Mystogan walked the streets of Manehattan as the sun was setting for the evening. He was heading back towards a club he remembered seeing earlier in the day. From the looks of it, it was now full of ponies and the music was pumping through the speakers. Apparently, there was a line to get in as well, so he took the next spot in line. As he stepped forward when the line advanced, he noticed eyes from both the clubbers and bouncers alike gazing at him with...interest? As he continued to wait for his turn to enter, a light grey unicorn stallion dressed in black leather belted pants and long coat approaches him from the side. He had a black long parted mane that was straight and a tail that was just as straight. He definitely had to look for a gothic pony, and the way he spoke to Mystogan with a low tone of voice only confirmed that this was a club that would definitely interest him.

“Well well, a new face has come to join our dark sanctuary. You certainly aren’t another pony though, that much is obvious. Would you follow me, please? You and I have a few things to discuss.”

Mystogan stepped out of line and followed the pony inside of the club as the bouncer stepped aside allowing access. As Mystogan walked in, the music could be heard more clearly. And various ponies were dancing to the heavy industrial beat of the dark music They all wore either black clothing or black clothing with belts and straps and all manner of BDSM-like articles of clothing. This was the kind of dance club that Mystogan frequented back in his world, so it is no wonder that he gets a sense of...familiarity from the beats of the music alone. But alas, no memories of anything like this from his world. The stallion leads him upstairs into what appeared to be a room with a relatively long table made from black wood and armchairs lining down both sides with a larger one sitting at the very front. Clearly, something else was going on here besides a club. The stallion walked over to the window that showed the dance floor and everything that was going on on it. Though one could only see what’s happening from the inside of the room.

“I don’t know who you are. But the fact that you came across that coat means she chose you for a reason. Do you know what she is?”

Mystogan smiled and placed a hand on the right upper chest of the coat, giving it a gentle squeeze. A soft giggle was heard through the room by both Mystogan and the other stallion.

“Oh, I do believe me and Suzu are quite aware of our situation. Suzu, you did say you knew this pony. Why don’t you come out and say hello?”

Suzuka slowly rises up from behind Mystogan’s shoulders and wraps her arms around him. She eyes the stallion who smiled wickedly and gave a slight bow to her in greeting. Suzuka nuzzled into Mystogan’s right shoulder as the stallion walked up to offer a hand to Mystogan.

“Name’s Dread Shadowmane. This is our base of operations, so to speak. I am the current head of this society. I am pleased to see that she has taken a liking to you. You appear to be quite strong physically. But how well are you mentally?”

“You do not need to worry about the master, Dread. He is quite capable in...all areas. I suspect you heard the news on what happened to Goldhoof’s thugs earlier today?”

The unicorn’s eyes widened a bit as he crosses his arms. Clearly, the unicorn was impressed already. He reaches forward and takes Mystogan’s right hand and traces his fingers over it, his horn lighting up lightly as he closes his eyes.

“Ahaaa...you are quite ruthless when it comes to self-defense. You allow your anger and hatred to flow freely should the first move be made in a confrontation. An excellent way to maintain balance. I also see that you possess a form of magic. The conjuring and control of wind. That explains how the bodies were destroyed the way they were.”

“You are right, I don’t go looking for fights. But if I am pulled into one, I am more than happy to let loose. And if they want me dead, then I plan to offer the same courtesy. It’s only fair, right?”

The stallion released Mystogan’s hand and looks up at him. He could not see Mystogan’s face because of the hood, but his other visible features were more than enough to give Dread an idea of what he is.

“You seem to think more logically and act more reserved than our last master did. Well, you know what they say, the best leader is one with a leveled mind.”

Mystogan instantly puts a hand up after he hears the word ‘leader’ leave Dread’s muzzle. He gives a serious gaze to the stallion as he paced left and right taking in the situation.

“Let me get this straight. You want me to take up the mantle of your last leader and become some kind of leader for a gang I know nothing about? Explain why I should become your new leader. What makes all of you stand out from the cocksucker who sent his flunkies after me this morning? I have a whole other life to live outside of Manehattan. I can’t be here all the time.”

The unicorn chuckled lowly and understood Mystogan’s hesitation. He simply returned to the window and gazed out once more.

“We don’t do things like we used to in the old days. We prefer to do things in a legal manner by outsmarting and taking down our enemy intellectually. You see, they believe in brute force and violence can get them everything. That may be true, but would businesses want to get wrapped up in such things when the authorities come knocking on their doors? No. Bloodshed is only necessary should it involve rescuing our own or we defend our own turf.”

Suzuka appears in front of Mystogan and leans against him in an affectionate manner. Her gaze looking up towards Dread.

“You need to understand, Dread. Mystogan has quite a few people he cares about. And he has a sense of...what is right and what is wrong. And as you know, I cannot go against his wishes. Not that I’d want to. But if you are planning to just use him, I am afraid that he will not go along for the ride, and frankly, nor will I. As much as I would love for us to rule the city like we all did back then, things are extremely different.”

“I am well aware of that...Suzuka is the new name he gave you, I assume? A very fitting name. But yes, we all have our own personal lives that we live. And you are no different. I wasn’t going to ask you to throw everything and everypony aside for this society. So you may rest easy. However, we also act as a...vigilante group. We prefer to keep everyone happy, including Manehattan’s innocence. We obtain our revenue thanks to not only clubs. But stores and restaurants as well. You see, the Goldhoof mafia is still doing things they way they did back in the day. Drug operations, weapon dealings, extortion. And we can’t have that going anymore. I am not saying that you have to make a choice right now. But if we could make this city a paradise for both our society and those out in the lighter part of the world, things would be better for everypony if the Goldhoof mafia didn’t exist.”

Mystogan rubbed his chin in thought. He could still live his own life even with all this going on. He looked to Dread and before he could speak, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye happening down on the dancefloor. He walked forward to the window and glanced down to see what appeared to be a commotion going on. A voice over the radio that was in the stallion’s ear could be heard.

“Rook to Bishop, we have a situation on the dancefloor.Goldhoof flunkies are looking for the Sleeping King. They say that have something of great importance to tell him. Orders?”

Mystogan wasted no time in making his way downstairs and to the spot where the mobsters awaited his arrival. Dread followed close behind just in case things got out of hand. Mystogan pushes through the crowd and comes face to face with three large, muscular ponies dressed in suits. Bouncers kept them surrounded to make sure they wouldn’t cause any trouble for the patrons of the club.

“So, what does your boss want with me now? Does he think I am still going to give him what he wants?”

“OH, you will have no choice in the matter now. You see, we have a couple of mares in our hospitality that have been saying that you will come and save them. I suggest you come along with us if you ever want to see them alive again. You better hurry though, they are quite soft and pretty. And our boys just might have their way with them.”

The stallion on the left tosses a picture to Mystogan that he catches. His eyes widen as he sees both Fluttershy and Rarity bound handing against a wall and blindfolded. Their clothing nearly torn off and beaten and bruised. Mystogan’s eyes slowly went from wide to slitted with a glare that radiated hatred.

“I was going to let5 you go back to your leader and kill all of you then, but since you took it upon yourself to lay your filthy hands on those too. I am afraid that both of you will certainly die here. But before you die...you are going to tell me where I can find them>”

“Ha, I don’t know what you did to our boys before. But I know it’s only because of that coat’s abilities. If you were a real stallion, you’d face us without it. But since we will be killing you here and now, they are at the Prudential building in the middle of the city.”

The was a sudden breeze of air that flew forward as Mystogan launched himself forward into flight, grabbing the two stallions by their necks and flying through the open doors of the club and into the air. It happened so fast that it put the two stallions in shock before they realized they were dangling well over 200 feet in the air over the city. The force had made Mystogan’s hood fly off his head, finally revealing his face to the enemy. They struggled to breathe in his grip and looked down to see that there was no way in Equestria that they’d survive that fall. They started to panic and began pleading for their lives, realizing they should have just given the message and left. But instead, they chose to kick the hornet’s nest.

“You boss and his other flunkies aren’t going to get such an easy death as you two will. I will sever their limbs and slowly kill all of them for what you have done to my friends...I hope both of you burn in hell.”

Without another world, Mystogan drops one of them above the building he had chosen for their death, which had a sharp metal pike structure on top of it. He then drops the other one after him. They both land directly on the structure, instantly being impaled. They let out screams of pain and struggled as they slide down further and further until they stopped sliding down, their intestines wrapping around the structure as they sank lower on it.

Mystogan made his way back to the club to find Dread back upstairs waiting for him with a knowing grin. Mystogan gazed at him with that same glare on his face. Things were about to get a little exciting, that was for sure.

“You want me as your leader? Fine, but first thing’s first…”

“I understand completely, my King. I will be sure to let the Sleeping Soldiers and Rogues know that it is time to awaken and begin. Go save your loved ones, I will work from here.”

Dread got on the radio and began giving orders and letting other know that the King has awakened. Cheering could be heard over the speakers as Mystogan left the room. Suzuka herself was more than happy that the Shadow Court was now under the rule of a new king. But at the same time, she worried for her master. She knows how much he cares for those six ponies, and knowing two of them have been taken and hurt, she could feel her master’s heartache.

“Master, we will get them back safe and sound, I know we will…”

“I am going to kill each and every one of those fucking bastards. I don’t care who sees. They will regret even touching those two. Especially with Rarity’s big day tomorrow. I will not let her chance be taken away from her simply because some jack-off can’t get what he wants.”

Mystogan lands on the sidewalk that was in front of the building that held his friends inside. He looks up at the 40th floor as he clenches his hands into fists. He wasn’t going to be using his wind magic this time. Oh no, he was going to beat, tear and claw through every single mobster that got in his way. Needless to say, it was going to be a bloodbath. And he knew he wasn’t going to come out of this unscathed. But to save those he cared for, he didn’t care.

“I am coming, girls. Just hang in there…”

He said before walking towards the doors.

Author's Note

A short chapter I know, but it's a lead up to a longer one! :D

May the darkness grant you peace.