Tia pulled the doors away, every hinge damaged or pulled whole from the stone work.

A group of soldiers stared wide eyed at the place their shelter was just a moment before.

Tia cast her spear off to the side, it clattering against the stone work.

Her horn remained lit.

“Fifteen years ago Pope Morning Glory. Fifteen years almost exactly since I came to you. Just as I said.” she pushed the soldiers aside with her magic, they didn’t even resist.

Ahead, a mare in a golden yellow robe loomed on a banister.

“You expect us to believe you predicted the very assault you masterminded?” she declared.

What the hay had I gotten myself into?

“Fifteen years ago. As a mere filly of four!” Tia continued to advance.

Noble Ponies cowered off to the side.

“Dawn Glow! Morning Star! Kill the heretic!”

The old mare above gestured.

Two Ponies below the Pope stepped forward, they both wore red robes.

They didn’t even stop Tia. She just waved her horn and both slammed into opposing walls.

“I told you how this will end Morning Glory! Just as I told you how it would begin!”

A guard finally summoned enough nerve to break from his stupification.

I didn’t have the time to bring my sword around.

But the guard's own sword, who currently lunged at Tia with a spear, was perfectly angled to spring upward and slash her neck.

I wrapped my magic around it's hilt and pulled it out.

The mare's sword joined my side - already dripping red liquid - as the spell over the Guards broke. We were two, surrounded by at least two dozen.

I was suddenly glad I grabbed that mare’s sword.

“Guards! Stand down!” The mare in yellow barked. “She’s after the clergy and the clergy alone. Get back to keeping the proles in line.

I stood at the ready beside Tia, not trusting the mare to keep her word.

How had I found myself in the middle of a religious feud? I hadn’t even known Tia was a Solarist! The church of the Royal Family!

… It had never occurred to me before just how much about Tia I didn’t know.

“Tia?” I asked out while there was a lull.

“Just stay by me. I’ll explain everything later.” she murmured back.

This was odd to the extreme, but nothing pointed out I shouldn’t trust Tia.

Yet.

"I trust you Tia."

“Come then. Celestia Prophecymaker.”

Prophecymaker? Was that some sort of title? Like Hydrabane?

I glanced towards Tia.

I hadn’t known she had such a title… Besides Mayor that is.

Tia approached, and two sets of stairs were revealed as the massed Nobleponies split off to the side.

They looked as confused as I was. But listened to their Pope.

I followed close behind Tia, both swords at the ready for treachery.

She paid the Ponies to our sides no mind as we climbed up into the nave of the Cathedral.

Back towards the entrance below, Ponies began to shuffle out of the door, partially at the behest of a guard, quietly gesturing for Ponies that they needed to leave.

I turned my attention back towards protecting Tia.

She skirted the pews, approaching the center aisle.

Priests in red, Cardinals in orange, and the Pope herself in yellow stood along either wall, with the Pope herself taking her place by the altar.

Seriously what the hay was happening.

“I invoke the right of the ascendant dawn.” Tia called out. “I challenge your holding of the Birthright.”

“So be it.” Morning Glory frowned. “Kill her!”

A stream of Magic poured forth at Tia, from every priest in the building.

“Tia!” I called out, suddenly fearing the worse.

Until I noticed the spherical glow of Magic splashing off a shield.

A beam of sunlight shot out, taking a Cardinal by surprise.

The congregation continued to pour spellfire at the glowing orb.

Tia replied with beam after beam, all without dropping her protection.

She only stopped as the Priests stopped their assault, now too few in number to pierce Tia’s shield, which hadn’t wavered in the slightest.

“Come on then Pope Morning Glory. You are the only one who hasn’t tried.” Tia spoke loudly, advancing on the elderly mare.

The mare didn’t respond.

With words.

She let loose a furious barrage of spellfire, making Tia’s shield glow bright white as it took all the punishment the mare threw at it.

It felt like a good two or three minutes before the mare stopped, too tired to go on.

Tia merely stood there, just maintaining the shield.

“Exactly as I said.” she commented, walking past Morning Glory, who wheezed on the ground.

“May it char your bones, like everypony who came before you.” the mare snarled.

Tia ignored the old mare, and approached the altar.

A commotion by the front entrance sounded.

“Hold everything!” cried a voice from the stairs.

Everypony turned.

The head of Sapphire Shine crested over the final step. Breathing heavily from a run.

On the opposite step, poke up the head of Emerald Gleam.

“Hold everything!” Emerald repeated. “That artifact you seek is not theirs to give! It belongs to the Royal family!”

“Lu. Protect me.” Tia said softly.

“Gladly.” I stepped between Tia and the tormenters of my past.

“Get out of the way you-” Sapphire started. “-Luna?!” she screeched in surprise.

“Me.” I growled.

“What are you doing here?! What are you-” Sapphire panicked.

Emerald stepped forward, her spear at the ready, blocking her sister.

“I don’t care what you’ve apparently accomplished. Luna Hydrabane. You have, and always will be, a mad Pony in need of putting down.

Behind me, Tia began to fiddle with something on the altar.

“I gave you a chance Emerald.” I warned loudly. “Do not think I will offer it again.”

“You must be even madder than you were as a filly, if you think your sister up there will survive.”

Tia was being awfully suspicious… But no. I trusted Tia far more than this bully of a mare.

“Maybe I would let you by… If I didn't know what kind of Pony you are.” I retorted.

“I’ve been looking forward to this ever since I heard who was leading the army who sacked Casúrdomhain and Pegasopolis...”

“No Emerald! You don’t understand! Don’t you remember?!” Sapphire shook her sister’s shoulder.

“No I remember all too clearly, but I’ll be damned if I let such a thing happen!” the green mare replied.

… There were certainly things going on that I had no idea were even happening.

“Now help me end it before it even begins!” Emerald continued.

Sapphire looked like Emerald had finally gone insane, but fell silent and pulled out her own sword.

But the tip shook wildly as she assumed a guard.

Vengeance… For nine years of daily torment… It was all mine.

I lunged forward, the tip of my old sword leading in for a stab, while the sword I had recently stolen slashed from the side.

Sapphire intercepted my lounge for her sister on the left, and Emerald parried the slash on my right.

I grinned.

The left sword rotated in the sword lock pushing Sapphire’s blade down and catching the hilt with her nose.

I twirled the right sword, catching her spear tip by the guard on its head.

With both weapons trapped I stepped forward and punched Sapphire in the face.

“BO’H!” Sapphire grunted, clutching her nose.

I turned and bucked her off to the side.

Emerald twisted her spear, trying to free it.

I turned in place and lunged with my now free sword now that Sapphire was stunned for the moment.

She cast a basic shield spell, angled so my lunge was deflected.

I smiled more.

I grabbed the point of her spear in my telekinesis and twisted it in the opposite direction, yanking the thing out of her hooves.

She backpedaled, the sword at her side already coming out of its scabbard.

Sapphire lunged from the corner of my eye.

She was determined, but she was frightened.

She knew she was outmatched.

My left sword caught her lunge, pushing it downward and planting it in the floor.

Sapphire’s face was directly in mine.

“Nine years.” I growled.

Her lip began to quiver.

“Graaah!” Emerald screamed, jumping with her sword raised as I was distracted.

I twisted the deflected blade sideways, bringing it around to catch the overhead swing of Emerald’s.

“I can say the same to you Emerald. I was beyond ecstatic when it was your face under the General’s crest.” I taunted as I kept them both pinned.

I picked up Emerald in my telekinesis and threw her at the far wall.

“Aiee!” she shrieked in surprise.

I turned on Sapphire, my free sword rose overhead.

“I gave both of you chances. I didn’t have to. But you both refused.” I snarled in her face.

“Aaaah!” Tia shrieked in pain behind me.

I turned to look to see what fool decided to hurt Tia.

But nopony was around Tia. She was kneeling on the floor, a book, emanating golden light from its pages, illuminated her face.

“Aaaah!” she shrieked again.

“Let that bitch burn!” Emerald exclaimed, retrieving her sword and getting up.

I rose my free weapon to strike Sapphire down.

“I yield! I yield!” the blue mare suddenly exclaimed.

The pressure on my blade keeping her sword stuck eased.

The opposing sword dropped to the floor as the glow around Sapphire’s horn went out, she raised her hooves and kneeled.

“Sapph!” Emerald gasped loudly. “You kneel to this traitor?!”

“Emerald… Can’t you see? She’s toying with us. Throwing us around like we’re mere recruits again.”

I picked up the dropped sword in my own levitation. I didn’t want Sapphire changing her mind and picking it up again.

I turned so I could acknowledge both.

“Oh Emerald.” I cooed. “Don’t you see? I’ve already done more than you ever will. Casúrdomhain. Pegasopolis. And now Unicornia. Every city known to Ponykind that was apparently invincible. All sacked by m-”

“Gaaaaaaaah!” Tia screamed behind me.

“Tia!” I remembered, calling out and suddenly fearful.

She was bent over double, the book in front of her glowing brighter and brighter.

“Pathetic!” Emerald exclaimed, slashing at me with her sword.

I had no choice but to block with Sapphire’s sword.

Emerald however picked up a new trick from me and clipped my nose with a punch.

I was barely dazed.

I used the hilt of Sapphire’s sword to actually push her form towards me.

She wasn’t expecting it and stumbled.

I brought my two remaining swords and crossed them over Emerald’s neck as she lay there.

“Yield.” I commanded, keeping her sword pinned, but standing casually next to her head.

Within easy stomping distance.

“Never.” she growled, pressing herself against the edges of my swords as much as she dared.

I kicked her in the face with my front hoof.

“Yield.” I repeated.

“N-Never.” she struggled, her sword twisting against Sapphire's.

I kicked again, harder.

“Yield.” I commanded, one final time.

“Are you daft as well? I’m not-”

A cerulean glow appeared around her head, and slammed it against the tile below.

Knocking her unconscious.

I caught her sword before it clattered to the floor.

If for nothing else, they were the swords of Unicornia’s final Generals.

Perhaps it was crude of me, but I found myself thinking how I was going to mount them when I got home.

…

Heh… Home-

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!” Tia screamed.

Tia! Luna you fool! Tia needs you!”

I turned away from the beaten pair, Sapphire didn’t move from her spot.

Once more, Tia was alone. But this time, both she and the book were glowing.

Off to the side, the Pope’s forehead was pressed to the floor as she prostrated herself.

What the-?

I looked around. Every Priest present was prostrated. Of the Nobles or the remaining Guards there was no sign. Having long evacuated.

I turned back to Tia.

“I’m coming Tia I’m coming!” I charged up the stairs.

It was comfortable down where I had fought Emerald and Sapphire, but as I approached Tia, I noticed that the wood nearby my sister was beginning to blacken from extreme heat!

“Tia!” I called again.

Tia and the book became overcome with the severe glow.

I found myself blocking my eyes with a hoof.

The heat was blistering!

“Tia!” I exclaimed, unable to press forward.

Her screaming stopped, but the bright glow remained.

Only the sound of Sapphire’s whimpering, the slight hum from where Tia had just stood, and the chanted prayers of the priests could be heard.

What had I stumbled upon indeed.

The sound of feathers on the wind drew my attention back towards Tia’s last known location.

The bright light was just as bright, but was… Less intense.

The heat was all but gone.

“Tia?” I called out.

Something shifted in the light.

“You ok Tia?” I called out again.

Two wings extended out of the light, as pure and as white as goose down.

The light slowly began to fade away, revealing the shape of a Pony with outstretched wings.

“Tia?” I called again.

I realized the Pony before me also had a horn…

The light dimmed enough to reveal a pink mane and tail.

It… It couldn’t be…

Tia’s magenta eyes opened.

The wings at her sides fanned themselves.

The vibe :https://youtu.be/udI19nj7fdc?si=PvhWQA_EtNQRcOI_