There were times when Majesty often thought priests went on with their sermons because they loved to hear the sound of their own voices. Going to church was something she hated because she found the entire process both boring and pointless. Nevertheless, she had to go to the Cathedral of Blessings every Saturday for the sake of their image. She eyed the large crowd of mindless sheep listening to Bishop Waterstone go on about today’s lesson.

“-for we who do not understand the ways of our Goddess, but put our faith in her despite the struggles of doubt and fear,” spoke an elderly unicorn pony with a light blue coat and draped in a bright red and gold robe with glasses on his head. “For so did Queen Platino when she brought us from the chaos of the Endless Winter which brought forth the greatest civilization that you are blessed to be living in. So did General Burn Hammer when he, and the Legion of the Hammer, slew the evil slave rebel leader Sparkacus and saved our capital. So did King Magnus the First when he sought to end the invasion of the Dark Sirens and saved our young. We must always put our faith in her for when she--”

Majesty rolled her eyes and turned to some of her cousins who were also struggling to keep their eyes open. She had to give the adults credit; they at least looked interested. If only everypony in his hall of worship knew that none of the Bluebloods worshiped the gods. It wasn’t because they didn’t believe they existed, they’d have to be an idiot to believe such a thing, but rather it was because her father believed the gods didn’t deserve to be worshiped.

The Creator Gods rarely did anything but keep the natural order going and their creations, the Creator Gods, were nothing more than children who refused to do anything to fix this broken world. It was said that in the Ancient Era they were much more involved, but after the Separation of Septum Cain they went to bickering and arguing. Not that they had a great track record.

Fausticorn had abandoned her children until they decided to unite, leading to countless others dying and stole the rights of raising the sun and moon from her fellow friends. Mesmoria was a freak of nature who gave birth to freaks of nature. Sarga did nothing but stood to the side and let the males of his species dominate the females despite all their advancement. Cern had the power to see into the future, but she ordered her deer to do nothing to fix it personally. Grandus was a monster until Septum Cain sorted him out, and at least he got better. Uther made his own creations hate him for his forced pascisim that made them slaves until they rebelled and rejected him. Then there was Centaurus, who tried to rule the world, and Seremora, who tried to devour the world and the afterlife.

Save for a few good ones, the gods were, in her mind and the minds of her family, worthless. Her father told her that ponies must be better than the gods. To achieve more to the point where it was not needed to have them. That ponykind must fight to the greatest of heights with true power and wisdom. One that would throw off the shackles of Fausticorn and be a race greater than all.
Finally, the sermon ended and the mass was coming to an end. After a final song and prayer, everypony started making their way out towards the exit. Majesty just wanted to get home and play with her friends again, but she had to make a quick stop to say hello to Bishop Waterstone for appearances sake. I’m really starting to hate politics, she thought while putting on her biggest fake smile as her uncle guided her to the Bishop.

“Ah, young Majesty. Our future queen. How did you enjoy mass today?” Bishop Waterstone asked with a toothy smile.

“Oh it was very wonderful, your Excellence,” Majesty lied with a nod. “I couldn’t stop listening.”

“Oh, come on, Majesty,” Bishop Waterstone chuckled, patting her head. “I know how you young ponies think. ‘Church is boring and all that.’ Well, one day you’ll find the lessons here will be useful for you later in life.”

“What kind of lessons?” Majesty asked.

“Well, I believe your uncle and I were talking about that yesterday,” Bishop Waterstone said, turning to August Blueblood.

“Yes, we believe that Majesty is doing so well in school learning academic lessons that she should start learning lessons regarding the faith,” August Blueblood suggested.

“Of course, I’ll have free time tomorrow if you wish to talk specifics,” Bishop Watersone said, smiling down at Majesty. “Just remember your lessons and teachers when you grow up, and all will be well.”

Majesty nodded before she and her family started to leave the church. When she was sure the Bishop was out of hearing range, she asked, “He wants to be the next Grand Cardinal, right?”

“Pretty much. He’s a rising star in the religious circles, and his family has a lot of influence,” August said as Copper Penny opened the door to their automobile from outside the church. Getting in, the two sat next to each other as August continued, “Having him by your side will give you allies in the church, something you will need in the future when you become queen.”

“It’s bad enough that some of those more religious ponies think I might be the second coming of their founder, but do I really need to pretend to be so pious?” Majesty asked, crossing her hooves. “You know I don’t care.”

“Neither do I, but religion is an important part of Unicornian culture. We’ll have to just deal with it,” August said, shaking his head.

Majesty could only sigh and look out the window while hoping that she wouldn’t have to deal with it for too long.

***

Some would think it was foolish to pray at night, but Bishop Waterstone had been doing it ever since his family gave him to the church. He had always admired the night and it's beautiful moon, even if it was under the control of an Equestrian princess. One day, Fausticorn would give that blessing to the rightful followers of the faith. The ones who were the strongest of the three races as proven long ago.

He gazed upon the white marble statue of the Great Fausticorn with hundreds of sacred candles lit around her. The greatest of all the gods and goddesses, who was favored among the Creator Gods. It was she who his life had been forfeited to at a young age, per his family tradition, and it was his life he knew was destined to become great under her name. Ever since he was a colt, he could hear her beautiful and divine voice whispering to him dreams of his future. Where he stood, in the Grand Cardinal’s robes, waving to the masses of the faith who shouted his name. The holy light of the heavens shining down upon him like a living saint.

There were too many in the church who had used their position to move the agendas of the various nobles in the empire. Oh, he played the game too, but what made him different is that he wanted power to change the church. Everypony knew that war was going to come between Unicornia and Equestria at some point. It would be the greatest war they had ever faced, and while Unicornia would win, there needed to be something to drive home that this was more than just a war of ideals.

It was a war of faith.

The idea that Fausticorn would allow such inferior ponies like the pegasi and earth ponies to be judged equally was down right heresy. To be born a pegasus or earth pony was a sign of disfavor from the goddess, who casted you a sinner unworthy of being reborn as a unicorn or to be in the heavens beside her. Instead of the unicorns of Equestria forcing them to repent for their sins and serve their betters, they treated them as equals. Equals! Heresy!

To not be able to use the great powers of magic, the blessing of Fausticorn, and change the world as you saw fit? Magic was what made this world. It was the tool of the gods. Those who could use magic were meant to become just like the gods. Those who could not were meant to serve those who could. As for the so-called magic of the other races? Inferior, and was better off sealed or forgotten.To preach about unity and friendship between not just the inferior ponies but all races was spit upon the sacred teachings and they would burn for their sins.
He would be the one to remind them that this was a war of faith. Or righteousness. And by getting close to Majesty, who could be the second coming of their founder, was the way.

Muttering his prayers, Bishop Waterstone was about to get to the final verses when he heard the door open from the entrance of the cathedral. Annoyed, he got up and shook his mane. I thought I told the others I wished to be alone in my prayers.

He was about to shout at them to leave, but paused upon seeing who it was. It was not one of his fellow priests or acoltes. Nor was it somepony he knew. It was... a robed figure in black, with white runes of a language he had never seen before.

It was a pony, he could tell that much, with a horn coming out of the shadowy hood. Despite the lighting in the cathedral, Waterstone could not see who it was that stood before him. “Is there a reason you are disturbing my prayers, my child?”

The figure did not answer, but merely walked towards him. Now the bishop was worried. A thief?

“This is a house of worship! As the leader of it, I demand that you... you...” He gasped when raised upon the figure’s magic was a dagger. Sharp as a diamond and glittering in dark blue metal.

Realizing the situation, he turned for the door on his right only to gasp. Two more figures, dressed the same, were coming towards him. He turned to his left and there were another two. He slowly began to step back until his haunches were touching the very statue he worshiped not to long ago and was now praying actively for help. Closing his eyes, Bishop Waterstone tried to teleport himself out, but felt a sudden shock of lightning go through his body from the tip of his horn. An aura of ice cold fear sunk him to his knees as the candles began to go out one by one as the figures grew closer. He tried to summon his magic, but something was blocking him. He was trapped and no way out.

Darkness began to creep around him. The atmosphere turned so cold his teeth were chattering. Was he feeling the approaching doom of death? Was Mordum here to take his soul because his time was up?

No! No I cannot die here! I am chosen by you, Fausticorn! You cannot abandon me!

“S-stop! It is a sin to kill a bishop! Think of your souls! R-r-repent!” Waterstone begged, getting on his knees. “I... I am a servant of her! The servant of your goddess!”

The center figure, the one he first saw, was now inches away from him and looked down upon him. A voice, like nails upon a chalkboard that made the bishop's heart nearly stop upon hearing it, spoke, “Your goddess is not here. You’re soul will no longer be her’s. You shall serve the King.”

“K-king? What king?” Waterstone asked.

“The King Of The End.”

The first dagger went into his chest. The next two into his sides. He barely was able to scream before a fourth entered his throat and the fifth to his ribs. Falling to his side, he uses the last of his strength to utter one last prayer, but his voice died with him as the stabbing continued long after his spirit left his body.

***

“You sure it’s locked?”

“Positive. I thought he would be expecting us today.”

“To be honest, I haven’t seen him since dinner last night,” the acolyte said, leading Copper Penny and Majesty down to the entrance of the Cathedral. The duo had tried to get into the church as instructed so that Majesty could begin her lessons on the faith, but they were locked out. The windows were shut as were the other entrances which lead to them looking for help.

“I hope he’s not sick,” Majesty lied, personally wishing he was so she didn’t have to do this. Seriously, it’s like 8AM on Sunday. I wanted to sleep in.

“He looked fine when he went to do his evening prayers at the statue. If he was sick, he would have been in bed,” the acolyte said as he summoned a key and began to open the door. Pushing it open, the three entered and looked around, but could find nopony around.

“That’s odd,” the acolyte said, looking closely. “He should be... be...” His eyes widened and his face began to turn pale from its normal brown color as he looked up. “Oh... my... Faust...”

Curious, Majesty looked up too and nearly screamed. It was Bishop Waterstone, who hung upside down from the horn of the great status of Fausticorn; which had pierced him from the flank all the way to the outside of his mouth. His instances and what looked like his stomach were flopping around outside of his chest and back which looked like it was carved up by a psychopath butcher. A mix of blood and stomach juices dripped down from above, ruining the once great marble of the statue. Yet it was more than that which ruined it, for there, on the chest of the goddess, as if to spite the faith, was a strange symbol in blood.

It was a spiked eye with a star in the middle.

And for some reason, before Copper Penny began to shield her from the horrible sight, Majesty swore she had seen it before.

Author's Note

Now things begin to turn
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