//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Operation Knightfall // Story: Equestria Wars Episode VIII: Son of Discord // by sonicdash123 //------------------------------// Charming Thunder drew symbols he saw in his dream on a piece of paper as he thought to himself, 'Who is Slade?' He placed a hoof on his chin as he thinks until a beeping sound came from the terminal next to him. He walked up to the terminal and pressed the button to reveal the hologram of Trixie. "Charming, I've got bad news," she started. "Whoa whoa! Slow down and start from the beginning." Trixie sighed and continued, "The Crystal Knights are plotting against Celestia and the empire." Charming Thunder gasped as she added on to the story. "I overheard from a knight from the library last night talking to a mysterious figure." "I knew that day would come. Meet me outside of the temple. I'll meet you there." The hologram faded and as he grabbed his black cloak stepped outside, he bumped into his daughter which forced her to drop her book. "Oh sorry, dad," she said as she levitated the book off the ground. She then noticed that Charming Thunder was wearing a cloak and asked, "Why are you wearing that?" "There's a meeting at the crystal kingdom," he lied. "And I have to attend. It might rain while I'm there." "Should mom know about this too?" "This is a personal matter. For now just...go back to what you were just doing. I'll be back as soon as possible." Light nodded as he walked passed her and headed towards his ship. --------------------- Charming Thunder's ship landed near the entrance to the castle and walked out to see Trixie waiting for him. She notices him walking up and met up with him. "You're just in time," Trixie said. "I also learned that the Crystal Council is involved with this so I believe that everypony in the temple must know." "Then I must hurry before the knight you were referring to leaves the temple," Charming Thunder said. "I'll go with you." "No. They will know that you are behind this and they might kill you. You head to Ponyville and leave this life as a knight behind. I won't do it alone though. I have already contacted my forces to rendezvous here so that we march inside." Trixie nodded in agreement as Charming Thunder pointed to his ship. "Take my ship now and don't tell anypony about this. Especially Twilight." "What of Celestia?" "I'll inform her about this once it is over. Now go." Trixie ran to the ship and closed the cockpit. Charming Thunder raised up his hood and walked up to the stairway to the temple and waited for reinforcements. --------------------- A few minutes later when Charming Thunder's armored troops arrived, the hooded unicorn stood in front of the troops after explaining to them what's going on. He then made his first step on the stairway to the temple as the blue decaled troopers marched behind him. Inside the temples library, a griffon librarian dropped books to the nearest table and turned to see a hooded Charming Thunder with two troopers behind him. The hooded unicorn walked up towards her as he said, "I need access to the council." "On who's authority?" the griffon asked. "By order of Princess Celestia." He then stopped in front of the griffon with her activated lightsaber as two knights watched from the second floor. "That is not within the princess' power. Only the council themselves can allow you to enter." Charming Thunder used his magic to levitate the griffon which forced her to drop her lightsaber and pulled her in towards his now activated lightsaber stabbing her in the chest. He then threw her aside and then looked up to see witnesses. "The council is no longer in control now." The knights jumped down with their activated lightsabers and landed in front of him. The soldiers aimed their blasters at them as one of them said, "You won't get away with this, Thunder." --------------------- Cadence sat at her throne as she read a letter until she heard an explosion coming from outside. She looked out of the window to see the temple in flames. She flew down out of the castle balcony to get a closer look. Two armored soldiers stood guard at the temple stairs and noticed the princess walking up to her. "What's going on here?" she demanded. "The knight have plotted against us," one of the soldiers said. "Don't worry the situation is under control." As more approached the stairs and Cadence tried to get through, the soldiers aimed their weapons at her as he said, "I'm sorry, your highness. Its time for you to leave." "And so it is." Cadence turned and walked the castle until she heard a lightsaber activation sound. "GET HIM!!" a soldier shouted. A dragon crystal knight leapt over the soldiers as they opened fire at him. Cadence turned to see the action and took cover. One of the blaster deflections hit a soldier as he deflected the others away. A soldier finally shot the dragon to the ground and one of them approached him to check if he was still alive. Cadence then ran off and trotted back to the castle. --------------------- One of the last council members charged at Charming Thunder in the council chamber as the other members lie dead on the floor. The red unicorn swung his lightsaber hard to make the zebra drop his lightsaber. Charming Thunder then gripped him with his magic and threw him to the wall. He then threw his lightsaber at him and impacts his chest. The zebra hung on the wall by the blade of his lightsaber when a knight entered the chamber. "I've been expecting you, traitor," Charming Thunder said as he turned to face him and levitated his lightsaber back to his hoof and the zebra collapsed to the ground. "You may have slaughtered the council," the pony knight said. "But you will not stop me for what I will do when I deal with you." "And how will you deal with Celestia since you already know that she is immortal just like me and the other princesses." The knight then activated his lightsaber and charged at him. The blades locked together and with his strength, Charming Thunder shoved the knight back. He then charged at him but got kicked over the downed pony and landed on the floor. As the knight charged at the downed unicorn, Charming Thunder threw his crimson blade and stabbed the knight in the chest. As the unicorn walked up to him, the knight knelt down and said with his last breath, "The Son of Discord will destroy you!" Charming Thunder grabbed the lightsaber stuck to the knights chest and said, "I'm counting on it." He then pulled his lightsaber from the knights chest and kicked him to the ground. He then walked up to the window and viewed the smoke and debris from the ground as he said, "Soon I will find you and put and end to your schemes, Son of Discord." A soldier entered the chamber as he said, "The temple is now secured, sir. What do we do now?" Charming Thunder turned to the soldier and said, "Burn this place to the ground and wipe out the records of this place." The trooper saluted and ran off to complete the task given. --------------------- Spike ran to Twilight who was glancing out at the window to see smoke in the distance. "Twilight, I just heard that Charming Thunder went to the Crystal Empire before the smoke appeared," he said. Twilight turned to him and didn't answer and Spike placed his hand on her hoof as he continued, "Don't worry. I'm sure he'll be alright." The baby dragon then left the room and Twilight looked back at the window. She then turned and took a few steps away. She then collapsed to the floor and began to cry.