Shouting and screaming they circled her some eagerly others with a degree of trepidation. A myriad of commands and orders were being bellowed "put your hands up, dont move, drop your weapons" and many other contradictions. Their spears were aimed at her belly and the shouting continued as Shadow quietly watched them and cursed herself for taking too long to get out and more than anything for not opening the window FIRST so she would of had a second escape route open just in case. "Live and learn" was all that came to mind as pairs of arms reached out and grabbed her harshly and dragged her from the room and into the hallway.

Well, it would take at least another week and two days before Valkardian even noticed her failure to show and in that time where would she be? How long would it take him to find her and get her out or would he? Would he just leave her to rot in a cell till hell froze over or would he come with all due haste to rescue her from whatever deep dungeon they would stick her in? Whatever fate awaited her she would not make it easy on them. They disgusted her. Revolting, peasant minded rodents. Now she was thinking like him.

A crowd had gathered outside the inn as they carted her off to heavens only knew where but mostly likely it was the local jail assuming they even had one as most tiny places like this did not, that much she did know. Maybe they would throw her in a closet then lock and bar the door? Hm... Probably interrogate her first. That might be amusing.

Lilac and Raspberry had been there watching with mouths agape at Shadows passing through the crowd with a small army of some fourteen guards and soldiers carrying her away. Amateurs. They did not even cuff her or shackle her not that it would do her any good with a few pegasi and unicorn present. The odds were still against her and while her mind had struggled with the concept of killing fellow ponies if she even considered them such anymore wore on but not in their favor.

Arrogance. That had caused this. Too much arrogance in thinking they would not react this fast when the alarm had already been raised. Oh well, it no longer mattered as they had already taken her into a small building and down some steps and tossed her into the only cell in the place quickly locking the door behind them and leaving two guards to watch her. Shadow gave them a fanged smile which made one start twitching. Two guards just for her in case she tore the bars down, how touching.

Above voices informed her that they were tearing her belongings apart and probably looting them a bit. A cry of pain sounded not long after accompanied by a stampede of hooves and the sound of magic going off. Voices rose up in anger before being calmed down and the riffling continued but with a great deal more care by the sound of it. What had they gotten into that got one of them? Had Valkardian put a protective spell on some of her belongings to keep out prying eyes? With any luck one of the idiots would trigger a warning system if there was one that would alert him sooner than later.

One thing they had failed to do before tossing her in was to search her person at all. Amulet, time crystal, money pouch, it all remained at her side in their rush to incarcerate her. Damnable fools but it would work in her favor yet if she could just take out the two guards then gather her things and slip off into the woods. That was assuming they did not lock anything up including her emergency crystal for making a fast warp out of here to safety. Maybe the idiots would drop it and break it...

The longer she thought about the possibilities the angrier she became with her internment. Anger welled up till she was gripping the bars staring down the two guards and even hissed at them which resulted in a startled jump. One of them approached the bars carefully and smacked them with her spear sending a loud clang out. "Off the bars and stand back or else!"

"Or else what?!"

There was no reply except for her to go upstairs for a minute and exchange words with whoever was in charge Shadow assumed before returning with two more guards to keep watch. It had not helped her odds of escape but the situation was more funny than serious now but Shadow also knew this game was going against her quickly.

It was a long while after the riffling and hushed whispers stopped before three more came down. Leading the way was a tall unicorn mare with an orange coat and amber mane dressed in street clothes. Must be an officer on vacation were her thoughts as they studied the mare carefully as she entered the room and approached, standing a few feet away from the bars studying Shadow carefully before speaking.

"Do you know why you are here?"

"Two guards attacked me and I kicked their flanks for it."

The mare did not like this response judging from her ears laying back slightly. "No you assaulted two guards after refusing to answer their questions and disarm."

Shadow sneered at her and let out a small laugh. "Already made up your minds have you? So why ARE you here then? Gloat?"

"No. You are officially charged with crimes against Equestria and will be sent off to the closest city for trial. After conviction you will probably serve several years and be put through rehabilitation before being released. We know you have been gone from Equestria for some time and it has tainted your mind. Shame, put the authorities will be there to help you re-adjust and if you allow them to help you, your life will hopefully return to normal."

Rehabilitate? Normal? Re-adjust? It hit her like a sledgehammer. Shadow thought she was being arrogant earlier but this mare was out of her flipping mind and not only that had said all this with absolute conviction and even sadness in her voice. This one had really swallowed the pill.

"Laying it on rather thick are you? Did it ever occur to you now or ever that you haven't the right to stop me in the first place when I was minding my own business? Who ever gave you the authority to harass ponies on the street? Kick them from their homes?"

Shaking her head the orange mare let out a sigh and looked at her with eyes filled with pity. A look which made Shadows blood boil in anger. "Celestia."

*Thbpthhh* "Oh please, as if she knows best how I should live my life or anypony elses."

"I pity you. Life must have been very hard if you see things that way. However, I have questions and you have the answers..." Beckoning one of the other guards held out a tray with some items on them. "First, what are these..."

Shadow refused to answer their questions for the most part, lied the rest of the time and while she could tell the officer knew she was lying there was little she could do about it. That they refused to touch some items what so ever not even with magic gave Shadow a hint as to which items were magically protected against unwanted hands. One of them was the warp crystal she would need to get back.

"Care to explain your sword and dagger?"

"They are mine."

"I meant would you explain why none of us can draw them or will you lie about that as well?" Her eyes narrowed slightly as she waited on Shadow to answer.

"Not really, they are mine and have been. Maybe they just dont like you." It was a true enough answer, she really had no clue other than hypothesize that Valkardian had warded them and that meant only Shadow or he could draw them. What was so special about the weapons then? Why would he go to such lengths to keep these two weapons out of the hands of others? What properties did they have that made them such a guarded secret?

Simply nodding at her response the guard ushered the others away before holding up a piece of paper. "Do you have any idea what this might say?"

"I dont give a damn for mind games so spit it out already." Shadow snapped at her and the other guards sneered and glared at her outburst.

"A list of information on you. It will take a few days before we get a response from Canterlot about who you really ARE... Miss... Ruby? Or is it Shadow? Perhaps another name? At any rate you really dont get out and about much... Only visiting the bakery, book store and the inn. Made it very easy to gather some information about you and your... Purchases..."

She knew where this was going already.

"So tell me, where is that black book and the newspaper? I know you were informed about the public notice, you must understand such slander can not be allowed. It is your duty as an Equestrian to help us and maintain the peace and harmony of Equestria."

A thought suddenly popped into her mind "On who's order was the recall given for the book's and papers?"

Stopping for a minute the mare mulled it over. "By order of his Lordship Silver Chalice. Now where are they? I assume they are in one of those bags or pouches we have that no pony can open... Yes?"

Shadow smiled inside, damnable, honest fools. "Your right, they are locked inside and I refuse to open them so you can steal my property like you have the rest. Why didn't Celestia order the recall?"

Answering a question with another question quickly in the hopes they will blurt out more information. "It is not my place to question my superiors, only obey the orders given. Very well, this will be locked away with the rest and no, nothing of yours is being stolen. Everything will be help in lockup until it can be examined to make certain it is not dangerous to ponies. Your weapons will most certainly not be given back now or ever, they will probably wind up in Canterlot to be studied. Most likely all you will get back after your rehabilitation will be your clothes at this rate..."

"What is your rank and designation?"

"Captain Sharptip, Equestrian Guard." Her eyes darted to Shadow quickly and narrowed, she had just figured out the game and it was up.

"Strange you would know so much about prisoner handling for a soldier..."

"We all pull many duties and I once served as a warden before requesting a transfer. Fortunately for you it was granted and I was here on vacation with some fellow guards so we could stop you before any further outbursts. Count yourself lucky."

"Yessss, sooo lucky indeed." Shadow rattled the bars a little.

Sharptip shook her head again turning and leaving the room. "You will probably be transferred from here in a day or two someplace more secure where a psychiatrist can speak with you and determine your mental stability which I see as very lacking. I suggest you stay calm and quiet for the duration of your stay." She waved her hand dismissively while heading up the stairs and out of sight leaving Shadow to snarl at her four guards.

"I have no intention of waiting around here let alone allowing the bastards to send me to a shrink for defending myself or reading a book!" Violent thoughts coursed through her mind as anger pumped in her veins. The guards were doing a good job rotating and not falling asleep on duty which meant it would be a violent battle to get out but Shadow was certain she could take two or three of them down quickly.

So what was the plan? All that remained was a coin pouch, amulet, crystal clock and other useless items. Did the amulet make her strong enough to bend the bars? Trying would only result in more arriving and that would compound her problems. Below ground too so no way to just bust out and with stone walls and ceiling it would take a lot of magic she did not have.

The night wore on as she lay on her bunk facing away from the guards mulling over her limited, suicidal plans of escape. Two days and they would have her transferred. Maybe escape during transfer? Possibly and most likely with better odds and most likely her equipment would be going with her anyway. Well it was try and escape or wait another week for Valkardian to begin his search, maybe the amulet allowed him to track her? Shadow hoped it too was protected so nopony could remove it from her.

A slight pang of fear made its way through her. Fear of not knowing what would happen next and no longer being in control of her own life again while others dictated to her. It was a fear she had known that first day she met him but had quickly faded away and now was rearing its ugly head threatening to overtake her. Calming down again and forcing the emotions away only left her to grumble to herself about the situation again. Rolling over and glaring daggers at the guards she wondered what Valkardian would do to them anyway, how far would he go to get her back if at all?

Time passed and the guards rotated. Checking her clock discretely it was around three in the morning now which made Shadow feel more and more depressed with the situation. Maybe she should have acted differently. Actually she should have just stayed away and never gotten involved in the local politics. That is what landed her here, the guards could have cared less about her arms or presence. It was when she started to ask questions and "stir up trouble" that they came for her and forced an issue.

Yes, it was the fault of that greasy little toad. He was the one who started this whole mess and thoughts of revenge pounded away at her mind. Revenge for herself but revenge for those who's lives he was tearing apart to make himself wealthier while trying to appear a local hero by lining the right pockets. What was his name?

"Hey, you! Whats the name of the local banker? If I am being carted off I want my bits he is holding to remain safe! I wont have you bastards nicking my money!" Not the best wording but enough to throw them off hopefully.

A stallion sitting at one of the tables looked over "Goldbit. If you have business with him you can have a quill, ink and paper. We will deliver it for you."

Feining disgust Shadow rolled back over but smiled to herself. With a name she could hunt him down whenever she got loose and right now she was praying to break free before Valkardian came for her.

A thumping sound woke Shadow from her haze. Rolling back over the four guards were splayed out on the floor or where they sat. One slowly slipped out of her seat and flopped to the floor and lay unmoving. Bolting to her feat and rushing to the bars she tried to reach the closest pony to drag them closer hoping they had something useful on them but could not quite reach. Whoever or whatever knocked them all out cold was coming for her next if the soft hoofsteps above were any indicator.

Who would magically knock out the guards and come for her that was a pony? Valkardian had the power to pull this off but he could not have known so who else would take interest? Maybe they had interest in her things and were taking advantage of the situation? She was going to find out as the door that lead below opened and the sound of hoofsteps grew louder.

A tall unicorn stallion came down the steps and approached her cage slowly. Shadow backed away from the bars slightly not certain what to do now as they quietly eyed each other. His eyes studied her closely then the guards before turning back and holding up one of her bags. So he was a thief looking to make off with her unique items. She recognized him in a second as the fisherpony.

"Touch my things and you will get more than your bargained for! Now are you here to just steal my things or let me out?"

His eyes locked onto her own making her feel rather small for a minute. "Hmm... Why should I free you... Letting you out might distract the locals but leaving you here might be more beneficial, you being such a trouble maker and all."

"Leave me here and I will give them your description! You'll rot in prison with me!"

"Maybe." His horn glowed "Then again a good dose of amnesia spell will solve that little problem"

Fighting battles against a clear enemy was one thing but this was something Shadow had never prepared for. The trog's were a clear enemy who she could reach out and kill without a need for thought but this stallion was something else entirely. He was going to just wipe her brain clean and leave her here to rot and nothing in all the world would stop him. But maybe...

Grabbing her amulet Shadow held it up a little "You will find this will stop you from doing just that and you nor anypony else can take it off be. Fire away but it wont do you any good." A desperate gamble to be certain but it was all she had to go on. Relying on a hunch from when Valkardian had her take it off to cast a sleep spell on her gave her some hope this amulet protected against a whole lot more than a simple sleep spell.

Instead of retorting the stallion began to chuckle softly and smile ever so slightly. Shadow knew that laugh and smile anywhere. "Valkardian..." He nodded slowly in response. "So you have been spying on me ever since you let me loose here. Why?"

"Actually Shadow I have not spied on you at all, we are actually both on vacation. I like to take some time off now and then to see the world above and how it has changed though this time I decided to spend it fishing. Your little "conversation" at the beach was quite amusing but this..." Gesturing to the prison and grabbing the bars. "This Shadow is going above and beyond causing mischief and being greatly entertaining."

"Glad you find my imprisonment so funny."

Smiling at her he backed away from the bars making her worry that he might leave her behind. "Tell me then, should I release you... What will you do?" His eyes narrowed judging her expression and words with great scrutiny.

"I will grab my things, store them in the wood then go hunting. Pony hunting."

"Mmm... Really? Pony hunting? For which ones? These?" He kicked one of the guards gently.

"No. For one pony. The one causing the suffering around here. Goldbit."

"I see. Vengence perhaps? He is after all the one who helped in getting you locked up and yes I have done my own investigating."

"Yes, to sate my own vengeance but also for those he has wronged."

"Will it make a difference?"

"No. They will hate me and despise me for it but at least there will be some justice done." She could not see it but his smile grew.

"So why bother then? We could go right now and no one will be none the wiser for it except your pride. Besides if you kill him wont you be damned to the Underworld forever?"

"You make it sound like you are offering your slave freedom."

"Who knows?"

"Let me be damned then but I will be damned for having done what right."

Valkardian laughed openly at this which made Shadow's face flush with indignation. "Very well then. You damn yourself just as I did long ago." Holding up some keys he inserted one and turned it unlocking the door. "You are free then little Shadow. Your weapons wait above but I will take the rest and wait for you near the guard-tower.

"You know I expected you to rip the bars off or melt them into the floor..."

"Hah! No, that would be pointless and illogical since I took the keys off one of the guards. Only an overstuffed, flashy peacock of a wizard would waste their time doing anything less." Valkardian walked off and headed upstairs with Shadow in tow.

Grabbing her weapons and re-arming herself quickly she watched as he took the rest of the bags and walked out into the darkness beyond. "Goldbit lives in the mansion on the South East side of town." With that he was gone into the darkness.

Out the door and flying into the chill night air Shadow scanned for the mansion and found it very quickly and the guard tower in the distance. Why Valkardian would choose that as the gathering point she had no idea but it did not matter, all that mattered was getting inside that mansion and visiting her victim one last time.

Getting in was easy. No guards nor alarms of any kind and the windows on the upper level were even open slightly. "Arrogant little bastard." Slipping inside a window and looking around there was nothing in sight except expensive artworks and displays lining the hall. Maybe she should go back out and look through the windows till she found him? No, he might see her if he was awake, best to find the door first.

The layout was elementary at best with the main hall leading straight down and left to a massive ornate door. While nowhere near as grand as the doors she was used to it must have been very expensive none the less. Peeking through the keyhole a vast bedroom stretched out revealing a grand canopied bed at the far end. Plush carpet covered the floor leading to it and gently taking the handle and turning it slowly it unhitched and opened silently.

Slipping inside but leaving the door slightly ajar in case she had to make a run for it (the window outside was left fully open just in case) Shadow made her way quietly towards the bed dagger drawn. It had a dull, dangerous glow to it as if sensing what was about to happen as she stalked forward to the bed, it was the correct bed too judging from the smell. The room was decorated lavishly with only the most expensive paintings and busts including one of the toad in question. "An egotist" she thought. He could probably ransom the town away a few times over with just what was in this one room yet he kept clawing at more and more.

A loud snore made her freeze for a minute before continuing her approach in eerie silence. While it was near pitch black to most ponies the room was lit well enough that she could read with her glowing slitted eyes. Two forms lay in the bed. Husband and wife both looking one much like the other; fat and grotesque. So he was married, maybe he had children... Did it matter? No. All the more reason to cull them now and stop them from bringing any more miserable creatures into the world to walk in their parents hoofsteps.

Which to kill first? Goldbit. Absolutely kill him first as he was the reason for all of this misery. She wanted him to see her eyes though, to know his killer as the blade cut his bulbous throat open. Taking a cloth from the bedside table and layering it upon itself a bit Shadow stood slowly and prepared to make her fatal blow.

Slapping the cloth over his muzzle quickly to stop any attempt at screaming while drawing the dagger to his throat, eyes snapping open in alarm and looking up into a pair of glowing eyes. Had he been able to see in the dark a wide grin had formed on her face as the dagger drew across his throat in one swift, sharp motion. Gurgling on his own blood Goldbit thrashed for a moment before going still his eyes still locked on her own and left permanately open with fear burned into the lifeless orbs.

Slipping around the bed and approaching the mare she repeated the process quickly enough but this time did not bother to look the victim in the eyes. This one was also necessity but not a personal kill. When and how had Shadow begun to think and act this way she had no idea but there was one thing she did know: Tonight felt good.

Getting away was no issue at all and getting to the guard tower took less than a minute flying quickly leaving the mansion with its gory remnants behind. She could only imagine the hell her actions would cause and never again could Shadow show her face in the light of day in the world above now. Forever damned to hide in the darkness like Valkardian but not one fiber of her being said it was wrong but instead left a happy tingling sensation.

The tower was deserted which most certainly was Valkardians doing. He was waiting quietly at its base with two passed out guards at his feet once again in his original form. "So you are done then?"

"Yes."

"Regrets?"

"None."

..."Did you enjoy it?"

The smirk on his face told her he already knew the answer to the question but he wanted to hear her say it anyway.

"Yes. It felt good. Very good. Probably one of the better things I have done in my life even if not one pony will ever believe me and if they get their hands on me I swill probably hang for it." Her eyes were locked onto his own with an intensity that burned bright.

A large smile was what she got in return. "Very good, it is time for us to be off. While our vacation here has been cut short I still intend to enjoy the rest of my time and I did promise you two weeks. Lets go." Beckoning her over Shadow approached as he led her off to a little clearing where bags were laid out including his own she guessed. He traveled very lightly compared to her.

"So I still have another week of vacation time then?"

"Indeed you do Shadow, however after tonight I think I am going to extend it a bit." He patted her shoulder as they stood facing each other and his magic began to build up, fingers weaving a spell.

As a flash of light took them away from the surface Shadow pondered something that had made her jump slightly: never before had he ever touched her or at least never outside of training. Valkardian was smiling and had patted her on the shoulder and she could not bring herself to object to his touch.