//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: The Crystal Empire Undercity // Story: Equestria Wars Episode XV: Knights of Zero // by sonicdash123 //------------------------------// Charming Thunder, Lucina, and Twilight stood in the elevator to go down to the undercity of the Crystal Empire since they heard that this 'Lady of Sorrows' character was told to be at by Danny's spirit. The elevator doors open and they step out in the streets of the city. The city looks a little different than the Crystal Empire back on top. "This must be where ponies go mingle with the rabble and then go home to brag about it," Charming Thunder said. "This must be one big party then," Twilight said surprised. "Our contact should be down here. Lucina, you stay here. If you see either the Red Hood or Zero, contact us." Lucina nodded as her mother and father took their leave. She then took a stroll as the spirit of Danny appear next to her. "I always intended to visit the Crystal Empire Undercity," Danny said. "I thought I would have the time. Delightful." "You couldn't have mentioned about somepony who could help us destroy the Eternal Fleet earlier," Lucina said. "The probes inside your father were active and I couldn't reveal that info because of that situation. If Cyber took control of his mind, he would've destroyed everyone again." "You have a fair point." Lucina's communicator beeped and she answered it to hear blaster fire in the background. "If you can read me, we've made some new friends," Twilight said. "We could use a hoof." "I'm on my way." Lucina ran off to help his mother and father. A pony hid in the corner as she left and grabbed a holo communicator and revealed the holo figure of the Red Hood. "This better be good!!" the Red Hood shouted. "You wouldn't guess who is here in the Crystal Empire Undercity," the pony said with a smile. --------------------- Charming Thunder and Twilight were pinned down in the cantina where they came across a crossfire with hooded ponies. Lucina came in front of Charming Thunder and Twilight and deflected the blaster fire to wound them and end the shooting. Some of them barely walked out of the cantina as some collapsed to the ground. "Nice timing," Charming Thunder said. "Who were they?" Lucina asked as she deactivated her lightsaber. "Heralds of Zildrog; cultists longing the return of some sort of serpent god. They are now militant." "But how did they get here?" "Someone who worked here." Charming Thunder turned towards the table and used his unicorn magic to throw the table aside to reveal a stallion cowering in fear. "And he is still here." He then approached the stallion as he crawled away and got cornered to the wall. "It's not to bright to be siccing out the Heralds." "It wasn't me, your highness!!" the stallion said. "Those Heralds run the undercity now. They made a deal with the Red Hood." "Red Hood?" Twilight asked. "What kind of deal?" "Heralds find you, they leave the undercity alone. If you stick around, he'll blame it on me. You need to leave." "how about telling us where the Lady of Sorrows is first?" Charming Thunder demanded. "This is a joke, right? I'd rather take my lumps from the Heralds over the Lady any day." "And where do we fit in?" "What?" Charming Thunder punched the stallion in the gut then used the force to lift him off of his hooves. He then released him back down to the floor. "Need another reminder on what your king can do?" "I'd take his advice if I were you," Twilight said. "It is your fault after all." "W-What I meant to say was, you don't want to mess with the Lady," the stallion said in fear. "Then I was going to say, but hey that's your prerogative. I'll be square with you. Just don't do that again." "Where is she?" Charming Thunder demanded. "I don't know, but I know somepony to talk to. A friend of mine." "Go on." --------------------- Zero sat on the Eternal Throne as the Red Hood entered the room. He stopped in the middle of the room and gave him the big news. "Guess who my spies found in the Crystal Empire Undercity?" the Red Hood said. "Charming Thunder?" Zero replied as the Red Hood nodded. "Is he alone?" "He's not alone. Twilight and their daughter Lucina is with him. I was hopping I would get a chance at him." "This may be your opportunity indeed. Go on ahead and do what you must." The Red Hood turned to leave the room. "Oh, and bring me Charming Thunder's head as proof." "As you wish." The Red Hood then took his leave as Zero got up and looked out of the window. --------------------- Charming Thunder, Twilight, and Lucina arrived at the destination where the bartender's friend said where the Lady of Sorrows might be at. "This is it," Charming Thunder said. "Breaktown. Where some ponies who fall in hard times keep falling." They walked past a commotion where the similar hooded pony from before lay punches on a stallion as a mare watched. "Even when the Crystal Guard placed the Undercity, we never lingered around here for very long." "I can see why," Twilight said as she turned to see that the hooded pony stopped punching the stallion. "I know where the Heralds are headquartered, but they will not give information willingly." "Not like we have a choice," Lucina said. The trio then proceeded onward through Breaktown to find the Herald's hideout.