The Undercity was a dark, dank husk of it once possibly was. The streets were narrow, filthy, and filled to the brim with those afflicted by the poverty brought by this Whitegold. Glory was disgusted by the state of things here. Sure poverty was no new idea to her; as a soldier with the Free Army she had walked through areas that had once been war zones but ponies actively strived to make the situation better for those impoverished by the wars. Here crime set in to make up for it, a natural effect to the rampant poverty. 

More than once Glory had to scare off the occasional thief or thug. The flashing of her blade or menacing thrum of her magic sent most scurrying. There was one or two desperate enough to lash out with a rusty shiv or dagger; the loss of a hoof was the cost of their lesson. Finding the Ugly Duckling-- at first-- had been a chore but the abundance of beggars and orphans. The jingling of a coin purse set them in agreeable moods—that and a few sweet words. 

Glory trotted down a die alleyway. Her eyes stayed focused on the door way at the end of the way. A single crimson door with a dark grey duckling embroidered on it. Glory’s eyes narrowed as a pair of Earth Ponies walked out in front of the doorway. They looked menacing but the effect was lost on Glory. She stopped a few feet before them. 

“Stand aside,” she said calmly. 

“Ain’t that sweet eh,” one said to his companion, who snickered in reply.

“Yep filly lookin’ fer a spot ‘side’s the boss.” The second on stepped forward and licked his lips. “But you’ll have to pay th’ entrance fee, one good fu-“The loss of his tongue stopped his words short. The first Earth Pony swore and made to rush Glory. The Unicorn walked calmly past as he skewered himself on a spear of light. Unwashed brutes. Glory sniffed as she bucked the flailing Earth Pony through the door bodily. She followed the body down the stairs. Glory noted the pictures, some of a handsome green Pegasus stallion, a skinny yellow pony always at his side. His eyes sparked with a darkness she was all too familiar with, that of a calculated killer. The same look she witnessed every time she sat before a mirror. 

She came into a dark bar that stank of cigar smoke and whiskey. The same green Pegasus from the photos stared at her, wide eyed before smiling broadly. Relief settled Glory’s pulse for the first time in hours, his back was to her but that shaggy black mane only belonged to one stallion she knew of.  

“Welcome,” he said merrily. “I see Ms. Mirror did see to your coming. Please sit, have a glass, and let’s get down to business.” 

Glory carefully stepped forward, blade level at her side. Why was Glory staring forward like that? His eyes were unfocused and he was mumbling to himself. The Unicorn scowled and hissed through clenched teeth, “What did you do to him?” 

“Just some vocal persuasion,” the Pegasus said, his voice hinting malice. “Please sit.” Glory didn’t move. The stallion’s smile faded. “Very well, stand. I have a proposition for you.” 

“Whatever you want no deal,” Glory said. “Now allow me to walk out of here with Lore or I’ll paint these walls with your blood.” 

The Pegasus tapped a hoof against the marble tabletop. Glory barely registered a yellow form out of her right. She whirled but was too late. A pair of strikes sent her right leg crumbling under her. She was pitched forward but lashed out with her sword only to have it deflected by a short length of metal that her assailant held in his mouth. A leg wrapped around her neck as a hoof flicked painfully against her horn. White, hot pain lanced through her skull, turning her vision white as her magic flicked. Her blade fell to the ground with a clatter. A wheezing breathe inches from her ear sent shivers down her spine.           

   A cool length of steel pressed up against her throat as a yellow Earth Pony kept her pinned to the wooden floor. One wrong move and her life’s blood would flow. “Easy Spook.” The metal was pulled away a fraction of an inch. “Now then Ms. Glory shall we start our business or do you want to fight some more. Believe me my friend here would love to slight your throat. Unfortunately I need you alive not bleeding out onto my floor. Besides cleaning up bodies on my abodes floor is a hassle.” 

Glory glared up at him, her silver eyes alight with fury as he continued. “I need your help, ironic here I am asking when you’re the one at a position to beg for your life. Ah well. Now then my associate wants you alive so she can just kill you. Revenge is such pointless business, no profit in it. I, however, see your use. You’re going to kill my associate. When the dust settles everyone will think it was he need for revenge that did her in and no one will think the wiser as I step up and take her territories.

“Normally I’d just off her and be done with it, that is after all how I’ve come to control the Undercity. But my associate holds power among these aristocrats. She’s part of the Inner Circles you see and simply killing her will turn attention on me, and well they may have a skewed justice system but it’s still there. I would be locked up but if you kill her all they would have are suspicions, can’t lock someone up on suspicion alone. What do you say?” 

Glory glared at him, defiant. As if she would agree with such swill. He could kill her. Death wasn’t something she feared. The Pegasus stood up and walked to her. He knelt before her, his eyes locking on hers. “I know you don’t fear death, I see it in your eyes. But what of your friend.” Glory’s heart nearly stopped. “How much pain can he endure before he dies? And they’ve come forward with wonderful innovations in medicine. I guarantee a week before he croaks.” He scowled at her. “Bet your ass on that.”

Glory had never felt more helpless. Her instincts roared for her lash out, go down fighting take as many with her as possible. But the sincerity at his words struck her. There was only one choice. “I’ll do it<” she said quietly, hating herself for giving in. 

His smile returned. “I’m sorry what was that?” 

“I’ll do it,” she hissed. 

“Wonderful!” He clapped his hooves together. He then went into explaining the plan. The first chance Glory got this M would bleed out at her hooves, begging for his miserable life. This Glory swore.