If one was to say who was the supreme power of the empire of Unicornia, then the most obvious answer would be the Crown. If you were to ask who was the hidden power of the empire, then that would be the Inquisition. Never in her life had Majesty ever met a member of the secret order of the church dedicated to routing out heretics, forbidden magic, and traitors to the church’s laws. At least until now.

The death of a bishop was obviously a warrant for an investigation. When that bishop was ritually murdered and desecrated with his blood on the steps of holy ground and his body humiliated in such a way? That was when you brought in the Secret Hoof of The Grand Cardinal. Robed in dark and black, their entire bodies covered to hide their looks, the Inquisition had swarmed the cathedral as soon as they had been called in. Every stone was being scanned, all corners were being checked, and every living being in a ten mile radius was being questioned. Including Majesty and Copper Penny who had been forced to sit down and be interrogated.

And they did mean interrogate.

The two had all been but dragged to sit down with sharp swords and spears standing ready to strike them if need be. Majesty had been ready to argue against this, but the feeling of a spear tip pointing to her throat caused her to calm down rather quickly. Their integrator, a big and intimidating stallion, walked towards them with his body rigid and firm while his eyes stared straight into them like an arrow ready to fire. Like all the others Inquisitors, he was cloaked in black and red without as much as a single bit of his coat showing. Even his horn had been covered. His golden pin, shaped like that of an “I” with a horn on top and a set of wings on each side, was the only indication that this stallion was of the Inquisition.

“I am Inquisitor Gospel,” the stallion introduced himself with a cold tongue. “You two have been found suspect in the murder and desecration of Bishop Waterstone. You will answer my questions or else I will hold you in contempt for impending our investigation. The authority by his Holiness, Grand Cardinal Clarity Sight, grants me permission to do this with or without your approval.”

“Now see here, sir!” Copper Penny growled, standing up. “We have nothing to do with this horrible act! We were on our way to visit the late Bishop when--” Majesty gasped as the Inquisitor smacked Copper Penny back down to his seat. She was going to head to his side when the other Inquisitors forced her down as she struggled to get out of their magic.

“Let me go! I am the future Queen of Unicornia, and I demand--” There was another blow delivered, but this time to Majesty who felt the stinging pain across her cheek. Tears threatened to fall as she felt her jaw beginning to bloat a bit from the hoof attack.

“Majesty! You bastards! I will--” Copper Penny was silenced again with another blow.

“This is the House of Fausticorn. The One and Only True Powerful Goddess,” Inquisitor Gospel stated, wiping his hoof with his sleeve. “As an agent of her will, and the will of the Grand Cardinal, my station is greater than your own. You are not the queen. You are a suspect. You will answer, or I will merely end you for impending the investigation of the murder of a holy stallion.”

“You would kill an innocent pony? And a filly at that?” Copper Penny asked in disbelief.

“You are only innocent if you can prove it,” the Inquisitor answered, crossing his forelegs.

I guess it's true what they say, Majesty thought with a gulp. Everypony is guilty in their eyes until proven innocent.

Copper Penny opened his mouth to argue, but Majesty quickly pulled him down and shook her head. She loved her butler, and she knew he was doing this for her, but she wasn’t going to lose him to these religious fanatics. Turning to the Inquisitor, Majesty calmly asked, “Please continue.”

“What was your business here with Bishop Waterstone?” he demanded.

“He was going to teach me more about the faith. It was agreed upon by both him and my uncle, August Blueblood,” Majesty answered.

“Did you murder him?”

“No.”

“Are you a dark magic user?”

“What does that--?” Majesty cut herself off before shaking her head. “No, I am not.”

On and on it went. Asking what she did this morning. What she did yesterday. What did her uncle do that day he talked with the bishop? Did she know of any dark rituals which forced her to admit she knew them from books but never practiced them? These were easy to answer and caused no problem. However...

“Do you pray to the Goddess Fausticorn every day?” Inquisitor Gospel asked.

“Yes,” Majesty answered, but a second later she was struck on the back of her head with something heavy. Crying out in pain, she rubbed her head and felt blood dripping down her head. “W-What?”

“Lie,” a female Inquisitor stated, lowering a small blackjack club she had been hiding.
“W-What did you do that for?!” Majesty screamed, unable to hide the tears now coming down her eyes. She couldn’t even remember the last time she had ever been struck.

“You lied,” Gospel said without emotion. “We have ways of telling if ponies are telling the truth. So you don’t pray to the Goddess every day?”

“Okay, so what?” Majesty spat, rubbing her head and applying a small healing spell. Copper Penny looked ready to kill everypony in the building for the blow, but was still being held down by the Inquisitors magic. “So I don’t pray every day. It’s not a big deal.”

“Do you accept her as the true light of this world?”

“Ye-GAH!” Majesty shouted, getting another blow to the head. “Stop that!”

“Then answer the truth!” Inquisitor Gospel shouted for the first time. It made Majesty gulp as he leaned forward. “For someone who is going to be the queen of the nation, you surely are lacking in faith.”

“Look, I have my reasons, but it's not like I worship--” Majesty yelped as the Inquisitor forced her to stare at him.

“There are only two types of creatures in this world, Majesty Blueblood,” he hissed in her face. “The faithful and the sinners. My job is to ensure this world is washed of sinners, be it by prayer, purification, or by blood. I suggest you choose to clean your sins of the first two before the third is enacted by the will of our Goddess, especially, if you are to become queen one day.”

He let her go and then turned to Copper Penny with the same questions. Majesty didn’t dare grumble, but she did shiver at the cold touch of his magic. Glancing around, she saw the other Inquisitors rushing around or muttering to each other with a majority of them focused on the Fausticorn statue. What was once the crown jewel of the cathedral was now covered in heresy via a combination of blood and dark writings that still weren’t coming off. Whatever dark magic had been made to desecrate the statues in their markings were too tough for the Inquisition to remove, but one symbol continued to haunt Majesty. The one with the spiked eye with a star in the middle.

She had seen it before. Somewhere in the far corner of her mind she had seen such a symbol before. At a time when her father still lived. But where?! What does it mean?!

“Majesty!” She jumped as she stared back at Inquisitor Gospel in front of her. “What were you doing here?”

“Huh? I told you--”

“Answer!”

“I was here to see Cardinal Waterstone!” Majesty quickly answered.

“For what?”

Is... is he asking me the same questions again?! Majesty asked herself in disbelief. Oh this is going to be a long nightmare...

***

“... and you saw nopony else enter the Cathedral with you three?”

“For the last time, yes!” Majesty screamed, huffing as she leaned back and rolled her eyes. “That was the fifth time you asked that question! How many more times are you going to ask until you stop repeating the same question over and over again?!”

“Until I am satisfied that you are not involved in this act of heresy,” Inquisitor Gospel growled, forcing her head to look back at him with his magic. “I’ll ask whatever questions I want and how many times I want. Perhaps you’d like to talk about this at our headquarters in--”

The door slammed open as Inquisitors looked up from their work, but quickly bowed upon seeing his majesty, King Magnus, accompanied by Sir Morning Blade and Dame Evening Fury; their weapons sheathed but both looked ready to use them. King Magnus made his way towards the Inquisitor holding both Majesty and Copper Penny hostage before stopping right in front of his face. “Your Highness,” Inquisitor Gospel greeted, lowering his head a bit yet keeping his stern tone much to everypony’s surprise. “I would like to know why you are interrupting our investigation into the murder of Bishop Waterstone.”

King Magnus was the only one not staring at the Inquisitor with wide eyes. In fact, he didn’t even look like it bothered him how the pony in front of him was acting. Evening Fury, however, had growled before stomping her hoof on the pavement. “This is your king! You will speak to him in a more respectful tone or I’ll take your tongue and--”

King Magnus raised his hoof to silence Evening Fury before speaking, “I am here to have Majesty Blueblood and her butler released and returned back to their home.”

“They are currently suspects for the investigation,” the Inquisitor answered.

“You’ve had them for over four hours from what I hear, and you haven’t arrested them,” King Magnus stated, narrowing his eyes. “Do you really believe a filly and a butler would murder a bishop for no reason? Including the fact that there is no motive or nothing to gain for it?”

“It’s my job to find a motive,” the Inquisitor answered, narrowing his eyes.

“Then find one with what you have at the moment. If you want to question them more, come to their place tomorrow,” King Magnus said, nodding to his knights, who walked over and helped Majesty and Copper up without any resistance from the Inquisitors.

“I answer to the Grand Cardinal! You cannot--” The Inquisitor was silenced by a scroll lifted by the King which had a red seal on it.

“The Grand Cardinal has already allowed it. If you have a problem you can take it up with him,” King Magnus said before turning away as the Inquisitor crushed the scroll with his magic. “Now if you’ll excuse us.”

Majesty made sure to stick her tongue at the Inquisitor before making her way to the exit with the King by her side. “Thank you, King Magnus,” she whispered with a smile.

“It’s alright, Majesty,” King Magnus whispered, patting her on the shoulder. “I wish you didn’t get caught up in all this, especially since this must be traumatizing for you?”

“Huh, oh yeah,” Majesty said, rubbing the back of her head. “Poor Bishop Waterstone. At least he’s with Fausticorn now.”

The moment the doors opened, Majesty found herself forced to cover her eyes from all the flashes from the cameras and the paparazzi. Apparently, the king wasn’t the only one who knew of what was going on, as a large crowd of reporters were on the scene trying to get the latest scoop. Covering herself with her wings, Majesty did her best to hide herself from the crowd, even though they were calling her name for her attention. Copper Penny was by her side to help shield her while the knights took their positions with their horns glowing just in case some foalish pony tried forcing their way through the Royal Guards holding them back.

“Just say nothing, Majesty,” King Magnus whispered, placing his robe around her and bringing her close. “Just say nothing and let’s get you home.”

Nodding, Majesty kept her eyes shut as she let herself be guided out of the cathedral where she lowered her ears to stop all the annoying questions being asked. It was like a swarm of bees that all had voices that never stopped talking.

“Majesty Blueblood! Is it true that you were found with the victim's blood on your hooves?!”

“What was your relationship with Bishop Waterstone?!”

“Is it true that you were interrogated by the Inquisition?!”

“Are you a victim of a possible sexual assault by the bishop?!”

“Are you under arrest?!”

“Was it true that the bishop was found dead with his head and flank cut off?!”

“Are you injured in any way?!”

“King Magnus, can we get a statement?!”

Wishing she could turn invisible, Majesty was led to the king’s personal automobile and rushed inside. The press tried to crowd the vehicle, but it drove away without any of their questions answered.

***

The moment that Majesty returned home, her uncle had her checked out by the family’s professional doctor. He was able to heal the cuts the club had done to her skull within seconds, but that wasn’t the damage that was worrying her. The sight of her coming out of a murder scene with the Inquisition everywhere was more then enough to hurt her image thanks to the reporters. No doubt the Inquisition would also make a statement of the event nor deny that she is a pony of interest in the case. Rumors would spread. Those who were enemies of her family would take advantage of this.

I made a mistake, Majesty thought as she stared at herself in the mirror while Sansha continued to comb her mane. I underestimated just how powerful the religious institutions are in the Empire. Now only did that Inquisitor dare to hurt me, he now knows or suspects that I’m not as faithful as I make myself out to be. Stupid idiots of this city are a bunch of blind sheep following a goddess that doesn’t answer them.

Now she had limited options to deal with this. She couldn’t bribe or threaten zealots. They were narrow minded and focused on one goal. No, she had to find some way to deal with this for her reputation’s sake. If there is even a way.

“Enough, Sansha,” Majesty said, getting up and making for her bed. “I wish to be alone.”

“Of course, Mistress,” Sansha said, nodding to her master.

She was about to leave when Majesty asked, “Sansha. You Flutter Ponies believe in a different god then us ponies, right?”

“Yes, Mesmoria,” Sansha answered, turning around. “They are the deity that created us.”

“They? I thought it was just one god?” Majesty asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Mesmoria is both male and female. One body that is both sexes,” Sansha asks.

“Um, okay,” Majesty asked, eyes widened. “Uhhh, anyway. Do you worship her?”

“I do,” Sansha answered, nodding.

“Even though she... he... it has done nothing to free you from being a slave?” Majesty asked, pointing out.

“Yes.”

“...And you still give her your faith because?” Majesty asked again.

“Because she is my mother and my father. She created me and gave me life. She allows me to know the joys of life as well as its pain,” Sansha said with a heavy sigh. “I admit, my life is not as great as I want it to be, but there are good things that I take the blessings I have. Having faith is that, be it in this life or the next, you believe that there is a plan for you and those you love. Even if it never appears to make sense.”

“...Right,” Majesty said, rolling her eyes. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand how creatures can think in such a way. Now leave me.”

Majesty laid on her bed as she bit her lip while Sansha left. Her mind trying to figure out a solution to get out of this. There was also that symbol. The spiked eye. She had seen it before, but she didn’t know where or when. Rubbing her chin, she thought, If I could find out what that symbol means... maybe I can find out who really is behind the murder? Or at least enough to get everypony of my back. I’m just going to need help...

***

Sansha couldn’t help but question more about what Majesty had said about faith. One that she had heard too many times from her fellow Flutter Ponies. Many had long since stopped praying to Mesmoria out of her abandonment of her creature to the hooves of the unicorns who enslaved them. Sansha, however, never lost her faith. She didn’t pray for freedom, nor did she pray for revenge like some did. She only prayed to be happy, be it as a slave or a free creature. She had a home, friends, and a pony she loved more than anything in the world. A love she would be happy to die for.

“Sansha,” whispered the voice of the one who stole her heart. The one who she saw not as one of her conquers, but a good hearted pony who saw her as a mare and not a slave.

“Morning,” she whispered as she felt his hooves wrap around her waist before dragging her closer to his lips. Her kiss met his and she felt the love she had for her fill up her reserves. She made sure to let her own stored love into his body to warm him up with her feelings. They shared it together. Their love. Their hope.

But there was a third now involved.

She had to be sure, but upon being checked by a close and trustworthy friend, the blessing from her deities had come. Morning Blade was confused when she ended their kiss before grabbing his hoof. She slowly placed it on her stomach where their miracle was being made in her womb. His expression changed to shock, yet there was joy in his eyes when the realization had been met.

She was with a child.

Their child.

Author's Note

As always, please help out at the AssassinationVerse TV Tropes page: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Fanfic/TheAssassinationOfTwilightSparkle