My mind returned to me and suddenly I was made aware of the fact that I was no longer in Equestria. I remembered Luna’s spell and how I had laid my head down to sleep for the first time since my rebirth. Yet something was wrong. I couldn't hear Luna’s voice nor feel her presence and stranger still, I was also inhabiting a different body. One that was neither mine, nor Celestia’s originally.

My proportions were vaguely humanoid, but there was a strength there that was beyond human, and beyond even an alicorn. My power was not limited to the physical as I felt a great pit of hate-tinged magic that lay at the base of my vast soul. Yet I couldn't access it, nor could I move my limbs. Bound with iron as black as the night, I could do nothing but shuffle forward in an undignified manner, dragged along by an unseen jailor.

I felt my body thrash against the restraints binding me, seeking out even the smallest of imperfections in the great chains. Yet there were none, and no matter how I howled, or pushed I could not find a weak link. I cried out in a voice great and terrible, the wail of my hate-filled anguish tearing at the fabric of the world, though to seemingly no avail.

With no need to breathe, and no concept of weakness, I howled and contorted continuously, raging against what I knew to be inevitable. No matter how pointless the effort may have been, the seemingly depthless hatred swelled in my chest, yearning desperately for release. Through my cries and struggle, I was able to glimpse my surroundings, though I didn't recognize any of what I saw.

What I thought was the ground was actually a trail of stars that wound up into the dark night sky. This road of twinkling motes of dust continued further than anticipated, leading off into the distance towards a great door so grand in scale that I had nothing with which to measure against it. Made of reforged star stuff, and guarded with innumerable black-scaled dragons, it was a structure utterly cyclopean in nature.

Dark as the night, the door felt like a thing that should not be, yet here it stood atop a vast cloud, waiting to accept the only occupant it would ever know, me. Though the stone and metal wrought structure that surrounded the opening was blacker than anything I had seen, what lay within was yet darker still. Merely glimpsing into that abyssal depth made my mortal mind reel, struggling to contemplate how such an absence could exist. Though my host seemed unbothered, as if its mind was vaster then I had any true measure of.

It was no mere door, I realized, this was a wound, a gash in reality through that which exists could meet that which does not. Even while I grappled desperately with the strangeness of what lay before me, I continued to scream curses black and foul. I knew not the language, yet I could feel its meaning and could sense that if those that heard me were mortal, their flesh would be rent from their bones, and their soul torn asunder.

I was dreaming, I knew that logically, but it didn't make sense to me. This was not a dream of my past life, nor was it a dream of Celestia’s. Whoever I now resided within had the power of a god and the hate of a devil. Trapped as a prisoner behind my host’s eyes I could do nothing but watch as I was led inexorably towards that dark doorway.

As grim finality loomed over me, I assumed whoever I now was, would give up or even regret their actions. Yet my host felt no such emotions. They regretted only that they had failed, and continued to spew their venomous hatred right up until that horrid final moment.

The chain that had led me to this grim precipice tugged suddenly, and I tumbled forward, falling into the endless nothing that existed beyond reality’s furthest edge. As I fell, I found that my voice was gone, my power suddenly snuffed out. I was alone, truly alone for the first time since I had come into existence. Even the ever-present music of creation departed, leaving me with only my hatred, and my will to dominate all life.

There in that cold emptiness, I felt a thousand-fold tiny claws scratch at my being, fraying the edges of my form. The void had both teeth and talons, the absence rending me apart in a desperate desire to change something into nothing. Soon my hate became my armor and will my shield, gerding my naked form against the advances of the void.

I had power yet, but for how long could I hold? A day, an hour, maybe a year? Here there were no such concepts, with the entirety of my time spent in this cold hell blurring together. For an eternity, I existed until a fiery hand plucked what flickering motes of existence were left after so long in such a dark prison and recoiled, returning me back to reality, though not the one that had birthed me.

“Melko! Melko!” Cried a voice I soon realized was Luna’s.

“I… yes,” I muttered. “I’m here.”

“What happened? Where were you?” Luna pressed.

I glanced around and found myself in a void, though not like the one I had left behind. Here it felt like the kind of dark emptiness that came after you had closed your eyes, but before you fell asleep. Though disquieting, it was a darn sight better than the horrid entropy I had just suffered endlessly at the hands of.

“I saw something. A dream, or maybe a memory but not mine, and I don't think it was Celestia’s either,” I remarked somewhat nervously. “Already the details slip between my fingers, leaving me with the impression that it was a nightmare but alas, that is all.”

“Likely an after-effect of whatever magic Sol used to reforge your soul,” Luna explained, though I could tell that she wasn't wholly certain on the matter. “Now, are you ready to continue?”

“I suppose,” I muttered halfheartedly, clearly aware that Luna was unconcerned with my terror.

“Good,” Luna pressed on. “I will now guide you towards one of our earliest memories. One that I hope is powerful enough to spark a response from Celestia. Now it all began when-”

I relaxed and allowed the soft, whispered voice of Luna to wash over me. The world blurred, and color replaced black, changing until the shapes, colors, and sounds coalesced into something recognizable. All at once I was no longer myself again, my perception having been placed back within Celestia’s mind, though from a point far in her past.

She was young, so young in fact that she was not even an alicorn. She was gifted with magic, I could tell that quite quickly, but she was still normal for lack of a better word. The power that resided within her was a dull flicker compared to her current self, and barely more than a single mote when matched up against the inferno that was the godlike being I had briefly inhabited.

Her royal vestments were gone, replaced by a greyish wrapping that covered her quite well while still allowing her to stay cool. Her hooves clicked against the mud brick road, but they were not alone, as a similarly garbed creature strode beside me. I recognized her as Luna, though she too had yet to ascend and was even younger, the girl barely a young adult.

“Do you think Mother will be okay?” Luna asked without looking up at me, or should I say, Celestia.

“She is going to be fine,” Celestia insisted, stressing the final word. “I know you worry for her since father passed but the kings will pay out his remaining wages in the coming weeks and after that, we’ll be okay for a year or two. In the meantime, our labors within the orders shall keep a roof over her, and our, heads.”

“I know, I know,” Luna repeated. “I just… I worry about her, sister. The soldiers are different since the war ended.”

“War changes people,” Celestia mused, glancing up at the sky and noting that it was nearly twilight.

“I don't like that mister Westwood doesn't play with me anymore,” Luna added.

“You have almost reached your thirteenth winter, Luna. Soon you will be an adult. You shouldn't be thinking about playing,” Celestia chided.

“I’m not an adult yet though,” whined Luna.

Celestia hummed to herself, growing thoughtful and letting her gaze linger on her surroundings. What I saw felt both unique and nostalgic for some reason. The mud-brick homes and busy streets resembled ancient civilizations from my time. Not quite Greek, and not quite Egyptian, it felt older still. Almost like the civilizations of the Indus Valley, or something from that, most ancient of era.

Men and women led ox, and goats around while workers returned from the field with woven baskets atop their heads. Clay jugs filled to the brim with sloshing water were held against the chest, or lined up on small hand carts that were dragged behind strong-looking men. The skin of these people was darker and more uniform than the ponies of the current day though there were still bright pigments intermingled throughout.

A part of me wondered just how this could have changed before being brushed aside as Celestia looked down at her sister expectantly.

“Have you been practicing your spells like the Raja asked?” Celestia inquired. “It is important that you strengthen your magic. The ritual of raising is incredibly taxing.”

“For the last time, yes,” Luna retorted, whining in the way only a younger, teenage sibling could. “I have repeated the mantra and the necessary positions so many times that I dream about them every night.”

“You are lucky you know. I’ve never had a dream before,” Celestia muttered.

“Really? Not once?” Luna exclaimed, aghast.

“Never,” Celestia dismissed. “I just go to sleep, then wake up what feels like a second later.”

“That's… odd,” Luna exclaimed.

The pair grew quiet, with Luna shocked, confused, and slightly unnerved by the revelation. Celestia felt a bit conflicted, and let her gaze wander once more, the woman putting her sibling out of her mind, at least for the moment.

I merely watched, observing as the structures grew more clustered, and the streets busier. Here, further into the city, the number of laborers was lower, and the signs of commerce were apparent wherever I looked.

Carts were more common, as were strange hooved creatures that I struggled to recognize. They looked like horses, only different, with stripes on their legs, larger ears, and an overall slimmer build. They made for decent pack animals, but weren't exceptionally strong, with three or even four of them being needed to pull a fair-sized cart.

Though the wildlife was interesting, what truly grabbed my attention was the interesting pieces of art I saw at nearly every street corner. At the east and westmost corners sat either a clay sun painted a bright orange or a dark purple moon. This primitive symbol was in other places too, though when it appeared on banners or walls the two images were combined. There the sun and moon made up a single orb, the two sides marked by a jagged divide between them. One’s rays were straight, pointed while the other had wavy lines emerging from it, marking it as the flaming orb currently above us.

“We’re close to the temple district. Make sure to affix your sash,” Celestia exclaimed.

“I remember,” retorted Luna.

Celestia reached within the folds of her toga-like robe and produced a long deep red length of cloth sewn into a hoop shape. She lifted it over her head and settled it on her opposite shoulder, giving it a small wiggle to put it into position. A glance down at Luna confirmed that the younger female had already done as Celestia had, only she wore one that was a deep violet color.

“It still feels weird,” Luna muttered.

“What does?” Celestia pressed.

“Being in the violet order,” Luna answered. “People treating us nicer than usual is well… nice. But why do they always look sad when they talk to us?”

“I…” Celestia sighed. “Raising the sun and moon are tiring and some people can't handle the weight.”

“Is that why mom cried when the messenger told us we were supposed to start going to the temples?” Luna asked, her voice low and filled with concern.

“She's just worried about us,” Celestia dismissed. “It's dangerous and draining to be a part of the ritual, but we’re strong. Don't forget that.”

“Pfft, of course we are. We climbed all the way to the top of Mount Tirgin for the summer and fall festivals while the rest of those babies stayed home or took carriages,” Luna exclaimed, puffing out her chest.

“Remember those moments when you are a part of the ritual today and stay strong. You may only be third circle right now but one day you’ll move up to the first circle and you’ll have to be tougher than ever,” Celestia encouraged.

“Augh I hate being third circle. It's so boring,” Luna whined. “Why can't I be first circle like you?”

“You can't rush these things. The second circle was hard enough. I don't know if I’ll have what it takes to join the first circle,” Celestia admitted somewhat nervously.

“You can do it, you’re tough,” Luna proclaimed confidently. “Why I bet you’ll even reach the rank of Sunspeaker one day.”

“I hope not,” Celestia muttered under her breath.

The pair turned a corner and came to a small gatehouse outside of a walled-off district of the city. Here two tall females wearing thick headdresses waited for them, one wielding a spear while the other had a bronze khopesh belted at her side. The guards looked down at the sisters for only a few seconds before directing their attention elsewhere, signaling to the duo that they were allowed inside.

“Remember where we are meeting up after the ritual?” Celestia whispered.

“The well just down the street from our house,” Luna dutifully replied.

“Good. And remember, I love you,” Celestia exclaimed, pulling her sister into a tight, brief hug.

Luna promptly broke the embrace pushing Celestia gently but forcefully away. “Augh quit being all dramatic. We’re gonna be fine. We’ve been fine every other time,” Luna whined.

The younger of the two then broke off, joining the flow of violet-sashed young women making their way into the west side courtyard, beyond another gate guarded by more tall, female warriors. Celestia watched her go for a moment before turning towards the crowd who wore the same color as her.

Celestia said nothing and kept her head down as she made her way into the court of the sun. Here sat the great golden ziggurat. Made from strange white stone obtained from the far west, and filled with the most fertile soil in the land, the multilayered structure was an amazing sight. Its gleaming sides reflected the setting sun, while the long series of white steps invited a sense of wonder.

None of which Celestia felt that day. She had been here before, seen these sights before, and by now they were uncomfortably normal. It was only when she reached the zenith and looked out over the city did she feel a small amount of awe. From up here, the many squat, clay brick structures appeared like play homes made with mud and shards of bark stuck into the dirt.

She drank in the sight for several seconds before turning and entering into a side opening along with a few other women near her age. The mood was light for the most part, and the various girls and young women went about their assigned tasks dutifully. Some split from the group and joined the maintenance crews, their evening destined to be filled with dusting old relics and maintaining the garden that grew along the steps of the ziggurat.

Those who were a part of the ritual of lowering, like her, headed deeper into the temple structure. Passing through the heavy cloth veil, she entered the fragrant bathhouse. Once inside she passed her clothes to an attendant and stepped down into the long, narrow pool.

She continued to stride through the bath, glancing down at the thick mat of flower petals that floated atop the water. The fragrant aroma of incense filled her nose and tickled her senses. She could also detect the oddly scented spices that supposedly heightened her magical power, though in Celestia’s opinion, they only made her feel strange, in addition to making it harder to walk in a straight line.

Once through the other side, the same attendant was waiting for her, arms laden with the crimson robes, and ruby studded ring that marked its wearer as a member of the first circle. Accepting it dutifully, Celestia allowed herself to be clothed by the other female. Now no longer naked, she walked up a short staircase and through another arched doorway into a domed area that lay at the center of the entire complex.

Here the ceiling rose high above her head, terminating at a circular hole in its very center. Glancing up at it made Celestia’s legs wobble so she turned her gaze back down to the ritual underway in the middle of the room.

Within the outermost circle were hooded worshippers that kneeled low, their legs straight and their foreheads pressed against the cool, stone floor. While they numbered two dozen, those in the second sphere were an even twelve. These were allowed to bear their faces but still had to kneel and keep one hand placed firmly on the ground. The lucky five were already standing in the center, their hands raised above their heads, eyes glued to the oculus above them. Celestia joined them a moment later, mimicking their pose, and extending her arms as far as they could go.

A few short minutes later the ritual began in earnest, the start of which was signalled by the arrival of fresh incense. Magic gathered from the edges of the circle and was guided toward the center by those who stood before them. Finally, Celestia and those she stood alongside, took the offered energy, and willed it upward, out of their bodies and toward the heavens.

Celestia herself had to do very little but that hadn't always been the case. She knew that those at the fringes were casting the real spell, while the middle ring acted to refine the leylines. Lastly, the first circle took the offered power, and released it, acting as conduits for the ancient magic.

Her every nerve now alight with tingling energy, Celestia struggled to stay standing, her horn burning hot with the strength of the spell passing through her. She wanted to scream, to stop, to do anything but she held on, the young woman knowing that to break at this point would mean almost certain death.

For a moment she cursed the former Sunspeaker for not being here, for not being strong enough to hold on a little longer. Without her steadying hand to guide the ritual, the experience was far more unpleasant, with the first circle bearing a weight which had been destined for her shoulders. But then she remembered those horrid moments only a few days ago. The screams of agony, the fire that had consumed the former temple mistress, and the horrid smell of cooking flesh all danced through her mind only to be dashed by the young woman.

Focusing her mind, and clearing her thoughts of doubt, Celestia poured herself into the ritual, determined not to end up like the former Sunspeaker. While at the same time holding back ever so slightly, so as to not excel so much that she would ascend to that most holy, and damned position.

Above her Celestia could see as the myriad of colored energies came together to create a single column of golden light. The pillar rose steadily before suddenly shooting upwards. It was at this point that Celestia assumed she would feel the dull warmth and intense drain like every other day since they had lost their previous Sunspeaker. With the spell at its apex she expected the pain to dull, for her horn to begin to cool, and her nerves to slowly return to normal.

Yet that was not what happened.

Instead, her ears were filled with the roar of a deafening conflagration of fire. A heartbeat later and her body was so hot that she felt her clothes begin to burn, and she had to squeeze her eyes shut due to the power of the light assaulting her retinas. Every instinct was telling her to flee, to break off the spell but she knew that doing so meant death so she held on. Even though there were mere moments left before it was truly over, Celestia held on, the woman remembering well that giving up now may spell not only her own death but the death of every other order sister present.

As seconds ticked by, the wild blaze screaming into her ear dulled somewhat and she heard what sounded like something that was both a voice and not a voice.

And it greeted her warmly.

Author's Note

This is part of the countdown to christmas, head over here to keep track of all the cool stuff coming down the pipes. If you want to ensure I can afford to keep doing stuff like this, consider backing me over on Subscribestar or Patreon.