A simple box had been used to stuff the papers and a heavily wrapped orb into along with the other small items found, with it all was a note written by Shadow laid atop the pile before sealing. Sending it off was easy enough and afterword's they were back to enjoying the remainder of their vacation.

It was not until the second day that they actually traveled the streets to examine the various wares and sights. Shadow's main interest was going to the lighthouse and climbing its considerably long flight of stairs gained a marvelous view of the city and sea.

From high on her perch the mighty city of Obiad was laid out for her to see its peoples mere ants while the ships below looked like miniature toys. Seeing the ships at sail up close was one thing but seeing the large vessels gliding along with billowed sail or oars dipping low to drive them on was truly a spectacular sight to behold.

Valkardian had waited down below until she was finished ogling the various environs and after climbing back down the stairs only wanted to know if she had anything in mind, his own interest's already played out. Strangest of all was when she offered him a chance to join her but why she could not fathom yet for some reason he accepted.

The dye work's were intriguing but smelled horrible, a small ferry took them across and browsing their vast stock of vibrant bolts of cloth Shadow's curiosity continued to grow. What would her family think sending them several bolts of such nightmarishly expensive cloth in Equestria yet here was so cheap.

One thing that stood out to her were the workers. It was easy to tell who worked with the dye's the most since their fur was permanently dyed from the knee or elbow down. None of them seemed to mind however, it came with the job. She visited the neighboring buildings where workers turned the fine strands of brightly colored thread into long bolts of cloth and made jaws drop after purchasing several and dropping them into her larger magical bag one by one.

Curiosity abounded as to how she had done that but waved off their questions saying it was just magic and kept stuffing one bolt after another inside. When her parents got this parcel their minds would be sent reeling, assuming they could find a large enough box, or crate.

Returning to the city Valkardian ushered her off to one side to examine another local creation: perfumes. Vast quantities of perfumes and cosmetics were laid out in small stores that she had missed and browsing their selection found many that were... "Unique" but many more that tickled her fancy.

Picking was impossible so Shadow decided to just buy a little of everything that she found interesting from the various shops and stuffed them away. Valkardian was rather amused with her choices making little jabs now and then but she ignored him.

Moving away from the sweet smelling shops he pulled her aside again to visit a clothing shop and after a short conversation stood aside while she found herself being dragged away by a pair of seamstresses. Stripped to her underclothes Shadow was doted over as they measured and searched their stock for anything that would fit a being with wings.

Offers to make alterations were given and accepted by Valkardian as he called back now and then. It must have taken hours but when Shadow left the store her new ensemble fit with the locals on the conservative side. Dressed in a one piece dress that hugged her hips and with alternating colors and zig zagging patterns.

Stepping into the street she felt rather self conscious being dressed so well and hauling her off again Valkardian purchased an elaborate silk cap for her head with gold trim with an ornate band to hold it in place. When he was finished buying she got a look at herself and gaped at the sight in the mirror as an unknown thestral stared back looking every bit the well to do noble.

Gold bracelets with lavish designs and insets, another arm band and stylish jeweled sash for her waist adorned her form. Shadow bent and twisted herself to get a better look from various angles at her changed form.

"Alright. Why?"

"You earned it. Besides why come all this way and not bother to look the part at least once hmm?"

"My other clothes looked the part."

"Different region. Now you look like the locals here and frankly it suits you quite well. You are quite bewitching in that ensemble."

"Well at least you did not buy me one of those dresses that do not cover the breasts."

"If I had?"

Shadow opened her mouth a moment before stopping and looking at Valkardian's blank stare and closed her mouth. Turning her attention back she quickly strapped on her sword belt but had to give up slinging her bag across the back. Valkardian took it without complaint and the two left the shop and continued to tour the various stalls and sights.

Their elaborate dinner had been consumed and now they sat sipping tea quietly in their hotel room. This trip had raised so many questions Shadow had no idea where to even begin but she had to try to find answers. Valkardian was himself an enigma but the few times he talked about his past only confounded her that much more. Still, he was honest and answered questions freely.

"I know you said its depressing to think about but I really do want to know... What kept you from having any relationships for all those... Millennia? You said something about when others finally learn your nature?"

Valkardian set his cup down and let out a heavy sigh.

"Think about the time we have spent around one another, our words and actions then piece it all together."

"Killing, raising the dead, torture but only under extraordinary circumstances, sociopathic but also you care more than you admit... Yes. You are completely messed up but you never harm anyone unless they deserve it somehow."

"Who decides who deserves anything?"

"Judgemental. Still, your not mean towards others, over all that time at least a few mares would have looked past your faults."

"I do not consider anything you have named a fault but an advantage and a powerful one at that. What is the point of having family if you are unwilling to wipe out a few cities to protect them?"

"That's rather... Extreme. But in all that time only those two ever took interest in you?"

"No, I took an interest in them."

"My question still stands. What happened? You had to have tried more than just twice."

"Let me give you a shining example of what happened on two different occasions: First time around they did not mind me at all till they found out about my carnivorous side and I was exiled on the spot. Second time I slaughtered a group of bandits and raised them from the dead and offered them as servants to help them in the fields. You can imagine how that went."

"It sounds like you bring it on yourself."

His eye twitched.

"I will not hide behind a mask and lie about who I am to impress others. It is better to be honest and straight-forward with everyone. Also living so far underground and having little interest in living above deters most."

"So they all seriously hate you because of trying to help them?"

"Close enough."

"How exactly have you stayed sane?"

"Never said I was. Living as long as I have one tends to be rather insane after a time but venting my frustrations on the troglodytes and on the occasional spy or group of bandits also helps. Fishing too. Very relaxing. Also being so darned busy trying to scratch out an place to call my own was a rather tiresome and occupying experience and after a time those living above became too annoying for me to care about getting involved with them."

"So you just gave up?"

"Not worth the bother. Now what about you?"

"Eh?"

"You have been prodding me for information so now it is time you reciprocate."

"Worse than you, at least you tried. I was always too busy perusing my own interests in exploration to get involved."

"Got more than you bargained for then hm?"

"Yes but... I still want to know something else. A long time ago an expedition went into your caves and only one returned alive."

"I remember. That is why I was there the day you arrived, to make certain none would escape this time around. I too got more than I bargained for."

"What happened?"

"Long story short... The survivors was far enough behind that the guardians missed him, when he investigated he caught the tail end of the battle and made a run for it. His map gave him an edge on knowing where to go and after a three day chase he escaped. Had to visit him and retrieve the map too."

"That's why you had so much interest in my map then..."

"Yes. I have the original in my collection somewhere. Who was he to you?"

"My grandfather."

"I see, how did he die?"

"Insane."

"Do you blame me for that?"

Shadow had to stop and think on that one. It was true he had killed him in a way but also had just admitted to having a chance to finish the job and had not allowing him to live.

"Why did you let him live?"

"I do not really recall but probably because killing him would have been pointless at that point and drawn more attention that it would have been worth. Then again who would believe him anyway? Escaping my sentries is no easy task so maybe I did it to reward his tenacity and will to survive."

She stared down into her cup of tea for a little while letting his words sink in slowly. He could not remember. Hearing that had upset her but considering how long he had lived and the lives lost and taken life must be rather cheap.

"So life is that cheap then?"

"NO. Despite all my troubles and isolation, the killing and slaughter, life is something I hold dear. Locked away in those caves for how long I shall never know in the darkness taught me to appreciate the lives of others and not take them for granted. Mind you I have no aversion to wiping out whole cities with no mercy but I do not carry out such actions on a whim. If life were so cheap why would I have avenged Blood Lily?"

"At least one of us has an answer then."

"Care to elaborate?"

"After meeting you I just dont know anymore. Life. Death. It is all blurring, the value of one life versus another. I am actually assigning value to the lives of others like its perfectly normal and seeing those die who are held in lesser light is perfectly acceptable to me now. Never would I have imagined nor heard of slaughtering bandits happily let alone do it myself. Torture. I have actually been tortured a little and then done the torturing or at least stood by and allowed it then afterwords... I still do not and can not agree with how you treated that stallion but it is no longer unconcionable to me. What the hell are you doing to me?"

"Nothing. I only show you the possibilities and have given you a chance to learn. The rest was up to you and what you have become was as much your own doing as my own. At any point you could have tried to stop me or refuted everything but did not."

"Valkardian... Would my ancestors have approved of what I have become?"

"And what exactly have you become?"

"I dont know! Murderer, pirate, bounty hunter, warrior, I have no idea!"

"Have you murdered? Hm. Well think on this then. To kill without reason or justification is murder while to kill with reason and justification is either justice or justified. The only difference is perspective on who is right or wrong. What would ponies say about what you have done?"

"Murder."

"What about Qufai?"

"She enjoyed it and called it bounty hunting."

"So who is right and wrong?"

"I dont know..."

"Sure you do. YOU know the answer because all that really matters is that you did what you believed was right. The opinions of smaller minds that seeing killing others as atrocity must never be allowed to weigh on your mind or actions. Do what you believe is right no matter what anyone says."

Shadow took a breath and held it for a moment then released it slowly and glanced over at him.

"I am not a murderer. They deserved it."

"Good. Then quit worrying about it. Besides if they had not died they would only have gone on to kill or destroy lives. If anything it should make you feel happy."

"But it does! That's why I am so confused by all this! I enjoyed killing them! Enjoyed it!"

"So did I. Whats your point?"

*Urrrg!* "You are an ancient evil that can get away with it! Its not acceptable for people to enjoy killing others!"

"Really? Hm. What does your heart tell you?"

Settling back down and thinking it on it she had to admit her heart was happy with how things had turned it. A few hitches like the torture but nothing she had done was objectionable.

"That is all okay."

"Quit fretting over it then. Doing whats right should never be objectionable especially when you kill to do whats right. Besides. That is only the pony talking not the Thestral."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Celestia's teaching are battling with your true nature and what you have learned about your peoples past. So tell me who do you side with?"

"My people."

"I will remember you said that. Now to answer the question of if they would be proud of you. Most likely. You have been born and raised a pony but have broken free of it and continue to embrace them over the pony. Yes. I would say they would be proud of you."

Shadow nodded slowly but did not look any happier.

"I will get all your gifts sent off after we get back. Tell me Shadow what would you do if I just walked off and left you here free to your own ends?"

"What?!"

"Hypothetical. Not happening but I am curious now after all you have seen and learned."

"Explore more then go home to my family I guess."

It was getting late now and rising Valkardian bid her good night and retired for the night leaving Shadow to think to herself. What would she do if her freedom was regained? Stay with him or go home? Why would he even ask that? No. He would not let her go, that much was apparent. Everything she had learned and seen made her a liability to him and he could not risk allowing her just walking away.

What would happen when she got old? This new fear made her blood turn to ice at what would happen when she was no longer able to uphold her end of the bargain, though changed it was a very real fear.

Events had rushed by after that night, Qufai had born them back to their point of origin and wished them well. Making a quick exit of the city they slipped back to the little clearing and one spell later reappeared in the caves again. Bouncing from portal to portal they were finally back "home" again and Valkardian had instructed her to prepare everything to be sent home.

Shadow had arranged everything carefully with notes attached saying who got what including a collection of coins she had saved from her journey, perhaps her brother would find them interesting. Valkardian arrived some time later with a very large crate and had her pack it with everything but she kept the crocodile hide for herself. Magic would protect the contents and servants bore the crate away along with a letter giving away no real details and that her trip had not been recent but several weeks ago, this being caution on Valkardians part.

Settling back into the day to day events he grew distant again telling her only to be ready for more training. Remembering his comment on having journals about his arrival to this world she searched the library high and low but found nothing. She even asked a servant but got no response, it just went back to dusting the shelves.

Obscure. Where would he put something that was obscure... Two places. Bedroom where no one would ever look or his private study where it can be carefully watched. Since he was in his study that ruled one possibility out so that meant searching the bedroom.

Going over everything in detail took time and revealed a few books of interest but nothing else. She still hesitated to ask him directly but decided to try anyway. Calling out softly from around the door-frame he called her in and the question was popped.

"So you searched the library, bedroom and now you think it is in here?"

"You said obscure."

"Well you would be wrong. They are not kept here. Out."

What did that leave then? What would be obscure? Not the treasury she hoped but what else remained to search? Shadow had the run of the place now except he lab and a few other rooms that always remained sealed and under guard. A few did remain however that were not.

Picking a door and entering the dusty interior with rows of bookshelves mostly empty a pang of hope rose up. This room was certainly obscure but had been surprisingly close to the main bedroom, its small polished interior hinted at once having been planned for use then quickly forgotten.

Walking around the piles of ancient crates and containers she browsed the shelves and their ancient tomes. They were so old and bound with reptilian hide... Pulling the first free and hefting it over to a crate and laying it down gently she pulled it open and froze. This tome was not written on paper but leather, page after page of velum.

There was not enough light to read in the room so taking it with her Shadow retreated to the library and laid the heavy tome out and flipped it open. This was it. The first in the series of what had happened to him.

Most she already knew, his arrival in the dark caves and such. This was the long winded version and skipping ahead she found more interesting tidbits. Having first arrived on the surface the world was a wild place, ponies were little more than wild animals running in small herds through the trees or pastures trying to avoid predators.

Contact had gone very poorly despite magic allowing him to speak with them, they were just so wild it was impossible but not for lack of trying. Giving up he had set up his first "home" in a cave on the surface for quite some time and got rather good at living off the land.

Eventually he went back below having decided it was not worth it to remain above. While he had been driven mad in the caves Valkardian loved them all the same and felt better down below than above now.

On it went, his experiments, testing of cave life and learning the hard way. Meeting a basilisk had held her attention as he avoided the various dangers rather than fight them which sounded quite the opposite of him now. What would it be like if she met a basilisk?

While it was interesting reading about how he had managed to carve out an existence in the sparse caves it had no real value otherwise. So many attempts and failures only to try again and again. Somewhere out there was a cave packed with failures and shattered stone marking his many attempts at learning stone-carving and masonry.

Deciding to check the second book in the series Shadow returned the first tome and grabbed the second in the series. Time had no meaning till about halfway through when he had learned to use crystals to keep time and record rough information. Having figured enough time had passed he visited the surface again but found little had changed except the pecking order had been established.

Large dogs and other predators preyed on the ponies and others and figuring it would be a good a chance as any used magic to burn away a hunting pack. The ponies had not been very grateful, throwing stones in return.

Thus it went for century after century that turned into millennia. When the first stone age huts popped up he had been there to watch but did not lift a finger when they got wiped out by marauding predators. Now his time was spent mapping the entirety of the cave network magically and cataloging the various species.

Valkardian's remarks on hunting down the critters above for their hides was chilling but his discovery of what he called "necromancy" was fascinating. Having long guessed it might be possible he had tried many times to figure it out now that survival in the wildly dangerous caves was less bothersome.

A dead "feral gnoll" as he called it was the first experiment that went well and from there his tests blossomed out to include all forms of dead animals and even ponies. What truly grabbed his attention back then was learning to scry magically and learning who else was above.

Large sentient lizards had carved an empire out on the southern end of the continent amongst the jungles and crossed the mountain range to hunt and harvest in order to sate their growing appetites. That included ponies he noted.

What really stuck out to him though was finding the first ponies living in the caves. Purely by chance scrying revealed a colony surviving in the upper levels and he had gone to investigate. Unlike the ponies on the surface these had been bat winged and more... Welcoming... They did not try to attack or flee on sight which was an improvement.

Over a century later they had grown in number and deciding to take a small hand in things gave them the foundations of written language and agriculture. Testing continued to see how they would react and eventually he was no longer seen as a threat.

Unfortunately during this time a plague swept through and killed many and not being terribly adept at healing anything other than himself there was nothing he could do but watch. In time they rebuilt but at some point something went horribly wrong.

Flipping through the pages to find out what since events were chronological Shadow found the continuation and it revealed that the "gnolls" had dug into the cave and started a brawl. They had won and carted off the inhabitants. Pursuit was given but failed to find them instead finding a catacomb where the dead had been interred.

Valkardian still being shaky at necromancy managed to raise the dead and used them to spread terror after finding her ancestors but the repercussions were severe. While he had saved them they no longer wanted anything to do with him. Indeed they were grateful to no longer be on the menu but using the dead was an atrocity to them.

As each chapter went by detailing new encounters, most going awry as his patience was wearing very thin. Dogma, taboo and downright out of control superstition marred any attempts to help, not to mention killing was beyond abhorrent to the ponies above but he noted that was soon to change.