Making choices

The next day wasn't very jolly. In the very beggining, Hase and Formidon flew away and remained in the air, soaring about 600 feet above the rest of the group. The Mane 6 were still befuddled about what had occured the night before.

" He must be goin' through somethin' harsh. " Applejack mused out loud.

" Do you think that's why he looked as if Discord stole his birthday cake? " Pinkie Pie asked her.

" Applejack, you have a point there. " Twilight spoke.

" This isn't the Hase you know. Remember how he told us the truth about his trap before we left Aseamos? "

Everypony nodded, as they recalled the events of that faithful evening. After the success of the comedic play, the group had managed to capture the last lord of the elements and open a portal back to Equestria. Before they went in, however, Hase had refused to come with them, since otherwise a trap would be activated, one that would make everypony in Ponyville immortal. Amazed by his honesty, the Mane 6 had insisted, that he'd come with them.

This wasn't the same pony that had sat down next to the fire the day before. The pony, that had, had a serious problem he wasn't willing to share with his friends. In order to conceal it, he had lied to all of them, lying them without any regrets up to the point of earning a mantle, created of lies. Later in the evening, Vortex had warned them not to look directly in the mantle. In his current instable state, he said, Hase could easily unleash its mind- warping powers, though not on purpose, and somepony might sink in one of its horrible illusions.

Suddenly, as he was recalling all, what had happenned in Aseamos, while they were liberating the land from the six lords, Spike had a very accurate idea of what was actually going on. The particular memory, that had brought this idea to his mind, was the feeling he had when he had seen Hase and Rarity kiss. Having had a crush on the white unicorn for years and seeing her choose somepony she met only a few days ago over him had resulted in the most miserable minutes of his life. Luckily, realising what impact his doings had on the dragon, Hase had calmed him down and given him something, that was supposed to bring him luck finding a new love in his life. While the medalion wasn't of much use, Spike had felt better when he had realized Hase had undergone the same process as him once and understood how he was feeling.

Now, having already felt those feelings, he took a glance at Rarity, while the rest of the mane 6 were still discussing probable theories. The white unicorn smiled at him, but it was a sad smile. Spike could be certain. While the faces of the rest of the Mane 6, even Pinkie Pie's, expressed mostly confusion, Rarity's was overflowing with sadness and melancholia she had managed to conceal until now. That didn't go unnoticed anymore.

" Ar' ya alright, Rares? " Applejack asked, concerned about her friend.

Spike coughed to draw the mares' attention. He succeeded.

" I believe I have the answer to your questions. " he proclaimed. The baby dragon then took a glance at Rarity, awaiting her to start speaking.

" I guess there is no use hiding it from you. I wonder why I considered it an option in the first place. " the white unicorn spoke, after letting out a sigh.

The fashionista mare's friends were all ears.

" Vortex and I had a conversation yesterday. Both of us were concerned about Hase, since now we all know what stands atop the last weapon. "

The five mares and the dragon nodded in agreement, as they recalled the story of the black alicorn.

" We were extremely worried and wondered how to stop Hase from getting any more weapons, and the truth came up... " the white mare sighed again.

" ...that I'm the reason for him getting all of those weapons. "

" I think you might be overreacting, Rarity. " Twilight tried to bring her friend out of what she thought was a pointless self- accusation.

" I wish I was, dear. Why did Hase get the mace? He had to save me. Why did Hase get the whip? He had to save me again... "

" Ah'm sure he didn't get dat mantle because 'f yah. " AJ assured her.

" On the contrary. Vortex convinced me, that if I break up with Hase for the time we're in this dimension, he'll stop getting those weapons. I really thought it would work. " the dissappointed unicorn responded.

" Sooo... why don't you two simply get back together? " Rainbow Dash suggested.

Rarity looked at her pegasus friend in utter shock, but then she was brought back to her melancholic state:

" How am I supposed to do that, Rainbow? How will I be able to look him in the eyes after I caused him so much pain over the course of only a few hours? What if one of the feelings he feels when I apologise to him makes him get the next weapon? I can't risk that happenning. The plan failed, but we'll have to follow it until this dimension stopps affecting Hase. I beg you all, please, don't tell him anything about it. " the unicorn almost cried.

" We won't. We will always stand at your side " Twilight assured her, after the six mares joined for a group hug around Rarity.

" After all, that's what friends are for. " Fluttershy told her weeping friend.

Meanwhile, 600 feet above them, Hase and Formidon were about to begin a simillar conversation. For nearly an hour the pegasus had stood on the back of the black dragon without saying anything. Finally, having had enough of this silence, Hase's friend began a conversation:

" Spit it out already. " he said, annoyed.

" Spit out what? " the inventor asked, as he was brought out of his sad thoughts.

" What's up with you? Ever since yesterday afternoon you're behaving as if you have the fire flu... wait, this expression doesn't really make sence for you. " the dragon pointed out, before realising, that this expression wasn't suitable when speaking to ponies.

" I have no idea what you're talking about. " the scientist replied. His newest acquisition, the Mantle of Deceit, was waving behind him, because of the wind blowing in his face.

" I'm sure you have. For an example, what's up with this cloak of liars on your back? " even though dragons had a very good hearing, Formidon had forgotten the name of the mantle Vortex had spoken about the night before. The dragon had overheard it while he was in the wagon.

Hase sighed. Apparently, he'd have to tell the truth. The whole truth.

" Everything is wrong. " he spoke.

" Everything went wrong from back when we left Equestria. I could cope with my father appearing, my species being changed and being required to learn some weird magic, that could destroy the world. " Hase used his sarcasm.

" I could actually deal with it. Probably it would have been something ordinary for me in about a month. Then here we are. Called upon to deal with dictators in what I believe is the homeworld of crime.

Even that's not the biggest problem. I killed ponies, Formidon. I killed them, even though I had promised never to kill. For a brief period of time I thought my friends hate me. Yesterday the same thing happened all over again. Now I understand it probably isn't that way, but... what I love most has been lost. "

" Aaah... fractures of the heart. " the dragon figured it out.

" Not only. " Hase protested.

" She simply came to me yesterday and told me, that we can't be together any more. Just like that. Without any explanation. All these days, after all those wrong things I did, she was my only relief. I killed those ponies to protect her. I neutralized a whole town's guard just to go and save her. I took an arrow to the flank! And now what use is there of what I've done? What excuse do I have for these deeds of my mine? None. I'm still the useless pony I was two days ago. Nevertheless, back then I had a purpose. I had a dream. Now it is gone. What use will there be in life even when we return to Equestria, when I wouldn't be able to hold her in my grip ever again? "

" I don't know much about love. " Formidon confessed.

" Although I did learn a lot about friendship these days, looking at you and your friends. Your friends will never leave you, Hase. If the lady of your heart has left you behind, fight for your friends. Because they sure will fight for you, when you need them. A female's heart is more complex than anything else in this world. Who knows, perhaps a week from now she'll again be in your laps. I don't know how a heartbreak feels, since I've never loved, but you can't let it distract you. You made an oath, Hase. Then you sealed it with blood. You swore, that from that day on, you will protect whoever can't defend themselves. You swore, that you will do whatever was needed to keep those ponies safe. Well, look around. Everypony here secretely awaits their savior, who will bring back peace. The whole land is begging for this help. The death of those ponies you killes, even though you didn't do it on such purpose, relieved this land a bit. Passengers would now be able to safely walk the road from Graywood to Smith's Keep. However, this isn't enough. While the tyrany continues, new robbers will take the spot you freed from their influence. How can you be useless, when you made a difference? This land doesn't need ponies with enormous power like your father. It doesn't care about them. The ponies need somepony, who will make a difference. You made an oath you will be that pony. What do you do now? You cry over your broken heart, even though your friends' love will thaw it soon enough. Are you a stallion or what? "

The last words Formidon shouted. Inspired by his friend's speech, Hase deserted his self- pity and stood up on the dragon's back, the Mantle waving even stronger now.

" Yes. I am! " he yelled in response.

" Then you might just as well want to go back to helping the ponies, that need you. " the dragon told him.

The dragon, the pegasus and the group bellow them were approaching the entrance of the passage. The Stream dug through the mountain, only about 3600 feet in this part, digging its way through and connecting the west and the east half of Runcinia. The waters of the river, which grew significantly after this morning the group passed another river, which according to the map was named Fastflow, now divided the two banks about 60 feet from eachother, and according to Midnight Bell, the Stream was a very treachorous river inside the Pass, especially in the ravine of screams.

The ravine of screams, named that way because of the sounds the wind produces when it passes through it, according to the amateur magician, who had also studied geography in her magical academy, stood in the center of the passage. There the steep slopes, that served as borders to the rest of the passage, suddenly turned into vertical cliffs, only about 30 feet away from eachother. There the river was forced to fit in a tighter riverbed, since the bases of the stone walls, unlike the rocks themselves, weren't limestone, but pure granite, which the water couldn't carve. This turned the river into a series of dangerous whitewaters and whirlpools, which made travelling by water impossible. There wasn't any space for pathways in the gorge as well, turning the ravine into a barrier for the travelers. There was only one option: to climb up the mountain's slopes, walk on the ridge for a few hours and than come back down. Two villages, named Westend and Eastend for their positions, equal in size, stood on the two ends of the gorge. According to Midnight, they would reach Westend in the end of their first day in the passage. Which was the next day, since the sun was coming closer to the horizon and it was clear the group would have to spend the night somewhere at the entrance of the passage. Luckily, according to the bronze- coated unicorn, there was an inn at the passage's entrance.

Midnight Bell also spent some time telling them about explorations on the ravine's top. According to explorers, a rare species of flower trived on the top of the vertical cliffs. One could divert from the main ridge route to go see the gorge from above, although their unicorn guide didn't reccomend it. Many explorers had found their deaths in the white waters of the Stream, not dying from the fall, but from the river.

She also told them about the deserted ancient tower at the west entrance of the passage. Built centuries ago, it served as a watchpost of the growing Runcinian Kingdom against the tribes to the west. The tower stood on a cliff, overlooking the planes to the very horizon. Wardens could notice the other tribes's armies forming from miles away.

One thing the unicorn mare didn't know was, that the tower also served its purpose now. A white hooded figure stood in its ruins, observing the group, which was about to enter the passage, probably in order to seek shelter from the cold of the night in the inn. The tall mare had taken the flight from Smith's Keep to the entrance of the gorge for two days only. The last day she had spent resting from the fatiguing flight and waiting for the group. She had prepared everything already. The tall figure knew the region of the passage very well, and now that the group was here, her plan could finally be fulfilled. She glared at the sky through the veil. A black figure soared way above the rest of the group. Her binoculars let her know, that the pony she was looking for wasn't among the members of the group. Which only let one place he could be. The mare spread her white wings and flew towards the black figure.

The sun was setting when Hase noticed something contrasting with the slopes, which were black because they were in shadow already. A white spot. Initially he thought it for a cloud, still white because of the last rays of the sun. Even though it was more logical for it to be pink, the pegasus ignored it. He stood on the dragon's back and observed the sunset. When the star finally hid behind the horizon, leaving behind only a pink oreol, Hase sat back on the back of the dragon. Once again, his attention was brought to the white object. It certainly was closer now, and it became bigger and bigger every second. Apparently, Formidon had noticed it too, so he stopped flying forward and remained in one spot, waiting to see what the white object really was.

Just as the object would become big enough for the inventor to recognise it, it hid bellow the dragon's hide. The scientist had to spend two more minutes wondering, before it finally appeared again, hovering in the air mere feet away from him. The object was actually a subject. The pony had the same body size as Celestia, the same wing size, the same coat colour and even the same eye colour. It was pretty obvious this was Celestia from the big horn bump beneath the cloak, but Hase simply couldn't understand why the princess would put on a weird white cloak, hiding everything from her but her wings. There was also a veil, which enabled the pegasus to see the alicorn's  violet eyes.

" Princess Celestia, why in Equestria did you disguise yourself with a sheet? " the scientist asked.

" I need you to come with me, Hase. " the voice confirmed, that it was really Celestia.

" Why? " the black pegasus wondered.

" I've got an importrant mission for you. "

This explanation was fair enough for the stallion. He lifted off, now flying with his own wings and was about to follow the who- knows- why disguised Celestia, before the huge spiky tale of Formidon stopped him. Confused, Hase looked down. Formidon had shifted in the air, looking in the same direction and at the same thing the stallion was looking- the white alicorn.

" You are not Celestia. " Formidon noted. The blue- maned pegasus noticed, that small flames were starting to come out of his nosdrils.

" Come on! " he tried to reason with him.

" Do you happen to know another white alicorn with her size and eye colour? "

" Hase has got point. " the cloaked Celestia supported him.

" Each pony has their own distinctive smell, that depends on what they usually do. " the dragon made a good point, which made the black pegasus start to doubt the disguised Celestia's identity a bit.

" Your friend Twilight smells of parchment. Applejack smells of apples. Pinkie Pie smells of cakes. Princess Celestia smells of old cushions, probably because her duties involve sitting on the throne and giving open court a lot. You, on the other side, " Formidon turned to the mare.

" , smell of smoke, spices, bread, rain... a very specific mixture of smells, that indicates that you spend a lot of your time on the streets. Who are you? " the dragon asked.

' Darn. ' the figure swore inside its own mind. Without any furhter adue, she used her magic to bring her fake wooden horn from bellow her hood and hit Hase's head with it. She than dropped the wodden horn, grabbed the black pegasus in her white magical oreol and quickly dove.

' Let's hope the friction slows him down. ' the mare thought, as she switched directions in the air, heading for her hideout, still carrying the unconcious stallion in her magical oreol.