The scent of caramel and Darjeeling, orchids and rose petals. A picturesque garden in full bloom in a bursting rainbow of the early summer. Emerald trees and grass-covered mountains fill the landscape, as well as fields of golden amber wheat that swayed in the ebb and flow of the cool northern breeze. Babbling waters of the nearby river runs below fed into a lake of deep sapphire glittering with flecks of gold across its surface. Reflecting the bright brilliance of the morning sun suspended in a cloudless azure sky. The faintest shifts in wind would bring the fleeting aroma of the nearby tea table that sat in the terrace garden of Equestria's iconic capital, overlooking the picturesque valley below. Its surface topped in a myriad of dishes and confections appropriate for a small but lavish tea party.

A collection of eclectic scents, from fresh bread and sweet butter to cucumber sandwiches and cinnamon buns. The sound of chirping birds warming in the early morning light accompanied the serene and peaceful palace garden. Fluttering to and fro from fountain bath to vine lattice that span between the pillars of white marble. A cozy alcove housing a pristine set of porcelain and inlaid silver filigree dishes sat as its centrepiece. The faint sound of waterfall and conversation drifting through the air. Pegasi flittering along the undefined sky paths. Their number among the other various visitors that was a constant dribble to this renowned and tranquil place. All of them seeking the quiet and colourful greenery for their own reasons. Celestia hoped those whom would seek sanctuary here would find some measure of peace. All but one, the one who now drew her inner focus.

Despite the words of her assistant brushing against the edges of her mind, whatever message that was attempting to be made could not find purchase and quickly slipped away. Their ethereal wisps of sound were lost amongst the ambience, merging with the background as they were swept with the breeze into the neglected and forgotten.

{ flashback }

Celestia flew through the bazaar of Tambelon, her mind filled with a cascade of possibilities, and none of them boded well for the future. (Why was the human here in the first place? Groger couldn't have contacted him. He didn't have the means of doing so, which would mean Shade came to the shadow realm on his own initiative. There are very few in the world that know of the time before and if the human had sourced such information from any of them then that itself would pose a whole host of problems. If not, then how did he find out? If there was some obscure reference in an archaic and ancient scroll or tome... He would definitely be the one to find it.)

She and Luna had chosen not to reveal any information pertaining to certain events in the past. Some things were best left to languish and rot in the annals of time. Words were powerful things and names more so. There were entities and old magics that grew stronger when spoken of and even some when thought of...

A memory of a time long ago, a bloom of recognition and a rising sense of dread slithered from her stomach and curled around her heart. Twisted vestiges colouring hate and hunger in the in-between. "NO!" She wrenched her mind from the twisted and malignant creatures that called The Veil home, prioritizing her focus. Lest she garner the attention of the mute-pigmented horrors in the beyond.

The old goat was a vile and abominable creature that would have been stricken from memory if not for a lesson instilled in her time and time again. ("Those that do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it." I need an order of operations, Priority 1. Is to collect death's Bell and see to it that it's lost forever. Priority 2. Is finding out how he came to know of this place if not the Bell itself. If I can get it away from him in a way that won't kill him. If Discord has something to do with this then I'll throw his statue into that dead star. The best-case scenario would be that, by some miracle, the Bell hasn't ensnared him. Or better yet, that Relic had vanished back to where it came from the moment of the necromancer's death. But that brings me back to the question of why was the human here to begin with? If not for the Bell then what would... Of course.)

Immediately stopping, Celestia turned from the thoroughfare and risked a teleportation. In the blink of an eye, she appeared once again in the throne room facing the corpse of one of her most hated enemies. While unnecessary, given the events of history she could be forgiven for a bit of paranoia. The dead of the past had proven decidedly lively on occasion. Making her way through the various corridors and hallways she searched for a very specific room or section of the castle. Turning a corner she faced a shortened hallway with a singular door. A door that was already open, that showed a... Library within. A circular room of one of the towers, a thousand feet in every direction. Staircases gave passage to the upper floors and the entire space was filled to the brim with bookshelves of wood and carved into the stonework covered every available space from floor to rafters.

Desks and stands, tables, pedestals, and nooks became more visible as the light of her horn cast eerie shadows as she passed. Making her way through the tower she took in the expansive area and reaffirmed her original conclusion. Bookshelves and desks, on and under tables, behind hidden corridors and secret passages. Enough to field a small army of scribes and archivists. Not a single spellbook, tome or scroll was left. Not a scrap of parchment, Papyrus or vellum remained. Even the small compartments inside of the desks that contained auxiliary inkwells and quills were devoid of their contents. No artefacts, statues or relics to be seen.

"He didn't even leave the preservation runes..." The arrays in the stonework and shelving had clearly defined lines cutting out the surroundings of each sectioned area. Beyond any doubt, if she checked the entirety of the city it would be exactly as this. Not a single written word was left in the whole of Tambelon.

(Groger may have been a prodigy when it came to his particular brand of magic but he wouldn't need nearly all that was contained within this place. At least it appears even less likely that the human's been possessed. Then again this itself could be a ruse... I need a plan.)

"...cess, Princess! Are you listening?"

{ End flashback }

"Yes, Pristine it's fine." Celestia responded in a deliberately enunciated fashion to prevent any irritation from bleeding through to her assistant.

"Really!? I hope he's taking apprentices, little Winterbloom would be so excited!" Exclaimed the sky blue mare.

"I'm sorry, what?" The Princess asked with a bewildered expression.

"Harrumph..." She huffed with a raised sceptical eyebrow, "You said you were listening."

"My mind must have wandered, could you please repeat whatever was before that?"

"Winterbloom recently received her cutie-mark and our herd couldn't be prouder! She's always had a mind for maths and figuring out how things work but none of the others in our family are very good at that sort of thing." Pristine said morosely as she looked to her hooves, a subtle sadness spreading along her features. Before perking up immediately after and developing a determined countenance. "I'll do anything to help my little girl, and I had heard that the daughter of House Star might be his first Apprentice. I don't know if that's true but it couldn't hurt to ask and two shouldn't be that much harder than one, I would think."

"Isn't Winterbloom Flower attending the school for gifted unicorns?" Celestia asked in a perfectly pleasant tone.

"Hmm?" The assistant inquired somewhat distractedly. "Oh, of course Princess, if anything that should help with her studies." Replying as she looked off to the winding paths of the garden. Her focus tangential as she wore a contemplative expression.

"Don't you think her attention will be spread somewhat thin if she were to try doing both? And if I may ask, why the want to go to him specifically?"

"Well, if he said yes then I'm sure we could figure something out with the scheduling. And why?" Pristine donned a warm smile as she recalled a joyous memory. "She got her cutie mark while she was in the school library a few weeks ago. They didn't have any texts on aeronautics and she was throwing a tantrum about it." The blue mare let out a giggle as she recalled that particular memory. "One of the librarians tried to take a book on Pegasus Magic from her because she couldn't check out that many books at once... She bit the librarian for trying."

Even the Princess found it difficult not to smile given the ebullient way the mare devolved into a peal of almost maniacal laughter.

"She's still grounded for that one, by the way." It was said as an afterthought as Pristine loosed another giggle. "She got her cutie mark trying to figure out how Skyships work and there isn't any...one? better than the human that made them himself. Even if Mr. Shade declines, then perhaps he could refer us to the next best thing."

Before the Princess could think to respond, she felt the familiar sensation of wrongness crawling along her skin. Turning her head to the main entrance from the castle, it was only a few seconds before she picked up the sound of weighted steel on stone. A faint ringing metronome that preceded the man wherever he went. (I think he does it to test others' awareness. There are few among those he interacts with and even fewer that he doesn't, that realize his boots shouldn't make that sound.) She had never asked him why he wore a guise but she was more than capable of venturing a guess. The illusion he wore to conceal what he had become while technically a lie through omittance was at least somewhat understandable. The alternative would prove to be an impedance under normal circumstances and insurmountable among the more skittish. Glowing eyes and pointy protrusions. Negotiations with anypony can be difficult at times regardless of other factors. More so if those he would be speaking to aren't sure if they could be making a deal with an alien creature or a literal devil. While not possessing the overly large build of the minotaur's he did not have a lithe body either. His height and proportion put him among the largest creatures she had encountered in memory, besides particularly old dragons. A strangely muscular creature considering his preferred lifestyle only entails carrying the occasional thick sheaf of parchment or a few overly large tomes.

Her assistant had noticed her distracted gaze and followed her line of sight. The sky blue mare then straightened herself and waited for his arrival with a patient smile.

The human stopped midway as something caught his attention. Not a few steps from the path he walked was the statue of a creature that was seemingly impossible in its configuration. Celestia had a vague sensation of concern as she realized what it was he was looking at but it was quickly cast aside. The amount of magic required to interact with that particular garden fixture in any detrimental way was beyond his means. Getting up, she began a steady trot towards his unmoving position. Standing rigidly, hands behind his back, he stared with an almost unnerving focus into the eyes of the chaotic depiction in stone. As she came closer he spoke.

"I feel compelled to quote the passage, "There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness about its proportions." Yet there is a cognitive dissonance created with such an observation and that of my own instinctual want for symmetry... for order. That," He said with a gesture to the statue. "Is the very antithesis of what I stand for..."

"And what, pray tell, do you stand for?" Celestia asked with genuine curiosity from her position behind him.

The human paused for a few seconds as his head tilted to the side, seemingly giving the question legitimate thought. "Logic, rationality, and deductive reasoning. I have and always will be a disciple of Science and its methodology." There was a certain pointed conviction that laced the deep pitch of his response.

"What of morality?" She asked with the same pointed intensity. The human chose then to turn to her, his focused gaze meeting her own.

"Morality? I assign the word the same gravitas as "normality". It bares many of the same connotations after all. What is normal for one culture is an entirely different matter for another. Let alone world to world. What is moral and just for society is all well and good but what those who comprise it seem to so easily forget is that in the past the standard that they hold so close now would be thought of as prudish, illogical, or ignorant. And much the same in the reverse. You, yourself being witness to the alternative. Holding onto memory and what was thought as "moral" only to be pushed to let go because of the ever-changing nature of societal development. So you ask of morality? The majority vote dictates what is moral, what is normal, and that itself is subject to constant change. Normalcy is to be non exceptional, it's unremarkable. Useful but... boring. To be ordinary, by its very nature, is to exclude the extraordinary. Am I normal? No, and I would take it as a grievous insult of the highest order were I to be referred to as such. Am I moral? By whatever arbitrary definition that happens to fall under, I have neither the time nor the inclination to care."

"You do realize that some would label you as amoral at best and evil at worst for that opinion."

"Haha, I suppose so. But then again there are some in the world that think of you as such, Your Highness. Not me of course, I think you're an absolute delight." He said with an amused smile. (I feel insulted... somehow.) His gaze then moved from her own to something at her side. "And may I inquire as to who this lovely little mare might be?" As attention was called to the newly arrived third member, Shade asked with a gesturing bow.

(I should have considered Pristine's perspective in all this. It's not as if she bears a distinct lack of patience... But her perception of him does not match with my own.)

"I-I'm Princess Celestia's assistant, Pristine Flower. I have to say I'm really happy to meet you, Mr. Shade." The blue mare giving a somewhat anxious introduction.

Taking a few broad strides he knelt in front of her assistant. "Pristine Flower, an elegant name." Smiling warmly and pausing for a single second he looked into her lavender eyes "...fitting." He stated genuinely.

The mare's anxiety slowly faded into bashful joyousness as she formed her reply. "T-Thank you..."

"You needn't thank me for making an observation, but you're welcome regardless. Let it not be said that I didn't return the gratitude of a lady." Holding out his hand in a gesture for her own, there was little pause before her hoof found its way into his palm. "If you would be amicable Miss Flower, perhaps I can make a request?"

"Oh, sure."

"Please just call me Shade, I've never been one for honorifics and titles. Let alone the pomp of noble etiquette. Sometimes it's a requirement sure, but I would like to think that perhaps we could get to know each other beyond the hollow pleasantries and platitudes and hopefully become friends?"

"Of course! But you have to call me Pristine, okay?" She replied in a wonder-filled tone.

"I don't believe that will be difficult at all Pristine, thank you."

"...Do you think I could make one more request?" The assistant asked with hesitation.

"I'm more than happy to lend assistance when I can. What is it I can help you with, Pristine?"

"..Um, is it true that Diamond Star might become your apprentice?"

"Well, there are a few things that need to fall into place but the short answer would be, yes. Why do you ask little one?" The human adjusted his legs into place for a more comfortable position. Focusing an attentive smile, he waited for her to continue.

"My daughter Winterbloom has always been a smart cookie, and she recently got her cutie mark trying to figure out how your Skyships work. She's been sort of obsessed with them since their announcement... I was wondering if maybe you could take another apprentice or tell us about somepony else that had the means and time to teach her?" Pristine's words came in a slight rush as she tried to convey her questions.

Adopting a thoughtful air he expressed his thoughts verbally. "Hmm, I don't believe it too difficult to have her tested when I next have the opportunity. Should she pass the examination then this could be the case of two being better than one I should think. And if not then perhaps I could make my own written works on the subject aval... Wait a moment, yes, I think that would do quite nicely."

As his eyes widened in a realization, he reached into an internal pocket of his cloak. "There will be a concert tomorrow evening in the Canterlot theatre following an announcement." Removing his hand, Celestia could see what was revealed to be clasped between his fingers. A bundle of familiar golden tickets for the Royal Canterlot Orchestra. "The announcement pertains to... well, I won't spoil the surprise but, serendipitous to be sure." He expressed pleasantly and with audible amusement in his rumble. "I cordially invite you, and as many guests as you would like to attend, to the soiree with myself and the others of House Star tomorrow evening at the theatre. You simply must come, Pristine. How many of your family and friends do you think could be coming along?"

Though a bit off-balance, she soon rallied her excited reply after a moment's thought. "Oh! um.. 5, If that wouldn't be too much trouble."

"It's no trouble at all, darling. Here is, six" He paused as their number was counted. "... Just in case. I very much look forward to seeing you and Winterbloom there."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! I just knew talking to you would be for the best! You have no idea how happy this will make her, and me too."

"As the saying goes, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." And it would truly be terrible of me to waste the potential of a budding engineer. If I may further burden you with a favour given and a favour returned?" The potential question implied in his inflection.

"Yes?" She asked while prying her attention from the golden tickets she held as they shimmered in the sun.

"I would like to speak to the Princess in private, if you would so be willing? There are a few things of import I would like her opinion on."

After a brief exchange of words between the three, Pristine wished them both good morning and made her way to the castle in a positively giddy mood. As her mind was filled with potentials for the future, the two she left behind made their way to the private section of the garden terrace.

"You undoubtedly know why you're here and before we go any further, I have questions." Celestia stated as she once again took her place at the table. "The books I can at least somewhat understand but why take the Bell?"

"You know what is said about those who presume, Princess. Perhaps you could elucidate me as to what you are referring to?" Shade asked as he sat. His peaceful smile not wavering as he looked over the plethora of various dishes before them. In a slow and methodical manner, he reached and grasped the tea kettle while he prepared his cup.

"You kno..!" Celestia paused as she took a calming breath. Finding her centre she spoke two words through thinned lips. "Death's Bell."

"Hmm..."Mors in campanis" or more colloquially known as "Death's Bells." The human spoke contemplatively, his brow furrowed in recollection. "Written to be a trio that adorns the belt of The Reaper Grim itself. Each Bell when rung before their matching gate would open the way to Elysium, Purgatory and Tartarus. Originally cited in..."

"I am familiar..." The Princess interjected abruptly.

The humans' movements paused for an instant before resuming. A small burst of air huffed through his nose offendedly as he spoke under his breath"...Rude."

Celestia was going to continue before she noticed what his hands had been doing while he spoke. (Did he just... He's stirring a spoonful of marmalade into his tea, like... some... some... some kind of heathen!) Staring blankly for a few seconds she rallied her remaining resolve, shaking her head to try to clear the traumatic memory, she continued.

"Groger was using the Bell to house his soul. A phylactery! That abomination was one of the vilest and most horrible creatures to have ever sullied this world with its existence. His atrocities are uncountable, his crimes innumerable! Should he ever rise again then his bottomless cruelty will consume this world like a plague until there is nothing left. I will see that damnable Relic destroyed or placed somewhere that no creature alive or dead will ever see it again!" Her tea boiled over the rim of the cup as her next words came in a quiet and deadly tone. Her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "And nothing will stop me."

Placing his cup down, Shade adjusted his sleeves as he sat straighter. Interlacing his fingers and placing his hands in his lap. He looked into Celestia's seething eyes with a razor focus, then calmly began to speak, keeping his peaceful smile all the while. Though his words were precise and polite, they came as honey poured over the thunder of his pitch. "I can assure you... Celestia. That should I have in the past, and in no varying degree am I saying that I have, or in the future ever happen across such an abominable and abhorrent thing. Then it "was", He stated while enunciating that singular word "is, or will be, dealt with quickly. Dealt with in such a way, that there would be only one individual in the world that would know where it's "destroyed" Again he enunciated. "remains to lay."

"How can I trust you?" She asked in an almost pleading tone. Using her wings she brushed away the tears that obscured her vision. First, one eye and then the other so she could keep him within her sight.

"You never have, and I very much doubt you'll start now..." The human took a deep breath, filling all his lungs could hold, and released it slowly. "I sit before you, a king's peace undefended. The board is open and your path clear. It's your move."

Celestia stood up from her seat, her horn a blazing gold. Arcs of plasma danced along its flutes as the rays of the sunlit sky became brighter. The tips of her mane and tail transitioned into a pale white. Even as she levelled her horn at him, he didn't move. He was still looking into her eyes, he was still smiling.

She fired, and a bolt of light struck him at his centre.

Celestia's magic began inundating her with a veritable landslide of information, and absolutely none of it made sense! The magic flowing from his magical core came in three parts, two she was already aware of but the third was...Eldritch. It was like a liquid void, a literal void. A tangible substance of something that didn't exist. What she expected to encounter was the taint of that necromancer's phylactery and not only did she not find it but even the ambient absorption of death magic encountered by those that experience the death of beings around them, wasn't there. It was like he was a new-born.

"You didn't try to move?" She said in observation.

"Do you remember when we first met? Not the first time in the dungeons, when you thought me nothing more than an animal. When we met the first time as sentient equals. Do you remember it?"

The Princess, somewhat off-guard from the seeming non sequitur. "Yes, I do."

"Then you, of course, remember what transpired during that meeting, correct? You remember testing me to see how I would react, when afraid. What I would do when driven by anger, by hate. You remember right?"

"Y-yes."

"My reaction, what was it? The answer, can you recall my words?"

"I will face my death with spite in my heart and hate in my eyes." Celestia recalled slowly

"My answer hasn't changed." He said as he rose from his seating position. Taking the few steps needed, he stood before the Princess. "Till next we meet, Your Highness. I mean that both literal and figuratively. Whether it be in the halls of Tartarus or the halls of the cathedral." Shifting to the side, he walked past her.

Celestia stood there frozen for a moment, her mind a flood of thoughts. Without evidence, she had no ground to stand on. To herself or others. (Tangential association, speculation, and hearsay. He is untouched by death magic which is itself impossible. But that makes it worse. His shadow magic, the hoof prints, the barren Library. Bloomberg's involvement....)

"Wait." She said as she quickly turned to the side, looking to the man's back as he walked away. "Wait!"

The human's leg swung out to take another step and stopped. His head turning so he could at least look her in the eyes. He had given his ultimatum, so he stood there, waiting.

"Bloomberg, why go after Bloomberg? What part does he play in all this?"

"Terribly sorry Princess, but I'm afraid I don't know what you speak of."

"Tell me! Why try to have him killed when you have nothing to gain!? You already took his crops!"

"Try?" He asked softly as he turned on his heel to face her.

Celestia, looking to his turning face, realized his eyes were narrowed. Glowing blue slits and black sclera. (Oh, no...) She only just realized what it was she said.

"Again I must apologize Princess." He spoke in a slow and very deliberate manner. "But I haven't the faintest idea as to what you are referring." The pitch of his voice was approaching unnaturally low. "Now if you will excuse me, I must go and give my condolences to the Vine family. It seems they recently experienced a house fire, with them in it. A dog was lost, her name Autumn, one of their family pets, and a cow named...Betty."

Author's Note

If any of you lovely people caught my nod to one of my favorite HP FanFictions then congratulations, you get a fresh out of the oven Darkside confection known as a cookie! Oh! And it's good to be back. Thank you for your patience everypony.