Mystogan sat on the train reading through one of his books as it traveled toward the snowy northlands of Equestria. Never did he think he’d be heading so close to home so very soon. But because Twilight had asked him to come along with her on an important test given to her by Celestia herself, he was happy to offer his support in any way he could to the purple unicorn. He flips the next page of his book as he cancels out the conversation going on around him, not really noticing that Twilight had sat next to him and eyed him then his book curiously. The way his eyes were so narrowed and focused. He looked like he was a scholar at work. Not only did he have a mind of a scientist, but when he worked and even just read, he looked so naturally intelligent.

Mystogan’s eyes shifted over towards the sleeping Fluttershy that leaned against him with her arms around his right arm. Apparently because of how she was saved by his quick work, the mare had developed a thing for her hero in fluff. Even though he was fully clad in his armor, it still did not deter her away from him. Mystogan however just smiled and shrugged it off. If she was content with laying there against him, he wasn’t going to bother her. But when he shifted his eyes over to Twilight who was watching him intently. He arched a brow and tilted his head.

“Something you need, Twi?”

“Oh, nothing really. I was just..well...admiring your unbreakable focus when it comes to reading and learning new things when it comes to your craft. It’s something I [i[really like about you.”

He chuckled lightly and closed the book before putting it in his satchel, seeing as the stop was just ahead from out his window.

“It is thanks to my great grandfather’s teachings that I am an accomplished alchemist. The knowledge he left behind is beyond invaluable and was passed down to me. Should I ever have a child and they wish to pursue the same path as I do, I will be passing down that knowledge, along with the new knowledge I obtain from them. It is what my father did for me. But that was only from the books left by my great grandfather since my father took to blacksmithing.”

Twilight listened intently at the little piece of his family history he shared. She wanted to know all she could about him. Not just his kind in general, but Mystogan himself. And she loved what she was hearing. However, the train came to a stop. Mystogan reached down and gently shook the sleeping yellow pegasus to wake her up. She lets out an adorable yawn and looks up at Mystogan with a smile and her still sleepy eyes.

“We are here now, Shy. Nap time is over.”

He said in a teasing manner. Once they got off the train, there was nothing but pure snow for what appeared to be miles. Mystogan walked through it like he was back home with no issues. He opened up his arms as his cloak flowed behind him as he gazed at the enormous mountains off in the distance.

So close to home...but, now isn’t the time.”

Twilight and the others walk up behind him as they gaze at the mountains as well. Rainbow would even have issues flying up there with how high it is and not to mention her wings would probably freeze over as well.

“You live all the way up there…?”

Twilight asks as she walks up next to him while gazing up at what she could see of the mountain top. Mystogan nods in response. He suddenly hears a familiar voice calling out in the blizzard and turns to the approaching figure just as the others do.

“Twilight!”

“Shining Armor?!”

She called out as the figure in the snow approached them all. Mystogan made his way over with them as he gave to nod to Shining.

“Well look at you. You are certainly well equipped to handle the cold, big guy.”

Mystogan chuckled at Shining’s words and patted his chest. Showing off his extra fluff.

“Well, I grew up in the cold. So this is nothing, really.”

They begin to make their way through the blizzard. With Shining leading the way and Mystogan bringing up the rear to make sure that his eyes were on everyone just in case something happens. He even kept his hand on his sword’s hilt just in case of such a thing were to happen.

“Something keeps trying to get into the Empire. We believe it is the unicorn king that originally cursed the place.”

“Ah. So with the return of the empire, Sombra has been trying to reclaim it then?”

“That’s what seems to be happening. You seem to know an awful lot about him.”

Well, the fact that he and his army tried to kill off my kind, he was sure to be remembered by us. But since he has returned, I would love the chance to face him myself.”

Suddenly there was a low, loud howling from within the blizzard. Mystogan was quick to draw his blade, the sound of the blade leaving its sheath was sharp to the ears. The mountain pony was on full alert now.

“T-That’s one of the things isn’t it?!”

Said Fluttershy in a frightened tone, remembering what Shining had said before they started making their trip towards the Empire. Shining turns to the group with a serious look on his face.

“We have to get to the Crystal Empire, NOW!”

Suddenly, behind them appeared a large black smokey cloud with the face of a long-remembered enemy of Mystogan’s kind. His grip on his sword’s hilt tightened as his blood started to boil. And he did not know why. It’s not like he had to deal with Sombra when he was alive. But, the mountain pony wanted him dead in a serious way. While everyone else was running the other way, Mystogan blocked Sombra from following them. Twilight realizing that he was staying behind, she stops and calls out to him, waving her arms frantically. Little did she kn0ow that his eyes were shifting back to that same color as the day the dragon nearly took Fluttershy from them all. Sombra’s and Mystogan’s gaze met. Sombra cracked a wicked grin as he realized just what Mystogan was.

“Hah hah hah haaah, it appears that the ponies that I could not defeat still thrive in this world. What a nuisance. Well, no matter. Once I take back my kingdom, I will make sure to pay that mountaintop of yours a visit with my mindless horde of ponies that I will take under my control once more!”

Mystogan eyes narrowed into a wicked glare as he gets into a battle stance with his blade in hand and another in his void satchel. Intent on ending the king there and now.

“I am going to finish what the princesses could never do. You won’t get the chance to try and terrorize my race again…”

He suddenly screams out in an angered frenzy. His eyes glowing with that same red and amethyst mixture of color.

”I’ll KILL YOU A THOUSAND TIMES OVER!!!”

He suddenly charges forth with a glass vial in his hand which he crushed and through the contents of it towards Sombra. It was a blinding flashbang which was as bright as the purest light.could ever be. Sombra lets out a roar of pain as he shuts his eyes hard. The light even burning away the smokey shadow form that he had taken. Mystogan leaps into the air with his sword ready to run him through but is taken back by the combined magical grip of Twilight and her brother.

“Let me go! Let me go right now damnit! I am going to rip out his fucking heart and mount his head on a trophy display when I get done with him!”

Mystogan, that’s enough, this isn’t the time for this!”

Shouted Twilight as she and her brother continued to pull him away as he struggled against their magic. It was difficult to restrain him as he wanted Sombra dead in a serious way as the blood within him continued to boil over. Eventually, they got to the barrier that separated the empire from the cold of the north. They throw him on the other side as Shining stays behind to keep Sombra busy. Twilight and the others notice Mystogan’s state and pile on top of him trying to calm him down. Just as he was about to strike one of them, he quickly comes back to his senses and drops his sword as his eyes turn back to their normal sky blue.

“What...just happened…?”

“What do you mean ‘What happened?’?! You went berserk!”

Shouted Rainbow as she flailed her arms in the air at the large pony. Mystogan placed a hand on his head as he struggled to remember what happened as it took place so...suddenly. Shining leaps through the barrier finally with what appeared to be black crystal shards sticking out of his horn. Twilight ran over to check on him to make sure he was alright while Mystogan lightly began to push the rest of the girls off of him.

“I am good now. As much as i love to have a pile of mares on top of me, this isn’t the time or place.”

He said as he stood up and turned to look at the empire in the distance. His eyes widen as it was just like the books in his home on top of the mountain held true to its beauty. It was made entirely out of crystal and it shone brightly with the sun’s reflection.

“Sparkleriffic!”

Shouted Pinkie as her and the others gazed upon the kingdom.

“You aren’t kidding...it’s just as the tales were told by my mother and father. The Crystal Empire is truly a sight to behold.”

As they walked through the city that surrounded the castle. All eyes were mostly on the mountain pony. Their expressions changed from depressed to fear-filled at they all started to back away or run into hiding. Mystogan knew exactly why this was the case/ He neglected to tell Twilight and the others they when Sombra tried to take over their mountaintop and his race, they came down and rained death and destruction within the empire as retaliation. Mystogan shifts his eyes to an oncoming chunk of crystal that his quickly catches before it reaches the side of his head. He turns his head to the throw to see a colt glaring up at him with hatred in his eyes.

“Get out of our empire, monster! We don’t want you here!”

There it was, that one word he hated being called. He makes his way towards the colt just as his mother runs up to him and wraps her arms around him in a protective manner with a look of absolute terror on her face as he approached them both.

“Mystogan, don’t!”

Twilight shouted as she started to run toward him. But after seeing that he wasn’t going to harm either of them, she stops. Mystogan looks down at the mother and son with a serious gaze and holds up the chunk of crystal, then breaks it as he balls his hand into a fist.

“You think I am a monster? Your last king as more of a monster than my whole race put together. It is because of him my kind came to this empire and fought. HE brought our wrath upon you. So the fault lies with him. He is the real monster. We were simply proving that you do not mess with the mountain pony race. Besides, that was over a thousand years ago. Things have changed. Hate me and my kind all you want, but it is because of my kind that we diminished his forces greatly. We made it easier for the equestrian forces and the princesses to overthrow him.”

The mare nodded multiple times and drug her son away from him. Mystogan shook his head and returned to the group, Twilight joining him at his side. As they made their way towards the castle, Twilight’s gaze shifted up to his as he stared forward.

“Mystogan...those things you said. Are they true? Your kind came down here and...caused all that?”

There would be no point in lying to you or the others, Twilight. But as I said, that was many, many years ago. And if I get the chance, I will kill that bastard if he finds a way into the empire before we can fix this.”

“I understand how you feel, Mystogan. But learning all this about your kind and their past. Perhaps it wasn’t a good idea for you to have come wi th us. I mean, it’s not that I didn’t want you to come…”

“It’s alright, Twilight. The sooner we finish this, the sooner I can leave these ponies in peace. Let’s hurry up and do what we need to do here.”

He said before they walked into the castle.

Author's Note

Here is another one, enjoy!

May the darkness grant you peace.