Black Aether

“You are to go there and retrieve the Helmet at any cost, Preyer Applejack. Nopony cares what you must do in order to perform this task, and nopony shall judge you for it either. All that matters is the completion of this mission.”

The Preyer remained kneeling before the burning avatar of the Saint of The Church of The Two Sisters, her head lowered just a bit respectfully, but still keeping both eyes obediently fixed upon the fiery violet form that was burning brightly and yet silently, as if the flames themselves did not dare to make a sound whilst she was present.
Around them both, the smoothly carved stone of the sacred Room of Voice was eerily still and silent, the supernatural flames not casting it’s full light affect upon them, not even releasing any rising sparks for that matter.
It was more like looking at a portrait than an actual burning fire, a portrait that was alive and only giving off enough light to be properly visible to the one whom was allowed to see it and none else.

Mage Saint, Head Alchemist, and High Priestess Twilight Sparkle was a legend among many ponies and particularly in the Church, a fiercely loyal and wholly devoted servant and student of The Solar Monarch, the mightier and elder of The Two Sisters. She was the most knowledgeable and respected young scholar in this Age of the world, and was known to be well on her way to becoming the top in the studies of History, Magic, Mathematics, Arcana, Theology, Alchemy, and Spirituality.
Her own contributions to several of these fields had helped also out considerably in the war against the Witches and Warlocks, commonly known as the Dark Powers, particularly in the creation of the Preyers, powerful immortal warriors who had swiftly become the greatest weapon against the many evils of the world and of whom Applejack herself was a member of.

Such were Twilight’s sincere works and devotion that she had been granted the status of Mage Saint at an amazingly young age, and this was immediately followed by the unspeakable privilege of majestically ascending to the status of Alicorn, something that had only happened a hoof-full of times throughout all of history.
These were soon followed by her other promotions to Head Alchemist and soon High Priestess.

Applejack held this pony in both high regard and respectful fear.
After all, it had been HER who had personally placed the BRAND on Applejack that fateful night of torment, death, and rebirth.
The strong Earth Pony had nearly died, but Saint Sparkle, although she had been a mere Senior Alchemist Apprentice at the time, had pushed her extremely risky plan into motion and had Applejack endure the torturous process known as The Trials of Fell Remaking.

The details were forever obscured and known only by Twilight Sparkle herself and her one closest companion, rumored to be an actual Dragon she had magically hatched and personally raised herself, a feat impossible for anypony… except her.
But so far, every KNOWN Trial had been overwhelmingly successful, a testament to the skill and integrity of the young Alchemist’s abilities and effectiveness in her work, all of which had allowed her to rapidly rise through the ranks and achieve greater heights of success and accomplishment.

For each Preyer, she was the ultimate authority they answered to, as The Two Sisters did not speak to them and were not physically manifest in the world(as far as seemingly anypony knew).
Besides the twin deities themselves, she held almost unchecked authority in the Church and across all lands that worshipped the two divines, and was in charge of much of what went on in every city, temple, and advanced fortress such as this one, and for her to contact a pony and give them orders personally… it was a severe understatement to describe it as simply rare or exceptional.

And while it was a guarantee that the mission itself was exceptionally dangerous and the chances of survival were much lower than usual, it indeed also meant that she placed enough trust in the pony in question to personally give them their assignments, and this level of support also came with certain privileges.

Bluntly put, Applejack could look forward to gaining access to certain information and potentially even some incredible artifacts that nopony else was permitted to use, or maybe even to lay eyes on. And truly, there was something she deeply desired to be allowed to see and know for herself.
Something she knew that she could only get if she succeeded in the expedition that the High Priestess now had in mind for her.

“You will not be alone during this assignment, Preyer Dash will also be sent alongside you. In addition to this, I will be sending my own personal apprentice, Preyer Starlight Glimmer. If you have any doubts or concerns about this decision, raise them now.”

“… ah’ have no questions tuh’ ask, yer’ grace.”

“Then you are dismissed. Make your preparations and be ready to depart at once.”

The violet flaming avatar then promptly vanished and the sacred room was silent again, only a brief mystical sort of echo sounding off from her vanishing. The many candles flickered again around the room and then burnt out entirely, the smell of incense and smoke filling the Preyer’s nostrils afresh like a sudden flood in an underground passage.

Slowly rising to her hooves, Applejack turned her back and immediately walked away. She had her full orders, and there wasn’t any time to waste.
She may be immortal, but that certainly didn’t mean that she liked wasting time. She was a Preyer, her entire reason for existence now was to protect all Ponykind from the Dark Powers and slay whoever The Church told her to slay, whether they be living or dead, beast or heretic.

She quietly stepped out the mystical stone door which opened to her of it’s own accord to let her out and walked down the long silent hallway, small gatherings of lit candles seemingly randomly placed along the way with small bits of written notes and special scripture placed on small wooden and stone alters that were used as worship waypoints for those who resided here.
There were also some ornate carvings here and there depicting the legends of The Two Sisters at certain points as well, mostly as small personal worship sites, and turning a corner the Preyer came across a number of servants and a young priest all kneeling in silent prayer and reverence. She’d heard and smelled them before she actually laid eyes on them as her senses were stronger than they had been before her rebirth.
Applejack herself drew near and knelt down with them. She’d need all the divine favor she could get for this mission, and praying with her spiritual sisters and brethren was a good thing to do.

-

Three mares in three dark and different locations stood before alters of bricks and candles, the scrolls of their oaths stretched out before them, written in their own blood.

“What is your life?”

The voice of an Inquisitor, a Priest, and the Saint herself spoke from all directions, echoing through shadows hallways, growing greater in the light that shone from the candles flames and the Moon light shining down from a sky-view window of glass and diamond, and from a great bonfire that burnt with frightful colors.

“Mah’ honor is mah’ life.”
Said the blonde-maned and tailed Earth Pony, ritualistically closing her satchel after placing her whip inside it.

“What is your fate?”

“My duty is my fate.”
Replied the Cyan Pegasus, tightening the last strap of her gauntlets on her forelegs one final time.

“What is your fear?”

“My fear is to fail.”
Replied the light purple Unicorn, slowly setting aside her pen as she finished marking a sacred text, one drop of black-red ink dropping to the floor and sizzling upon contact with the stone.

“What is your reward?”

“Mah’ salvation is mah’ reward.”
The Earth Pony spoke, tightening the belt of her uniform around her barrel.

“What is your craft?”

“My craft is death.”
The Pegasus growled, stretching her wings out one last time for now, the blades glistening within them as they were now firmly secured.

“What is your strength?”

“My strength is my faith.”
Whispered the Unicorn, gazing into the flames before placing a pair of black spectacles into her special pouch.

“What… is your pledge?”

“My pledge…”

Replied the three Preyers, divided the distance between them each, but connected by their destinies.
The Earth Pony placed her hat atop her head, the Pegasus pulled her hood up, and the Unicorn finished pulling on her cape.

“… is eternal service.”

TO BE CONTINUED…