//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1.1 
// Story: Shaded Eyes 
// by Nemark 
//------------------------------//

	Shade pried his eyes open and observed his unfamiliar surroundings, a purple shadow cast itself across the room as the sun had brightened it while rising. A sweet aroma flowed through the parlor and crossed his nose; hypnotized by the smell of maybe a pancake of some sort cooking in the kitchen. He snapped out of it and realized that Rarity was obviously awake, and that means she’d yell at him. He stood up and tried to trot away quietly but remembered about Owl Eyes. Where was she though? That blind filly must’ve gotten herself lost, or worst found. 

“Don’t go anywhere, we need to talk.” A familiar regal tone sounded from the kitchen.

He growled and walked in to the lovely smelling room to see Owl Eyes and Rarity cooking what he had expected. Owl Eyes wasn’t really cooking though, she was sitting. Sitting and enjoying the smell of whatever Rarity was preparing. Rarity acted with grace, every movement beautiful to compete with herself. Shade knew he was in trouble though, so he didn’t comment on the food or on anything in general. He just sat next to Owl and waited patiently. He waited for whatever punishment he knew was coming; this wasn’t the first time Rarity had found him in her home uninvited. The last time he was found in her home he was stealing a roll of fabric to use as a blanket, an expensive sheet too. She didn’t contact the police though, there wasn’t any reason too. She just scolded him for an hour or two and sent him on his way. Although Rarity being Rarity gave him a big enough piece of it to use as a blanket. He knew this time was different though; he broke into her house and brought someone with him. 

“Shade, darling, haven’t we been in this situation before?” she asked while plating a few pancakes.

“Rarity, I think it’s different this time.” He whined slightly presenting his case as any child would.

“Shade, do not get me wrong, I do like you. You cannot break into my house though and steal fillies while you are at it.” 
She brought over the plates, syrup, and other essential pancake eating ingredients to the table with her magic.

“I didn’t steal her Rarity, I found her. She’s blind Rarity!” he pointed to her eyes.

“H-he didn’t steal me, miss…” a frail soft voice overcame the two of them, “I fell and he found me.”

Rarity looked at her, trying to see if anything could be read out of blind pony’s eyes. The truth was there though, and she nodded silently. “Well, ok. Come and eat you two.”

Shade nudged Owl Eyes over to the table by having her follow his voice. She wasn’t very capable of even eating by herself, finding the pancakes were hard. She’d now and then jab the table with her fork, which made Rarity flinch. The beautiful wood of her table cried every time and so did the white pony. Shade got annoyed by this though and ended up helping her anyways. His magic glowed and he lifted the fork up and helped feed her. He didn’t care too much, even though he acted like he did. Owl Eyes happily accepted the help; she seemed to have recently become blind. He didn’t say anything though, nopony did. 

“Shade, what are you planning on doing now?” Rarity picked up the plates, while Shade helped pick up a few things here and there.

“I don’t know Rarity; I need to find a stable place for us. I’ve gotta watch her ya know?” sorrow passed through him, he had a responsibility now. Something he’d never had to think about before. 

“Well come back anytime, just don’t sleep on my fabric. Come up to my room there is a couch in there. You both can stay there for the time being.” She walked off before he could deny, and went to her room.

“She’s nice, Shade.” Owl Eyes smiled at him, only knowing his position because of the past conversation.

He shook his head and explained where she was, the way the room looked. He talked to her about how Rarity looked, telling her that Rarity was a white pony with a dark purple tail to make her complete. Shade asked Owl if she had always been blind, she shook her head but didn't proceed to explain. This bothered him, but he didn’t pursue to get an answer, he didn’t want to hurt her. Owl Eyes trotted around here and there but didn't venture to far from the kitchen, it was the most familiar place to her in the house. Shade eventually pushed her out of there and got her to where Rarity worked on her clothing. He knew this place quite well, this is where he found the fabric that one day. He explained the relationship between him and Rarity, Owl giggled some to herself and stared at a light source she could sense. Mostly by the heat the sun produced through the window but a change in the dark room. Shade smiled, he hoped that she'd get her vision back. Mostly because he didn't want to feed her everytime but also because he couldn't stand it himself if he was blind. He didn't laugh though when Owl Eyes would bump into things, he helped her up if she tripped. The only questions he'd ask was if she was ok and usually her sweet smile would show and she'd say yep. They didn't go anywhere that day, just stayed in Rarity's house and mustered around looking things. Shade eventually grew tired, he was just a colt, and laid down on the couch Rarity suggested. Owl followed of course and laid next to him, curling snugly into his side and resting her head on his back. A comfort for her he thought, but again didn't say anything.