But dad…
I don’t want to look at it Preventus! Drop it off at some orphanage somewhere!
Dad! How can you ask me to do that?!
Do not disobey me Preventus! I am your father!
A month later…I found out that Preventus went behind my back. He kept the child in a garden shed. I eventually discovered it and made the worst mistake in my life…
How could you do this to me Preventus?!
I couldn’t leave him!
I told you explicitly to get rid of it!
His name is Tailspin! He’s my brother dad!
Get it out of my sight!
You’ll have me out of your sight! I’m not leaving him!
Then get out!!
I will!
Just leave!
Goodbye IRENIUS!!!
*Slam*….
_____________________________________________
I didn’t realize how long I’ve been out…I looked at my pocket watch…it was well past midnight. I should have gone home hours ago. All these thoughts of Preventus...made me realize how I missed him terribly.
I made so many mistakes with his mother dying. I should have embraced what I had…not what I lost. To think it took me over ten years to realize that. Now Preventus was a grown stallion. He was making a name for himself in his true calling.
I couldn’t be more proud of him.
My other son to…his name was Tailspin right? What a fine name for Private to give him. I hoped one day to meet him so that I could apologize for not being there. I wonder how he’s grown.
I looked at my phone…Preventus probably wouldn’t be up at this hour. I reached into my pockets and pulled out the number I had Annabelle look up. It was for his new house in Hic-I mean Ponyville.
I lifted the phone with my magic and dialed the number slowly.
After four rings I got the answering machine.
You’ve reached Private Eye’s home. Sorry I can’t come to the phone now because I may be on a case. Leave a message after the beep…beep
I found the words I wanted to start with…I wasn’t expecting Preventus’ forgiveness. I didn’t deserve it…I just wanted him to hear how I felt. How I longed to see my son again…
“Preventus, it’s me your father I tried to call you sooner but it took me ages to find your new number. How are…*sigh* let’s just spare the formalities. Preventus…I want to just say I’m sorry…”
