Author's Notes:
Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit
Chapter Nine: Meeting Bilgewater
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“I always wanted a foal, but I fear my life will be detrimental to the healthy living of a child” ~From the personal diary of the 83rd Court Magician, Shadow Eyes
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Shadow Eyes faced the open train window watching the landscape fly pass as the train sped down the tracks. It had been a few years since her appointment to Court Magician, she was now twenty-nine years old and well known to be fair to callers to the throne, some were refused, their reasoning to call upon the princesses not sufficient, others were granted their audience, their reasoning urgent enough that Shadow Eyes couldn’t deny them their chance to see the princesses. However this run was different, this time she was being asked to give her judgement on a new village law that was set to come out soon, one that could change the course of Equestria as they knew it.
“Private Coltfeather” said Shadow Eyes as she turned away from the window and the stallion stood at attention.
“Yes ma’am?” he said as he stood stiffly at attention.
“What do you think of the plans of the mayor of Hoofingston?” asked Shadow Eyes with her eyes closed as she thought worriedly about the mayor’s plans.
“It’s not for me to say, ma’am”
“I asked you, it is alright for you to tell me.” For a moment there was no sound besides the sound of the train running down the track as Coltsfeather closed his eyes to think.
“I am worried about this mayor, he says he is for the children, but from what the document you had me read for you said… He is more for profit than for what is good for the foals of his city, and it would set a dangerous precedent, I-”
“Thank you, Private, I need to think now” said Shadow Eyes as she interrupted him her eyes closed just letting her thoughts wander in the direction Coltsfeather had suggested. She didn’t like where it led…
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It was night by the time the train pulled into the station, the moon rising in the night sky.
“I need to take a little walk, I’ll be back” said Shadow Eyes and the guard moved to take places around her so she would be protected before there was a flash and she was no longer there…
- - -
On a beach near the village stood a little colt, the shore was empty besides this blue-grey dapple, he stood staring off into the waves of the sea, and although he had been there all day, he was not wet past his hocks, or his ankles. Shadow Eyes who had been walking along the beach since ditching the guard that was sent with her, a guard she still did not believe she needed, she was well known in the criminal underworld, both for being a Tenebrosus Magus, and now for being the Solar Princess’s Court Magician, someone no one would want to mess with, and with her sight it wasn’t likely for someone to sneak up on her. Upon catching ‘sight’ of the foal, Shadow Eyes gave a sad smile that quickly morphed into a more happy smile. She made her way towards the foal.
“Hello, little one” she said gently as not to scare the foal. The foal did not even turn to her,instead focusing on the waves that seemed to churn angrily in the moonlight, there was no hint that he even acknowledged her existence, something she could live with, it as better than the fear some ponies still had in these backwater villages. The foal stood there as the seafoam swirled around his hooves, kissing his ankles. When he did speak up it was in an accent that seemed native to Trottingham his voice was high with excitement and strength.
“Luna isn’t happy today” said the foal plainly and Shadow Eyes was forced to remember that Princess Luna still didn’t like the amount of power she had acquired by becoming the Court Magician of the Solar Court.
“Princess Luna hasn’t been very happy for a while…” she agreed as she sat beside him and cast her special version of sight towards the water catching sight of the waves as they crashed into the water and rolled onto the shore. “Can I ask for your name, little one?” she asked curiously.
“I’m Bilgewatah, but you can call me Billy if it’s easier. Who a’e you?” he asked and Shadow Eyes giggled into her hoof before lowering herself to the foal’s eye level.
“I’m Shadow Eyes, but you can call me Shay if you want, Billy” said Shadow Eyes with a smile, “What are you doing out here on your own? Don’t you have a momma or a papa?” she asked curiously careful in her tone as she tried to keep from upsetting him.
“A mama or papa? I’ve had ponies ask me to call them that before, never really do though. I’ve seen what a real mama and papa are. I never had that.” the foal spoke evenly not seeming to be hurt by Shadow Eyes’ question, and as if just stating a fact.
“And what are a real momma and papa?” asked Shadow Eyes evenly as her smile leveled out a bit at the rather emotionless voice exhibited by the foal.
“A real mama and papa follow a foal ‘round, making sure they are happy” said the foal looking back out to the ocean, a longing look in his eyes as he longed to have that. Shadow Eyes bit her lip as her heart told her to pick the foal in a hug and tell him it would be alright…
“Are you hungry, Billy? I can get you something to eat if you are” she said as she gave him a friendly nuzzle , she hated seeing foals grow up like this, but there was little she could do.
“Y… Yes ma’am” he said blushing, “Sorry ma’am”
“No need to be sorry, Billy, I offered didn’t I?” said Shadow Eyes as she stood up and shook the sand out of her belly fur. “Come on then, where do you want to go?” asked the mare.
“Go? There is no place I like to be more than the water” he said standing up with another look out onto the ocean. Shadow Eyes chuckled softly…
“I like the water too, but unless-”
“Court Magician! There you are! Why did y-... And may I ask who this is ma’am?”
“This is Billy, he will be accompanying me to dinner tonight” said Shadow Eyes rather bluntly, Bilgewater looked between the two adults confused but said nothing knowing better than to dare. “Come, Billy. Let’s go get you something to eat, I am sure you are hungry, even staring out at the ocean and Luna’s stars burns energy.” said Shadow Eyes kindly with a smile on her face as she gave him a gentle nudge towards the guard.
“Her stars? Why would I look at them, when her moon is pulling the ocean towards me?”
“Ma’am, if I may, he may-”
“May be an assassin? Hardly, he isn’t Swift Wing, and he is the only assassin within this colt’s age group. Now, less talk about these unpleasant things, take us to the village proper, Treat him as you would myself” said Shadow Eyes…