//------------------------------// // Chapter Four: A Painful Decision // Story: Court Magician // by Moonlit Novel //------------------------------// Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Chapter Four: A Painful Decision ~ ~ ~ “Darkness is all that is in the hearts and souls of Tenebrosus Magus, They have no light in them, they kill without remorse, and they love only themselves […] They have no use for others and the light inside them, preferring to kill them than to be brought painfully into the light” ~The Tenebrosus Magus: What Drives Them, By Royal Script, Royal Researcher ~ ~ ~ Grudgingly, Princess Luna allowed Celestia to lead the Tenebrosus Magus out of E.S.I.S. Manehattan headquarters, she wanted to refuse what had been right in front of her face, but she couldn’t… Royal Script, one of her closest friends and confidents from before she was banished, was wrong. How could he have been so wrong about Tenebrosus Magus? “I can't take the position…” said Shadow Eyes to her coltfriend and Rich Quick frowned at her. “The princess thinks differently,” said the stallion as he walked with her, “from what the princess said, she trusts you and your judgement” “But why? All I have done since I arrived in Manehattan is murder those I believed to be evil, regardless of if they had families, or if they were only first time offenders.” said Shadow Eyes, Rich Quick rolled his eyes at what she said. “And how far has crime dropped? All that really happens now is petty theft and the occasional drunk and disorderly. Criminals are scared to commit any crimes here.” Rich countered nuzzling her gently Shadow Eyes smiled weakly at the affection shown to her. “Why… Why do you choose to associate with me? At first I thought you would have moved on, and left me, I was content to pretend that you loved me” said Shadow Eyes as, with her magic sight, she kept an eye on the stallion who gave her a look of pity. “I do love you. Shay, baby, I love you, why else would I be with you? I don't know of many ponies that would be with somepony they don't love” said Rich and Shadow Eyes gave him a sad smile. “A pony that was scared that they would die if they weren't with that pony” argued Shadow Eyes and the stallion sputtered angrily. “I pursued you” snapped the unicorn angrily as he moved in front of her imposing himself intent on making it clear that he was not appreciating Shadow Eyes’ self loathing. - - - Shadow Eyes and Rich Quick continued the walk in uncomfortable silence as the stallion refused to even talk to her after she blew up at him… As they entered the apartment where she had been living in with her coltfriend until today. “I’ll get my things and get out of your way” “And where will you go? I still love you Shay, I just am tired, I am already tired of this mare that took the place of the confident mare I started dating, and this mare is nothing like the vulnerable side you showed to me in the past. You are stronger than this, and I know you don't believe half the things you have said. You are a good mare, Shay, and you are one of the best mares for that job. The only mare that would have been better, in pure magical talent, is now a princess!” at that Shadow Eyes actually scoffed which caused Rich to smile, “That's the mare I know and love!” said Rich and Shadow Eyes gave a weak chuckle as Rich pressed against her. “Just, think about the position, Shay, you would never have to worry about what magic you practice ever again.” - - - Shadow Eyes disappeared into her routine, however she would take longer than before, returning long after Rich Quick had fallen asleep waiting for her, and she would head to the bedroom and get some sleep and leave before he woke, this routine continued for three weeks before Shadow Eyes slipped up, she kissed him, missing the feel of him in her bed, just being there holding her… - - - “Shay, baby, please, don't close me out again…” said Rich as he nuzzled his marefriend urgently, he could not deal with another three weeks of her avoiding him. “Please, I love you” as he begged he, she held him and quietly decided that nothing was worth the heartache of not being able to be with her coltfriend. “Rich, I-I love you, and I am sorry, I just can't lose you. Not to my own stupidity.” said Shadow Eyes and she bit her lip, “I’ll take the job, it would be nice to see my parents again” - - - Shadow Eyes and Rich Quick made their way through Canterlot, everywhere they turned ponies stopped and stared, and it wasn’t long before they pulled their foals indoors and closed the shutters, it wasn’t like this in Manehattan, there she could walk the streets in full view of the guard, ever since she brought crime down, and even saved a few guardsponies’ lives during a small gang war. She flinched every time a pony pulled a foal away, her sight granting her a clear picture of the fear the ponies held of her, it was unnerving so be so distrusted when in her own city… No, she may have taken up protecting Manehattan, but it was never her city, she was home now, and her home wasn’t welcoming her. Shadow Eyes sniffed quietly before sticking her nose in the air and continuing to the castle, Rich Quick struggling to keep up with her fast pace as she all but ran to the castle. - - - “This is preposterous! Surely you do not mean to give this criminal the position so many other ponies would be better suited for! Ponies that haven’t killed a small village worth of souls” said a noble to Celestia as she and her sister sat with the council of nobles awaiting Shadow Eyes. “Sit down Amber Mine, do not presume to know better than the princess” said Gold Star as he coughed lightly into his hoof covering up a chuckle at the immaturity the young noble was showing. “This Council was made to question the princess!” argued Amber Mine as she shook her head. Gold Star sighed as did any other number of nobles and the princesses did as well. “The purpose of the council is to advise not demand things from the princesses” said Gold Star his golden mane and tail being his namesake peppered with grey hairs. “Then I would advise the princesses to have this mare arrested before she sets foot in these chambers and casts her dark magic on all of us” said Amber Mine as she spat out the word advise as if it left a bad taste in her mouth. Just then the doors to the council chambers burst open as a slightly teary eyed Shadow Eyes, at least that is what everyone but Gold Star saw, he saw a pony he never thought he would see again, a pony he had been told was dead. “No… Is it possible?” asked Gold Star as he walked up to the mare and placed a hoof on her face. “Hi daddy”