//------------------------------// // Buried Knowledge // Story: Dancing In The Shadows // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// As Echo followed Aether down the passageway, his mind was alight with a thousand questions, mostly concerning his adoptive father, and the hitherto unknown to him connection he had to this old Nightcrawler. It wasn't long before one made its way to his mouth. "So, when did you and Nocturne meet?" Echo asked. "Oh, it was a long time ago." Aether smiled. "But it was a meeting I still cherish. He was such a wise stallion. I learned so much from him." "I find it hard to believe he never mentioned you before." Echo admitted. "He would often tell me about his peers and research partners back in the days." "He never told you about me?" Aether gave Echo a quizzical look. "I can't imagine why." "Me neither." Echo shook his head, "I guess when I was adopted by him, I never bothered to pry more into what he did before we met..." "And what of your actual family?" Aether asked, before quickly adding, "If you do not mind me asking." "It's fine." Echo sighed. "Well, my actual father disappeared a long time ago, before I was born, and my mother and brother..." He sighed again. He wasn't in the mood to relive the pain of losing his brother. "...Let's just say that it was just me until I met Nocturne... but unforunately, he passed on later on shortly after I left for Hayvard." "Oh... that is a shame..." Aether frowned sympathetically. "I too know how it feels to lose all you once called family..." "Really?" Echo asked. "What happened to your family?" Aether remained silent for a moment. "...Bad things. That's all I am willing to say." Aether murmured. "Oh, I'm sorry." Echo frowned. "I didn't mean to trudge up any bad memories." "That's okay." Aether smiled. "You didn't know." "So you and my father were... close?" Echo asked. "Well, not as much as I hoped." Aether shrugged. "Even though he was sympathetic to our plights, he too knew the risks of consorting himself with a Nightcrawler. We were only able to stay with him till he gave us a sense of what to do next." "Wait...we?" Echo questioned "There was another with you back then?" "Oh yes... before I met Artorias and the others, I traveled with another like me. We were old childhood friends, him and I." Aether let out a sigh, "But he and I parted ways a long time ago." "Was he a Nightcrawler like you?" Echo inquired. "Indeed. And a good one at that. Powerful, yet compassionate, and always willing to lend a hoof." Aether mused, as he then gazed at Echo with a odd look, "In fact, you kinda remind me of him." "Really?" Echo asked. "Oh, yes." Aether nodded. "You seem every bit as inquisitive and hungry for knowledge as he was. No doubt traits you picked up from him. A great scholar and a great father. Very impressive..." "So you admired him?" Echo asked. "Very." Aether nodded. "In many ways, he was like the brother I never had. Albeit a slightly aloof one..." "I see..." Echo frowned, reminded of his own brother, whom he wasn't even aware existed until a short while ago. "I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?" Aether asked. "No, no." Echo shrugged. "I was just... thinking about somepony..." "Strange time to let your mind wonder, my boy." Aether chuckled. "Funny, Nocturne wasn't quite as absent-minded. He always stuck fast to a project, keeping his focus on it to the end. Didn't leave much time for social things, but I didn't hold that against him. Real bookworm your father, wasn't he?" "You could put it that way." Echo shrugged. "But I notice you didn't answer my question. How did you and my father meet?" "Oh, there'll be time for a walk down memory lane later." Aether brushed him off. "Ah, here we are: My quarters." Pulling open another wooden door, Aether led Echo into a new chamber. This one was well-furnished, boasting chairs and tables that clearly weren't fashioned from whatever could be found in the forest. The tables were stacked with papers and other bits and pieces. "Who's your decorator?" Echo asked. "The pack managed to pick up one or two pieces of furniture here and there." Aether declared. "Just because we're living underground doesn't mean we can't be comfortable." "Of course not." Echo shrugged. "Now, where are these recordings?" "Oh, they're around here somewhere." Aether declared. "Organization was never my strong suit... Have a seat. It shouldn't take too long to find them." "That's alright. It's not like I'm going anywhere." Echo nodded as he sat down. Meanwhile, Sunset was in the area designated as the "kitchen", though there wasn't much to help the chamber live up to the name. There were a few chairs and a table, and in a corner was a bag containing various nuts and berries, a few kegs containing water beside them. "Nice place you've got here." Sunset declared. "Very... earthy." "We know it's a dump." Elatha rolled her eyes. "But it's the only place we can be safe." "I like it." Snow smiled. "There's always plenty of ammo if you wanna have a mud fight!" "That's right." Sunset chuckled. "You're a very positive filly, Snow." "We don't exactly have a diverse menu, but it is plentiful." Elatha declared. "I'll get you some blueberries and chestnuts." "Thanks." Sunset smiled. She gently eased herself into her chair, minding her bump. "Are you going to have a foal?" Snow asked. "Actually, I am." Sunset beamed. "That's so great!" Snow smiled. "Is that Echo guy the dad?" "He is." Sunset nodded. "I can't remember the last time I saw a foal." Snow beamed. "I bet it'll be the cutest ever!" "That's what I'm hoping for." Sunset grinned. "Here you are." Elatha gave Sunset a makeshift plate filled with blueberries and chestnuts. "The house specialty." "Thanks." Sunset took the plate eagerly. "We're starving." Sunset hungrily wolfed down the food. "Whoa." Snow chuckled. "And I thought Wave was a messy eater!" "Snow, be nice." Elatha told her. "After all, Sunset's eating for two." "Sorry..." Snow cringed. "Mmm, that is so good." Sunset wiped her mouth, totally finished. "My compliments to the forager." "We have some water, too." Elatha offered. "There's an underground stream not too far from here, so we have all the refreshing, ice-cold water we could ever want." "Sounds like just the thing to waste that feast down." Sunset grinned. "I'll get it!" Snow smiled. She rushed over to the barrels, grabbed a wooden cup, and filled it using a makeshift tap. She then raced back to Sunset. "Here you go!" "Well, aren't you the helpful one." Sunset chuckled. "It's the least we can do after you and Echo came all this way out here to help us." Elatha smiled. "Honestly, it was Echo's idea to come out here." Sunset admitted. "I just came along for the ride. And I'm not even sure how much help we can actually give you." "We'll take anything you can provide." Elatha continued smiling. "You're the first ponies to offer to help us in quite some time." "That's too bad." Sunset empathised. "You shouldn't have to live out here, hiding underground, just because of what you are." "And yet, here we are." Elatha sighed. "Doesn't it ever make you angry?" Sunset asked. "All the prejudice you have to contend with?" "Sometimes." Elatha shrugged. "But you really can't blame normal ponies for being afraid of us. We do possess powers that could easily be used to destroy. They have a right to fear us." "I'm no stranger to prejudice myself." Sunset admitted. "But in my case, it was a little more justified. I did some very bad things a long time ago. And though I saw the error of my ways, I was still treated like a monster." "That must have been awful." Snow gasped. "It was." Sunset nodded. "But I deserved it. Eventually, I managed to prove my good intentions, and everypony started to forget my past, and focus on the present." "Perhaps one day, regular ponies will do the same for Nightcrawlers." Elatha mused. "Maybe..." Sunset sighed. "At least, that's what Echo's hoping for..." "An idealist, I see." Elatha smiled. "In that, he and I are alike." "I wish I could say the same." Sunset frowned. "But I've always been more grounded in facts and truth. And the truth is, normal ponies may never get over their fear of your kind." "I hope not." Elatha declared. "I hope to one day leave this place with the others, so that we may reclaim our places in society." "I wish I had your faith." Sunset smiled encouragingly. At that moment, Wave, Willow and Moana entered the chamber. "Don't mind us." Moana said quietly. "We're just getting some food. It's been a long day." "I see somepony's already helped herself." Wave smirked at Sunset. "Better get some of our own before it's all gone." "Whatever it takes to stop you from talking." Sunset snarked. "There's that wit again." Wave snorted. "You give that hubby of yours that kind of lip at home?" "Nope." Sunset declared. "Then again, he doesn't annoy me the way you do." "Guess ya gotta thing for nerds, huh?" Wave snickered. "That 'nerd' did a pretty good job of bringing you down, didn't he?" Sunset taunted him. "He just got lucky!" Wave spat. "Okay, that's enough." Elatha glowered at Wave. "Sunset is our guest, and should be treated as such." "Okay, okay..." Wave pouted, his temper abated. "But only 'cuz you said so, Ellie." "And don't let me catch you talking to her like that again." Elatha said tensely. "Yes, ma'am." Wave gulped, cowed by the look on her face. "We really are sorry about what happened out there." Moana apologised. "We shouldn't have just attacked you like that..." "Please, accept our most humble apologies yet again, dear lady." Willow took Sunset's hoof and kissed it. "You really don't have to be so... theatrical all the time." Sunset chuckled, unaware of the slight frown on Moana's face. "Forgive me." Willow grinned. "Before all this, I was an actor, and quite a good one. Old habits die hard, I'm afraid." "Not hard enough, if you ask me." Wave scowled. "All that Shakesprint stuff gets real old, real fast." "Well, one of us needs to have a little culture." Willow snorted. "Faust knows that's not you." "What's that supposed to mean?" Wave growled. "You saying I'm not 'cultured' enough, dawg?" "To say you are not cultured is like saying a yak is not pleasant-smelling." Willow sneered. "You mother-buckin'..." Wave snarled. "Come on, guys." Moana fretted. "Let's not fight." "You don't want Artorias to find out, do you?" Elatha asked. Willow and Wave glared at each other, then turned away. Neither one wanted to get on Artorias' bad side. "That always works." Snow giggled. "I'm guessing you're not really a well-oiled unit." Sunset said dryly. "That's putting it mildly." Elatha sighed. "The only thing we all have in common is being Nightcrawlers... and the persecution that comes with it." Moana declared. "Out in the field, we can usually count on Artorias to keep us in line..." "Where is Artorias, anyway?" Sunset asked. "If anypony should apologize for attacking my husband, it's him." "He prefers to rest in his chamber after a day out." Elatha declared. "Nano's probably followed suit..." "Yeah." Wave snorted. "Dude'd probably jump off a cliff if Artorias did it..." "You'll get your apology." Elatha assured Sunset. "Even if I have to drag Artorias over to you and make him give it." "That's all I ask." Sunset chuckled. Meanwhile, Frankensteed and Scalphunter were leading a small group of hunters across some marshlands. They had followed Echo and Sunset's carriage, and were closing in on the forest. The group were silently making their way through the terrain. "So... you come out on hunts like this often?" Scalphunter asked, attempting to make idle conversation. "Only when the target is of significance." Frankensteed said flatly. "So that's a 'no', then." Scalphunter sneered. "You probably just stick around in your little mad scientist's lab, huh? Me, I prefer to be out there, hunting down my prey, makin' 'em squeal... Boy, I can't wait to find Echo and those Shadow Stalkers." "Do not harm Echo too badly." Frankensteed insisted. "I need him breathing... and in one piece, in case you were hoping to hack off a limb or two." "Eh, you're no fun." Scalphunter sneered. "What's so important about Alchemy, anyway? What makes him so special?" "That's none of your business, bounty hunter." Frankensteed spat. "Okay..." Scalphunter huffed, "Might I ask what is with the mask? What, did the scientist who make you found your face so appalling that he made a mask so he doesn't have to look at it?" "Perhaps I simply wish not to have fools like you look upon my visage." Frankensteed retorted. "Unlike you, I prefer a certain degree of anonymity. I don't to have others know that my true face is that of one whose activities would appear... unseemly to most." "Whatever." Scalphunter snarled. "It's not like I care, or anything..." "Just focus on the job at hand." Frankensteed retorted. "You want to get paid, don't you?" "'Course I do." Scalphunter growled. "I'm not just not here for fun, you know. What's the point in killin' and maimin' if you don't have any Bits?" "I prefer my profits in the form of the adrenaline I get from the killing." Frankensteed declared. "You seriously need to get out more, doc." Scalphunter shook his head. "Look, here's how it's gonna go...you can have all the other targets... but Echo is mine for the kill." Frankensteed seethed. "You got that?" "Alchemy's yours." Scalphunter said in a bored tine. "Got it. Just so long as I can have some fun out there, I'm not complaining..." "Enough talk." Frankensteed sneered. "Just keep moving." "Yeah, yeah..." Scalphunter scowled. "Joyless bucker..." "What was that?" Frankensteed snarled. "Nothing." Scalphunter feigned ignorance. "It better have been." Frankensteed told him. "Don't forget: I'm in charge of this mission. So you would do well to stay in line." "Whatever you say, boss." Scalphunter smirked. "Now that's the attitude I was hoping for." Frankensteed nodded. 'We'll see who comes out on top in the end, doc...' Scalphunter thought. Back in the den, Aether had finally found Nocturne's recordings. "Here we go." He smiled, holding up several cassettes and a tape player. "They're all here. And they're even numbered, so you can start at the beginning, and go right on to the end. Your father was nothing if not practical..." "Okay..." Echo slipped the first cassette into the player. "Here goes nothing..." Echo pushed "play." "Greetings." Nocturne's voice declared. "I am Professor Nocturne Ballad Alchemy, MD, PHD, magibiologist. However, to whoever is hearing these recordings, you shall refer to me by my code name, Flatfoot. I know, it's a rather silly name, but the others were insistent upon me using it, so here it is. But to the point: today, I embark on a new branch of research, one which I believe will change the field of biology as we know it." Echo stared at the player, barely able to believe his adoptive father's voice was coming out of it. "That research is of one of the lesser known branches of the controversial subject that is dark magic. Dark magic is a form of magic that is forbidden outright in ninety percent of the world, due to it being easily one of the most powerful yet deadliest forms of magic known to pony kind... and how can it not be? There are spells out that could allow the user to control the masses, obliterate ponies' minds, drain the magic out of others, even turn the most harmless of objects into savage monsters." Nocturne continued. "But I am not here to discuss dark magic. I am here to talk of the unique and powerful bearers of the Tenebros gene, known to the few that are aware of them as 'Nightcrawlers'. These ponies, possessing a one-in-a-million genetic quirk can each access a totally unique ability based off of the dark magic repertoire, especially spells that had never been documented before. Such a wondrous anomaly must be studied. The inner workings of the Tenebros gene is a mystery that demands solving. And I intend to do so. Just imagine the incredible things these Nightcrawlers could do for the world. Their strength, their power... the mind reels at the possibilities of those powers being harnessed for the betterment of Equestria..." "Well, well." Echo smiled. "Who knew we were so alike?" "My employers also believe there is great potential to be had in understanding the Nightcrawlers." Nocturne continued. Echo hit the "pause" button. "Employers?" He frowned. "Who are these 'employers' he spoke of?" "I'm afraid I do not know." Aether answered. "Most likely they were other learned ponies, also seeking to unravel the secrets of the Tenebros gene." "Perhaps..." Echo mused. "Whoever they were, father no doubt saw fit not to tell me about them, too." Echo resumed playing the recording. "Through patient research, I have discovered a town in the south of Equestria which boasts a higher concentration of Nightcrawlers than any other." Nocturne's voice revealed. "I intend to travel there, and see if I can gather some firsthoof knowledge of their powers. If all goes well, I will continue to record my findings. Until then, this is Flatfoot, signing off." The recorder clicked off. "Fascinating, is it not?" Aether asked. "I suppose you could call it that." Echo admitted. "It is quite intriguing... though I still fail to see why my father never spoke of this branch of his research with me." "Who knows?" Aether shrugged. "Perhaps he didn't think it mattered. Did you have your powers back then?" "No, actually." Echo admitted. "I only awakened them recently... to be honest, my powers aren't exactly my original." "Original? You had another dark magic power?" Aether blanched. "Yes... it's a rather long story." Echo sighed, "But let's just say that I appreciate these microcrystals a lot more than my last power." He emphasized his point by bringing up a pillar of microcrystals. "Ah. Maybe the reason your father didn't say anything was he wasn't aware that you were a Nightcrawler yourself." Aether remarked. "Your father may have simply wished to keep such a sensitive and controversial topic from your mind." "I suppose so..." Echo muttered. "Still, it would have been good to know..." "Would you like to listen to the next tape?" Aether asked. "Maybe tomorrow." Echo declared. "It's been a long day..." "I imagine it has." Aether chuckled. "Not many can go toe-to-toe with Artorias and live to talk about it. It's no wonder you're tired." "'Tired' is putting it simply." Echo shook his head. "Let's head to the kitchen." Aether suggested. "The others will probably be there by now." "Good idea." Echo nodded. Carrying the tapes and recording with him in his saddlebag, Echo exited the chamber alongside Aether. They reached the kitchen chamber to find Sunset talking with Elatha, the other eating their own food. "Ah, there you are." Sunset smiled at Echo. "I was beginning to think you'd ditched me." She added jokingly. "Never." Echo planted a kiss on Sunset's lips. "Ew!" Snow cringed. "You said it, kid." Wave snorted. "So, you found those notes, huh?" Sunset eyed the tapes and recorder sticking out of the saddlebag. "Yes." Echo nodded. "'Flatfoot' was indeed my father, and he really did perform research into Nightcrawlers." "How about that?" Sunset mused. "Guess that big house wasn't the only thing he left for you." "Except I knew about the house." Echo frowned. "It's hard to believe my father would keep this from me. But as Aether said, he must have had his reasons." "Forget about it for now." Sunset urged. "Have some food. The berries here are really great." "I am feeling quite ravenous." Echo smiled, helping himself to some berries. As Echo ate, Artorias entered the chamber, followed by Nano. "I see you've settled in quite nicely." Artorias noted. "As well as we could." Sunset shrugged. "I'm sure you must be tired after such a long day." Artorias declared. "Nano, please escort our guests to one of our rest chambers." "Right away, sir." Nano nodded. "Not so fast." Elatha declared. "Artorias, I believe you owe our guests an apology?" "For what?" Artorias growled. "For trying to kill Echo!" Sunset yelled. "It's alright, Sunset." Echo declared. "He was just defendin-" "That doesn't matter." Elatha growled. "Echo came here intending to help us, and you nearly killed him. That warrants an apology." "So true." Sunset nodded. "You can't expect to-" Artorias started. "Artorias..." Elatha glared at him. "Come on, already." Snow also glared. "Say you're sorry." "...Fine." Artorias pouted. "I'm sorry I tried to kill Echo. Happy?" "Very." Sunset grinned. "Now, how about that rest chamber?" Echo offered. "Of course." Nano nodded. "Follow me, please." As they left the room, Echo noticed Artorias glaring at Sunset. "Was that really necessary?" He asked his wife. "Uh... yeah!" Sunset scowled. "He tried to kill you!" "He's not the first, remember?" Echo declared. "After a certain point, I stopped taking it personally." "Well I don't." Sunset spat. Nano led them to another wooden door. "Here it is." He opened the door. "Enjoy your stay." Inside the room was a side-by-side pair of hammocks fashioned from tree branches and leaves, and a bark table with an old lamp on it. "Hmm." Echo smiled, putting his saddlebags on the table. "Not too bad, all things considered." "I guess so." Sunset shrugged. "Pity we don't have a bed we can share, though." "Can't be helped." Echo shrugged. "We'll just have to put up with it... though I'll miss our bedtime cuddles." "Me too." Sunset nuzzled him. "You know, with the exception of Wave and Artorias, this bunch isn't half bad. Hard to believe some ponies think they're terrorists." "You know how these rumors start up." Echo sighed. "Ponies make up all kinds of crazy things about those they don't understand." "Poor folks." Sunset sighed. "If only they knew what we knew." "Yes, if only." Echo nodded. They changed into their nightwear, put out the lamp, and climbed into the hammocks. Though they couldn't snuggle together, they at least were able to reach over and hold hooves. They fell asleep like that, staying together in peaceful slumber. Meanwhile... Aether walked through a passageway, which led up to a hollow tree trunk. He climbed up several hoofholds carved into the inside. At the top, he passed through a hole in the side, leading to an outlook built atop the tree. Artorias was standing upon the outlook, looking at the full moon. "You wanted to see me, Artorias?" Aether asked. "Yes." Artorias began, not breaking eye contact with the moon, "It has something to do with the bat and his wife." "Artorias, I looked into their heads. They are of no threats to us." Aether sighed. "I don't believe that." Artorias grunted, "They claim that they want to help us, but I have a feeling that their idea of help greatly contrasts with our agenda..." "You think that they might be planning on interfering with the Shadow Stalkers' main goal?" Aether frowned. "I don't think... I know." Artorias growled, as he unfurled one of his wings and the letter that Echo gave him fell to the ground. "What is this?" Aether picked up the letter. "The letter that supposedly states that we were terrorizing some family that lived here in the woods and brought those two here." Artorias declared, as Aether browsed the letter. "Note how it doesn't explicitly mentions that it was us doing the terrorizing... and look at the kind of paper the letter is written on..." Aether examined the paper. "If I'm not mistaken, this paper is formed from the wood of trees in this very forest." Aether realised. "And let's face, not many ponies from Daleshire are willing to come by these parts anymore and cut down these trees..." "Exactly." Artorias nodded. "Which can only mean this letter came from a member of our pack." "One of our own tricked Echo and Sunset into coming here?" Aether frowned. "It is imperative that we find the one who brought those two here, and deal with him or her swiftly." Artorias snarled. "But Artorias, surely whoever wrote this did it with the best intentions for the pack." Aether protested, "There's no need for rash actions." "Don't you get it, Aether? By writing this letter and bringing those two here, they put our lives and security in jeopardy. For all we know, they could have led the 'monsters' right to us. Good intentions or not, that is something I cannot excuse." Artorias snarled. "Shouldn't we at least give Echo a chance?" Aether offered, "I mean, he did take down four of our own without much hassle. Maybe he could be a great addition to our pack. And surely Sunset and her foal could be useful too." "No." Artorias shook his head. "I don't care how strong he is. I do not trust him." "You don't really trust anypony though." Aether pointed out. "I trust you, my friend." Artorias declared. "But trust is not something I can extend to everypony who comes our way. The wolf who isn't wary strangers most often ends up slain." "True." Aether sighed. "And this wolf must protect his pack." Artorias added. "And that means keeping the outsiders as far away as possible. We'll let Echo make his little investigation, then he and his wife can leave." "As you wish." Aether nodded. "You are this pack's alpha, after all." "And as the alpha, it is my duty to keep us safe." Artorias said sternly. "Associating with outsiders could easily turn bad for us. If we allowed every pony we ran into within the den, it wouldn't be a safe haven anymore." "Not even close." Aether nodded. "It seems it is our destiny to hide out here, for the rest of our days." "Yes." Artorias said wearily. "But at least out here, we are safe from those who hate and fear us. That is what matters the most." "That's right, old friend." Aether smiled. "Will you be coming in soon?" "Perhaps." Artorias gazed back at the moon. "I find it peaceful up here. To look at the moon, and feel a brief moment of peace. It helps me get through the night." "As you wish." Artorias nodded. He descended back down the trunk. Artorias continued to gaze at the moon. It was so serene, so peaceful, so unlike his own life... "If only I knew this kind of peace..." Artorias sighed.