Awaken the Dead Gods
"You shouldn't be messing with that stuff."
Sandy Dune was sitting towards the back of the dank tomb attempting to clean an ornate ruby necklace held upon a pedestal. She should not have been touching the ancient relics, but they had gotten very dusty in the windowless room. She didn't enjoy being in her master’s tomb. The darkness hurt her eyes because the only light allowed inside was created by burning torches. The fire played with the shadows of the tomb, and created horrible figures in the corners. She needed to keep herself busy while down there.
"At least I'm doing something, Blue Mane. I'm not just sitting around reading a book." The only other companion Sandy had in the tomb was Blue Mane. The blue stallion was laying on a stone chair with his feet resting on the focal point of the room, their master’s sarcophagus. It was a huge stone slab with ornate carvings of kings and gods all around its base. Sandy had spent hours exploring every inch of the casket and memorized each carving. Currently, her favorite one was that of a king and his queen overlooking a lake full of birds. She imagined that was what heaven was going to be like.
Since before the day she was born, Sandy had been indoctrinated into an ancient society dedicated to the sleeping god Amun. She grew up on stories of her god and the many miracles he weaved throughout his time on earth. One day he would rise again and lead them to new heights of greatness. When she was a little filly, Sandy drew pictures of the god. She always imagined him as a pegasus with golden wings that could make the grass grow when he beat them. Those days were long gone, and her childish dreams were lost in a stream of rituals and service.
Of the children born into the society of the Blinding Shadow, only two were chosen to directly serve Amun. She had been so excited that day she nearly missed it when her name was actually chosen out of all the families in the faith. It turned out the job wasn't as glamorous as she had imagined. It mostly entailed keeping the tomb clean and praying for their God’s return. Other than those rare duties, her whole existence had become sitting and waiting.
"I wish we weren't stuck here babysitting a dead god. I want to be with my friends, outside in the sun." Sandy could barely understand the blasphemies she was hearing. She was preparing to reprimand Blue Mane when both ponies heard a loud thump. The sound echoed through the silent tomb, but eventually died out. Both ponies froze in place. Sandy looks back towards Blue Mane, and saw him attempting to scramble off the sarcophagus. "I felt something! Inside the box!"
"What’s going on?" Sandy was slowly moving closer to the casket, but was stopped when Blue Mane pushed her back. He held onto her shoulder as if to push her in the way of any coming danger. She ignored the frightened stallion and moved closer to the casket.
"Should we open it?" That sentence was basically a blasphemy in the faith, but the pale yellow pony was wondering if something was wrong. She had not been taught what to do in this situation. She inched herself closer to the slab in the middle of the room. When she noticed her companion wasn’t behind her, she raised her hoof and beckoned Blue Mane to follow. Despite himself, he actually moved forward.
Deep inside her soul, Sandy was actually excited. She was close to finally seeing the god she dreamed of since she was a little girl. During times when she was scared or alone, she would imagine him rising and delivering her from the dark tomb. His golden feathers would wrap around her body, and they would fly off towards the sun.
A smile was creeping across her face when she took up position on one side of the sarcophagus. The stallion positioned himself opposite her. She saw nervous sweat falling down his face. He scrunched his brow in a concerted effort not to run. Sandy also felt a creeping fear building up inside herself from an unknown force, but her excitement kept the fear at a safe distance. She placed her hooves under the lid and nodded at Blue Mane. At the same time, the two young ponies attempted to lift the lid off the casket. They tried with all their might, but the lid just would not budge. It felt like it weighed a ton and their efforts only resulted in two tired ponies.
Suddenly, the lid rose and was bucked from its position on top of the slab. The two ponies ran from the casket with all their remaining strength. Blue Mane scrambled at the exit to the tomb, trying to open the heavy wooden door. The lid continued rocking and shaking before finally it was lifted up and moved off the sarcophagus. It plummeted down to the ground with a loud crash.
Through the ocean of fear and doubt, Sandy finally remembered her lessons from the high priestess. She reached towards Blue Mane and pulled him to the ground, his face hitting the stone floor. He squeaked in pain but she ignored him and fell to the ground herself. If the caretakers of the tomb weren’t careful, their god would destroy them both in a fit of rage. Both ponies heard someone sifting and groaning from inside the sarcophagus.
After an unimaginable amount of time, the two prostrate ponies finally heard something speak, "Rise." The voice was a rasping cough that could barely be considered a whisper. Surprisingly, Blue Mane was the first to rise from the ground and greet their god. Sandy couldn't see what was happening, but before she could raise her head, a horrifying scream filled her ears. Blue Mane was screaming his head off and running away from the sarcophagus.
"So that is the way of things," the god mused in that same raspy voice. "Young filly, raise your head and look upon your god."
Sandy wasn't prepared, but she was excited. That same slight smile was plastered across her face. Her breath caught in her throat and she was shaking uncontrollably, but she looked up. She did not scream. She did not run. She did not even look away. But she was afraid. So very afraid.
"What do you see, young filly?" What she saw was a pony made of an endless darkness. It was a pure shadow sucking the light and joy into the hungry abyss at its center. Black flames entombed its body, billowing with a malicious mind of their own. The last thing she noticed about him was two huge black horns growing from the pony's head. They were curved like bull horns, and almost touched the ceiling. A wind was whipped behind Sandy, almost strong enough to draw her closer to the pony in front of her. The more she stared at the clawing darkness, the more the fear grew that she might be drawn into the void. Somehow she knew that if she were to move into the shadow, she would never return. She did not turn away.
Something finally drew her eyes away from the blackness. It was a faint light in the corner of her eye. She broke contact with the void and looked up. Standing behind the god, almost completely hidden by his shadow, was a specter. At first it was a cloud of white smoke, but it soon took on the appearance of a regular pony. With a gasp she realized that the specter looked just like her. She stared at the mirror image of herself, so similar yet somehow different. The ghost looked older and wiser, but still had an air of youth. What foul omen was this? Sandy began crying uncontrollably at the thought of what this might mean. Her ghostly form looked saddened, but then a reassuring smile crossed her face. It was the same smile Sandy had only moments ago when she witnessed the arrival of her god. Before dispersing, the ghost nodded her head to the bawling young foal on the ground.
The last image that filled her vision wasn't the pony of darkness, but the lid to his sarcophagus lying on the ground. On the inside of the lid was an inscription written in the language of the order and her god. The inscription read "You are Amun. You have arisen. Time is running out."
Sandy couldn't tell how long she had stared at her dark god before she finally passed out from the stress. She slowly opened her eyes, blinking in the harsh light that had so recently been robbed from the tomb. Standing above her, covered in brown linen bandages, was not a pony of complete darkness like she had seen before. Instead, it was a pony that looked almost like a corpse. The pony was completely hairless, his body covered in dry brown skin that either clung to long dead bones or just hung limply off his frame. His face was sunken and gaunt, dead lips barely wrapped around glowing white teeth. The worst part was his eyes. They were two black pits that could not express any emotion.
"You did well, young filly. You are to be my steward while I occupy the world of the living." He didn't wait for a response. Instead, he trotted towards the door. His movements were slow and deliberate. His skin cracked and strained against his disused muscles. Despite the slow shuffling, he carried his head high, and with an unearthly authority. Though stunned from her experience, she did notice that he wasn't a pegasus. The great god of shadows was a regular earth pony, just like her.
"Young filly, remove my dressing and find me some fresh garbs." As if by magic, she was instantly on her hooves and rushing towards him. Amun stared at the unconscious body of Blue Mane. "Your friend will be fine. He just needs to rest. And lucky for him, he will probably never see me again."
Sandy had started tearing off his bandages with her teeth, but stopped when she heard that, "My lord, what do you mean?"
He turned and gave her what should have been a comforting smile, but was more terrifying due to his appearance. The lack of proper lips just made him seem like he was always smiling. "You are my steward, young filly. I only require one steward, and the one I choose is always the pony who can handle the sickness."
"What is the sickness, sir? What was it I saw?" She suddenly stopped, realizing her impertinence. It was rude asking her god so many questions without permission. Usually, when she started asking questions, she received a scolding, or worse.
Instead of the angry tone she expected, Amun started to answer, “The sickness is the reaction a mortal has to my power. The magical energies that fuel me while I am in the living world warp the mind, and break the spirit. It's a rare pony that can survive the sickness unscathed. You are that rare pony." He spoke to her in a kind manner, almost like an elderly grandfather telling his grandchildren a story. She couldn't help but be happy while she removed the rest of his bandages. A small smile escaped her lips once again.
"I was born to serve you, my lord." She bowed low to him before she made her way to find some suitable clothing. She settled on a ceremonial robe used for rituals. It was a white cloak decorated with various symbols of the order, but it would serve to hide his withered body without drawing too much attention. She hoped it would, at least. It certainly managed to hide his skeletal frame, but that left his horrifying face. The best she could do was a plain white shawl draped around his head. It hid his face well enough, but his sunken dead eyes were still exposed.
"Let us leave, young filly. My purpose is calling." Amun opened the doors to his tomb and entered the adjoining chamber. Usually the chamber was used for ceremonies, but it had been dressed down for the various members of the order to relax in-between their duties. The only permanent fixture of the tomb was a large altar covered in the blood of the sacrificed. The few members inside the chamber immediately stopped what they were doing and dropped to the floor. No one spoke or moved because each one knew that it angered their god to look upon him. Sandy had been taught from birth that their god was a solitary being. The only exception was Amun's loyal steward, always in his shadow. The steward assisted him in any way he or she can. The rest of the order worked their whole lives for the good of their god. Everything they did must be for him.
It was a difficult life, Sandy mused to herself while she stared at the ponies on the ground. She passed by the altar that she prayed to everyday, and she had to stifle a gasp. The high priestess of their order was prostrate as well, nose pressed firmly against the floor and tears in her eyes. Even the high priestess, leader of the order, could not be with Amun. As the two passed, the high priestess looked up to sneak a peek at her god. A frown crossed her face when all she saw was Sandy above her. The mare shot Sandy a glare filled with malice and hatred, the redness caused by her tears made her stare all the more intimidating.
They walked towards the doors which lead to Canterlot, but Sandy was roughly pulled aside with a yank from behind. "Listen Sandy! I don't know why the great Amun has chosen you, and I can't change that. So I'm giving you a warning. You had better not mess this up! If you do, you will be severely punished. I don't care that you are his steward. I still control this church, and you still bow to me." The high priestess continued to drone on about religious doctrine, but Sandy wasn't paying attention. Amun was standing by the door, a dark frown carved onto his face. As soon as their eyes met she thought she saw the hint of a smile cross his face. She smiled back despite herself. Amun notched his head at Sandy and she followed. The high priestess stammered at the girl’s insolence. The soft smile was still on her face as she exited the chamber.
The nagging fear of Amun's appearance kept Sandy from enjoying the sights of Canterlot that she had missed while confined to the tomb. There were so many different places and ponies that it almost overwhelmed the little mare, but Amun kept her focused on the task at hand. He never stopped or observed anything around him. Crowds of ponies instinctively knew to avoid him. Some ponies stopped and stared, some even dropped to the ground and prayed, though it seemed like they didn't know why. To those that stared or looked at Amun with revulsion, he merely flashed a smile in their direction and suddenly their demeanor changed. It was as if they had become old friends in an instant. This left Sandy speechless for most of their journey through the city.
After a while a flash of realization appeared on Sandy's face. "Master? Where are we going?"
"We are going there as fast as we can young filly." He neither stopped nor turned to look back at her.
Sandy nodded and decided it wasn't her place to know her god's grand plan. Amun abruptly stopped in the middle of the street. His dark eyes darted in every direction. His features had changed since the time they had left the tomb. His face normally looked sunken and hollow, but now it had filled out somewhat. He almost looked like a living pony. Almost.
"It's close, young filly. My purpose." The excitement in Amun's voice was almost terrifying to hear. He darted through the busy street, following an unknown trail. Ponies, just doing their normal daily activities, jumped out of the way minutes before Amun actually appeared. The two finally stopped after running through the streets of Canterlot for an hour. Sandy was tired from the sudden exercise, but Amun neither panted nor sweat. She wasn't even sure he breathed.
"Master? What do you see?" Sandy stood next to Amun looking for what he had pursued with such vigor and determination.
"You ask so many questions, young filly. Look at that small restaurant across the street, and maybe you can finally give me answers." He pointed with a hoof to guide her gaze. She did see the restaurant, though it was more of a cafe. Truthfully, most ponies would call it a hole in the wall. There was no space inside to sit, so the owners had set up tables outside. Currently, there was only one pony actually sitting near the cafe. He sat at a table drinking what was probably a cup of coffee. Nothing really stood out about the unicorn.
Sandy stared at the only patron of the small cafe for a long time. It took her a long while to notice the signs, but Sandy finally realized it. "He's just like you my lord."
"The young filly finally has a thought. Good, that's a habit my steward should keep. Yes, he is indeed like me." Amun started walking towards the cafe.
"But that would mean he is a god. There are more gods like you my lord?" Sandy sat on the corner with a dumbfounded look on her face, which drew some uncomfortable stares from passing ponies.
"Another time, young filly. For now, he is my purpose."
"My apologies, Master." She bowed low in apology.
"Be alert, young filly!" She snapped back to attention and stared at the unicorn. "He has not noticed us. That's good. Follow my instructions carefully. I need you to go through the area searching for any suspicious pony. They are our target’s followers. Find them, and make sure you are not noticed."
"Yes, master." Sandy had been trained by the order to perform many different tasks that her god would require of her. When she became a steward she trained for days perfecting anything that she might need to do. One particular thing that was focused on was seeing and not being seen. Instinctively, Sandy slipped into a crowd making sure no pony noticed her presence. She followed the crowd through the busy street to various stores and establishments. No one even noticed the little earth pony darting and sifting about as if she was searching for someone. She scanned every pony that caught her eye. Unfortunately, no one was watching the unicorn. Some noticed him, but an unseen presence forced them to quickly move away.
After she made her way through the area, she returned to Amun. He sat near an alleyway, his stare fixed on the unicorn. She looked at him, and noticed his face had finally filled out with more muscle and life. "I could not find anyone, master. No one is watching or observing him. Do you know who he is?"
He didn't answer her. He didn't even look in her direction.
"Master? What is our next move?"
It took a while, but he finally responded to her presence, "Why is he waiting there? Young filly, follow me. Sometimes the direct approach is best." Amun strolled past Sandy and towards the cafe. He sat in front of the mysterious unicorn and turned to her. "Bring me a cup of tea, young filly." She did as she was told and walked into the cafe to place his order. Her eyes never left Amun, or the mysterious unicorn.
"How are you doing?" Amun asked the unicorn.
The unicorn stared at Amun, amusement and malice playing across his face almost at once. "You're being quite familiar with me despite our past."
"The past to our kind is complicated. Where are your followers? If you draw too much attention to yourself, you might call upon the wrath of those alicorns in the palace. You know how they feel about us." Sandy finally returned with her master’s cup. He lapped at it once and then ignored it.
"I've sent them away. They are mindless sheep. They just want my miracles and power." Jamiya absentmindedly lapped at his own cup. His eyes were glassy and his thoughts were obviously somewhere else.
A flash of surprise broke through Amun's calm exterior for the first time. "Without them you're a fish out of water. Who knows what could happen." Sandy saw his surprised reaction, and instinctively reached for the knife hidden in her pack.
The unicorn turned to Sandy. "Do you know what an alchemist searches for, young filly? I doubt you would. It’s value that I seek. Everything has value in this world. Jewels, gold, beauty, and power. I've been trained to see value all around me, and use it to create something even greater. But what happens when an alchemist finds something that is priceless and cannot be forged?" Amun's eyes never left the unicorn’s during the whole speech.
"The alchemists always confused me. I watched you boil a pony in pure molten gold. It was never enough, though. You slaved over formulas and instructions for days at a time. You're always perplexed by something, Jamiya. Life, or un-life in our case, is no mystery when taken at face value."
"Have you no answer to my riddle, young filly? And Amun, may I remind you who acquired those ponies for me?" Jamiya smirked, but he was more focused on Sandy.
"The servants serve, Jamiya. They do not answer riddles." Amun planted a hoof onto the table to emphasize his point.
Sandy thought for a moment, "I don't know the answer."
Jamiya pointed a hoof across the street. "There is your answer." In the direction he was pointing, right across from the cafe, was a small antique store. Various old artifacts and well-made furniture were displayed in the window. The owner stood inside the little store among the antiques. The pale white pegasus filly was smiling as she fussed with her merchandise. Though she was definitely beautiful, she looked too thin and a little sickly. Amun and Sandy turned back to find Jamiya staring at her, a look of longing and desire plastered across his face.
"How did you meet her?" Amun asked with a hint of irritation and anger in his voice.
"I was awoken to find a vessel of power. You'll notice it's around her neck." Sandy noticed a gold chain hung around the pegasus's neck. It was warped and darkened through age, but was still beautiful and had the look of professional craftsmanship. "It was her father’s before he died of a disease. She put a locket with his picture on the chain."
"And I suppose you felt sorry for her?" There was no mistaking the anger in Amun’s voice.
"I did. The only thing he left her was the gold chain and his struggling business. I couldn't take it away from her."
"Do I need to remind you that it does not belong to her?"
Jamiya paused at that. "Why are you here, Amun?"
"You know."
"Not here. We will meet again in my tomb. I will be fighting you for my freedom. I'll fight everyone they send after me. I'll do whatever it takes to stay." Jamiya glared at Amun, his voice was filled with a deep hatred.
"That's the thing, Jamiya. You can't. Remember what you always told me, time is running out." Amun finished his tea and stood up without waiting for a response. Jamiya continued to glare even as Amun walked out of sight with Sandy at his heels.
"Master?"
"Young filly, if you are to be my steward, it is time I educate you on what I really am. We are going to war with Jamiya soon. Every bit of information could save your life. Are you ready?" Amun walked in the direction of his tomb.
Sandy paused and stared at him. He had finally regained a normal appearance. He had a deep cocoa brown coat with black hair colored by a single stripe of purple. Still, he somehow radiated a glow of beauty and experienced authority.
"Yes, master," she finally responded. And so Sandy followed, forever in her god’s shadow. She still had on a slight smile, the same one she had when he first arose.
Awaken the Dead Gods
Part 2: Molten Gold
By Sir Thursday
The sand rolled around the many pillars jutting out of the ground towards the sky. These pillars encircled a massive empire sitting in the middle of the desert. Built thousands of years before the three pony races were unified and Equestria was founded. In the days before the empire, the world was in chaos. Without the unicorn ponies, the sun stayed high in the sky in the morning, without the pegasus ponies, the sand berated the world with a never ending storm in the afternoon, and without the earth ponies, the citizens starved at night.
Then, in a flash of divine light, they appeared. They were called the celestial ponies by the citizens of the Lost Empire, but nopony knew who they truly were. Many old texts claim they were made of stars with suns for eyes and hair strewn from galaxies. These cosmic ponies were heralded as gods. They even wielded great and terrifying power. Through force of will and an army of loyal servants, the celestial ponies unified Equestria under their banner long before the alicorns were formed. And yet, no one remembered them. Their deeds were stricken from the minds of everypony alive. Everypony, except for their loyal and immortal servants.
One of those servants, though not yet immortal, was Amun. He stood, unmoving, in the hallways of the great craft house occupied by the alchemists. The alchemists ran through the halls, transporting their vials of chemicals and tomes filled with complex formulas. One alchemist, a young unicorn who most likely had just joined the prestigious guild, was running through the halls at a breakneck pace. He ran so fast that he accidentally tripped and spilled all the chemicals in his pack. Amun watched as the chemicals burned through the leather pack, and scarred the young alchemist's skin. The young unicorn screamed and rolled around on the hard stone floor to stop the pain, but only managed to spread the chemicals. His brown fur soon turned bone white as each individual hair began to crystallize. He kept on screaming even when he started to suffocate. Eventually, after every alchemist stopped to watch what was happening, the colt was nothing but a large white crystal. Amun knew he should have helped, it was his duty as a servant to defend his masters, but he knew from experience it would have been a fruitless effort. He would has just lost his life in the process, just like the young colt. Still, Amun had to admit that the crystal looked strangely beautiful.
"Well, now we know what that does." Jamiya stood next to Amun, his leg held around Amun's shoulder in a friendly manner. "He will make a fine gift for our masters. Though, we should probably test it on some slaves. Amun, can you procure some for me?" Amun noticed the sparkling in the alchemist's eyes. He knew that only happened when an alchemist saw something of great value. The philosophy of value dominated all the teachings of alchemy. An aspiring young alchemist was trained in the ways of value and exchange from day one until the idea of value filled every pore.
"Yes, Master," was all Amun ever said while in the great hall of alchemists. He was a servant, and a servant doesn't speak. They serve.
____
"And that is where I come from, young filly. I was a servant just like you. I continue to serve, but it's on my terms now." They were back in the tomb after the meeting with Jamiya. Amun had explained everything on their walk. Sandy was entranced the entire time, with thousands of questions filling her head as more details were revealed. Her master's story had changed everything she had ever learned about Equestria’s history. She wanted to interrupt his story so many times, but he did not seem to be in the mood for her questions judging by his focused stare.
"You should rest now, young filly. Tomorrow we will complete my purpose." Amun stood in the center of the chamber, his eyes fixed on his sarcophagus. Sandy now knew that the tales painted on the stone were not the great deeds that Amun had performed during his immortal life. They were stories of the various ponies Amun served during his life. It was a constant reminder of his duty, and his position in the world.
"Master? May I ask for some of your great wisdom?" Sandy Dune bowed low, hoping that would garner a positive answer. "Do you believe Jamiya has changed?"
"I know Jamiya very well, young filly. It is not my place to judge, but I believe in my heart that he is a monster. You will know that when you witness his power." Amun turned his head and stared at her for a long time. "But know this. We have been alive for a very long time. I've learned that time changes everything."
Sandy bowed one last time before retiring to her bedroom. Amun continued to stare at his sarcophagus. His vision was fixated on one small picture located in the center of one side. It depicted a pony held in the air by chains attached to its wrists. Long hair covered its face, and blood dripped down from its body. Finally, he turned and exited the tomb.
___
"I have to say, Amun, you're the last pony I wanted to see tonight." Amun was in a dark office. The last light of the day had faded, and the candle placed on the desk provided very little light and cast a shadow across Amun's face. The office was sparse with a few old books and scrolls held on shelves, protected by a wall of glass. A sapphire pegasus sat behind a large wooden desk with stacks of papers in front of her. Like every one of Amun's kind, she had an heir of knowledge and strength even though she had just recently woken up. Her blue fur was starting to grow in patches, but her luscious hair had already resurfaced, and had been made up in a bun. She had on a pair of glasses, but they only functioned to obscure her dead eyes.
"The feeling is mutual, Tamar." Amun tried to secretly read the documents on her desk, but every one of them was upside down. He could only glean that they involved her business.
"Remember, Amun? My name is Fantasy Tail now. These modern names don't carry the same dignity our old ones had, but my partners think it's appropriate for business deals." Unlike Amun, Fantasy did not hold the position of god over a group of loyal followers. She started as a collector of rare books, and made a large amount of money from hoarding her books for hundreds of years and then selling them. A few years ago she started a publishing company called Fantasy Publishing. Her company provided books to every school and library in Equestria.
"I have need of you, Fantasy. Jamiya has abandoned his purpose. I'm to apprehend him tomorrow if he does not return to his sleep."
Fantasy noticed a hint of anger in Amun's voice. "You seem to have a grudge against our rogue alchemist. You have to know that you've made no friends of the judges. What makes you think I will help you?" She had turned away from Amun and back to her stack of documents. Amun placed a hoof over the document on front of her.
"Use your power, Tamar. Use it, and you will see why you must help me." Amun walked around the desk and right next to Fantasy. She hesitated, inching away from him slightly. After a moment, she noticed the determined look in his eyes. "What does he mean to prove?" Fantasy thought, never breaking eye contact with Amun. "That he's not afraid of me? Fine. I'll prove to him that bravado can be very dangerous."
Fantasy pressed her hoof against Amun's chest. For a while the room was completely silent. The only sound was Fantasy chanting some strange words under her breath. Not even Amun could hear her. Suddenly Amun gasped, a look of great pain frozen on his face. Symbols and letters started to snake out of Fantasy's hoof, and onto Amun's chest. They twisted and swam around his flesh, surrounding every part of his body. His eyes turned white when they reached his head.
Fantasy's face was contorted in deep concentration. Her eyes scanned the air as if she were reading from an invisible book held in front of her. After a while, she removed her hoof from Amun, and the strange living text faded from view.
"Alright, Amun, I will help you. I think you know the price of a judge." Golden vapors were radiating off of Fantasy's body.
"I know. If Jamiya does not yield, I will deliver the chain." Amun turned towards the door, preparing to leave.
"Oh Amun if only it were that simple. Your vengeance will cost you so much more."
___
In the center of the lost empire stood a massive obsidian pyramid. The pyramid housed the celestial ponies, and acted as the focal point of their power. Surrounding the pyramid were the great guildhalls of the lost empire. Smoke and fumes flowed from the gold brick hall which housed the alchemists. Conversely, the hall of the servants was a humble little building made of dull red bricks and decorated with cloths woven in appealing patterns. This was where Amun rested after his duties with the alchemists.
Today was different, though. Amun had called a meeting of the guild masters. He stood in the center of their great hall which was used for meetings. Three tables stood on platforms overlooking the center of the room where Amun stood. The guild masters were teachers, and they handled the bureaucratic work of the guild. Each one had personally instructed Amun during his time in the guild of servants. They were all aged, and incredibly wise in various fields. Amun was prepared to show that he had learned a lot during his time in the guild.
"These reports are most grave, Amun. This alchemist, Jamiya, is a high ranking member of his guild. Are you certain of his actions?" The servants job was to serve, but they must also observe. Every servant in the guild watched their employers, and made note of any transgressions against the empire. Every whisper and dark thought were reported to the guild masters. The city turned a blind eye to the actions of their servants because they were integral to the balance. Without the servants, the empire would crumble.
"Yes sir. I am sure. Jamiya is dangerous, and has a sinister brain. He has no regard for any pony, especially when they would be useful for his passions. The problem is that his curiosity is never satisfied. I observed Jamiya paying for the hair of one of our lords. I have captured this scum dealer who claims the hair is fake. He will be dealt with, but I require your permission to take down Jamiya." Amun had practiced the speech all day while working on his duties. It was perfect, but he knew the claims were grievous. The alchemists would be hard pressed to give up Jamiya, but Amun knew that it was a risk worth taking.
"We must deliberate amongst ourselves to better determine what to do with this Jamiya. You are dismissed, Amun." Amun bowed his head and left the great hall. The old guild masters turned to each other and nodded.
"He shall be dealt with then."
___
The city was covered in a thick veil of darkness when Amun reached his next destination. Though the night had come, the city was still alive with activity. Ponies moved through the streets in groups, relaxing after a hard day at work. The lights from the palace illuminated the city, so every street was cast in pale light. Every street except for the one Amun stood on. No pony moved through that street because it was pitch dark.
Amun stood in front of one of the shops which lined the street. It was a small unassuming antique shop across the street from a struggling cafe. The curtains were drawn, hiding the shop’s various wares from potential thieves. Amun casually walked over to the door and, with a flex of his hoof, kicked it in. The door flew off its hinges, rocketing into the store. It crashed into a multitude of shelves, breaking the shop owner's priceless artifacts. The sound of smashing glass and pottery filled the cramped little room.
"What is going on?" screamed a voice from the backroom. A frail, white pegasus appeared in the doorway, breathing heavily and leaning on the doorframe for support. She stepped forward a little, but fell to the ground when a coughing fit took her over.
"I am here to take back what you have stolen." Amun stood over the weak pony, glaring at her from above. "You have dared to steal the work of others. Harness the power which is not yours." He reached down and ripped the gold chain from her neck with his teeth. She cried out in pain and fear, but he showed her no kindness.
"You are cursed. I believe you won't last the night. Know that I am doing you a kindness." Amun's form changed from a beautiful brown earth pony to a creature of pure darkness. The pegasus looked into the darkness, and screamed as loud as she could. "I am here to bring an end to the misery and to settle the score."
___
The guildhall of alchemists was surprisingly empty when Amun arrived for his daily duties. There were no ponies in sight. No pony was running around with packs carrying chemicals or tomes filled with formulas. Barely any of the torches were lit, and the floor was still covered in a layer of sand. None of the other servants stood vigil in the corners, always ready for the next order.
"This is wrong." Amun started walking through the empty hall. Every step echoed through the ventilation holes which lined the ceiling. Usually the hall was warmed by the many fires and smelteries used for alchemical experiments. Despite the blazing sun outside, the hall was surprisingly cold.
Amun stopped in front of Jamiya's personal laboratory. The smell of sulfur and copper always emanated from under the heavy wooden door. Amun had rarely entered the lab except when he was summoned, and even then only briefly. No smells filled the air near the door. Amun slowly pushed open the door, trying to peer into the room in case something was waiting for him. The room was pitch black, but he could make out the large stone desk. On the desk were clay bowls and dusty rolls of parchment, nothing out of the ordinary.
"Jamiya, have you been arrested already," thought Amun. He entered slowly, each step was deliberate and quite.
A soft blue glow slowly filled the room, and illuminated everything around Amun. In the corner, reading one of Jamiya's tomes, was a black pony. It took Amun a while to realize that the ponies black fur was sprinkled with little stars. Each star gave off a bright blue glow. The ponies eyes were large yellow suns and portrayed an unearthly knowledge. The citizens of the lost empire rarely saw the celestial ponies. Fewer had ever seen one up close. Amun was one of the few to actually meet one. Its name was Shatter Sun and it had met with the servants. Amun remembered being very nervous looking into the blinding eyes of the unknowable creature. The one sitting at Jamiya's desk looked up and smiled.
"Hello Amun. I've heard a lot about you. A quickly rising force in our servants guild. The information you've compiled on your charges over the years is quite extensive." It placed the book down and started walking towards him. Amun could not fathom the reason, but as the great pony from the stars walked forward, Amun stepped back towards the door. His strange reaction was too slow and the celestial pony was already standing in front of Amun. The great pony reached out a hoof and touched Amun on the forehead. All at once Amun felt a great and horrifying power rush into his body. The world swam in his vision and he started seeing stars. He passed out a few seconds later.
"Poor young colt. You worked so hard. Luckily, your destiny has just begun." The pony lifted Amun using an unknown magical force and exited the building towards the giant pyramid at the center of the lost empire.
___
"Jamiya? That idealistic fool has attracted some very negative attention this time. First those graverobbers, and now you." Daylight had just started to stream through the high opulent windows of the giant room. The light reflected off the sparkles and gems sewn on the thousands of dresses and gowns lined up through the room. A group of ponies were busy sewing and arranging the various articles of clothing. Amun never felt quite right in the mansion which housed one of the most prominent gown designers in Equestria.
"I am only here to warn you, Madame Silk Web. Jamiya is about to be put out of commission. The judges have been informed and are waiting to pass judgment. It's my duty to bring him to justice." In the center of the designers and seamstresses stood a short pink pony. Her light red hair was beginning to gray, and wrinkles lined her face. Still, she had an aura of beauty and grace. Any pony that looked at her would be hard pressed not to say she was beautiful, despite her age. Amun knew the truth, though. He could see through the illusion his kind used to hide their appearance. Under all the makeup and magic, she was a walking corpse just like him.
Amun had come to the highest ranking alchemist in Canterlot knowing the risks. Announcing he was going to attempt to kill a fellow alchemist would bring the ire of the guild if he did not handle the situation delicately. That was why he chose to meet her in her home. If she were to direct her anger at him, she would not dare damage any of her precious clothing.
"I don't care," said Madame Silk Web, never taking her eyes off her clothing.
"I would advise that you do, Madame. He is preparing for a long fight."
"Look at this, Amun. It's from a new line that was just released. The designer is from Ponyville, of all places." She used her unicorn magic to display the selected dress from off the rack. It was pink, frilly, and to Amun it looked very much like the rest of the dresses displayed around him. Amun had never been a good judge of beauty or value.
"It's very pretty, Madame, but I need to know if you will protect Jamiya."
She held a hoof to her chin, thinking on his words for a long time. "No. Jamiya has long since abandoned the ways of the alchemists. He shall be punished. Fitting that it be from you, Amun. You've served the alchemists for a long time. I consider you a loyal friend, Amun. I grant you your vengeance."
"This is not vengeance, Madame. This is justice."
"Amun. Poor Amun. You carry so much sadness inside. What will you become when you are released from that shadow?" She stepped close to him and softly kissed his forehead.
___
Amun awoke from his magical sleep. The first thing he noticed was the moon straight above him casting a white light through a hole in the ceiling. The next thing he noticed was that he was shackled to a large stone slab. The slab was adorned with drawings and text that Amun could not decipher. The chains were made of cold steel and held him fast to the cold stone. Straining his neck, he looked over the edge of the slab and could only see a black pit. It was too dark to see anything, but he could hear the moans of pain emanating from the darkness.
"Where am I?" Amun croaked. His head was still hazy.
"You are inside the chamber of rebirth." Up from the darkness ascended seven celestial ponies. They stood upon platforms made of stardust. Every celestial pony looked the same. "You have been chosen to accept a great gift. You should thank your master."
"Jamiya?" Amun could barely comprehend the situation. The words entered his mind but he could hardly keep hold of their meaning or purpose. Everything looked hazy and he tasted blood in the back of his throat.
"Yes. He has had a long relationship with the servants. When he heard of your betrayal from the guild masters, he decided to destroy you in his own unique way. The alchemists use one thing to gain another." A celestial pony produced a dagger from out of nowhere. It manipulated the dagger using its ancient magic, and thrust it between Amun's ribs. Amun tried to scream but it came out as a hacking cough when blood flooded his mouth. Blood pooled over the edge of the slab into the pit.
"Jamiya offered you to us. Giving up a valuable servant like you showed great dedication to the gods. We decided to reward you both with the gift of rebirth. Be thankful for this honor." More daggers appeared in the air and descended upon the helpless Amun. The steel blades plunged into his flesh and he screamed each time. Soon Amun's screams drowned out the moans of pains from the pit. A chorus of pain filled the chamber.
"Prepare yourself, Amun. You are about to fulfil your destiny!" A final dagger ripped through Amun's throat and split his belly open. Amun had died long before that.
___
"Are you ready, young filly?"
"Yes, master." Sandy exited her room carrying two blades in her mouth. She gave one to Amun who swung it around, testing the weight, before sheathing it in a holster around his neck. Sandy had hers holstered along her arm. If she were in trouble the tip of the blade poked out of the bottom and could be used to stab some pony.
"Good. There is one more thing. Place that gem around my neck." Sandy took the ruby she always fussed over, and carefully draped it around his neck.
"Master? I have always wondered what that jewel was."
"This gem is called the Manticore's Tear. It may not have much power, but I find it brings me luck and hope. I found this amulet long before you were born. At the time, my order was much smaller than it is today. I had a scant five ponies under my command. We were searching for this amulet for almost a year. We had finally tracked it down to this elderly pony who collected rare gems. He was willing to sell it to me for more than I had to offer. My steward slit his throat before he could bargain. That is the duty of my steward. Are you prepared, Sandy Dune?" He stared down at her, his eyes radiating the warmth of a father. She nodded and followed close behind him.
"I live to serve you, master."
It took the two a while to find Jamiya's exact location. The hidden senses Amun used to locate the rogue pony brought them to a dilapidated house on the edge of Canterlot. It was made of dirty red bricks and blackened wood for the roof. A broken sign out front identified the house as "Maple Bar's Bed and Breakfast." The house was probably built in the older days of Canterlot, long before the rise of the alicorn princesses.
"Be prepared. Jamiya has most likely placed traps to keep us away." Amun entered first, closely followed by Sandy. The doorway led into a spacious parlor room. Every piece of furniture was covered in a thick layer of dust.
Sandy scanned the room for any signs of life or a trap, her head held low near her dagger. "It doesn't look like anyone has been here in a long time." Sandy poked around chests sitting near a couch. She noticed that no dust was on the strange square chests, and that there were cups and plates stacked on top of them. "These chests are being used as tables."
"He is here. Waiting." Amun opened a door located behind the stairs. It led down into what was probably a basement. "I feel an ancient power radiating from down there. This will be more difficult than I anticipated, young filly." He started walking down the steps.
Sandy stayed at the top of the landing, watching Amun make his way down the steps. During her life in the order she had been taught to do terrible things, but she had never acted upon those lessons. The young steward could feel that her life was about to change. If she went down those steps, the life she had led would be forever changed. With a deep sigh, she started down the steps, leaving something important behind her at the top of those old wooden stairs.
___
The world turned into an eternity filled with misery. The sand under his hooves blazed with literal fire. The winds choked his vision and burned his throat. Every step took all of his strength, and his muscles groaned with pain. Scabs and open sores covered his arms and flanks. Blood seeped out of him in bursts, and it felt as though his insides were filled with boiling lead. The only thing which kept him going was a stubborn notion that if he fell into despair, then Jamiya had won.
Sometimes he saw other ponies through the constant storm. Many had fallen into the sand and probably would never get back up. Others refused to quit though each step was agony. Amun envied those that could give up. His spirit would not let him die.
Finally, a respite came. The storm slowed and eventually stopped. By then, Amun had become blind from the pain and searing sand. Amun gasped and coughed, but he was happy to be away from the torture. His legs buckled and he collapsed onto the cool, dry ground. Amun slept for days after that, all but dead to the world.
He slowly opened his eyes and saw the world he now occupied. Dead and rotting trees surround him on every side. Large carrion birds perched in the branches, staring down at him with hungry eyes. He noticed one had a chunk of bone, still lined with flesh, held tight in its beak. At the edge of the grove of death, he saw the storm still raging.
Directly in front of him was a massive gate. It was made of cream colored chiseled stone, worn down and cracked by the constant storm at its back. The wind whipped and tore at the giant gate, but the stones held the sand at bay. All across its surface were beautifully drawn hieroglyphs, each telling a different story of a god or monster. At the very top of the gate, drawings of ponies made of stars stared down at Amun with eyes shaped like suns.
"Do you wish to enter, young pony?" The question came from an immense pony standing guard next to the gate. The pale gray pony was easily as tall as a pyramid, with dull black hair that was frayed by the wind blowing at its back.
"Where am I?" Amun croaked out, finding it very difficult to speak.
"You are dead. This is your damnation."
"Damnation? What have I done wrong? I was loyal and I served. That was my duty." Amun took a few shaky steps towards the giant.
"Yes, you were loyal. That is why they," it pointed to the drawings of the celestial ponies, "have sent you here."
"I don't understand."
"Who are you, Amun?" Asked the giant.
"What?" Amun fell to the ground, staring up at the gate. He felt like a child, unable to walk or think straight.
"Who are you? Tell me and I will let you through this gate." The giant sat down on its haunches and waited.
Tears began to well up in the corners of Amun's eyes. The stress and torture he had endured was almost too much for him. But he never stopped moving. Even though he felt powerless and afraid in the hell he ended up in. Amun never stopped crawling towards the gate.
The giant stared at the pathetic pony. His flesh had grown gaunt during his time in hell. Skin hung loosely off his skeletal frame. Organs could be seen through blackened, peeling skin where the hair had burned off. His hoofs had cracked and were shattered in multiple places. He was a dead pony in every regard except his eyes. Amun's eyes looked pale and dried out, but there was still a spark, the drive to live still shined. Amun crawled towards the gate, inching his way even though the pain was immense.
"Good answer. You may enter."
___
"Jamiya."
"Amun!"
The two immortal ponies stared at each other, eye to eye. Amun and Sandy had walked through a stone corridor and ended up in an old cave system, hollowed out many years before Canterlot was founded. Jamiya stood at the back of the cave next to his sarcophagus. Torches had been placed all over the walls to provide light. Sandy wished they were instead bathed in total darkness. Peppered all along the walls of the cave were the dismembered corpses of over a dozen ponies.
"Who were these poor ponies?" Sandy cautiously stepped towards the closest corpse. There was a huge wound on his back. She noticed how close he was to the exit and deduced that he had tried to escape.
"He killed them, didn't he, master. He killed them all. Why would he do that?"
"Jamiya has gone mad. Time has broken his soul." Amun reached into his pack and produced the gold chain he had taken from the pegasus Jamiya was in love with. The locket was still attached to the chain. Amun threw the chain at Jamiya, it landed a few inches away.
Jamiya's eyes went wide at the sight of the golden relic. A few drops of blood stained the chain and absolutely covered the locket. "Your love is dead. Go to sleep, and you will not be judged as a traitor. Fight me, and they will dispense justice."
Jamiya burst out laughing. It was a shrieking, gasping laugh as if he was struggling to breath. "You still don't understand anything, Amun! Here! In my tomb! I will feast on your flesh!"
Immediately afterwards Jamiya let out a horrible scream. The scream ripped right through Sandy, and it felt as though her brain was being forced from her skull. She threw up and cried, but she still looked up to see how her master was affected. His eyes never left Jamiya, and he seemed oblivious to the unnatural power surging through the cave. Jamiya’s power was like a typhoon trying to bring down the unmovable mountain that was Amun’s resolve.
She then looked to Jamiya. His skin had transformed from a pale melon to pure gold. It looked completely smooth as if he were made of the metal. The gold seemed to glow, not from the torches around the walls, but from an inner light inside of Jamiya. A strange golden steam radiated off of his body. His hair was now strings of shimmering silver and grew longer, falling around his face and framing his handsome features.
The scream finally stopped, and Jamiya smirked at them. "You think my followers are dead? No. They have been transformed. I use them. Their value was quickly waning, so I used what little value was left to make something even better. I am still the great alchemist I was in the days before, Amun. An alchemist knows the value of all things."
Sandy heard a loud moan near her hoof. She looked down and saw the dead pony start twitching and moving. It was slow at first, but soon he was on his feet and moving as if her were still alive. The only difference was his eyes. They were completely white and had no emotion in them.
"My children, kill the intruders. Now!" Jamiya pointed a hoof at Amun and Sandy. Every corpse had arisen and were staring at the two ponies.
"I have to say Jamiya, I'm not impressed. Corpses were your plan to thwart me? I would have invested in some guard dogs instead." Amun walked towards the nearest corpse and pushed the shambling pony in the chest. It flailed backwards and fell on its side in confusion. "Pathetic."
"Amun, you never could see the big picture. These creatures are both unkillable and deadly. Let's see what happens when one of my servants bites your precious filly. Kill her!"
"Sandy! Run!" Amun turned to run to help her, but stopped when he saw blood flying through the air. Sandy was on the ground, her knife buried in the dead ponies leg. She then whipped her head up, severing the tendons in his leg. The corpse dropped to the floor, one leg refusing to move. She got to her hoofs and drove the blade into his head. The corpse was still moving, but it was slow and sluggish. With her remaining strength, she kicked him away and he fell in a heap.
"I'm fine, master. You can handle Jamiya. I will be behind you, making sure you are safe." Sandy drove her blade into a dead follower’s neck who was trying to attack her from behind. She pushed him away with her hoof and wrenched the blade out and severing half of his head from his body. Sandy had taken the plunge. Muscle memory took over and she lashed out with all her strength.
"Very good, young filly. I love her gusto. She'll make a fine undead servant. Don't you agree, Amun?"
"To what end, Jamiya? You cannot fight the sands of time. Every second you grow older, weaker and more desperate. I can give you release." Amun walked towards Jamiya.
"We both know that won't happen." Jamiya's metallic face was sunken and gaunt with wrinkles forming around his eyes.
"He sacrificed so much power for that one spell. He really doesn't have much time." Amun thought when he noticed Jamiya's haggard looks.
Amun rushed forward with his blade unsheathed, preparing to strike. Jamiya did nothing to stop him or move out of the way. The blade struck Jamiya's flesh, but there was no blood. Instead, there was a hollow ringing sound emanating from inside the golden pony.
"I told you I was a great alchemist. All these experiments, culminating into this." Jamiya pushed Amun, and the pony went flying into a cave wall.
Amun gathered himself up from the ground and readied his blade. He once again charged at Jamiya, and the gold pony once again did not move. The sword rang against the metal hide of the golden pony. Jamiya’s arm was shaking from the force of his blow, but it didn’t leave a dent in his enemy. When the golden pony readied to strike, Amun quickly moved out of the way. Unfortunately, he was too late and was struck by Jamiya's unnatural strength. Amun felt his undead body break and shatter but he did not stop his assault. He got up from the hard stone ground and charged but Jamiya was prepared and struck again with his godly strength.
"I am complete, Amun! I am of gold! I am invincible!" The blade did nothing to the pony. Jamiya didn't even seem to feel the edge against his metallic flesh. Amun was in no shape to fight anymore. His back left leg was broken and lay limp on the ground and his chest had been caved in. Ancient calcified bones could be seen poking through his flesh but no blood has spilled from his body. The blade he was using had been worn down and a series of small cracks had formed along the edge. On the other hoof, Jamiya's golden flank was unscathed and still shined with an unearthly glow. Not a ding or nick could be seen. Jamiya stood triumphantly over Amun when it was apparent the undead pony could no longer fight.
"Let's test your ultimate theory!" The cry came from the throng of corpses. Sandy sprang at Jamiya, pushing through his undead servants. She held her blade between her teeth and was aiming it straight at Jamiya. With one swift stab, she drove the blade into Jamiya's eye. Jamiya screamed and clutched at the blade held firmly in his skull. He pulled hard with both hoofs held against the blades hilt. The sword shaved off the edges of Jamiya’s eye socket and pale dead flesh fell like paper onto the stone floor. He roared with anger, wrenching at the blade but only driving it deeper. The blade ground against his bones like sandpaper. With a mighty pull he finally removed it from his head, the blade slicing through his scalp and leaving a wide gash in his head starting at his empty eye socket. Golden blood seeped out of the hole that once housed Jamiya's eye and covered the floor under him.
Amun stared on with astonishment, but he managed to notice that that Jamiya's fur was a light shade of melon. He snatched his weathered blade from the ground and used all his strength to lunge at Jamiya. Jamiya noticed this and tried to block his assault with a raised leg but Amun sliced through the dead flesh without much effort. Jamiya tried to scream, but it was cut short by Amun's blade piercing his neck. With one swipe, Jamiya's head rolled onto the ground.
____
Amun appeared inside of a stone chamber that looked all too familiar. Every stone was stained the color of dried blood. The chains which hung from the wall were rusted into a sickly brown. The worst part was the darkness. Every one of these chambers he had witnessed were set in complete darkness. His eyes adjusted, but that just turned the world gray. And though he could see through the shadows, it didn't stop him from imagining what was hiding inside those shadows.
The chamber had a creeping darkness, but it was fought by a pale blue glow. The only occupant was a pony hanging from the wall, suspended by chains made of obsidian. She was producing the glow from an unknown source deep inside the galaxies which made up her form. Her body was covered in white scars, rifts in the space drawing the stars and planets dotting her torso into cold oblivion.
"Who are you?" Amun croaked out without meaning to.
"I am the goddess of sacrifice. I watch over those that are offered in the name of progress." Her head hung low and retreated behind a veil of celestial hair.
"Why am I here?"
"He presumes and asks so many questions. You are here because your soul called me. Do you want revenge on the one who sent you here?"
"Jamiya? Yes. I want vengeance!"
"Then you will serve as my puppet in the game. I will awaken you when you are needed. One day, you will have your vengeance." She slowly raised her head so Amun could see her face.
Someone had taken out her eyes and replaced them with pools of void. Amun stared into the pools of nothing. He challenged the void to take him. Not even the pure emptiness of space and time could stop his vengeance.
___
"Jamiya of the guild of alchemists. You stand accused of abandoning your duties for the love of a mortal pony, and abusing your power. How do you plead?" The hall of judges was sparsely lit. Only the defendant was bathed in light. Jamiya stood on a platform suspended above a roaring fire. Fire was one of the few forces which could harm an immortal pony. The pyre would not kill Jamiya, but it would make escape very difficult. Three judges could barely be seen in the darkness, the flames casting shadows across their blank faces shrouded under heavy black robes.
Jamiya stared up at them when he spoke. "I don't deny my actions. I am guilty."
"Will nopony speak for his innocence?"
Silence greeted the question.
"Very well. I shall now sentence you, Jamiya, on behalf of the guild of judges, with the blessing of your masters, to banishment. Your membership in the guild of alchemists has been revoked. You will now serve the guild of scribes in their mountain temple. We will confiscate all your belongings and return them to the alchemists. You will now be sealed in a sarcophagus until you are transported to your new home."
"Wait! I have one last word. Amun, I know you are here. Listen to me. I will always have your heart." After that, Jamiya was chained up by some servants of the judges and escorted out of the chambers.
"Master? What will happen to Jamiya?" Amun and Sandy were standing in the very back of the vast chamber, hidden behind a pillar. Amun's eyes never left the proceedings.
"I doubt he will ever be released. I've only heard rumors, but he will most likely spend his days serving his new masters with his skills." Amun turned and walked towards the exit. Sandy followed close on his heels.
"Let us go home. I need to return to my sleep. And I need to appoint a new high priestess."
Sandy was still ruminating on Jamiya, but all that was forgotten when he started talking about a new priestess. "Master?"
"Sandy Dune, you will be my new high priestess. You've proven yourself a valuable ally. And I need to bring my order into a new direction. The world is changing directions. You will help me follow it."
___
Sandy Dune sat with her back against the slab which held her immortal master. She had only been her master's steward for a few days, and she had already managed to make the high priestess distraught. The high priestess was an old mare, torn apart by age and cynicism, and she hated Sandy with for reasons too cryptic to list. While the high priestess led the stewards in a prayer that Amun might rise soon and bless the order that watched over him, Sandy had forgotten a key part. In Sandy's defense, the prayer had only been taught to the two stewards the night before. Luckily, the high priestess had been merciful and only stabbed Sandy with a glare.
The young steward rubbed her flank, trying to sooth the great scar hidden under her robes. For a pony to become the steward of Amun, they give up all ties to the outside world. A steward has no wants, no life and no family. The two stewards remain beneath the earth as close as possible to their god. Another step to becoming a steward includes the removal of the cutie mark with hot iron.
"All I ever wanted," Sandy thought to herself while rubbing the fresh scar. Still, a voice deep in her mind had doubted her dreams as the poker burned her flesh. The cutie mark had been a golden pyramid like the ones carved into Amun's sarcophagus. She was always interested in the ancient culture of her lord, even going so far as learning the god's dead tongue.
With a heavy sigh, Sandy got up and retired to her chamber. A steward was given certain luxuries such as freedom from the menial tasks of lesser followers. Sandy's favorite perk was the gift of her own room.
"My room." The words still felt odd on her tongue. The order had a small network of safe houses around Canterlot and the caverns hidden under the main temple. When Sandy was a child, her life consisted mostly of prayers and chores in the main temple. Lesser families hid in the safe houses while doing their duties. Sandy was born from an old family, a lineage in the order spanning centuries thus her family and her were allowed to live in the luxurious temple which housed their god.
During her childhood, Sandy recalled going to normal school during the days. It would have looked suspicious if a child was seen that didn't attend school. The lessons at school were fun, but she was not allowed to socialize with the other children. She spent many nights wondering what the other children did after the final school bell rang and they all went home. Did they also worship Amun but at another temple?
The young steward learned that nights in the tomb were very much the same as the days. Both were dark and depressing. Sandy rarely slept until exhaustion took her over and she slunk to her bed. Before going to sleep, Sandy started her nightly ritual at her personal shrine to Amun. She had made the small shrine on her first night in her quarters. She clasped her hooves together and prayed. "Come soon. my lord. I will wait for you for as long as it takes. Though my faith feels as though it weakens every day. My body has been beaten, burned and maimed." One of her hoofs fell to her scarred flank. "Protect me, my lord, for you are the shadow within the shadow."
The last thing she did before slipping into the uncomfortable darkness of her dreams was look outside her door at the sealed sarcophagus. She mouthed a silent goodnight to the long dead god before she slipped under her blanket and closed her eyes. The only light left in Sandy's room was the single candle that illuminated a crude child's drawing of a golden pegasus taking off into the sky, a smiling sand brown earth pony on his back.
___
In an old house on the outskirts of Canterlot, a group of ponies were searching for any valuables Jamiya might have hidden away. Madame Silk Web was sifting through a collection of old scrolls and tomes. She knew most of the formulas and spells, but she poured over each scroll individually. One of the scrolls might reveal the reason for Jamiya's betrayal. Madame Silk Web needed to know for it was the curse of an alchemist. It was then that one of her servants brought a finely preserved scroll. The servant said it was hidden behind a false wall and locked in a safe.
Madame Silk Web opened the scroll as carefully as possible. It was written in multiple languages and had many false symbols to dissuade anyone who might find it accidentally. But each one of these tricks was taught to Jamiya by Madame Silk Web. She spent hours working through the formulas and directions. Finally, a wicked smile crossed the ponies aged face.
"Amun, you poor fool. Your vengence really has cost you so much."
