Author's Notes:
Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit
I apologize in advance for some of my chapter
Post Common Era Chapter Twenty-four/War of Stars Chapter Twenty: Earth Part One/The Invasion Continues to Haunt
Earth certainly had changed from the last time Masao had been there, the oceans were pristine blue again off the coasts of Florida, and the air around Los Angeles was smog free, if Masao had not been fighting he would never had guessed that the UEC was at war, beside him was his wives and his student, Celestia couldn’t join them, but sent her student with them to represent her, much to Shadow Eyes relief as she leaned against the mare for comfort and security. Masao looked at his student worriedly, she still attended his lessons, but she was very fidgety around him, looking at him nervously until he suddenly stopped.
“The rest of you move on ahead, I want to talk to Shadow Eyes” Luna gave him a look before nodding, Willow Leaf moved to go but Masao spoke up, “Love, I could use your help, for once being an agent of Khorne might be useful” Willow Leaf nodded and sat down on her haunches while the humans looked on Luna gathering the her sister’s student and walking a ways off, just out of earshot. “What is wrong Shadow? You haven’t been yourself lately, is it—”
“You killed those men, you killed them without a second thought” said Shadow Eyes, her body quaking in fear, she didn’t know how her teacher would take her exclamation, and it worried her, no it scared her.
“Yes I did, however they weren’t the first thinking beings I have killed, I have lived millennia, and I have been at war before, I have killed ponies, I have killed gryphons, I have killed even dragons, all to protect Equestria, I know you are no fool, Shadow, those terrans would have killed us given the chance, what I did, what you did saved us”
“I am a killer” said Willow Leaf getting Shadow Eyes’ attention and the blind mare turned to her in surprise, “I didn’t used to be, but I made a pact with a god that requires me to kill, in exchange I get to live indefinitely. I never take the life of an innocent. It’s something you learn to live with, the fact that you took a life, it may come back and haunt you every now and again but it was something you had to do”
“But I didn’t have to kill that terran that you threw Prince…” said Shadow Eyes and Masao sighed before dropping to a knee and putting a hand on her head.
“What was the thought going through your head then?”
“I had to stop him before he could kill you or someone else” said Shadow Eyes quietly, the humans were starting to look at them suspiciously and Masao nodded his eyes closed.
“And killing him was the only way?” asked Masao and Shadow Eyes flinched as she looked away but Masao was still looking at her in a comforting manner. It took a few moments and Shadow Eyes’ sightless gaze hardened and she turned to Masao.
“He was dead either way, you told me that if someone threatens what you hold dear you take care of them, permanently” at that Masao nodded, no matter what, that much was true. However, did that mean that she had to take his life herself? Masao asked Shadow Eyes such and she bristled.
“I want you to remember this feeling, you chose to end that terran’s life. Whether or not he was going to die regardless, you were the one that ended it. For that, I a proud of you, you chose to stop someone from harming someone you cared about.” Shadow Eyes stood there in shock as Masao stood up and patted her back before looking at the humans still staring at them. “I would prefer, if you would get on with your day, I am not here because I want to be, so I am not very happy”
- - -
“Princess Luna, do you think that the prince will be able to help Shadow Eyes?” asked Sunrise Lily and Luna clenched her jaw, she knew she was being foolish, Shadow Eyes was a filly-fooler, and her husband was happily married to herself and Willow Leaf, but part of her was jealous of the mare’s grasp on her husband’s attention, to add on to her foolishness, the mare in question was in a relationship with the mare she was currently watching over, her sister’s student, Sunrise Lily.
“I’m sure my husband will do everything in his power to help her” she said though her posture stated that she was tense to the young mare.
“Is everything alright princess? Did I do something wrong?” Luna looked at the mare and gave a weak smile and shook her head.
“No, you did nothing, I guess, even after years of Masao being the loyal husband he has been, I still sometimes feel like the jealous wife.” said Luna and Sunrise looked at the princess surprised, she had no idea that Luna felt like that, and about her marefriend, one on hoof she felt flattered that the princess considered her marefriend a threat, on the other she felt ashamed at her for not saying something sooner.
“I promise, princess, Shadow Eyes won’t attempt to take your husband away from you”
“I know, she is in a relationship with you after all” said Luna turning her head to the mare who stopped suddenly, Sunrise thought they had hid it well! Princess Celestia didn’t even notice a drop in her studies! How— “Shadow Eyes isn’t particularly adept at checking the area when she is about to kiss you, young Sunrise, and Celestia herself was amazed at how much you got done even while seeing my husband’s student. Masao was surprised at how hard Shadow Eyes took to the defensive course recently before the invasion” the green mare blushed heavily knowing that they were not so secret as she thought. “That isn’t even mentioning the last time Masao took her on a training trip he heard her—” Luna cleared her throat and looked around buying herself some time, “—relieving herself moaning your name”
“I say!”
“Perhaps you should not listen in on conversation that are not yours” said Luna suddenly as she rounded on a human who had been listening in on the conversation
“Maybe you shouldn’t have those kinds of conversations out in the open, love” said Masao as he walked up, Shadow Eyes and Willow Leaf behind him, Shadow Eyes seemed far better than before, however she was surprised when Sunrise walked up to her and nuzzled her affectionately, in full view of her teacher, and the princesses.
“I take it you don’t want to hide it anymore, my sunshine?” Shadow Eyes partly whispered and Sunrise kissed her cheek before nodding knowing that with her magic field she could ‘see’ her answer.
“Glad to see that you two are going to stop hiding it, it was getting annoying pretending to be busy when you two started to kiss or something.” teased Masao before he sighed and took in the city they were in for the first time, it was pristine, the towering buildings of white metal and clear glass reminded him of the Earth from Star Trek, the grass beautiful and green, the sky a crystal blue with nary a cloud in the sky while the occasional jet flew overhead. All in all, a world he would have loved to be a part of if he didn’t know the war that was going on almost behind the scenes…
- - -
As the group made it to their hotel rooms they were met by Minder Three who bowed at the presence of the prince and the two princesses.
“Please stand, I know you have some news for us Minder Three”
“Yes, I do, my liege. The council was surprised by your announcement that you were coming to Earth, a few of them wanted to try to set some traps here so that you would be stuck here after the official thank you had been given” said the earth pony and Masao nodded assuming as much…