Sea

The first thing Twilight noticed as the door opened was the lighting. Red crystals lined the walls, giving off an eerie glow. They doused the large, magnificently-painted stone walls in a dark crimson light, giving the entire room an aura of a twisted holiness. Twilight visibly gulped as she looked around; the mere existence of such a place made her slightly uneasy, not to mention the rather interesting images adorning the walls. Many of them featured copious amounts of blood and a red sun; others featured only one or the other. There was a prevailing theme of red throughout the entire structure, though; the carpets, and even most of the church members' robes, were a reddish cloth.

In the middle of this room, there was a canal. It was the only thing that wasn't painted red; instead whitish-blue light emanated from it, giving an almost otherworldly feeling. A number of small, highly-stylized wooden bridges crossed the canal; Twilight noticed that nopony even approached it except to go across.

Twilight hesitantly looked at Cross, who was standing next to her. "Let's go," she whispered worriedly. "Something's very off here."

Cross looked back at her. "I don't think we can," she said. "Remember the door? I'm not sure how to open it from the inside."

Twilight sighed. "Either way, I don't think we can trust these ponies. They don't seem very well-meaning."

Cross was about to reply when Janiss tapped Twilight on the shoulder. "Prophet, it is time for you to meet the Seer. He will have foretold your coming, of that I am certain; he will certainly love to know the Prophet is finally with us."

Twilight looked at Janiss nervously for a second, before sighing and speaking. "This is truly a wonderful church, Janiss, but I can't help but wonder if we'll be allowed to leave."

Janiss looked confused for a second, before his eyes opened in understanding. "Oh, of course. You wish to return to the surface. Do not worry; you will be returned as soon as you meet the Seer. But that is not first on our agenda; no, first we must treat you to the Sanguinem Ligare."

Twilight looked at him curiously, before he started walking towards the edge of the canal. "What's that?" she asked.

"Give me your hoof." Janiss said. Twilight reluctantly complied. She recoiled when he drew a very sharp-looking dagger, but two red-robed monks came to hold her in place. She started quietly pleading, wanting to avoid the pain but in one swift, fluid motion Janiss gave Twilight a long, deep cut on the fetlock. She cried out in pain, but was silenced by one of the monks. "In the name of our sins, we bleed." he said quietly, almost reverently. He then thrust her hoof into the water, much to her surprise; she let out a small yelp, but was quickly quieted by everpony looking in her direction. She suffered in silence for a few seconds, before her hoof was raised back out of the water. "And in the name of the Sun, we heal."

"Et dederit tibi civitates magnas Solana in sanguine filiorum tuorum. Bibe Solem, ita ut reditus benedicitur. Aurora grandinem Rubrum." He led the members in the chant, their voices echoing throughout the large hall. They repeated everything he said, including the final words of the ceremony, "Factum est."

Twilight looked at Cross with fear and pain in her eyes. Cross looked tense; as if cocked and ready to flee as soon as possible. But she'd realized that there was no way out until they were let out; a pair of heavyset, large stallion holding bayoneted muskets stood reverently on either side of the entryway, and there seemed to be no other way out.

Janiss turned to Twilight. "If you are ready, the Seer wishes to speak with you. I would recommend taking his offer, Prophet."

Twilight looked around nervously. She was definitely fearful; but, with a sigh, she lowered her head. There was only one escape, and that was by meeting this 'Seer'. She looked up at him.

"Take me to the Seer."