Mystogan opens his eyes and sits up carefully, so as to not disturb Celestia in her own slumber, it was 1 AM, plenty of time to slip away unnoticed. He gets his clothing on, grabs his essentials and makes is way to the door, but he stops and turns, looking over at the sleeping alicorn who was hugging a pillow since he slipped away. He walks over to her, lowering his scarf and gently places a kiss upon her forehead. He whispers gently to her..

“I will be home before you know it Tia. You will not have to worry about Nightshade anymore when I am finished…I love you so much, and I always will.”

He leaves her side once more, slipping out the door and into the hallway. He nodded to every guard he had passed by on his way down to the main entry/exit. Luna, of course was waiting for him, leaning against a pillar. His simply walked on. Luna spoke to him sternly.

“So you are going through with this? You are going to be a killer simply out of revenge?”

He stops and turns his head to her.

“She has it coming to her. The grief that she has caused not only Tia, but everyone else here will not go unpunished. And you make it sound like I haven’t killed before. I know you know better than that.”

“I know you have killed before Mystogan. But what you are going to do goes beyond simply killing to protect those you love. I can feel the hatred coming from your heart. Killing her will only increase that dark fire. You will be no better than her.”

“You don’t know anything Luna. You don’t know how it felt...lying in that grave and listen to her hold back her tears as she came and spoke with me. Telling me everything that was happening and how she was falling apart. Barely able to stay smiling in the face of darkness that plagued the kingdom. I couldn’t wrap my arms around her, and tell her that I was there for her. I will not allow her to do this anymore. I will make her suffer the way Tia has suffered..tenfold.I will not give her death, oh no. Something far more brutal that will break her. You heard Nightmare Moon, I am practically a carbon copy of her would be lover. What better to torment her with his face and presence...killing off her soldiers instead.”

Luna’s eyes widened at how dark and grim his attitude had become. Even Nightmare Moon was a bit taken back at this new development.

“Mystogan please...this isn’t like you. I know you want justice for Tia and all of us here. But this isn’t the right way to go about it.”

“Do not try and stop me Luna. My mind’s made up. I will return home when the deed is done. Knowing I have done the right thing, despite what you feel.”

“And what about Tia? How do you think she will feel when she finds out that her one and only true lover killed simply out of hatred and anger?”

“Like I said, I won’t kill her. Death is too merciful for what she has done. When I am finish with her, she will be begging for death. And I will not grant it to her. She will suffer with the torment I will inflict upon her forever.”

“Very well. I know I cannot stop you Mystogan. All I ask is that you do not die. This time, you may not come back.”

“I made a promise to her Luna. I will not die. I will not be taken from her ever again.”

And with that, Mystogan walks out the doors, spreading his wings and taking flight into the night sky. Having grabbed a map from the war room on his way out to show him the way to Nightshade’s kingdom.

--The kingdom Of Shadowmere, Next Night--

A couple of guard were standing watch outside of the city entrance,appearing to be alert, but Mystogan could tell they were off in their own little world by their posture. The night was dark and rainy, with no moonlight to shine on him as he moved in. With quick movement, he grabbed the first guard and quickly snapped his neck, effectively ending his live quickly, then leaping over to the other one and wrapping his claws around his neck and squeezes the life out of him till his windpipes are crushed, tossing the lifeless body aside as he makes his way into the city. No, he wasn’t going to attack any of the citizens in the city. While his hatred was fuming, it wasn’t for them. Though he did get some odd looks as he walked through. Some even looked at him like they saw a ghost and couldn’t believe he was really there. The rain poured hard, and the weather kept most of the guards busy, trying to see through it. But this was nothing to Mystogan. He slipped by them with ease as he was focused on his goal, seeing the castle in the distance.

“I am coming for you Nightshade, but first...I am going to kill off some of your precious royal guards first.”

He said to himself as he continued his way to the castle. Eventually after killing off a few more guards and hiding their bodies, he makes it inside the inner walls to the large gothic looking castle. He continues to be stealthy about it, drawing a dagger and stabbing the guards in the heart from behind and making sure that they couldn’t be heard. It was a good night to be using stealth, since there was no moon light to shine on his black feathers or clothing. He finally makes his way into the castle through a loose window, slipping in quietly and staying low as he travels through it, eventually coming across a couple of royal guards who were patrolling the corridors, when one of them looks away, Mystogan makes his move and stabs one of them in the back of the head for a quick kill, and moves on the other and wraps his claws around his mouth, placing the blade to his throat.

“You will tell me where I can find your dear empress, or you will die a worse death than your friend here. And if you dare to scream for help, I will not hesitate to fucking slit your throat and let you bleed out and die slowly. Understood?”

The stallion was hesitant, but nodded. He removes his claws from his mouth but then covered his eyes, still keeping the blade to his neck.

“W-who are you? What do you want with us?”

“Let’s just say your empress and I have some personal business to take care of. I am known as Corvus De Animus. And I am here to...obtain closure.”

The guard went still for a moment, his blood freezing in his veins.

“You...you can’t be alive...you are buried out in the castle graveyard…”

“I am here. Now tell me where she is..”

“She..is in the throne room...now please..let me g-.”

Before he could finish, Mystogan jammed the blade into his throat and twisted the blade roughly and slowly.

“There is no mercy for what you and your empress has done.. I will make sure the rest of your comrades suffer a fate worse than yours.”

And kept his word he did, each royal guard he could get his claws on, he killed brutally, but quickly. Hiding them behind curtains, in closets, anywhere he could find. Eventually, he came to the throne room doors after disposing the guards beside them quietly, readying himself to put on the act of ‘scorned lover back from the dead’. He slowly opens the door and enters the throne room, looking around at the surrounding, and sitting there on her throne, was Empress Nightshade herself, ehr guard at her side with their hands on their weapon.

“And who are you then-?”

Her eyes went as wide as saucers, even her guard were taken back and nearly fell onto the rears.

"I-I-It's you...but that isn't possible...King Sombra killed you!"

Mystogan’s eyes glared not daggers, but swords at the empress who was now in a slight panic. He slowly begins to make his way towards her. Speaking in a low angered tone.

“Nightshade...I died because it was your fault...you did not stand up to your parents because they did not stand up to their people. It is because of you Sombra killed me in cold blood.”

“N-No, that isn’t true Corvus! I wanted you to stay with me forever! It’s not my fault I promise! If I had the kind of power I have now. You would still be at my side! Please...this isn’t right!”

She said as tears began to show in her eyes, seeing the one she loved have such hate and disdain in his eyes towards her made her heart ache, as black as it was. He continued to approach her slowly, the wind coming through the windows making his coat and scarf flow almost ghost like.

“Oh no Nightshade, I am here on behalf of another’s request, You took someone very precious from her four years ago, because you wanted to share your misery with her. Nightshade, You took the greatest thing that Princess Celestia had from her. So now, I have come to distribute retribution. You will suffer the way she has suffered, simply because of what you didn’t deem fair…”

“No, I did it because he was a monster! He nearly killed me and Celestia herself!”

“I am aware of what happened...but you took it upon yourself to capture Celestia and hurt her right in front of the human. It is no wonder he turned into such a monster when it was you who caused it. And you did it without remorse. I’d say you deserved to watch your soldiers die in such a horrible way. But that isn’t nearly enough for what you have done.”

He said as he approached closer and closer, the guards drawing their weapons and charging after him. Mystogan moves quickly, dashing from side to side and cutting into the exposed necks of the guards, killing them off in front of her. His act appeared to be working, quite well in fact. As she was shaking in place, frozen in terror as he supposed lover kills her precious people in front of her.

“I have killed many of your soldiers on my way here, Nightshade. They begged, pleaded for their lives. But I didn’t show them mercy. Just like you didn’t show those in canterlot or at the royal summit any mercy. Attacking Canterlot when Princess Celestia is at her most vulnerable because you stole Mystogan away from her. Unforgivable.”

“Corvus...listen please..”

“No, I will not listen to you Nightshade...you are not the same mare I grew up with...that sweet and shy alicorn who I wanted to be with no longer exists. You are nothing but a heartless manipulative self-centered bitch who destroys other’s lives and love because you were to much of a coward to stand up for the one person you loved.”

He said as he quickly moves in and wraps his claws around her neck and squeezes tightly, his other hand reaching up and wrapping around her horn, with one swift motion, he rips it off of her head, crushing it in his claws and letting the dust fall to the ground. She lets out a scream of pain as this happens, tears flowing from her eyes from the pure hatred her former lover had for her and the massive amount of pain she was now feeling.

“Corvus p-please stop...I love you…”

“I don’t love you Nightshade...I never will. You cannot change the past, nor will you ever be able to hurt anyone again.”

He said as he flips her over rougfhly and grabs hold of her wings, squeezing them brutally and begins pulling on them, stomping his foot on her back as he tears them from her. She screams out in agony and sobs in pain as he wings were removed from her body.

“How does it feel, Nightshade? Does it feel like the heartache that you cause me and Tia? You took me away from her because you didn’t see it necessary for her to be happy. Everyday she came to visit my grave...she was fighting back tears because YOU caused her to lose the one being she loved so very much. And now, you are at MY mercy.”

It finally dawned on her, this wasn’t Corvus. It was in fact the human who she had ordered one of her assassins to murder.

“How dare you...you will pay for this…”

“And what are you going to do Nightshade? You have been brought into this sorry state by the monster you claim me to be. You made me into a monster because of your whims. I was planning to kill you but, seeing you cry and sob as you thought your lover was hurting you, it was better than killing you quickly. Now...now you are nothing. You are nothing but a wingless, hornless bitch who deserves what she had coming to her. And if you dare even think about coming to cause Canterlot or my Tia anymore grief, I very well just might kill you, slowly. That said however…”

He said as he grips the dagger in his hand.

“I am not done with you yet. I intent to give you every...single….cut you gave to Tia that day. And they will be deep, just like you gave her.”

He said as he held her down and jammed the first stab into her thigh, she screamed again as fresh tears began to pour from her eyes again.

“One…”

He stabs her in her other thigh.

“Two…”

He cuts across her chest.

“Three…”

He cuts and cuts, avoiding all the major vessels, making it to a few more cuts.

“Seven…”

“MYSTOGAN, THAT IS ENOUGH!!!”

Echoed the familiar voice of his lover, a bright white light appeared in the room and out of it appeared Celestia dressed in golden armor, holding a large golden halberd in her hand. Mystogan turns to look at Celestia , she had a look of anger in her eyes, but also an understanding of why he did what he did.

“Mystogan, return home with me, now.”

Mystogan grabs Nightshade by the neck and lifts her up in his grip.

“She still needs to receive ten more cuts from my dagger here. It seems only fair as that is how much she gave you.”

“I understand that my love, but please..if you continue this, I will lose you to this hatred forever. I know what she did to me was horrible..I know it angers you.”

“Tia...why should I even let this bitch live?! She caused you so much heartache simply because she didn’t think it was fair that you had me! I deserve to at least let her have a reminder to look at every day for what she did!”

“I know Mystogan, but you have done enough! Please! Just...come back home with me, away from this place. You have seen justice done. I have a feeling that she will not be trying to attack Canterlot anymore…please my love.”

Mystogan looks between her and Nightshade, who was struggling in Mystogan’s grip. He lets out a low growl and tosses her back into her throne. Backing away, keeping his eyes on her still.

“If she does attack Canterlot again...I will end her life. And s4end her to her would-be lover’s side so that HE may torment her further.”

Celestia grabs Mystogan’s hand and looks over to Nightshade with a sympathetic look, but also one of disdain.

“You did bring this on yourself Nightshade, had I know he was going to do this though, I would have stepped in. You have my pity, but not my forgiveness. He should kill you for what you have done, but I will not let my Mystogan become a killer from revenge. I say he had done more than enough to you. Goodbye.”

She said as she teleports out with Mystogan, leaving the whimpering and sobbing empress alone.

--Canterlot Castle, Celestia’s Chambers--

Mystogan and Celestia appeared in the middle of their chambers, Celestia drops her weapon and looks up at Mystogan with a glare, tears welling up in her eyes as well. Mystogan averts his gaze from her, knowing that she was extremely upset with him, he removes his hood and sighs.

“Tia..I-”

CRACK!

The sound of her hand coming into contact with his cheek echoed throughout the room. The mare’s eyes starting to overflow with tears now.

“What in Tartarus were you thinking Mystogan?! Do you know how worried I was when I found out where you had left to?! Luna told me where you had run off to and I knew exactly what you were going to do! I told you not to do anything irrational, yet you went off and did just that! I was worried about you so much Mystogan! I was worried that she would have taken you from me again! You are such an idiot!”

She said as she slammed her body into his and pounded on his chest as she begins to sob, her ears pinned down against her head. Mystogan knew she was very upset and sad with him. He knew deep down, he was in the wrong for going behind her back and taking things into his own hands. He...did not consider her feelings in the least when he went off to do what he did. And it finally dawned on him.

“Tia...I am sorry. I should have spoken with you about this. But I knew you would have worried regardless. I just...I just wanted her to pay for what she did. The time you suffered without me not being able to comfort you. It drove me to such hate and bloodlust for Nightshade, it clouded my mind. Every time you came to visit me...I wanted so much to comfort you, knowing I couldn’t. I wasn’t really going to kill her. Even though it was Nightmare Moon who originally wanted me to play out as an assassin. Call me a hypocrite if you must Tia..but I did what I thought was right...what she deserved to have done to her. But, I am sorry...for making you cry Tia...I am sorry that you saw what I had done. If you hadn’t come and stopped me though, I might have been lost to the rage and hatred I felt for Nightshade, then things would have been a lot worse. Thank you...for saving me again Tia.”

He said as he brings his arms around her gently and hugs her closely, closing his wings around her in a warm and loving embrace.

“Promise me Mystogan...that you will never, ever do something like that again.”

“I promise Tia...I will never ever do anything like that again without your consent. The last thing I need, is to break a promise to you my love. And once again, I am so very sorry...please forgive me.”

Celestia wraps her arms around him tightly and nuzzles into his chest, shaking against him.

“Come...let’s get you cleaned up..”

She said as she lead him to the bathroom, removing those bloody clothes from his body in the process.

Author's Notes:

Things are coming to a close soon with this story everyone. I have to say, writing this one out has been an experience. One I hope that you have all enjoyed. But, other stories must go along and new ones created. And I thank you all for joining me in my work.

Like and share.

May the darkness grant you peace.