Making choices

About half an hour had passed since Formidon landed near the group, ignoring any regulations he had agreed to. At first that had confused the ponies, since landing before the night was dark enough ment the dragon could easily be spotted. However, as they heard what had happened, all agreed the matter was of greater importrance. Vortex flew away in search for his son, while the rest of the group moved with great haste to reach the inn at the entrance of the passage faster, with a chance of getting some information on their missing friend.

Rarity was walking in the end of the line, with her head down. Dark thoughts roamed inside her head. Unlike most of the ponies, who were wondering about the ponynapper's identity, she didn't really care. Her thoughts were headed in a whole different direction. What was happening to the stallion of her heart was the only thing, that really troubled her. With all of the horrors of this land, that the runcinians had described, literally anything could be happening to him.

The white mare knew, that her coltfriend didn't have it very easy in the last few days. Those days turned out to be a downward slope for him. It wasn't the best time for another adventure, at least for him. Rarity knew Hase very well. The pegasus was very much like her: he found joy in the little things- a morning kiss, a prank, played on him by Sweetie Belle, an unstable invention exploding one second later than expected... Before she knew him, from Celestia's story, the fashionista mare had thought quite the opposite, with all of those potions and all. Later on she found out he had actually been driven by his sense of duty.

His nature was probably also the thing that made him fall in love with her in first place. As he had told her back in Aseamos, he was enchanted by her everyday routine, by the determination with which she completed the orders for different dresses. Ironically, while Hase found happiness in the little things, he constantly found himself dealing with big problems. One other thing he had shared with her was that he didn't like to plan too much in advance: he liked to live for the day whenever possible. That's why Rarity suspected the two year chase with Celestia and then the aseamosian adventure had tired him more than they tired Rainbow Dash or Pinkie Pie for an example. Those two seemed to have endless stamina. The unicorn didn't, so she could relate. There was no better feeling than when she came back from the farse, that was the Royal Canterlot Wedding, and immeadietly headed for the spa, where she spent one of the arguably most pleasureable afternoons in her life. Normal life probably had the same effect on her coltfriend.

Just like the aseamosian adventure was the reason for the metaphorical rise of Hase - from another past enemy of Equestria to a pretty normal pony Rarity had come to love, this adventure was the reason for his degradation. Because of it everypony were constantly under stress, and it seemed to have a worse effect on some than on the others. Hase was one of this some. This adventure prevented him from truly bonding with his father, Vortex remaining more of a teacher figure for him. Could it even turn out any different? The black pegasus only knew his father for less than a week and probably hadn't spent even 5 hours together with him. The stress was probably also the reason for him killing those ponies and earning the dreaded weapons his father had told them about. Rarity knew, that spending 2 days back in the old Ponyville would be enough for Hase to revert back to his normal self. However, they couldn't simply desert those ponies, even though according to Luna, Celestia could recognise their homeworld and teleport them all back in it. They needed help and the equestrian group couldn't refuse it to them.

However, Rarity was afraid, that by the time their quest was over, it would be too late for Hase's rehabilitation. His weapons were appearing with a rate, that suggested he'd have them all before they even reach Mouthguard. Who knew if he wouldn't return with one or even two more of them, furtherly stimulated by his abductor?

" Are you feeling OK? " a familliar voice spoke, bringing the white mare out of her dark thoughts. She lifted her head back to its normal position and looked around to locate its source. It was Spike, just as she had expected. The unicorn smiled. No matter what happened, Spike was always by her side. Even though her affection to him never evolved into anything greater, the designer mare was still very fond of him.

" Does your head ache? Since if it does, I can... " the baby dragon spoke, concerned about his former crush. Nonetheless, before he could finish, she interrupted him.

" You needn't do anything, Spikey- Wikey. " the purple- maned unicorn replied. The almost ridiculous level of concern, that could be felt in the dragon's voice, made her smile, which in turn convinced Spike she wasn't in need of any remedies.

" Don't fret. I'm sure he's somewhere outthere, kicking flanks to get here back with us. " the purple dragon managed to cheer Rarity up with the casual tone he said the last sentence with.

" You sure Spike? " she asked, somewhat jollier than before.

" What if his ponynapper has one of those curved knives with venom- coated edges? "

The reason for this otherwise ludicrously sophisticated statement was Dagger's statement, which the young dragon had heard along with everypony else. While Twilight and Applejack were speculating about the ponynapper, the heartless assassin apparently felt an urge to make the equestrians worry even more. She described different weapons, typical for the runcinian assassins, and different techniques utilized to keep the victim alive during torture. Spike didn't know wheter she found any pleasure in this or was simply as blunt as one gets, but her comment expectedly didn't have a postive effect on the Mane 6 and on the opinion they had about her. Although it probably helped in some way, since after the assassin was far enough, the subject radically shifted to her.

" Nah, from what I heard it sounds like they are an amateur. " Spike shrugged his shoulders.

" I could expect something like that from somepony like the Shade, but not from somepony hanging around with a white robe and a wooden horn?! Seriously? " the dragon's exclamation made Rarity chuckle, which for Spike was the sole purpose of the conversation.

" I mean really, impersonating Celestia with. A wooden. Horn. That's just so...Humdrum! "

" Wait, wait, wait. " Rarity spoke with a cheerful tone.

" The Shade? Humdrum? Who are those ponies? "

" Oh, they are just two characters from my comic books. " Spike began his explanation.

" Humdrum is the clumsy sidekick of the Masked Matterhorn with no superpowers at all. Most of the times he just keeps getting in her way, but when that happens, most of the times he somehow manages to fix things. "

" That reminds me of a certain favourite dragon I know. " the white unicorn chuckled. However, as she saw the dragon frown, and taking his tendency of inferiority complex, she quickly explained exactly what she ment:

" Oh no, Spikey- Wikey, I only ment you always manage to save us, even when everything seems hopeless. After all, wasn't it because of your letter Discord was defeated? "

" I think that was a coincidence. " Spike noted.

" But anyway, I hope you aren't planning to leave me disinformed in terms of knowledge of this Shade you mentioned. It would be very mean of you to get me interested and than leave me without any explanation. " the fashionista mare spoke in a humorous tonality.

" Not at all! " Spike exclaimed.

" The Shade is the sort of bad guy everypony secretely roots for. He isn't really a villain - more of an antihero. He's a mercenary, who excells at close quarters combat and firearms - imagine something like Pinkie's party cannon. Firearms are basically the same thing, with the exception of the fact that they're small enough to be hidden in a book and are lethal.

That guy's neither a villain nor a hero. He fights for whoever pays. I remember, that in one issue, I can't recall which, Bruise Way, who is secretely Mare Do Well, hired him or her, since nopony knows anything about the Shade - even his\her gender, " the baby dragon explained.

" , to help Mare do Well in the pursue of Poison Joke. "

" Is Bruise Way a mare's name? " Rarity's confusion was understandable.

" I don't know why they couldn't think of anything better either. " the dragon said and shrugged his shoulders.

Rarity showed deep interest in the comics Spike was reading, and he was more than willing to share all the info he had - on one side, to distract his former crush from the situation with the still missing Hase, and on the other - what comic book fan wouldn't rejoice when somepony chooses him as their guide in the comic book world? The two chatted all the way to the inn. Now when only the moon and the stars illuminated  the land, Formidon could land safely and get back inside his wagon.

The group was the only ponies to seek shelter for the night, and since the owner only came down to get paid in advance (too many customers left in the early morning, leaving only their messy rooms behind), they were alone in the main room on the ground fllor. Arcane Bliss went to the kitchen to prepare some dinner for the group, and the rest gathered around a long table. On the two short ends stood Celestia and Forge.

The room itself looked as if somehow had built it specifically for coversations, that weren't made to be heard. It was dimly litten by chandeliers with six handles each. The candles, however, were of low quality, illuminating the room with probably the least light one candle could produce. The inn looked decrepit from the outside and was miserable from the inside. The furniture consisted of the table, the chairs, a wardrobe and a painting. Irregular mold patterns could be spotted in the corners. Apparently, the inn wasn't very succesful. Midnight Bell was just as confused as the rest, since she had claimed the place was in an excellent state, because it was the only one in a radius of at least a mile.

Then, however, a nearly forgotten memory found its way back to Metal Chord's mind.

" Bergenparadies. " the word, that came out of his mouth, sounded germaneian.

" That's why it's in such a bad shape. Who would want to stay in such a barn, when the Bergenparadies Guesthouse is so nearby?

I wished we could stay there. Back when me and my father stayed there, the place had mineral baths, a mineral pool, professional massage ponies... "

Rarity gulped as the swordspony continued describing the numerous relaxation procedures this guest house offered. Even worse, the place turned out to be only a day on hoof away, in Westend. Forge also recalled the place, since he had helped with the installation of the copper pipes he and a colleague of his had designed specifically for this center. The smith hadn't been there after the place opened, but the swordspony assured them it was worlds better than where they where currently staying, which contributed to the sinking of the group's mood.

" Our search was unsuccessful. " Vortex said, after he entered the room and took his place.

" There is still no sign of Hase. "

The spark of hope vanished from Rarity's eyes.

" We'll continue tommorrow. " Celestia announced.

" Now I advise you all to have some rest. We have yet another day of walking ahead of us. "

" Yeah, and we'll also have to lay low. " Metal Chord nodded, somehow absentminded.

Luna knit her brows.

" What do you mean? "

The swordspony turned his attention back to the conversation. Panic took over his mind, as he realized there was one importrant discovery he had made he had forgot to share with the rest of the group. He quickly recalled what the heroes from his adventure novels would do if they were in his horseshoes and he did the same. The unicorn dramatically stood up, pulled some piece of paper out of the sheath of his sword and dramatically dropped it on the table.

Fearing what she could find inside, Twilight, who stood right where Metal Chord stood, only across the table, used her magic to spread the scroll. Her pupils shrinked as she quickly skimmed over the lines of text. She threw an accusing glare at the blonde stallion, before reading the text out loud:

" Wanted for their crimes against the land and ponies of Runcinia. A group of about 20 ponies, that are listed bellow:

A white unicorn. No criminal record, but suspected of treason against the king. Reward: 300 bits. Dead or alive.

An orange earth pony. No criminal record.... it's the same. We're all in here. " the upset alicorn looked at her five friends. Rainbow Dash, who was sitting next to Twilight, managed to catch a glimpse. All of the Mane 6 were described good enough for anypony to recognise them. 300 bits were a lot of money. The whole endeavour suddenly became a lot riskier.

It was worse with the rest, though. Apparently, their actions in Smith's Keep hadn't remained unnoticed.

" Six hooded ponies with height above average. No record, suspected for treason, 200 bits. Dead or alive. "

Everypony were sitting silent as Twilight went on with the list.

" Forge and Arcane Bliss. Lengthy criminal record. Supporters of the notorious Rebellion. Ponies, hoofing them over for execution will be rewarded 2000 bits for each. "

The silence was broken, and so was the plate Arcane had used to carry the meal. The group didn't react as it would have otherwise, since everypony were too shocked to turn their attention to something minor like the spilt meal, lying on the ground.

" Unidentified mare. No description: witnesses were murdered before any details were given out. Subject is extremely dangerous. 2000 bits reward. "

Dagger's expression didn't change in any way. At least she could still travel relatively safe, although Twilight was sure she wouldn't like to know how she had managed to maintain her anonymous state.

" A dragon infant. Harmless. Four malefic unicorn/pegasi hybrids... malefic?! " Twilight was starting to get angry. Neither of the four alicorns had really done anything, and suddenly they were all malefic?

" Black pegasus to be furtherly known as Subject 17. Extremely dangerous. 20 kills. Clashes with the guard force. Unauthorized freeing of prisoners... "

Since Hase was the one, who had interacted at most with said authorities, it could be expected his description would be the longest one. The reward for his head was 400 bits. Rarity frowned. Her coltfriend was in danger, and he didn't even know it.

The last straw, however, was how Metal Chord was assessed. The group might have even found it for humorous, if they weren't in their current state of dissappointment and anger.

" Metal Chord. To be handed over to the authorities for 10 000 bits, in order to be presented to the king for an audience. "

Everypony stared at the unicorn, who by this time knew he had screwed up big this time. He knew what everypony were thinking: How does this guy get an audience, while we all get a death sentence? Even though one could use the group's anger to fry an egg, nopony said a single word. Instead, everypony simply headed for their rooms, leaving Metal Chord alone with his thoughts.