The Last Year

"The Last Year" is the eleventh episode of Onyx Equinox.

Official Summary
A glimpse into the past reveals the true machinations of the Gods.

Synopsis
Many years before the main events of the series, a tribe is struggling to survive in the barren wilderness. A woman gives birth to a baby girl, who, moments later, is offered as a sacrifice to Mictlantechutli. The God appears before them, taking the baby, and, in desperation, the mother begs Mictlantichutli to take her instead. Mictlantichutli assures the distraught mother that the baby won't be harmed, and, proclaims that the tribe will survive, as he conjures up food for the people to feast on. In tears, the mother remarks that her daughter doesn't even have a name, to which Mictlantechutli responds that her name is Mictecacihuatl, and she will be his queen, before disappearing and leaving the mother to weep while the other tribespeople gorge themselves. Down in the Underworld throne room, witnessed by Michtlantechutli, Xolotl, and several Tzitzimimeh, Mictecacihuatl is coronated as Queen of the Underworld.

Years later, a pre-teen Mictecacihuatl asks Michtlantechutli why she was summoned to watch over the bones of the mortals, with the latter responding that "Because someone must, because a queen has responsibilities" before departing. Once her husband has left, Mictecacihuatl expresses her desire to see the mortal world, to which Xolotl advises against it. Undeterred, Mictecacihuatl asks Xolotl how she would enter the mortal world, much to Xolotl's displeasure. Upon crossing a gate, the two surface at the bottom of a cenote, after which Xolotl advises they should head back. Instead, Mictecacihuatl flies out of the cenote and, amazed by the scenery around her, settles down in some bushes with Xolotl beside her. Seeing a human running through the forest, Mictecacihuatl and Xolotl follow and come upon a funeral procession in a small village. Marveled, Mictecacihuatl heads towards the procession and changes her appearance to a normal girl before joining in the ritual. Uneasy, Xolotl follows her, transforming into a Xoloitzcuintli and watches her from a distance. Some time after the procession, Mictecacihuatl returns to the throne room, where Michtlantechutli asks where she has been. She expresses her worries over the lack of guidance humans seem to be receiving [from the Gods], and requests to preside over their funeral rituals. Michtlantechutli sternly refuses, to which an angered Mictecacihuatl proclaims that he can't keep her in the Underworld forever, and summons multiple tecpatls. She sends them hurling towards her husband, but the blades have no effect, as the couple has no way of harming one another. Mictecacihuatl persists, and eventually, Michtlantechutli relents, so long as it does not interfere with her duties. He summons Xolotl and commands him to oversee her.

Decades pass, and an older Mictecacihuatl sets her sights on Tenochtitlan. Upon entering the city, she comes upon an orgy consisting of both men and women. She joins the orgy, during which she catches the attention of a young warrior, who smiles back at her. Hours later, once the orgy has subsided, a priest declares the warrior as the ixiptla of Tezcatlipoca, proclaiming that "the final year begins". Mictecacihuatl congratulates the man on his achievement, and the man introduces himself by his new name: Yaotl. Over many months, Yaotl performs in dances dressed as Tezcatlipoca, participates in large feasts and orgies, and is paraded around the city in celebration, all with Mictecacihuatl nearby as their bond continues to grow. One evening, atop the Huey Teocalli, the two discuss the reasoning behind the final year. Mictecacihuatl finds it strange that a man in his prime would have his heart ripped out so willingly, while Yaotl explains that it's for protection by the Gods from disasters, and for their civilization to continue to flourish. Yaotl awkwardly confesses that he finds Mictecacihuatl "special", to which she laughs, amused. She then remarks that Yaotl will likely forget all about her as the showers of admiration for the former continue over the course of the remaining months, and she encourages Yaotl to have a great time celebrating it all. Yaotl promises that he won't forget her, and arranges to meet with her atop the temple in three days. Later that night, Xolotl reminds her of the business she must conduct in the Underworld, and the two walk atop Lake Texcoco. Xolotl informs Mictecacihuatl that her husband has been concerned about her whereabouts, to which she shows little of her own, and asks Xolotl if he plans on telling him of where she's been. In a touching show of devotion, Xolotl reflects on how the first time he heard her laugh was when she re-entered the mortal realm through the cenote [years ago], the second was with Yaotl, and he hopes he hears it a third time, and that for her, he'll keep quiet of what she's been up to. Mictecacihuatl thanks Xolotl before the two descend down the lake and back into the Underworld.

In the throne room, Mictlantechutli notes to his wife that she is distracted. Vexed, Mictecacihuatl asks why he even needs a wife, and why she is bound to the Underworld. She defiantly states that he stole her, to which he orders her silent. Mictecacihuatl once again asks why Mictlantechutli needs a wife, and exclaims that he could have chosen anyone to watch the bones of the dead, to which Mictlantechutli answers with "Balance". Before leaving the room, Mictlantechutli notes that she should spend more time with humans, as they have "much yet to teach you of true woe." Days later, Mictecacihuatl reunites with Yaotl at their meeting place. As they watch the city from atop the Huey Teocalli, Yaotl begins to have second thoughts of having the ritual performed, and proclaims his love for Mictecacihuatl. She returns these feelings, but informs him that "to say 'it's complicated' would be the understatement of an age." Yaotl proclaims he'd fight the Gods to be with her, to which she responds that he might have to, before revealing her true identity to a bewildered Yaotl. He goes down on his knees in submission, but Mictecacihuatl informs him that she's not like the other Gods, and that she hates them, but nonetheless, she is bound to the Underworld. Yaotl proclaims that she's not like the other Gods, and Mictecacihuatl responds that she never wanted to be like them, nor be better than them until they met. Seeing the situation unravel into an unwanted predicament, Yaotl decides that he will go through with the ritual, as he will become an immortal emissary of Tezcatlipoca after being sacrificed, they can be together. They once again agree to meet atop the Huey Teocalli in three days.

On the day of the ritual, Mictecacihuatl watches the procession as Yaotl climbs up the staircase and has his heart ripped out of his chest. Days pass, during which Mictecacihuatl waits, until a voice catches her attention: it's Tezcatlipoca. Snide, the God mentions that he was perusing through the memories of his new emissary and noticed that the two of them had been quite close. Upon asking for Yaotl's whereabouts, Tezcatlipoca responds that he's waiting to become his "new loyal self", before warning her to stay away from Yaotl, or else he'll not only tell Mictlantechutli, but also "dispose of [Yaotl] so thoroughly, not even his bones will remain for you to cradle." Mictecacihuatl agrees to this before Tezcatlipoca disappears in a puff of smoke. Below one of the staircases leading down from the temple, Tezcatlipoca can be seen ushering Yaotl away. Angered, Mictecacihuatl catches up to them and happily grasps Yaotl's hand, to which the man only stares at her blankly. His memory of her being wiped clean, Tezcatlipoca introduces Mictecacihuatl to him as the Queen of the Underworld, and, with luck, he'll never see her again. He asks what Yaotl does remember, and his emissary responds that he was made for and by his God, and he's never known anyone besides Tezcatlipoca. Satisfied, Tezcatlipoca exclaims "let's go home" before transforming Yaotl into a jaguar-like creature and, before walking off with Yaotl, instructs Mictecacihuatl to go do her job. Enraged, back in the throne room, Mictecacihuatl throws a fit before collapsing in tears. Xolotl embraces her, and Mictecacihuatl proclaims that she is going to kill both Mictlantechutli and Tezcatlipoca, as well as anyone else who stands in her way. She resolves to do so, somehow, even if it takes her thousands of years.

Years later, Mictecacihuatl and Xolotl inform Mictlantechutli of the blood drought. She proclaims that if her husband starts the war against the celestial Gods by delivering a pre-emptive strike, not only will it put him in a position of power, but it will also ensure him against extinction once the blood sacrifices run out. She suggests taking the entire city of Dani Baán down into the Underworld as his. The scene cuts to the fall of Dani Baán, and, once the city is gone, Quetzalcoatl confronts Mictecacihuatl amongst the ruins. Mictecacihuatl confirms she knows about the bet between him and Tezcatlipoca, having been informed by Xolotl, while Quetzalcoatl puts the pieces together that if Mictlantechutli is killed by starting this war, Mictecacihuatl will rise to power in the Underworld, though he knows that this is not her ultimate goal. In either case, he asks Mictecacihuatl to keep an eye on Izel and keep him safe, but not to intervene in any way, or else Tezcatlipoca will notice. Mictecacihuatl notes that she cannot have Izel close all of the gates, as she will lose her power, so Quetzalcoatl proposes that if Izel is about to close the final gate, she can kill him. The two agree to this deal.

Back in present-day, having had Yaotl's memories restored, Mictecacihuatl ensures him that she did all of this for herself, not him. Yaotl transforms back into his human form, and Mictecacihuatl proclaims that now that her husband is gone, he can forget everyone else and have each other. Yaotl rejects Mictecacihuatl, stating that they've both changed, and he has grown much closer to the gang. As a dejected Mictecacihuatl cries, Yaotl transforms back into his jaguar form and instructs Izel to do what he thinks is right, and, no matter the decision, he's behind him completely. Mictecacihuatl informs them that she can't let Izel close the gate, as doing so would cut her off from her power and possibly kill her, before she lets Yaotl go and transforms into monstrous form, ready to kill.

Trivia

 * It is most likely that the gate from which Mictecacihuatl and Xolotl exit from during their first venture into the mortal world is the first gate, which would eventually reside in a sacrificial cenote within the city of Uxmal.
 * This is the first (and so far, only) episode to feature sexual content, due to the orgy scene.
 * It's very likely that the events surrounding Yaotl's sacrifice as an ixiptla of Tezcatlipoca are associated with Toxcatl––the fifth twenty-day month or "veintena" of the Aztec calendar, which lasted from ~May 5th - 22nd. Toxcatl was also the name of the festival which was held every year in this month, which was dedicated to Tezcatlipoca, and featured the sacrifice of a young man (typically a war captive) who had been impersonating the deity for a full year.
 * While not depicted in the episode, it's likely, per tradition in Toxcatl, that after Yaotl was sacrificed, he was beheaded and his skull was placed on the tzompantli (skull rack). In addition, his body would have been flayed and his flesh distributed among the nobles of Tenochtitlan and eaten. The war captive who was to be the next ixiptla would have also taken part in the flesh-eating, and probably also wore the skin of his predecessor.
 * With Tenochtitlan making its first appearance in the series, much of the events in the series take place somewhere between the foundation of the city (1325) and before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors (1519).
 * Based on the large scale of the city, it can be further narrowed down that the series takes place sometime during or after the rule of Ahuitzotl (reign 1486 - 1502), who supervised a major rebuilding of Tenochtitlan on a grander scale, including the expansion of the Great Pyramid in the [Aztec] year of 8 Reed (1487).

Memorable Quotes

 * Mictecacihuatl's Mother: She doesn't even have a name.
 * Mictlantechutli: Her name is Mictecacihuatl. She will be my queen.


 * Mictecacihuatl: Your final year. A warrior chosen at your prime to join your god's side as his emissary. Impressive. I assume you've been renamed in his honor.
 * Yaotl: They call me Yaotl.


 * Tezcatlipoca: Since you're comparatively new, let me give you some advice. Don't mess with the natural order of things. Namely, leave others emissaries be. Learn your place, got that? Great. Good chat. Now, I won't tell your king what you've been up to as long as you promise to never go near Yaotl again. Or I'll dispose of him so thoroughly, not even his bones will remain for you to cradle. I don't want to wait another year for a new emissary, but, loyalty's hard to come by. No distractions. Promise? *Mictecacihuatl nods* Great. See ya never.


 * Tezcatlipoca: Yaotl, do you know who this is?
 * Yaotl: I do not.
 * Tezcatlipoca: Really? This is Mictecacihuatl, the Queen of the Underworld. She's somebody you should know. Or know of. With any luck you'll never have to see her again. What do you remember?
 * Yaotl: I was made for and by you. I've never known anyone but the god I serve.
 * Tezcatlipoca: That's right. Let's go home.
 * *Yaotl is transformed into his jaguar emissary form by Tezcatlipoca*
 * Tezcatlipoca: Mictecacihuatl, go do your job.
 * *Tezcatlipoca and Yaotl walk away*


 * Mictecacihuatl: I don't belong here. I never did. I'm going to kill him, Xolotl.
 * Xolotl: Tezcatlipoca?
 * Mictecacihuatl: My husband and Tezcatlipoca. Anyone who dares stand in my way.


 * Quetzalcoatl: Before you remake them, let's make a bet of it.
 * *Quetzalcoatl possesses a nearby body, and stands to face Mictecacihuatl*
 * Quetzalcoatl: Is it safe to assume all this was your idea?
 * Mictecacihuatl: A bet? Really?
 * Quetzalcoatl: You heard all that?
 * Mictecacihuatl: You are not subtle, and Xolotl's been a big help.
 * Quetzalcoatl: Xolotl's my brother. You don't think he talks to me, too? I'm having trouble seeing how all this ends with your husband dead.
 * Mictecacihuatl: Mictlantechutli starts a holy war. He gets taken out.
 * Quetzalcoatl: And you ascend to power. I know that's not what this is about. In any case, I have a better idea, and a favor to ask. Keep an eye on my champion; I have bigger plans for him in this bet. Don't interfere. Don't intervene. Or Tezcatlipoca will notice. But, keep him safe. He can't do this alone. None of us can.
 * Mictecacihuatl (sarcastically): Touching.
 * Quetzalcoatl: And if all this works out the way it's supposed to, I imagine you'll get what you want as well.
 * Mictecacihuatl: But I can't let your champion close all of the gates, I'll lose my power.
 * Quetzalcoatl: Tell you what? If he's about to close the last gate, you can kill him.
 * Mictecacihuatl: Deal.


 * Mictecacihuatl: But Yaotl, now that Mictlantechutli is gone... Forget Tezcatlipoca. Forget everybody. We can have what we've always wanted. Each other.
 * Yaotl: I... No. You've changed. So have I.
 * Mictecacihuatl: Yaotl, I, please. Please remember your heart.
 * Yaotl: I do remember my heart. It was yours once, but, they have earned it.
 * *As Mictecacihuatl breaks down in tears, Yaotl turns away and walks towards the gang, turning back into his emissary form in the process. Izel steps down and touches Yaotl on the cheek*
 * Yaotl: Do what you think is right. I'm behind you, no matter what your choice.