//------------------------------//
// Chapter 17: Of Nightshade and The End 
// Story: Elements of Honor 
// by SpitFlame 
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The next following day had arrived much faster than Corvo thought it would. As the head of a yellow light looked over far horizons, a dim brightness spread slowly about the land; however, the sun seemed to dwindle, for Luna, Cadence, and Twilight had to work together to raise it.

There was still much grieving for the ponies—especially Twilight, who had truly believed her mentor to be gone. Yet she sorrowfully accomplished her duties, as a darkness hung over everypony's hearts.

Ever since the tragic revelation, Corvo remained in Luna's room; he even slept there the night. All the while every single pony who could were trying to uncover the mystery behind Celestia's supposed death, toiling at each possible hour. But Luna had already planned the outcome: her sister would return to them at twelve o'clock when the sun be amidmost in the sky; and like Celestia predicted, Corvo would attempt to attack round that given time.

That is why, when Luna had asked to speak with Corvo in his room two minutes before the specified time, she was cold-still and nervous. She knew it would be best to come to the assassin's room, for that would be his most comforting location.

"So, Luna, I figure that the raising of the sun has been incredibly harsh on all of you as of lately," said Corvo, with his hands draped deep in his pockets.

"Yes, it has been. Twilight, Cadence, and I are the ones who suffer the most, I would think," said Luna, "all because of this one accident."

"Accident?" Corvo took a step forth. "Verily, we are all sure that this was a murder, done with intention."

"Sorry. That is what I meant to say. Anyhow, none of this information will really help us to the point of quickly bringing the case to a close, will it?"

"No, I would not think so," said Corvo slowly. "Yet we can be sure of many things. For one, the very implication that the murderer is from my world can have connections to Equestria. Let us presume the latter for a moment. Equestria bears many magical things to it, though to control such as that would require a great deal of knowledge concerning it all. That is why I believe the killer may still be in Equestria—because the culprit should still be plotting against you."

You're essentially describing yourself, Corvo, thought Luna. "I knew most of that, I think. But like I have said, it will not help us; for it does not need to."

"Oh? Well, maybe we will find more information then, if that is what you wish."

"It is what I wish; however, whomever may be responsible—actually, I already know who is the one." She arrayed her thoughts and concentrated on the shadows about. There was one minute left before twelve o'clock.

"I would like to add something that has been such a bother ever since I have arrived," sighed Corvo: "that my very own room, pale and small, bears no arching window like what I have seen within this place. I can feel lonely and isolated at times while being here, thinking to myself."

"That's too bad, I guess. But I do not think it will matter soon," said Luna, illuminating her horn. "It is a little dark here, don't you think?"

"I do not think it is too dark, though I will leave that decision to you." The two let a dead silence hang awkwardly in the air for several seconds; and Corvo finally said: "It was always my deliberate action to help you all, and clear my name at the same time. I am just hoping for a wanting like that to truly be accomplished."

"Well, everything shall come to truth," said Luna, smirking and raising an eyebrow. "Do you think time will pass by more slowly, with my sister not here anymore to offer you a mental challenge?"

Corvo turned his back to Luna and shrugged. "Not by a lot. Well, I cannot even be too certain for that matter, actually." He again shifted and looked thoughtfully at her. "You said you know who the 'one' is. Would you care to tell me the meaning behind such a statement?"

There are only a few seconds left. "Yes, of course," she said. "It is you. Both Celestia and I were one-hundred-percent sure before; and I am one-hundred-percent sure still. It has always been you."

The time came. From far off a dim sound, as if blocked by curtains, echoed through and over the castle: the clamor of a great clock.

"It is mid-noon," said Luna again.

Corvo hummed in frustration and straightened his brow. "Yesterday you said you were certain that it was not me. And even so, would you keep blaming me if it did nothing for Celestia?" He slowly wandered to her, boring a gleam in his eyes. "Everything you and your sister have done to prove I am evil towards Equestria has been vain. I suppose you only want to believe I am behind the tree and stones, for you have no one else to work off of."

"It is not our deductions that have been wrong. We can say that Corvo has gone against Equestria and its ponies, and we would be right!"

"I do not think that to be rational thinking. But more importantly, why do you ponies always want to meet in private?"

"Because Celestia remains alive! She has not been slain!" cried Luna suddenly, inwardly lowering her eyebrows.

Corvo's face softened; and he ceased his tedious gait and sighed long but quietly. "What are you going on about?" he asked.

Many more minutes went by, yet there they remained: Luna holding a strict expression, and Corvo looking gloomily to her. After a time, however, Luna began to feel worried—almost frightened as well. Sweat ran down her temple as her eyes shook.

"What are we even doing now?" said Corvo, inhaling quietly.

"But... that cannot be," muttered Luna. "Corvo, what is the time? Tell me!"

"By the last position of the sun I observed, all to now and past our brief talk, I would say it to be twelve o'three. Why such an odd question at this moment?"

"Where is Celestia!" shot back Luna. "What have you done with her!"

Corvo took a fast step back, his eyes twitching nervously. "What? What have I done with your sister? Luna, explain what you are asking."

Luna remained bearing a burning glare and a tightened face. Immediately she cursed beneath her breath and ran out the door, and flew by many hallways.

"Princess Luna!" Corvo called back. He ran for Luna, but was far too slow, and lagged behind. He ceased his sprint by a nearby window, which looked out into a green field, where lay Celestia's burial. He kept on watching; and then came Luna, nearly flying off the ground, with a black shadow over her. She stopped in front of the secondary black coffin, upon the white, marble platform, and lay eerily still for half a minute.

"No, no, no, no, no," whispered Luna to herself, her voice becoming quieter as she went on. "Tia, please, please show yourself. No, he did not get to you. Your prediction was never wrong. Please, no, no..." She began to sob—uncontrollably—and rather loudly. "No, no. Please! You still can't be in here!" Letting out a rough groan, Luna rose her shaking head; and activating her horn she completed a quick scan.

The world froze. The sun practically disappeared for the night princess as she lay there, her face stone-still, with rays of water pouring down from her eyes. She had painfully confirmed that her sister indeed remained underground.

Up to where Corvo was, he watched from afar, bearing a grim grin and quietly laughing to himself. You must feel so horrible, dear Princess Luna, he thought. You think I would not be aware of Celestia's foresight upon the poison? Of course I considered it. With her mind being weary at that time, she could not think straight. The poison was never in the tea, and yet she still died; for the essence was always onto the lip of the cup, where one would put their mouths on to drink.

He backed away slowly, as for Luna not to see him. Corvo vanished into a corner's shadow, and sat there, thinking: Celestia was so careless that she never even considered her own death; or maybe she did, and I do not know yet. Nonetheless, I have won. Celestia finally lost a game of chess; and with her out of my path, Princess Luna is the next to die. Yes, she will die today, and my goal shall be complete. Unexplained Opium. I suppose Twilight really has been a helper all along.


* * *


"Twilight!" cried Luna, running all over and round the Crystal Castle. The moment she had figured Celestia's true death, she immediately headed for the Crystal Empire, where Twilight resided for the moment. She could not think straight; for her mind was clouded with grief, and she hardly knew what to do.

After five minutes of the devastating search, Luna found Twilight, sitting quietly upon a floor and reading a book, bearing shaded curves under her eyes. Twilight had stayed up all day and night, continuously worrying for how Equestria would do without Celestia.

"Hello there, Luna," she said, slowly rising and bowing. "I didn't think you to be here so soon."

Luna swallowed hard and stared to Twilight and her book, and noticed how her coat seemingly darkened. The sun beyond the window was dim, blurred on its rims; Equestria as a whole had darkened.

"I've been trying to figure things out," said Twilight again, her voice very weak. "I can't get any sleep, Princess Luna. All I do is study detective work, to avenge Princess Celestia, if you get me. I apologize for looking so weary."

"Twilight, you must know this!" said Luna, nearly crying yet a second time. "Princess Celestia was never supposed to die. This was all a plan of hers."

"A plan of hers?" Twilight's frown straightened as she drew closer to Luna. "What do you mean by that?"

"She was never supposed to die, is what I am saying. Princess Celestia had a plan set up to catch the culprit behind all of this—the same one who ended her life—yet she failed. I need your help to bring him to justice!" she ended with a cry.

"Whoa, whoa! Slow down!" said Twilight quickly. "Who's 'him' supposed to be?"

"Corvo!"

Twilight became aghast and terrified. Her mouth tediously opened as her pupils shrunk. Her body had become cold and scared; and she could not make out her thoughts from before. "W-what?" she said, closing her mouth and moaning in despair. "Corvo is the one who's evil here? He placed the tree, those stones, and brought Equestria to chaos? He murdered Princess Celestia?"

Luna looked to Twilight with cold and misty eyes; and nodding slowly she said: "Yes. That is it. Princess Celestia was always sure of it from the beginning. The reason she did not tell you was to keep you safe. Yet she has failed, and Corvo must now be stopped."

Twilight's breathing increased. She closed her teeth on each other and fell to her rump, trying to blink away the sting in her eyes. "He was our friend! Corvo was our friend! How could he have done this? He... he... he used us," she ended in a low pitch.

"Please do not feel so saddened now," said Luna, bringing her up with a hoof. "Wipe the tears for the moment, and"— she inhaled —"and help me stop Corvo. He plans to kill me, too—as Celestia once said—so there is not much time to spare."

Twilight's eyes widened once again. "He's trying to murder you, too, Luna?" she asked in shock, looking down. "W-why? Oh, why is this happening to us? If Corvo is trying to kill you, then we need to get as far away from him as possible."

"No!" said Luna, nearly aloud. "I will not back down like a coward. I supposed that is what he wants; but of course not!" She began to pace here and there, groaning beneath her breath. "This must be a secret between us, Twilight. Do not tell anypony about this. Promise me! It is what Celestia would do. Promise me!"

"I—err, I promise!" said Twilight, stepping back. "But, Luna, how can we do this? We still need to think this through and come up with a rational plan; unless Corvo is already on his way here."

The two alicorns became aghast, laying upon that thought. "We have hardly any time left, anyway," said Luna quietly. Please, Tia, help me! What would you do in a situation like this?

"I still can't believe Corvo would do this," said Twilight. "After all we have been through. After all the times he acted as a friend to us, even when I considered him a friend, he has betrayed us. We'll have to arrest him, if it's the last thing to do!"

"Twilight!" said Luna suddenly. "Twilight, you stay here, and I shall head for Canterlot castle."

"What! Princess, that's crazy! What happens if Corvo comes here while you're away; or what will happen if he attacks you and I'm not there?"

"Do not worry, Twilight, for I can handle myself. You see, with two powerful alicorns, and many helpers at our disposal, we will corner Corvo, so he will not be able to run. If he tries to escape, we will track him down; and whichever way he goes, we will be there." Luna headed for the door. "Stay in the main throne room, and keep watch all about you! Once I arrive in Canterlot, it is only a matter of over-powering him."

"But, Luna, we can't arrest him without proper evidence. There's just no way Equestrian Law would support that."

Luna looked to the ground, then at the door and arrayed her thoughts. Twilight was right: they could never incarcerate him upon only gut-feeling and guessed anecdotal proof. Her mind turned cold as a grey shadow went over her face.

"Well, there is something," said Twilight again, sounding very ashamed.

"There... is?" said Luna, turning to her. "What is it?"

"Corvo has access to the Canterlot Royal Library and the Archives. Since he was not supposed to, we can use that against him and put him away."

"How does he have access! Celestia specifically forbade him that for these very reasons: that he may use special information to beat us. How does he have access?"

"I—I—I, well, I," stammered Twilight, nearly crying again, "I gave him the access."

Luna immediately glared at Twilight and breathed sharply. "You gave him access?" she asked. "What... what possessed you to do such a thing!"

"He talked me into it!" Twilight's eyebrows inwardly lowered as she shot a defeated stare at Luna. "I'm so sorry. I didn't want to; but he said he really trusted me and that only I could help him save Equestria; and that he really needed the exclusive information to check other cities for the stones." Her voice broke as she began to cry again. "I never knew he would use it to turn bad. I'm so sorry, Luna. I'm so sorry!" She bowed her head as tear drops fell onto the carpet below.

Yet Luna's gaze softened. She thought for half a minute, and said: "It is alright, Twilight. Please, we cannot afford to have you so grieved. In fact, this can be used to our advantage. Now we should be capable of capturing Corvo and bringing him to justice. There is no way he'll expect this."

"You really think so?" said Twilight, wiping her eyes. "Well, okay then! We'll stop Corvo and avenge Princess Celestia—together!"

The two threw a determined expression of adamant confidence; and as Twilight remained there, Luna flew as fast as she could back to Canterlot. In the castle, Corvo awaited, feeling not a second of remorse nor sympathy.


* * *


Corvo wandered down the long hallway, with his head bowed as a red gleam remained in his eyes. His steps were slow and methodical; and he remained shadowed as his black hair hung over his cold eyes.

I have won, he thought. Well, technically not yet, though I am certain. He made his way up an empty staircase, and began to walk down yet another hallway. Since I have made sure that Twilight knows of my illegal access, there is no doubt that she will tell her friend; for Luna must be so saddened for learning of her sister's death. It is obvious that she went to the Crystal Empire to inform Twilight to help her, for there would be no one left to turn to. But since she could not arrest me without proper reason, that is why I got Twilight to lend me that improper knowledge: so she would tell Princess Luna, and she would think that that would be enough to stop me.

He passed by the main doors of the Archives and the Royal Library, arraying his thoughts each time he did. Luna would most likely try to think like her genius sister; therefore, I suspect that she would try to come here alone and leave Twilight out of harm's way. Very basic, and such a stupid decision. In a way, Twilight, you were just as responsible for Princess Celestia's and Princess Luna's slayings as I were, so I hope you think on that.

When he passed by a wide window, from afar, he descried a small blur, rapidly approaching him. He was certain it was Luna, for he even saw the distant glare. He knew she was looking to him, so he had to act quickly.

Corvo ran downstairs for the underground parts of the castle, thinking: Luna draws nigh to me. Well, she must think that she has won. What a waste in the illusion of confidence. Now that I made sure to have Twilight give me the access just so Luna would arrive at this very time, I need to act carefully. This next and final step should leave one of us very forlorn, and I do hope that it is not me.


* * *


"Corvo!" clamored Luna as she broke down the main double door of the foyer. She quickened her pace about, scanning her sight all round her. "Show yourself! You have lost, Corvo; and I shall bring you to your defeat. Come out now!"

"Princess Luna, I am here!" he said. Luna turned to see Corvo in the very distance, at the end of a small hallway, beckoning to her. "I think I have figured out a way to end all of this. Please come!"

Luna's nostrils flared as she charged to him, igniting her horn. "Come here, Corvo!" she cried.

The assassin quickly vanished to his right. When Luna had arrived there she saw a long stairway leading down, and a stretched shadow disappearing. "Do not hide from me!" Luna flew down and into yet another hallway, very claustrophobic and underground.

"Come, Luna. Quick!" echoed Corvo's voice from afar.

"I will stop you," said Luna to herself. "My sister's death was not in vain. I will stop you no matter what." She ran down to where his voice was, and into a small room.

She could not see a thing; for it was so dark one could not tell if their eyes were closed. Activating an illumination spell Luna noticed her location: a small dungeon, kept hidden within the castle. The metal door she had run by closed on her; and the alicorn quickly turned, scanning all about the stone walls.

"I know you killed Celestia!" said Luna. "You know it as well! Princess Twilight is even aware of it!" She noticed how a small window of thick glass was to her left, leading out into darkness.

Many minutes went by as Luna kept waiting in a battle stance, usually turning here or there. Even when her breathing became ragged she did not move, for she knew Corvo could not hurt her. But after many more minutes of waiting, the assassin did not show.

There is no point to being here any longer, she thought, taking in a loud breath and sweating. I suppose I should leave, by blasting down this entrance if needed. Corvo probably thought that locking me within such a place would contain me. Such a pitiful attempt. When she looked to the metal door, her throat roughly tightened as a burning sensation grabbed her lungs.

"Gah!" she let out a strangled gasp, falling to the floor with bloodshot eyes. Her breathing increased, yet she could not feel the air.

"I know what you are thinking, Luna," said Corvo. "It was never about keeping you here forever, but to see how long you would remain, awaiting for me."

Luna adjusted her shaking head, glaring out the window with clenched teeth. There was Corvo's figure, looking down to her with a stone-still face, frowning, and the burning crimson light in his stare.

Luna's horn buzzed in and out of light, unable to concentrate on her magic. Her eyes remained widened as she continued to look, unable to do a single thing but vainly gasp for breath.

"Farewell, Princess Luna," said Corvo for the last time to her; and he left and was gone. Luna's mind fell into a void as her horn died; and there she remained, slain in a black dungeon.


* * *


Now I have finally won! cried Corvo's thought. Celestia and Luna are dead, by my hands. Yes! From the very moment I arrived they were defeated. It was always a matter of time and patience.

Corvo walked down the Everfree Forest, amid many trees, arching over him as he wandered by the path. Some parts of the ground were wide open, and some short and leant, as the forest was always known for. He was almost there, at the point where he first started. That is what he and The Outsider promised: for him to be transported back amidmost the dark trees and withered leaves.

Luna was so adamant to catch me that she never even noticed her own demise. It was so inconvenient for that pony that I was able to modify such a room in advance. By using my fire manipulation I cut off all of the current and receiving air. And since Luna stayed there for so long, the more she breathed; and afterwards, she ran out of oxygen, and died. Most ponies would never even suspect the prospect of suffocating in such a place; but my calculations were always the most threatening. A two-thousand-four-hundred cubic feet room would deplete three-hundred times with the six percent an average person breathes, and I connected that to how the air was already so thin in that dungeon, for the place was underground and unused for such a lengthy time. And all of this was planned ahead of notion, under all sights.

"So, I guess this is where this fine journey ends," said a familiar voice. Corvo turned to see the very Outsider, walking side-by-side with him. "It sure was fun while it lasted."

"Yes, quite," said Corvo. "Even though I had my breakdowns, and I managed to be good friends with most of the ponies, it was all in my favor all along. Thank you, Outsider; not only for informing me of this war to stop, but because you gave me a decent mental challenge."

"Yes, I suppose," said The Outsider smiling. "I am not sure about you, Corvo, but I have had a lovely time. Friendship and trust; chess games and battles amid nightshade. I was never once bored, by the way. When we arrive back in Dunwall, I just hope to have yet another thing to look forward to."

"You will, Outsider," assured Corvo. "You shall witness my rule over all places. Equestria can forever be left alone in a void; though I figuratively predict that."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Remember when I obtained access to those two forbidden rooms, filled with ancient books and magical scrolls? There was another reason for that: to burn down everything there. All of it."

The Outsider looked cryptically at Corvo, creasing his brow. "Why did you go and do that?"

"Because, Outsider, I destroyed all records that could bear any effect upon advancing powers. With those annihilated, they will never be able to create multi-dimensional magic, or at least not for many more millennia."

"But because you have done that, Equestria shall plunder in absolute darkness. There will be nothing to help them, nor to defend themselves properly. This land is essentially over; and with the only alicorns remaining being mortal—well, you see where I am going with this."

Yet Corvo's eyes were ashen and lifeless, concentrated on the path ahead; and he said: "Remember what I once told you, Outsider: I do not care for these ponies, nor their land, nor will I ever."

"Oh, fine!" huffed The Outsider, rolling his eyes. "I suppose I shall have to make do back in your world. Oh, well."

But suddenly a great flash of light appeared before them, causing Corvo to shield his vision and The Outsider to stare with intrigue. When the light vanished, there were two standing before them: Twilight and Discord.

"Oh, hello there," said The Outsider. Yet Discord bore a serious demeanor; and by his side Twilight, who appeared to be very wroth.

"Save me the gestures," said Discord. "I know of your doings, Outsider, and your little companion here. I now know what your true intentions were. Just be aware that you will not be leaving here without a fight."

"Friend of yours?" whispered Corvo to The Outsider.

The Outsider shook his head in disappointment and said: "No, not at all. This here is Discord."

So this is the Discord I was so worried about. He then shifted his sight to Twilight, who glared at him with a fire upon her.

"I know what you've done!" she cried. "I was never sure to stay in the Crystal Empire, so I returned. And then I... I found... Luna." Her lips quivered as she charged her horn, the ground beneath her hooves sinking ever so slowly.

"I need not pay any mind to you," said Corvo.

"Oh, but I think you will," said Discord sternly. "After your buddy made me leave, I began to think: who was coming, and why? I sure am glad to have returned now."

"Now this should be interesting," said The Outsider. But he then sighed and added: "However, I think this is not worth my time, despite me having an infinite amount of it. Corvo, please use your Mark to escape. It is what you do best, after all."

"As long as I draw breath, you will never leave!" cried Twilight, blasting the strongest spell she had at Corvo. Discord frowned and snapped his claws, summoning many timberwolves round them.

Yet Corvo lit his Mark; and he bent time and everything stopped. In front of him was a long glowing beam of purple and white magic, inches away from his dark coat. About him many timberwolves, stuck in jumping positions, lay helpless and frozen.

"And so ends Equestria," said The Outsider at last.

Corvo walked by them, keeping his head bowed. When he reached the way-point his body vanished into black smoke, never to be seen again.

Time resumed; and when Twilight and Discord looked ahead of them with saddened eyes, all that remained was a deep crater in the dead grass, and piles of ash wood all round it.

"N-no," said Twilight, falling to her hooves and crying. "Discord, please tell me you can track Corvo back to his world. Just... please."

Discord's ears were drooped, as he hunched his back low with pale eyes. "I'm sorry," he said, thinking back to Princess Celestia. At least, to him, Fluttershy was okay.


* * *


And there Corvo was yet again, just like the beginning: upon the very top of the tower, where its rusted and cracked pieces of metal and stone yet remained. A chill wind, too, blew from the west, as many grey clouds went in that direction. It was day time, yet the sun was dim and distant, casting little light about everything else.

Corvo stood on the very edge of the aged roof, with The Outsider levitating next to him.

"It has been just over two hours since you returned from Equestria," said The Outsider, "and you have not talked about it thus far."

Upon hearing those words Corvo grinned, chuckling softly to himself.

"Well, whatever you may be thinking, at least it is not over-complicated as the last. Err, Corvo?"

The assassin's voice grew louder, and more frightening. His pitch was deep, and he soon lowered his shoulders and started laughing aloud.

The Outsider was taken aback. "Corvo?"

And then Corvo's loud chuckle blew into complete laughter. His cold voice was incredible eerie; and he remained psychotically laughing like a madman for a lasting minute. When the sonorous sound ceased he drew a deep breath, and said: "Everything is out of my way, so I can now stray this pathetic world into the right path. It is only a matter of time before I rise in absolute power, and all who will oppose me must die. Ha! Not even Princess Celestia and Princess Luna could have beaten me. Ha! Nothing shall ever defy me again! Not a thing!"

This cynical man has completely lost it, thought The Outsider. "I sure hope nothing will."

But Corvo's face darkened; and he grew stone-still and sinister. Looking out beyond the ocean, he asked frowning: "Outsider, do you know what I am of this world?"

The Outsider crossed his arms and hummed in thought, eyeing the scenery with half-lid eyes. "Corvo, through such dangers you have proven to be a great person. Such a brilliant mind you possess, though undeniably insane you remain. I cannot wait to see what comes next. Oh, do not mind by rambling. What are you?—of this world, is what I mean."

With a grey shadow over his eyes, Corvo said in a whispering voice: "I am its lord."


~ ~ ~



THE END