//-------------------------------------------------------// Heretic -by Sawtoothetherium- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// The Temple //-------------------------------------------------------// The Temple “Interficere nigrum stella, Dei mater insignis.” The chanting voices spoke in one of the dead languages, a language Luna knew. ‘Kill the mother of the black star unborn.’ That was what they said. The chant continued and Luna tried to blink the blurryness out of her vision. She felt heavy chains locked around her hooves, all four of them. There was a bands of iron holding her wings out and a magic inhibitor ring was on her horn. She saw above her a white unicorn in white robes, and holding a golden dagger. The dagger was simple and looked effective despite it being made out of such a soft metal. The blade was twice as long as the handle and the grossguard turned bacward slightly. The handle was wrapped in white dyed leather and the pommel was a simple diamond. It was obviously ceremonial, it wouldn’t last long in a fight. The Unicorn was muttering something in the language in a voice too low to make out what he said. He raised the dagger and continued to mutter. Luna looked at the dagger, if it would take her life she wanted to see it pierce her flesh. Luna was no coward, and she was not afraid of death. She was in fact, and old friend of Death. The unicorn set his horn aglow as the dagger began to bring in the magic he provided. It began to glow as well starting with the diamond on the pommel and moving slowly up to the tip of the blade, just before it plunged downward in a killing stroke. This was the end of the line for Luna. “Luna non occiderentur!” A silver and black something flew from the back of the chamber and knocked the dagger from the unicorns hoof. The object was quickly followed by an identical one, which turned out to be a blackened silver throwing knife, and stuck itself in the unicorns forehead. Luna turned her head to see where the two projectiles had come from, and saw a black unicorn with a small but dangerous array of weapons with him. He had a lot more throwing knives in sheathes along the belts around his hips and over his shoulder. He had a heavy silver dagger on his back and a couple explosive devices on his belt. He wore black clothing covering everything about him except for his eyes and horn.He moved very quickly and killed three more of the ponies in white robes with his silver dagger. “It’s one of those damned Heretics.” One of the white robed ponies shrieked out of a window. Luna took the time to look at her surroundings. She was in a long cathedral like structure made of white stone and clear glass windows along each side. She was chained to an altar of some sort that sat upon a raised platform at the back of the cathedral. She was obviously in a place that did not like the night. Her savior had slaughtered more than half of the robed ponies, all of whom had white bladed rapiers out and tried desperately to kill the disguised stallion in black clothing. Soon all of them were on the ground dead. Her savior sheathed his dagger on his back and approached the altar she was chained to. Using his magic he removed the shackles on her wings and hooves and the magic inhibitor on her horn. Luna got off the altar and stood to give tha stallion a grateful look. “Thank you,” Luna said. “Though I must know, why save me?” “Because the very fate of the realm relies on your survival.” He said. “We need to get you out of here.” “We?” Luna asked curious. “Yes, my comrades and I.” He affirmed. “Follow me, and we will get you to safety.” Luna followed the stallion as he galloped through the oak doors and to the streets beyond. She followed him as he wove his way through ally’s and backstreets with practiced ease. Any monks who tried to stop them were quickly dealt with. Soon he and Luna were outside the city walls and galloping across the plains. Luna stole a glance behind her to see that there were a few more darkly dressed ponies fighting those white robed ponies. She emmediately knew that they were the comrades her savior had mentioned. They sped across the plain until the stallion called a stop. Luna helped him set up camp and thanked him again. “What’s your name?” She asked. “Dark Soul.” He said. “A ridiculous name, I know, but that was the name given to me.” “Dark Soul, hmm?” Luna said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” “It’s a pleasure to meet you too, em...” He said. “Luna.” “Well Luna, I can tell you can handle yourself pretty well.” “When I’m not tied up yes.” Luna said glumly. “Whenever that happens I tend to be useless. But yes, I can generally take care of myself.” Dark chuckled lightly and pulled down his hood and mask, to reveal a youthful and handsome stallion beneath. He had one visible scar on his face that ran down his left temple and ended when it reached his cheek. His eyes were a deep brown and his coat was blackish grey. He looked Luna over from where he was and nodded. “Yes, you’re her alright.” He said. “What do you mean?” “Now is not the time to tell you.” He said. “In time you will know, but now is not that time. Right now we need to get you to the village.” Celestia paced worriedly in front of her throne. She did her duties but rather absentmindedly, her sister had been kidnapped. Many of the nobles felt like they should just leave her missing, they didn’t like her taking the side of the lower classes of society and being a rather difficult if not impossible obstacle to overcome when trying to further their own power or wealth. Celestias pacing was interrupted when the doors opened and a pony in black hooded robes came in and bowed. “Your majesty, I have news of your sister.” He said. Celestia listened to him. He had said he represented a group known as the Heretics. He told her they once had another name but it had been forgotten and they could only be identified as the Heretics now. He explained what had happened at the cathedral on the other side of the planet. And Celestias heart sank. //-------------------------------------------------------// Short chapter //-------------------------------------------------------// Short chapter Luna stayed with the stallion who rescued her for two weeks before they arrived at his village. A village of good ponies, only they couldn’t be identified as anything other than Heretics. There was another name before this one, but it was lost to time and now Heretics was the only name they had. Luna stayed with them for several years, watching, waiting, learning. She learned of the black magics. But black did not mean evil. “The dark is not inherently evil, it conceals and protects those that cannot protect themselves, it shelters the broken and the mournful. The dark is good.” The Heretics had told her. “The light is not inherently good, it blinds those that gaze upon it, it burns those that walk in it, it exposes those that are weak. The light is evil.” Luna was inclined to believe them. While she did not hate her sisters light, she most certainly didn’t like it. During the time she stayed there she and the stallion grew close, very, very close. He invited her into his bed and she obliged, so, eleven months later she bore him a son. An alicorn colt, dark grey of coat and eyes of emerald green. His wings were a marvel, they had the bone structure of a bats wings but the feathers of a Pegasus. His feathers were serrated like that of an owls which allowed him to fly silently no matter how frantically he flew. He was taught the black magics, fighting skills and the stealth of the Heretics. This child’s name was Dagger, and he was prophesied to end the war between the Heretics and those that tried to sacrifice his mother before she bore him. They were called the Council of Lords. Author's Note If you want details on the kinky stuff that happened in their bedroom to get that kid, go here (https://www.fimfiction.net/story/412107/heretic-the-intimate-stuff).