Artemis felt her legs buckle, nothing but fear and confusion clouding her mind. This stumble caught the other dragonet's attention by accident. Her eyes blew wide.

"Whoa, Artemis!" Mamba exclaimed, rushing to her friends side. Seaglass and Potent looked over worriedly, as did Mudpuddle and Tempest and generally all of her winglet. Something about that felt nice, but she was too in shock to care. The necklace was really warm now, uncomfortably so.

I warned you. The voice said.

You're- you're- the Darkstalker? She cried. No way.

He hummed, See, I knew you'd react like this. So predictable.

But you died thousands of years ago! And you're evil! You were buried for a reason. What they did to subdue you, didn't it work? This makes no sense.

You certainly know a lot about me, don't you? I'm not evil.. That's just a vicious stereotype about me. And Clearsight's bracelet worked just fine...Perfectly, actually.

A bracelet...I'm going to have to update my scrolls... She muttered.

Darkstalker laughed quietly. A fan?

Artemis growled, No, never. A reader. I never had much access to many scrolls, okay?

Sure, sure.

I don't understand.. Artemis thought to him. How are YOU the Darkstalker? Are you really him? How are you doing this?

Her necklace grew even hotter in response at the question. She knew deep down it couldn't be him, could it? It made no sense, not with how things were for her lately.

Slow down with the questions, Artemis. You're rambling in your head so much I hardly can keep up with you. Darkstalker said flatly.

Tell me. She demanded.

I AM the Darkstalker, okay? The bracelet Clearsight gave me...It broke somehow. Thus waking me up from my eternal sleep, all these years later. I am really him. Your so called evil Nightwing animus that killed his own father for no reason and was planning to take over the Nightwing kingdom and murder all the Icewings. See, I have an ability of seeing all the possible futures, and read minds- I can communicate with dragons like me because of it. He explained.

And is an animus, Artemis thought. Kind of an important detail.

He seemed to not hear her.

Only certain dragons, like you and another Nightwing I met a little while ago can hear me.

What was their name? She questioned.

Moonwatcher. Darkstalker sighed.

You mean, the Nightwing everyone's talking about, who left on the journey? She was in the Jade Winglet, right?

Correct. I'm worried. There were so many possibilities she wouldn't survive-

Darkstalker, or whoever you are. Artemis said. Quit worrying so badly, last I heard, she was fine.

I am Darkstalker. Stubborn much?

Yes.

I'm sorry, alright? It's been so lonely without her...Nobody else can communicate with me. Except you, of course. Now I have you! So I should be just fine.

Whoa whoa whoa, I never agreed to that. I don't even know if I should trust you at all. Not even a little bit. All the stories I've heard... and the fact this isn't adding up.

Those rumors aren't true. He said. Dragons just love trashing my reputation.

Does Moonwatcher believe that? Have you told her your story? She paused. Wait, can't telepaths only communicate with other telepaths? So does that mean Moonwatcher can read minds too?

Smart. He mused.

I thought those powers didn't exist anymore.

I'm lost on that, honestly. From what I know, being hatched and laid in the light of the full moons grants Nightwings certain powers.

For being a mind reader ancient Nightwing yourself, you'd think you would know. Wow...So how are you talking to me? I'm just a normal dragonet.

There is no such thing as normal, Artemis.

Well I wasn't hatched or laid in the light of the moons. She argued.

Maybe you were.

Not according to my blasted parents.

Well I believe your parents are incorrect. You are special. You have this...radiation of power. I can't quite describe it. It's just there. He hissed, and Artemis sensed a weird edge to his voice. She didn't like that at all.

Uh huh.

I'm serious. Why are you so skeptic?

Because. I don't believe I'm talking to a dead, Nightwing legend. She said. Also you're crazy.

Darkstalker sighed, It is quite a lot to take in.

That's an understatement, don't you think?

Stay safe today, okay? I'll talk to you later, Artemis...This information probably needs to still sink in.

Wait, Darkstalker. DARKSTALKER. She shouted to him, but got no answer. Just like that, she was brought right back into the real world.

It started with all the dragonets shouting her name.

"ARTEMIS!" Potent yelled.

"Wha-what?" She stuttered.

"Oh my moons." Tempest exclaimed. "That was freaky! It looked like you were have a fight with yourself."

"Talk about facial expressions." Snowfall said.

"Are you alright?" Clay asked, squishing himself between Potent and Mamba.

"Yeah," she nodded. "I'm fine."

"You sure?" Sunny piped up.

"I'm sure." She promised. "I just...had to think about something."

"Must've done some pretty deep thinking being that concentrated." Seaglass said, Mudpuddle and Mamba nodding in agreement.

"Yeah. Well. I'm good now." Artemis stood. "So what's the plan about this whole prophecy...?"

"Adventureeeee!" Seaglass shouted, pumping a fist in the air and jumping with enthusiasm.

"Chill your gills." Snowfall snapped, shaking his head.

"Haha! Nice." Potent laughed.

Snowfall glared. "It wasn't meant to be a joke."

"I guess it was just an unfortunate pairing of words." Mamba giggled, Snowfall smiled halfway at her.

"Sure."

"But back to the whole ADVENTUUUURE! The Dragonets promised to do some digging around, to see if anybody knows about these Twin Islands." He glanced at Clay and Sunny, who nodded and smiled uncertainly. "Who knows, once we find them- well. We could have a big journey ahead of ourselves." Seaglass chimed, his tail flicking in his enthusiasm.

"This is so exciting!" Tempest exclaimed. "Best friends on a adventure of a lifetime!"

"We aren't even friends..." Potent mumbled.

Mudpuddle rolled her eyes, as did all the other dragonets.

"Deny it all you want." Seaglass said. "But we know it's true, spiky."

"That is the smartest thing I've heard this Seawing say. Ever." Snowfall muttered.

Seaglass smiled a toothy grin, "Why thank you."

"Not a compliment." Snowfall growled, but he wore a playful smile.

Artemis brushed her wing against Potent's, giving him a reassuring and friendly glance. He shook his head, and growled.

"So...what now?" Mamba asked, just as Mudpuddle's stomach growled loudly.

"Lunch."

~~~~
Don't be so sure about our dear Darkstalker. There may be something even darker lurking...