For Robin Hardy, Anthony Shaffer, Edward Woodward, and Christopher Lee.
Accept this sacrifice.

The grand throne room of Canterlot was one of the wonders of Equestria.

Pillars of polished marble and floors of stunning alabaster blinded the unprepared when their surfaces caught the sun’s rays at certain times of the day. Great curtains of velvet adorned immaculate stained glass windows that depicted some of the greatest moments in Equestria’s long, long history. The room typically played host to visiting dignitaries, foreign heads of state, and only the highest of Canterlot nobility.

The mare who knelt expectantly at the foot of the great red stairs that climbed up to the raised throne dais was none of those things. She was a shy, quiet, and quite friendless unicorn mare with a coat of violet, a student in the Princess’ own school.

“Twilight Sparkle.”

The mare visibly winced at the authoritative tone and rose obediently to her hooves. She kept her gaze firmly planted on the carpeted stairs. “You summoned me, your Majesty?” When there was no response, Twilight reluctantly raised her head… and beheld a god in pony form.

Princess Celestia’s flawless white coat seemed to glow with the very light of the sun that She controlled. Her mane of various colors flowed like a river through the air. Even without her raised throne, She towered over every other creature of equine descent in the whole of the land. Her great wings were folded at Her sides and Her horn, much longer and narrower than any other magic user in the kingdom, sparkled with the incredible magic it held within. She regarded Twilight with cold detachment, as a bear would observe a flea. “How long have you been a student in my school?”

“Thirteen years, your Highness.” She blushed a little. “I’m actually at the top of my class.”

Princess Celestia nodded only slightly, perhaps only to give the illusion that She cared at all. “It is not your grades that have brought you here, Twilight Sparkle. It is your devotion. I am told that you never miss sunrise or sunset services.”

“I’ve missed meals and sleep to behold your glory, your Majesty. My devotion to you is unmatched.” She hoped her tone impressed the God-Princess of all Pony-Kind.

It clearly did not. “I have a task for one with devotion such as yours. I am sending you to Ponyville.”

Twilight cocked her head in confusion. “Ponyville?”

“DID I REQUEST THAT YOU SPEAK?!” Princess Celestia thundered, Her voice shaking the whole of the throne room. The air was suddenly thick and hot, the very molecules superheated from Princess Celestia’s power.

Twilight quickly knelt until her muzzle was touching the carpet. She smelled the age of the fabric, even hidden by the cleaner’s shampoos. “I beg forgiveness for my impertinence!” The room’s shaking faded to nothing and the air again cooled… but Twilight wisely kept her nose down.

Princess Celestia continued as though She were never interrupted. “We received a message from Ponyville yesterday begging for our assistance in the finding of a unicorn filly. Her name escapes me at the moment. Apparently she’s been missing for several months now. Their home investigators have been found wanting and thus they have turned to us for aid.” The God-Princess of Equestria examined a gold-clad hoof. “As a test of your faith and your abilities, I have decided to send you to ascertain this little pony’s fate. If she is alive, locate her and return her to her family. If she is deceased, discover her murderer and return them here to face the justice of the True Faith.”

Twilight listened and waited.

Princess Celestia yawned. “If you have questions, you may ask them now. But do not try my patience.”

“Thank you, your Majesty.” Twilight slowly raised herself once again and dared to look upon the shining alicorn. “What does my faith have to do with this?”

“The ponies of Ponyville are outliers. They are one of several provinces in Equestria that have outright rejected the True Faith. They choose to follow the old ways of one of the ancient earth pony tribes, one whose name has been lost to the ages. As I understand it, they have traditions and rituals some consider to be… strange. Abnormal. Additionally, they believe the sun and moon move on their own and flatly reject the bliss of the Reward Eternal.”

“Heretics.” Twilight murmured, aghast.

“Indeed.” Princess Celestia almost smiled. “If it were not for the fact that they are the nation’s greatest suppliers of apples, I would have converted them by force decades ago.”

“So… am I truly going to investigate? Or is there another purpose you have in mind for me?”

“The reports of your perceptive nature were not exaggerated." It was the closest the alicorn had come to a compliment. "Your chief objective is the finding of the filly.” The almost-smile grew an inch. “But if, in the course of your investigation, you manage to guide some lost souls to my embrace and the embrace of the True Faith… well, that would be something worth rewarding.”

Twilight’s ears perked up. “A reward? Beyond the Reward Eternal?”

“Anypony who managed to convert an entire village of non-believers would truly be heralded as a hero of the Faith… and would naturally be chosen to act as my own hoof in matters of the same nature going forward.”

Twilight couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The chance to represent the Princess and the True Faith across Equestria and beyond? The opportunity to see the souls of every sentient creature in all the world saved in the warmth of Her Loving Light?

She would convert them all, down to the smallest foal still growing in his mother’s stomach.

“I give you the time to ask one final question, Twilight Sparkle. After that, you will depart immediately once you leave these chambers. I want this filly’s fate found before the Summer Sun Celebration in two day’s time.”

“Yes, your Majesty.” Twilight swallowed hard. “I’ve heard that some non-believers can react with… hostility to those who would try to guide others to the True Faith.”

Princess Celestia frowned. “You’re referring to the... situation in Saddle Arabia.”

“I am.” Twilight suppressed a shudder as she recalled hearing details of the massacre that had sparked a conflict, a conflict that was rapidly escalating into an all-out war.

“The Saddle Arabians, as you know, are being dealt with. The death of those believers will not have been in vain.” Princess Celestia yawned. “Do not mourn them, Twilight Sparkle. Envy them. They have gone to the Reward Eternal before you and will be seated beside me in the days following the Great Nightmare.”

Twilight thought about the pictures she'd seen of the beheaded mares, some of whom that had been classmates of hers, and found that envy was most definitely not an emotion that came to mind. “Will I be going alone?” She realized she'd asked another question and braced herself for the heat to come.

“Are you frightened?”

For the tiniest fraction of a second, Twilight considered lying. “...I am.”

“Good.” Princess Celestia gave the slightest of nods. “My little ponies should always have a small measure of fear in their hearts. It keeps you safe and reminds you of your place in this world. No, you will not be going alone. A Sergeant in the Royal Guard will be accompanying you.”

Twilight was already bowing lower in order to suppress her smile. She knew who the stallion was even before She said his name.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“You’d think a Sergeant would be on time.” Private Flash Sentry muttered as he sipped his coffee. As usual, it tasted awful. Only two constants for those in the Royal Guard; death... and bad coffee.

“Not him.” Private Joust took another bite of his pear. “He’s always the last one to leave services, both morning and evening. Has to prove he’s the most faithful of us all, doesn’t he? What's a little briefing when compared to worshiping Her Majesty.”

Flash rolled his eyes and forced down the last sip. “Maybe it's all a ruse. Maybe he’s spending a little alone time with Princess Cadance. Aren’t they still going steady?”

“Steady's just the word for it.” Joust chuckled around the last bite. “Two years with the very Princess of Love, and he hasn't so much as tickled her fancy, as I understand it. The way I hear it, he's keeping himself pure for the wedding day.”

Flash Sentry chuckled. “Really? Does he really think she’s doing the same? Surely he’s heard the stories…?”

“More than stories, buddy-boy.” Joust leaned his head back and sighed wistfully. “Ah, poor mare. I just don't know what she sees in him. When those two are married, she'll spend more time with her neck bent at the altar than with that sweet little flank up in the air.” He looked over at his partner and waggled his eyebrows. “How about you? Still seeing that little bookworm of yours?”

“Keep it down.” Flash hissed. “I really don’t need it getting around that I’m seeing…”

“Get your mane cut, Private Sentry.”

The two stallions jumped to attention as Sergeant Shining Armor of the Royal Guard entered the room. He was still dressed from the morning's services, the medals of his dress uniform glinting in the sunlight that streamed in through the open window. His magic held a stack of folders aloft; the day’s assignments. “Alright, let’s make this quick. Her Majesty has selected me for a special mission and my balloon is set to depart within the hour. At ease.”

The two young officers examined the folders. “Anything major going on, sir?” Flash Sentry asked.

“Oh, just the usual." Shining Armor flipped through several of the folders in rapid succession. "Blasphemy, sodomy, and the like.”

“Hey, don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it, Sarge.” Joust chuckled.

Shining Armor stared at him intensely, his face neutral, until the other officer’s smile faded to nothing. “Right. You two will get these assigned to the best stallions for the job. I know that our resources are somewhat drained due to the increased deployment to Saddle Arabia, but I still don’t want to come back for the Summer Sun Celebration and find the city in shambles.”

“What’s your special assignment, Sarge?”

Shining Armor’s brow creased as he pulled the top folder away from the rest and opened it. The other folders landed gently on his large oak desk. “My sister and I are being sent to a village called Ponyville. Apparently a filly’s gone missing. Her name is… Sweetie Belle.” He lifted out a photograph of a smiling, adorable unicorn filly with a coat of white and a mane of pink and purple.

“Ponyville?” Joust’s eyes widened. “Hey, that's some town. Have you ever been there, Sarge?”

“No. I’ve had the famous apples, of course.” He raised an eyebrow. “Have you?”

Joust nodded. “Just once. I was on leave and wanted to get off the grid for a few days. There’s no place like it.” He looked at Flash. “The whole town has rejected the True Faith, you see. They claim to follow the old ways. All sorts of weird traditions, dancing, rituals…”

"So I've heard." Flash rolled his eyes at his partner's enthusiasm.

“It seems like the kind of place for a heathen brute like yourself, Private.” Though he joked, the white stallion did not smile.

Flash cracked a small grin before hastily regaining his look of total neutrality. “Your sister is going as well, Sarge?”

Shining Armor nodded, and this time he actually smiled a little. “Yes. Twily’s the most intelligent mare I know. She’ll have this whole thing solved in no time.” He snapped to attention. “Ten-chut!” He barked.

The two privates snapped to attention as well.

“My sister and I will be back in no more than two days time at the most. You two are in charge until I return. Once I come back, your performances will be studied, rated, and graded. Only one of you will be promoted to Sergeant next quarter once my promotion to Lieutenant is finalized. Is that clear?”

“Yes sir!” Came the unified reply.

Shining Armor saluted briskly and started from the room, the Ponyville case folder held close to his chest. Just as Flash Sentry and Joust began to relax, he stuck his head back inside. “One last thing.”

The turned and looked at him expectantly.

“You two will be the first two stallions to arrive for evening services and the last two to leave. You will be in full dress and you will sing so loud that her Majesty will be able to hear you from the absolute zenith of her flight.” He smiled slightly. “Don’t think of this is as a punishment. Think of this as representing me during my absence.” The smile vanished like smoke. “And if I ever hear you two discussing my fiancée in such a callous and disrespectful manner ever again, I’ll see you sent to the front-lines of Saddle Arabia before you can blink. Are we clear?”

Flash and Joust cut sheepish looks at each other. “Yes sir.”

“ARE WE CLEAR?!”

“SIR, YES SIR!”

“Good.” Shining Armor turned to leave. “May the warmest blessings of Her Loving Light shine upon you both.”

This time, the two privates didn't relax until they were sure he was gone. "Maybe we'll get lucky and he won't come back." Joust muttered.

"One can only hope." Flash agreed, starting for the pile of folders.

Author's Note