//------------------------------// // Prima Secundae Partis Secundae Libri - Qui Infernum Confregit // Story: Non nobis Domine // by Dsarker //------------------------------// Shining Armour was peering through the reports compiled for the past week in his spacious private office when a note caught his eye. It read 'Celestia spoke unguardedly in her chambers last night. Not much could be heard but for mention of a prophecy and a brother. This was after a short dialogue with Princess Luna'. He paused, with a frown. Two secrets uncovered at once? That sounded, to his mind, too much of a coincidence. Either alone would be potentially useful. But surely nopony would be so open. He pondered for a time, before eventually rising from the desk. He went over to the door, and opening it, he spoke to the guard outside. "Bring me... Sergeant Flash Sentry," he said, briefly checking the report's author, and at the guard's nod, he closed the door and sat back down at his desk. It was a short time before there was a knock on the door. "Come in," he said, and it opened. In came the guard with another soldier. Both saluted, and then the guard resumed his post. "Take a seat," Shining Armour said, gesturing to one of the three chairs on the other side of the desk, and the sergeant did so. "So, you are Sergeant Flash Sentry?" asked Shining Armour as he shuffled the papers on his desk. It was a common tactic he had learned while interrogating prisoners on Celestia's orders. Too much stimulus and even the best would find it hard to maintain a stare. And once they had lost the first time, they subconsciously found it more difficult later on. "Uh, yes, sir," Flash Sentry replied. "That's correct. How can I help you?" He didn't even bother trying to keep the stare. "Well, you can help me by telling me the truth here," said Shining Armour, leaving the petty mind games aside for now. "This report from you. Mentions a prophecy and a brother. Is that correct? Would you swear that you'd heard those words?" "Yes, sir," confirmed the sergeant, nodding earnestly. "We were outside her quarters when she shouted them out, along with some other words that didn't quite stick as much." "Hmmm. Did she mention whose brother it was?" asked Shining Armour, resting his chin on a forehoof. "No, sir, but she was addressing whoever it was she referred to as brother," answered the sergeant. "It was then that she mentioned the prophecy." "Did she mention what the prophecy was about?" pressed Shining. If they only could find that out, then perhaps whatever the entire situation was being caused by could be stopped. "No, sir. That's all that she said," he said, and Shining Armour frowned. That avenue of investigation wouldn't bear any fruit here. "Very well. Thank you, Sergeant Flash Sentry, for your willingness to serve," said Shining Armour, rising to his hooves. "You are dismissed." "Yes, sir," said Flash Sentry, who saluted and left the room. Well. Another avenue to explore. Almost absent-mindedly, he began to compose a letter to his sister. Something about prophecies... Him-Enthroned watched as the entirety of the artefact was set into position. The caves were lit now, the torches having been set into their brackets as a mark of his authority, but the dankness of the previous inhabitants, the bats of Canterlot, remained. Dogs continued to run up and down the machine, making last minute checks and preparing to drill up into the city above them. The plan was that they would drill into the crystal caverns beneath the city, and then make their way through those and fill them with such numbers that the city would fall when the attack was launched. But all this depended on the machine being perfect. And so that necessitated these final stages. The metal virtually gleamed after the polishing it had been given. Each part had received expert ministration. And soon, within the hour, it would be started. Him-Enthroned smiled. The ponies would beg for mercy, but none would be given to them. Twilight was returning to her room within the palace when a guardspony approached her. She stopped, and turned to him. "Is there anything you need, sir?" she asked, her voice sweet as she could make it, trying to conceal her displeasure at going to the Templars again. "Yes, Miss Sparkle," said the guardspony, taking a letter from underneath his helmet, and passing it to her. "This is a letter, from your brother. It is for your eyes only." He stood stock still, apparently waiting for her to read it. She uncrumpled the piece of paper, and folded it out. It was a terse letter, only a couple of sentences long: Celestia's guard came to me, saying that she was seeming unlike herself, mentioning a brother of hers and a prophecy. Can you help me reassure him by discovering the truth? It was a mystery how such a short letter could cause such a problem, but if this was what it was, then she'd have to deal with it. If this was what was causing Celestia to seem strange, then by solving it, she could help her teacher. "Tell my brother I'll help him," she said, and handed back the letter. "I will get onto it immediately." The guard nodded, and left her. She sighed, and began the long walk through the palace. Only one pony could help her now - Princess Luna. And so she walked through the winding corridors, past the numberless ponies within. Eventually, she came to Princess Luna's quarters, and after a second, she knocked. She probably wouldn't be too happy at the disturbance at this hour, but if it was this important... But instead of the annoyed 'go away' she was expecting, the door swung open quickly, and Luna said, "Come in, and quickly." Frowning, Twilight looked to her left, and to her right, and then went in. The room itself was dark, and Twilight stopped moving until her eyes adjusted. She thought she could see another pony besides Luna, but it was too dark to know. "So, you've heard as well?" Luna said, as if expecting a yes. Twilight frowned, and shook her head. "I don't think I've heard. What are you talking about?" she asked Luna, wondering what was going on that would cause such distress. "Celestia. She's decided to execute the Templars," Luna answered. "And as far as I can tell from your reports, they're warriors who are innocent of any crime. Dangerous, perhaps, but not guilty of anything." She looked at Twilight. "But if you're not here because of that, then why?" "I've got a message from my brother, and it might shed some light on what Celestia's doing," said Twilight, biting her lip. "He said... One of Celestia's guards confided in him that she seemed pretty off-kilter. She was talking about a brother... And some sort of prophecy. The two were connected somehow, I believe. I didn't know what she meant, so I thought I'd ask you about it. Do you know what she means?" Luna's eyes opened wide. "My brother has disappeared. He hasn't been seen for nearly a thousand years - he disappeared when I was banished. If there's some prophecy... But no, that doesn't make sense. If he was going to come back through a prophecy, she wouldn't worry about it. This must be something else," she said, mulling over the possibilities. Then she focused. "Twilight, you must go to the Templars. Pass on the news. Tell them that I will find the reason for this gross miscarriage of justice and prevent it." Twilight nodded. "At once, your highness. Will you pass along the information to my brother?" "Yes. Now go," she said, dismissing her. "I must attend to business of my own." "'Lord, to whom shall we go?' asks Saint Peter. The other disciples are leaving our Lord because of his difficult teaching - his teaching that unless they ate his flesh and drank his blood, no life would be had within them," said Frederick, as the other Templars sat and listened. "Saint John records our Lord as being quite firm on this matter. For he understood Jesus as the other evangelists did not - he understood our Lord as the Lamb of God." He laughed. "Can you imagine that? The Creator, the Alpha and Omega, who spoke and the earth came into being, who breathed life into dirt and brought forth humanity into being, a lamb, the weakest and feeblest of the animals? But it was not for nothing. To understand this title, then we must refer to the older scriptures. For St John gives us an important detail - he says that it was nearing the passover. "The passover was a celebration of God sparing the lives of Israel's children. When His avenging angel passed over Egypt, they were spared, because they had followed God's commands. And what were these commands? What did they do to be spared? It was simple. They had done two things. Two things, to save the lives of their firstborn, both to do with the lamb. They had to take a single unblemished lamb, and kill it. The lamb had to die. And then, after killing the lamb, they had to eat it. This is central to what Jesus is saying here, and St John wants us to understand it. What Jesus means is that just as there was the first Passover, and that those who celebrates it were saved, so too there is a new Passover, and that if we want to be saved, we must celebrate it as well. "John speaks of this further in his Apocalypse. He speaks of Jesus as the Lamb, standing as if slain, and in many other ways as well. But this is the key. Jesus is the Lamb, who takes away the sins of the world. And how does he take away the sins of the world? By offering Himself as the Lamb of the new Passover - to be killed and to be eaten. Now Jesus has died once, and does not die again. But each time we celebrate the Eucharist, we remember his death - and we are given the Bread from Heaven for our food. In a short time, this bread and this wine will be transformed into Jesus - flesh and blood, soul and divinity. That is why the Mass is so important! That is why we fast before we celebrate it! And that is why we cannot despair. If God would not spare giving us his only Son, if Jesus would not spare giving us himself as our food, if the Holy Spirit would not spare being sealed within us, then why would the Blessed Trinity spare help in our need, if we but ask? That is what we ask for, in this Mass. That is why we do not despair. That is why we will continue to speak the truth. Because God, the God of hosts, is with us. We would be wrong to despair." At last, his homily completed, he sat down, leaving the others to reflect. Johann sat there, quietly pondering Frederick's words. In his mind, he could easily believe them. They were logical. Logically, reasonably, he could trust in God, as he had done for so long before. But part of him said that this was different. That now he was on his own. As Frederick rose to continue the mass, Johann could not help but to hear that part of himself repeat those same words, and no matter what he said to try and smother them, they continued. Luna slowly, cautiously entered the Forbidden Section of the Canterlot Library. This was where, she had been assured, any work dealing with prophecy would be kept. It was locked, and bolted. But the amount of sheer magic in the air was what she was worried about. It was uncontrolled, and the smallest spark could cause the whole thing to explode, and so no light shone within it. Only by virtue of her night vision could she discern any of the shapes within the section. If it had been contained within a tome or book, then she would have been doomed to failure. In this case, however, she was not looking for a book. The prophecy she was seeking was recorded only as being locked within a heavily enforced chest. The key she held beneath her wing was the only one that would open it. She continued to search through the section, each step slow and felt out. The ground was even more difficult to discern than the bookcases. Luckily, so far it had been flat and even. Even so, she knew that traps both magical and mundane were here, and unless she took her time, she could very well trigger them - and perish, here, unknown and alone. The other trick was to count her steps. Though the architect of this section had remained behind to set the final trap, her map of the traps had survived, and Luna had sought it out. Another five steps, and the first of the passwords would be required. It was a simple one, matching the architect's sense of humour. On the fifth step, she halted. "Amniomorphic," she said, and the magic bathing the room lowered a step. She smiled, shaking her head at the little joke in that password. How typical of him, to reference his best-known creation as if nopony knew it. Starswirl was well missed. She stepped forward, and threw herself flat to the ground. A blade flew just over her head. The next trap. Time enough for laughter after this escapade. She could not afford it right now. She stepped up gingerly, and moved forward. Another few bookcases passed before the next password was required, this time 'Succour' was the more serious response. A trip-wire, two swinging blades, all the traps that people expected now. What would he think of it if he was alive today? To have created such ingenious traps and defences, and to have them become cliche? The third password was the most typical, though, of all his traps. His simple light spell had to be cast. But when it was, it was not a single light that lit up, but the magically enchanted lights throughout the whole section. With that, the magical tension was released, and Luna breathed a sigh of relief. Nearly there. And she could see it, now, only twenty metres away. But those twenty metres! They were not marked down on the map, the only instructions being as follows: 'If you have reached this far, you should be able to get through the rest!', with a smiley face drawn underneath. What would he set? She knew the next two passwords, but the mundane traps he could have set... Shaking her head, she took a step, and followed it with another. She kept on moving, until she could almost smell the next barrier. As she did, a simple thought occurred to her. She could simply cast a trap-finding spell to find any devices set... She resolved, with that thought, to cast it after the next barrier. She said the next password, 'Metamorph', and as the barrier fell, a small voice began speaking in her ear - Starswirl's. "Well," it began, "I am glad you did not cast the trap-finding spell now, or else you would not be here to hear my voice. Some ponies just can't take things simply, don't you know? Anyway, providing you know the last password, that is the only thing you will need to access the last prophecy. But I warn you nevertheless. You have wandered so far into the halls in which truth is spelled out in hidden words. Turn back even so, for if you let these writings control you, you will be mastered. No more will you be free. It has driven great ponies insane with its call. Leave now, if you value yourself." She shook her head. "I am sorry, my friend, but I must know this to save my sister. Although I do not believe it, she does. I must deliver her from its hold." With that, she stepped forward, her determination renewed. All that held her back was the barrier, and when she spoke the last word 'Memory', it faded away, like tears in the rain. She took a deep breath, and took the last steps toward the chest. Lifting the key in her magic, she fit it into the lock, and turned it. The chest swung open, and there was a single piece of parchment in it. On it was the prophecy: The Ring of Omens shall be found when iron is made flesh and the hound betrays the master. The unicorn of the village will restore the people of the city. Upon the Night of Omens, in the Mountains of Ghosts, the Blade of Mercy shall slay the Guardian of Lamps. The Three in One shall sweep the Elders aside, and their servants on two legs shall wreak vengeance on the Oppressor. So sayeth Starswirl the Bearded. Luna read it, once, twice, and again. "This is it?" she asked the empty hall. "This is what she acts for? This scrap?" She lifted it up in her magic, and tore it in two. "No, Sister. I make my own future, not this piece of parchment, not its dead writer. Whether I die or not, it will be my own hoof which decides it, not this prophecy." She tore the parchment to shreds, and then, shutting the box, she left the section of the Library which no pony is allowed within empty once more. The Templars would be freed that night if she had anything to say about it. "Begin the machine," came the order down the line of diamond dogs to the engineer in charge of the controls. He pulled the only lever that they trusted so far, and the machine began to shake. It was only a tiny quiver as it started, but as the engineer jumped clear, it was visible. Him-Enthroned furrowed His brow as He watched it. If this broke, there would be a challenge. If it worked, His rule would be secured. He could already see the other council members gathered together, talking under their breath. This was their last day they would have any real power, and they knew it as well as He did. After they reached the surface and destroyed the rulers of ponykind, He would be established for the rest of his life. He looked up to the tip of the machine. They had moved it deep within the caves, and now it would pierce through the crystal caves beneath Canterlot and through to the city itself. As long as it did not shake itself apart before it had done so. As He watched it, it continued to extend the tip of the drill, pushing itself up, until it touched the rocky ceiling. As it did, the bodies of the ponies who had been tied to the tip were pulverised in a bloody spray, and it seemed to come to a rest, the shaking ceasing. However, He could see the rock dust fall as it drilled through. As it burrowed into the rock, He could see the sides seem to come to life, with a series of drill tips and hooks extending. In what seemed astonishing, it was trying to pull itself up. Almost the only part that was still relatively safe was the engineer's compartment, and He forced His way through the crowd and jumped into it. If He let this go on uncontrolledly, He would have no way to stop it, and the attack would fail. As He settled in, He could see the councillors losing no time in ordering their dogs to jump on as well. Good enough for them was not sufficient for Him. He knew far more about this weapon than they did, and He was well-content to use that knowledge against them. This was no mere rock-cutter - it was a transport. Within it were His picked dogs, the troops who He could count upon. They would force their way through the city and kill the princesses, and then seize the most valuable parts of the city. At last they would reveal their real plans to the ponies, and at last they would take their rightful place as rulers of this world. Never again would they lie under the control of the beings they should rule. As the drill powered through the rock, He could see something faintly, behind the councillors. It was no dog, but whatever it was, the rock dust hid it from His sight. --- "Accipite et manducate ex hoc omnes: hoc est enim Corpus Meum, quo pro vobis tradetur," said Frederick, in persona Christi, as he elevated the Host above him. Johann looked at the fragile piece of bread, at the entirety of his Saviour brought down through the priest and through His own promise. To think He would humble Himself so was almost a struggle for him. After all, what did He gain, except the return of what He had already created? Even as Frederick lowered the Blessed Host, though, Johann felt the answer rise up within him. God had not done so except for one reason - to give His creation a chance to rejoin Him. It was not out of anything but love that He had done so. He wondered if he could have done as much. As much as he wanted to say that he was like Christ, he felt a stubborn voice deep within that contradicted him in that, and he smiled sadly. No, he was not perfect yet, but that was no reason to give up. Then the priest continued, elevating the wine as he spoke the words that had resounded through the Church since the day they had first been spoken. "Accipite et bibite ex eo omnes: hic est enim calix Sanguinis Mei novi et aeterni testamenti, qui pro vobis et pro multis effundetur in remissionem peccatorum. Hoc facite Meam commemorationem." Johann watched it, and resolved to improve. If God had chosen him to be imprisoned for Christ, then he could suffer this imprisonment and offer it up to God as his own sacrifice. Twilight walked down the staircase towards the cells once more. Already their voices could be heard, and though the translation spell had not been cast, she could already guess what they were saying. She gritted her teeth and tried to ignore what she had guessed they were saying. That blasted rite which involved the consumption of their deity. It had to be today, didn't it? She lit her horn, and something had changed. These dungeons were occasionally dusty, but now there was far more than she had seen before. Had the cleaners forgotten about this area? That in itself was strange. Luckily, though, she was not Rarity - the dust did not quite scare her yet. The thought made her laugh, and she let her dislike of the Templars leave her behind. They had done good before. Perhaps it was just that this was the last remnant of their previous barbarism. That would be an interesting theory, that they had an outlet to release their darker desires more cleanly. But after her last discussion with the Templars, she doubted they would accept such a hypothesis. She continued to make her way down, and could see them now. They were finishing with the rite, as she could recognise, and that made her a little happier than before. This was the best time to talk to them. Johann knelt in silent prayer. He could feel God's love washing over him, and he adored the One who had made him and saved him. God, he prayed, I know that while we are here, my brothers suffer as we do, and that hope may seem to be lost. Let my sufferings and those of my brothers be united to that of Your Son, and, if it be Your will, grant us freedom from those who persecute us, that we may fulfil our vows to You in freedom and faith. Frederick gestured to the brothers, and they all stood for the dismissal. "Benedicat vos Omnipotens Deus, Pater et Filius et Spiritus Sanctus," he said as he crossed them. "Amen," they replied in chorus. "Ite, missa est," he said, the last words of the Mass. As he did so, the ground began to quake. The ceiling began to fall in, and as they looked around, they could see the cell wall fall in. There it was - freedom. "Deo gratias," they answered, and quickly gathering the few possessions they had, they exited, narrowly avoiding more rock-falls within their cell. Outside, the guards had left, and it seemed their way out was clear up the stairs. As they headed to it, dodging the falling ceiling, they spotted a single pony between them and their escape - Twilight Sparkle. "Stop!" she said, clearly not intending that they escape. Although she did not seem to be much of a threat, Johann did not want to fight her. That meant diplomacy. "Why should we?" he asked, not halting his step until he was before her. "To be imprisoned again and left to rot? This imprisonment is unjust, and you are wrong to support it already." He looked into her eyes, and saw something he did not want to see - fear, and disgust. "Not as I see it. You repeat each day your disgusting rite, and never cease in it. You are evil-doers. Though you have done good, you only use it to hide your blasphemy," she said. She did not quite know what that last word meant, but she knew it was an evil act. "If you think we are evil, then sound the alarum bell. We will not fight you," said Johann. "Come, brothers, let us make good our escape." He strode past Twilight Sparkle. "Crucem sanctam subiit," he began as they continued their escape. "Qui infernum confregit," continued the others with him. Twilight stood stock still, and then a violet light lanced up from her horn, and Johann grit his teeth. That would make the rest harder, but surely God would be with them, and with His help they could do anything. As they continued their march, they were beginning with the third verse when they heard a fluttering of wings, and all of a sudden the darkness of the prison was illuminated as if by the sun. There, before them, in the middle of the circle staircase, in midair, was a white pony, unlike any they had seen before. She had the horn of the unicorns, and the wing of the pegasoi, but she was bigger than any other pony they had seen. On her flank was an image of the sun, and Johann knew suddenly who the pony was. "Princess Celestia, I presume," he said, stopping for a second. I can only apologise for our hospitality, your highness, but you have hosted us for too long. We have a need to see the world above again." Something was giving him courage inside, though the sheet brightness was enough to intimidate him. "You are too dangerous to let live, let alone let loose. While you were imprisoned, and kept under control, you could be left alive. Now you have slipped your bonds, I will take no chances," said the Princess, and her horn began to glow. Frederick stepped forward. "Your sorcery will not stop us," he said. "Jesus Christ has already triumphed over hell, and in His Name, we are proof against your incantations." With that, he crossed himself, as did the others, and they turned, and continued their march. A white beam surged forth from Celestia's horn, and when it hit the group, the light was enough to blind them. Even after shutting his eyes, Johann could see the light, it was so intense. Even so, it felt warm and gentle on his skin, and he felt refreshed by it. As it faded, and he opened his eyes again, he saw that his brothers too looked refreshed and renewed. He turned, and Celestia was there, looking stunned and surprised. "That..." she said, her voice breaking. "That is impossible!" "No, your highness. It is simply what is promised to us. We are the children of the all-powerful God, and His Son has promised us triumph over death," said Johann. "Now we will be leaving, and you cannot stop us." They continued their march up, and she did not follow.