A/N: Welcome to chapter 2. This is where things begin to get a bit more interesting...

Anyway, this is probably going to be the last of the first initial chapters that I put out quickly. I have a bit more done, but I don't have my update schedule completely figured out yet so I don't want to jump the gun on it. I want to aim for weekly, but we'll have to see. Likely, it will end up being biweekly like Shadow of the Mind, but I'm not sure since these are shorter chapters. At any rate, you guys may rest assured that I'll be doing my best to have them done in a timely manner.

The story's only just begun, but if you like it so far then feel free to favorite/follow and leave a review. And, as always, enjoy.

Chapter 2

The First Vision

Darkstalker shook his head, pulling himself out of those sudden thoughts concerning the unexpected arrival. He'd have time later to look over exactly what Indigo's role would be moving into the future. He knew, at least, that the other two guards were unimportant. Still, he'd rather have it be that way for her, too.

"I'm honored to meet you, too," he told Fathom, getting back to the task at claw. He couldn't let his much-anticipated meeting with him be thrown off by one unexpected occurrence. An idea came to mind to get Fathom away from the stifling party that was so clearly uncomfortable to him. "Has anyone shown you the view from the Royal Tower yet? May I?" he asked, trying not to sound like it was important. He turned to the Queen, who was watching their encounter, "I know you have many duties with your guests, Your Majesty, so I won't keep you. I'll just take Fathom and Indigo for a short flight and we'll be back soon." He'd have liked to have Fathom alone, but he could already see that Indigo was not about to let that happen.

Vigilance immediately thought it was suspicious, but she relented so as not to offend her guests. Darkstalker began to lead the two Seawings out of the palace, trying to ignore the cascade of thoughts from both of them at once. Indigo was immediately more suspicious of his actions than the queen, and Fathom was terrified that they were following him to their doom.

Calm down, Darkstalker thought, wishing there was a way to preemptively relieve their fears, I'm trying to help you.

The exits took them through the packed ballroom and outside to a hanging garden, where they took off and flew through the trees. The noise of the party began to fade behind them as they rose through the sky, the light of the three moons reflecting off the puddles from the rain and lighting their way. It was a beautiful night in the Night Kingdom, and one that he hoped Fathom could enjoy before it was over.

He took them to an island in one of the dragon-made lakes about a mile and a half outside the palace. It was a peaceful place away from the noise of the Night Capital, and Darkstalker hoped that the soft lapping of the waves would help sooth his friend and his…"guard".

"This doesn't look like a tower," Fathom said as he alighted next to him. Indigo stayed airborne a bit longer, circling the lake and checking for threats before landing and doing the same on the island they were on. Darkstalker could read in her head her strong desire for Fathom's safety, and also her strong wariness of him.

"I'm giving you the grand tour," Darkstalker replied to Fathom, "Well, actually, I'm just trying to save you from that awful party."

"Oh," Fathom said, a bit flustered, "There was no need to—I mean, it's nice that the queen through all that effort, but—"

"No, it's torture for you," said Darkstalker wryly, "Especially after what you went through."

Indigo looked at him with a blank face and a (concerningly) equally blank mind. Fathom's gaze dropped to his talons.

"You know what happened?" he asked softly.

"Yes." Darkstalker answered simply.

"And do you know why I'm here?"

"Because we're both animuses," he said, "Animi? Huh, I'm not sure. That one doesn't come up very often." Unfortunately, his humor didn't seem to have much effect.

There was a soft click, and Darkstalker realized that Indigo had two very sharp and very dangerous throwing stars in her talons.

"Indigo—" Fathom said anxiously, and Darkstalker could hear the sudden increase of worry in his mind.

"He's here," she told Darkstalker, "to make sure you don't turn out like his grandfather."

"Then that should be easy," Darkstalker said as charmingly as he could, "I'm not murderous at all. I'm entirely delightful."

So was Albatross, both Seawings thought at the same time, and Darkstalker had to keep back a sigh. He'd known that it was going to be a long, hard road getting Fathom to see him as more than a potential psychopath, and it seemed like the presence of Indigo was not something that would be accelerating that revelation.

"Listen," he told Fathom, "If you're really that worried, then why don't make something? A—soul reader, of sorts, that could reassure you about who's harmless, like me, and who's teetering on the edge of a soulless killing rage. Liiiiike not me." Already he knew of several futures where that future contraption came in handy.

Unsurprisingly, Fathom was shaking his head rapidly. I can't, I can't, I can't, his mind cried. Darkstalker mentally kicked himself; he'd forgotten that now was not the best time to be suggesting that Fathom use his magic in any way.

"All right, settle down," he told the Seawing, "I can make it for you."

"No!" Fathom practically yelled at him. "You can't! You mustn't! You have to stop using your magic. That's why I'm here, to help you stop!"

Darkstalker took a deep breath, already looking forward to the time where Fathom trusted both himself and Darkstalker. He wished he could skip this part of their friendship, but it was an inevitable part of the future if they were to be best friends. Still, Darkstalker could already tell that now was not the best time to try to reassure Fathom of his safety by showing and explaining his scroll. That would have to come later.

How am I going to do this, he could hear the green Seawing crying out to himself, I failed so badly before. How can I possibly save him, and everyone?

"You don't have to be this miserable, you know," Darkstalker said softly, genuinely feeling for his friend that he knew so well yet not at all.

Fathom lifted his chin, and Indigo thought sadly, I wish I could help him. Darkstalker had already seen a connection between the two Seawings, and it seemed like he wasn't mistaken about it in the slightest.

"You went through something awful," he went on, reaching out one talon as though he could crush the memories in his claws. He wished he could. "All you need to do, or let me do," he corrected, "Is to enchant something to make the pain more bearable. Just—an earring or something that can help stop you think so much about it. Or maybe an armband that lifts or lessens the grief or stops the flashbacks. It can help so much."

Indigo's eyes immediately flicked to Darkstalker's jewelry, and he could hear her mind begin to question what kinds of spells he might already have on his them. Clever Seawing, he thought, She's smarter than she looks. I may have to be careful around her.

"I have to remember," Fathom said, oblivious to the distraction that was Indigo, "I can never stop thinking about it. If I do…it…it could happen to me. The memories make sure I never fall."

Darkstalker shook his head. How could Fathom keep such potential suppressed? How could he live a life constantly plagued by doubt and fear? Darkstalker knew that it could have been a dark and lonely fate that awaited Fathom it wasn't for him coming to the Night Kingdom to be with him.

"Don't you want to be happy?" he asked Fathom, "I can help you with that. You just need to trust—"

All at once he felt cold steel against his neck. Indigo was suddenly behind him, then above him as he was forced on the ground, her wings pinning his, his throat on a knife's edge. She'd moved with incredible quickness, and even with his gift of foresight he never saw it coming. For a moment, Darkstalker caught a glimpse in her mind of all of the hours that she'd trained to become faster and stronger so that no one could ever hurt her or Fathom again.

"Indigo, don't!" Fathom yelled, frozen in place and fixated on the blade held against Darkstalker's throat.

"He's too dangerous," Indigo cried, "He's already trying to mess with your head, can't you tell. This isn't safe, Fathom. I can and should just kill him now, to protect everyone." To protect you, was the obvious implication that Darkstalker could read in her mind.

Slowly and quietly, Darkstalker raised his tail, and with it his silver tail band. That one, small, purely defensive spell was a death sentence for Indigo, should he decide to use it. It was unideal compared to having his magic ready in his claws, of course, but it would work. The problem at claw was that he had no idea how killing Indigo would affect Fathom, as he didn't have to time to go over any futures, and he was worried that making the wrong call here could have a very negative affect on their relationship.

"No, Indigo, we can't," Fathom said, a moderate degree of terror in his voice as though he was appalled that she'd even suggest such a thing. "He's not Albatross—he hasn't hurt anyone."

Yet, rang in Indigo's mind. She gave Fathom an unamused look.

"Besides, killing him could start a war with the Nightwings."

"Or maybe save them," Indigo pointed out, "them and all of Pyrrhia."

"But…but I want to know him," Fathom said, "He doesn't seem dangerous." He seems like he could be a friend, the Seawing thought wistfully, and Darkstalker couldn't help but give a small smile where he lay. This was the Fathom that would become like a brother to him.

"That could be a trick—he could be using a spell on us right now," said Indigo, looking down on him with angry suspicion, "Maybe he's planning to kill us later."

Not Fathom, Darkstalker thought, Maybe you. He'd have to see if it would prove to be worth the trouble; he wasn't exactly enjoying her company right now.

"And I bet he's a mind reader, too," she added, pressing the blade a little closer to his throat. He in turn moved his tailband closer, although she didn't realize the danger. "Are you a mind reader? Don't lie to us."

Darkstalker resisted rolling his eyes; he had a feeling she wouldn't take well to it. "Of course I am," he said, "It's no secret. Every Nightwing with silver tear-drop scales by their eyes is a mind reader. I'm far from the only one.

"An animus that can read our minds!" Indigo said Fathom, her mind flaring with alarm. If Albatross had been like that, we'd both be dead. "Fathom, this could be our only chance to take out the most dangerous dragon in Pyrrhia."

The most dangerous dragon in Pyrrhia, eh? Darkstalker thought. He rather liked the phrase, and he knew that it was true—if he ever decided to follow certain threads in the future. And Indigo was right, this was likely the only chance she'd ever have to kill him. He'd make sure of that.

"Indigo," Fathom said softly, "Think for a moment. Isn't this what our tribe wants to do to me?"

Fathom knew exactly what to say to her, as Darkstalker could hear her thoughts hit a sudden wall of sympathy as she hesitated, struggling against it. He's right, he heard her think, but still…

Darkstalker took the moment to rapidly check some of the more immediate possible futures. Indigo killing him was pretty unlikely. Him killing her would be easy enough, should he choose to. But, wow, it would destroy Fathom. All kinds of terrible things might come in those futures. A heartbroken animus with nothing left to lose could be pretty hazardous company. Darkstalker hadn't realized until now just how much the other Seawing meant to Fathom.

Then, suddenly, as he went through dozens of futures in those brief seconds, a vision hit him that he was completely unprepared for.

He was sitting in the sands of a beach on the sea that was both unfamiliar and familiar at the same time, looking out over a beautiful sunset. He felt claws on his own and realized that he was not alone, but a presence that filled him with incomparable joy was with him. Their tails twined together, and he heard the dragoness that he loved whisper softly to him, "I love you." Darkstalker turned his head from the sea and towards the speaker, towards dark bluish-purple scales and dark purple eyes.

…He was looking at Indigo.

Darkstalker came out of the sudden future with a start, hardly believing what he'd just seen. Above him, the Seawing that had just been the subject of the unexpected scene still stood over him, poised to slice his neck with a flick of her claws. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it, his mind still reeling with whatever that had been.

Luckily, Indigo wasn't focusing on him, instead looking at Fathom. As such, she missed the odd look he gave her and the way he lowered his tail band. "All right," she said finally, and it took Darkstalker a moment to remember what she was even speaking about. She stepped back, still holding the lethal stars in her talons. "I hope you're right about this, Fathom."

"Please don't be mad," Fathom said to Darkstalker as he picked himself up. "She's just trying to protect me. It's her job."

A small flicker of pain shot through Indigo's mind. To her, it was so much more than just a job.

"I completely understand," Darkstalker said, rubbing his neck as he tried to compose himself. He still was trying to process what he'd just seen. "I'm not mad at all."

If he was, thought Fathom, he could use his power on us right now. He could have used it to escape from Indigo. Maybe he can be trusted after all.

I hope I didn't just make a really terrible enemy, Indigo was thinking.

Ordinarily, Darkstalker would have laughed at a thought like that. She'd just tried to kill him, and he was not a dragon to just let something like that slide. Yet, after what he just saw—well, he'd have to do a bit more thinking before he decided. As he recovered from the shock, though, he began to feel his resentment towards her actions begin to burn brighter than his curiosity about her. You probably did, was what he finally settled on for his mental reply to her, We shall see.

He turned his attention back to Fathom, and remembered the whole purpose of the night. What to do about Indigo could be decided later; for now, he wanted to finally get to know his friend.

"Hey, I promised you the view from the Royal Tower," he said, nudging Fathom with a wing and jostling him out of some unpleasant thoughts he was thinking, "You can see almost the whole Night Kingdom from up there. Come on, we'll have plenty of time for serious talk later."

He took off into the air, flying over the lake and back towards the palace. Fathom took off after him, and so did Indigo. Darkstalker had a feeling that he'd be seeing a lot more of her than he had ever foreseen. But now was not the time for focusing on that. No, tonight was going to be a great night, a night where he'd begin to help Fathom become the friend that he always knew he would be.

Poor Fathom, with all his anxiety and self-loathing, he thought, shaking his head a little, I can make it better. I'm going to show him what a gift animus power is. I'll give him a reason to be happy he's alive. Soon, all of his fear and guilt will be replaced with joy and friendship.

And then, once it is…

He paused and looked back at Indigo, flying next to Fathom and looking at Darkstalker suspiciously. Her face said it all: "I don't trust you." He shook his head again as he looked back towards the Royal Tower that he was taking them to.

Whatever he had seen must have been a fluke. A one-in-a-million future that had a virtually zero chance of ever coming to be. There was no way that he would ever be with a Seawing, let alone one that clearly hated him and wanted him dead. No, he was not going to let that weird vision ever come to pass.

Once it is, his mind continued, when Fathom has something else to live for…that's when I'll take care of the problem that is Indigo. Permanently.