MANA's POV
I really don't want to brag, but... it simply can not be helped. My freeze spell is on point! I don't want to hear any more lip about me not getting my work done from Mahad, because my spell just saved our dear princey's life. So hah! Well, that is, if Master's lips can still speak instead of bite. I'd left in such a hurry, I don't even know what happened to him. He and the others seemed to be fine, but in this chaos, who knows just how long that'll last? What if the temple was overrun? What if he was bit while trying to save the others? Oh, Master Mahad, he probably would do such a thing! Always so noble and protecting, I'm sure he would've sacrificed everything to save the innocents' lives.
Sometimes I wish he really wouldn't. On our way in, he was so close to getting torn apart by those horrible, horrendous teeth, and all for the purpose of svaing one bony old man. The time it took to summon his Ka... it's taking its toll on him. On me! After all we've been through, who knows how much Ba either of us have left. Heroism. Courage. Swiftness. That was everything my Master was made of, but I can't help but wonder... if those are the very things this kind of world will eat alive. I always knew that one day those traits would become Mahad's loose seams... and those seams would look like tasty entrails to today's public. How much longer can we keep our humanity in this world? How much longer can we be unselfish and protect others?
Aw, who am I kidding? Why, I'm no better than he! After all, I was the one who ran off in search of Atem. I was charged with the duty of protecting those people at the temple with Mahad, but I had to know- I just had to! I needed to find Atem! In all the commotion, who knew if Atem was alright? I had to find him. And more than that, I ended up with two kids to take along the way! In a time where I should have been selfish and saved myself, I detoured and risked my energy, time, Ba, and safety just to rescue them from the mouths of the hungry, hungry dead... and would risk all the more to save Atem.
But now I must wonder the same for Atem. With the way he's just staring at me across the way, it's like he's looking at me like an apparition. Like he'd died and was now seeing the escort to the Judgement Halls. I was waving around my wand like golden signal. He had to know it was me! One evil day couldn't erase all the good ones we had together, could it? That look in his eyes, the blood dying his tunic a deep, dark red... I hope his traits of nobility, kindness, and bravery had not been eaten. I hope this world did not devour the Atem I knew and came all this way in search of.
Come here, come here. Get your ass over here and let me hug you before the dead do, you stupid, gorgeous- UGH! Please don't be bit, Atem. Please don't be ruined by this black day.
"Pharaoh! Over here!" I cry, though still the title- if it even means anything to the world now- feels weird off my tongue. It's hard to think he's still technically Pharaoh in a kingdom that may no longer exist. A king of the undead. I'd rather him be Atem. Just Atem. The way he was before. Not prince, not king, not God on earth, or head-slashing apocalypse leader. But Atem. My friend Atem.
He stirs abruptly. His legs beat hard and he's climbing down the houses into the river of the frozen dead. With the whole lot of the Isfet-Ka immobilized by my magic, he's safe. Safe enough to run to me, hug me, let me know that he has another clever idea to fix this whole damned day. I can tell that just by the way he's rushing, pushing through the dead like they're icky-yucky bugs, that he doesn't seem to fully trust my magical capabilities just yet.
Well, if it weren't for just that, he would still be surrounded on that roof. Hmph.
He's hurt. I see it in his run. Maybe it's just him dodging the Isfet-Ka, but damn it... it's hard not to believe otherwise. I don't know what exactly has happened to him, but Atem is hurt. Please, please, please don't let him be bit. What will we do without prince- I mean pharaoh?
"Atem!" I yell again. He's at the ladder now, climbing up so violently and shakily I think he's afraid of something. His breath is so strong. I hear it louder than the wails of the hoards a few streets over.
"Prince! Take my hand!" I'm already bending over the roof, extending my hand as far as I can without tipping over. And he has it. He takes it, though he doesn't need it. None of his wait overcomes me. He just continues on climbing on his own, gripping my hand just for the sake of holding something living.
And at last he reaches the the rooftop. Yet, to my surprise, he's not stopping. For a moment I can swear he's one of the dead! He's coming for me just like they do! Hunger for their speed. Mindless needs and urges that lunge them so furiously upon their victims. He's on me, he's on me! Atem is one of the dead; he's grappling me, shoving me, bringing his face to my flesh, he's-
Kissing me. Oh, Ra. Oh, Bast. Oh, Auset, Ausar, and Hathor- he's kissing me!
I-I don't know what to do. I'm still coming down from the panic, I'm still rising in the heat of my surprise. I'm burning like I'm diseased and soon to turn into one of the walking rotters. His lips are still shaking as he almost bites down on mine once or twice. He is quaking. I can feel the very adrenaline plowing through his veins as his arms pull me tighter. I don't know how long it lasts; the taste of him, the lustful noises of yearning and living, licking lips. I just don't know...
"Mana." is all that he says when it fades.
He is still. Sturdy and strong in his embrace. His hold has become the perfect walls to hide me from the death around us, and to shield against those that would try to claw in. I still, to all my pouty dismay, can not understand the look that comes boldly from his eyes. He still keeps his face near to mine, like perhaps he's not yet had his fill. A storm has just ended in those violet irises...
I wiggle myself free. I don't even know how, I don't want to know why I do, but I did...
"What was that?" a try and laugh.
"You're alive." he said simply, like that was answer enough.
"Huh... well, would you look at that. I guess I am."
I see his hand go for my waist a second time and step back instinctively, "Mana, you're not bit? What are you doing here? How did you...?"
His eyes again fell over to the dead still un-moving in the street below.
"Freeze spell. I told ya I'd get the hang of it some day."
A smirk somehow emerged onto his face. A fond, proud little look. But, oh, there was so much hurt there too. Don't get me wrong; this whole fiasco was hard for me too. I was making choices that day that I never thought I'd have to make. I disobeyed Mahad as never before. I saw things I thought not even the sinners in Ammut's canines would have to see. My home, the places of my dearest memories were all overrun with the growling, crawling corpses of people who I may have once smiled at. Did my home even exist anymore? Was this still Kemet or a graveyard?
But now that everything was still, that my spell of paralysis has slowed the world just enough, Atem... dear Atem... can slow down as well. After all that slashing and bahsing, running and worrying about, he can now breathe and see what has happened. This was what he was supposed to be protect. He was the one who every one of those people down there had thought they could look up to for hope and relief. But now they only looked at him as tender meat. I never liked to face the hard truths- in fact, I'd laugh over them if I could. Like my mishaps spells, tripping down the stairs... that kiss...
But I knew what he was feeling, thinking... how he mourned over the faces he's failed.
I looked to the two kids I had saved. They were fragile little things, and still as nude as the day they were born. Two brothers holding eachother dear. These were the faces of people he hadn't failed. Because they are still here, still breathing and hoping for the light in this all.
"Prince," I go to Atem and tug on his arm a little more hastily than I thought I should've, "I want you to meet my new friends. This cutie here is Kabu, and this one," I stroke at his red little nose, "is little Uapat."
I can see how he wishes to smile- truly smile. But he can't. I'm sure even he knows what I'm trying to do by introducing them, but it doesn't seem to be working. At least his short grin gives the children something to latch on to. He's still their pharaoh in their eyes, and father to all their kingdom. Uapat toddled into his king's arms; he needed to, he had to. With the way the child's chubby little legs propel him over the rooftop and into Atem's arms, he needs that embrace more than anything in the world.
"Well hello to you too," Atem chuckled lightly. And then Kabu fell after his brother's footsteps, careening into their pharaoh's arms like the deepest comfort the Gods could offer. Perfectly. As if nothing was wrong. I watch this hug decorate each one of them in some odd serenity I didn't think could exist anymore. Atem held them as long as he could. These innocent souls, these children he knew then he had to do anything to protect.
As the hug loosens, Atem looks back up to with that same feel; "We have to take you all back to the palace. You'll be safe there."
"Atem, I... you must take them. But I can't go back with you."
"What?"
"Mahad. I promised I'd return to my post at the Temple of Amun where I'm needed."
"No," he shook his head painfully, "I need you back at the palace. I need you with..."
My head tilts. Curiosity has again swung me his way.
"I came all this way to find you," he finally huffs the words I had felt in our lips' meeting, "I had to know you were safe, that you weren't... one of those."
The dead. He was afraid I'd been dead. Did that mean he was at the palace before and left that sanctuary just to find me? Silly Atem! No, he's needed there! I can handle myself! I've done it so far... why... why would he...? And the kiss...?
He turns fully towards me. I see now the man he has become- the man this world creates. He's drenched in blood. Atem, my dearest friend, has severed heads and slit skulls. He's rammed that sword through his own people just... to find me?
"We're not splitting up again, Mana. I promise you'll be safe."
"But what about-"
"I am still pharaoh, Mana! And I order you to come back to the palace where I need you to be. Where I know you'll be alright."
My foot plowed into the floor, "Hey, what's the big idea? You think I can't handle myself out here? You think I need to babysat and fret over? Well, welly, mister. It just so happens that this 'baby' is the only reason you made it over here. You would've been been a corpse buffet if it weren't for me!"
"Mana, it's not that. It's..."
And just when I think I'm going to spit out another few rounds of my defense, our time runs out. A crackling zap and a couple of whooshes strike the air, and I know that my spell has just broken. The zombies are loud again. Roaring, groaning crowds of the insatiable dead are again wafting through the streets and clawing at the house where we stand. If the hoard gets big enough, I'm sure it could weaken the mudbrick enough to have us all collapsing into their grasp. Uapat and Kabu are again burying themselves in the arms of their pharaoh, a few whimpers and squeaks splurging into Atem's cloak and tunic.
"Oops." I say abashedly. "So I may need a little more practice on that spell, but it was nice while it lasted, right?"
"We need to move." battle-ready Atem wiped away my jests. He had a goal and he was going to see it scored. These kids, himself, and me... he was going to have us protected and behind the safety of the palace walls. And at this point, I realized that I really didn't have any other choices.
The sword is already in his hand as he scoops up little Kabu. I take Uapat in my arms and follow Atem's lead across the maze of rooftops that had lead me up here in the first place. This route is pretty narrow and has plenty of wide gaps to jump across, but even with children in our arms, our adrenaline seems to get us through. To the north, I can spot the walls to the pharaoh's sanctuary. It's our mission, our destination, and totally blocked off by a swarm of Isfet-Ka.
Ugh. Like give me a break.
"How many of these things have you killed?" he shoots the question over to me through great heaps of breath.
"Uh... like, a few? I'm not exactly counting, you know."
"Then stay close." he orders. And for some reason, I obey. This is an Atem I've never quite seen before, and I hate to say it, but I've got no plans to be arguing with him right now. He means what he says, and what he says better be enacted the moment he says it. Atem is not losing this duel with fate. I can just feel it by staying beside him. He's going to win. He's going to lead me through a herd of these infected, deadly, toothy things, and for some reason... I know we can win. I'm with him. I can do this...
He's hiking Kabu up in his embrace covering him in his dark purple cape. Maybe so the innocent child can stay that way and not see his neighbors, his merchants and peers struggle under Atem's blade.I only wish I could give Uapat that same comfort. Instead, I press his head to my chets and hope he gets the idea to stay low. Close his eyes. Please, baby, please.
We're jumping in. Taking a gulp of air- the only breath we may have left- and land among the dead. Our violent presence is heard, smelt, tasted by hundreds of the Isfet-Ka around us. But we're ready. Atem is surging out in front of me and powering his sword through a row of necks. There's no time to see where the heads are tossed, because a family of the undead come hungrily behind me. I've never seen them so fast! Taking out my wand in a twirl, I stand back to back with Atem and start clubbing my way through skulls and brains. The motion has become so natural for me. The force of it too! I no longer fear not having enough strength to crush a man's head- I'm doing it again and again. I no longer fear being so close to them, for I am close to Atem.
"Mana!" Atem howls. "Let's go!"
"Right!" I run up with him. We dodge a few more corpses, knowing that swinging our weapons would take up the time we didn't have. If we could out run them, we would. If they crowded us too thickly, we'd scatter them the best we could. Kicking them, shoving them, slicing them. Just enough for us to get through. There's not enough time or energy to take them all.
My breath must be a blanket for dear Uapat. As long as he can hear my lungs overcrowded with breath and my heart thudding desperately inside me, he's satisfied. He's ok. But I'm not so sure now that the gap between Atem and I has grown quite a large sum. Now, at least several Isfet-Ka have found their way between he and I. I take out a few more with my wand-like beater, winging the thing hard into their heads. I swing so hard, so panicky, the force takes me tumbling with it. Uapat falls from my arms and we're together beneath the footsteps of the undead.
"Uapat!" I scream. "Stay with me! Don't let go!"
"Mana, save me!"
Save him I will. I've done it once, I'll do it again. He's my child now, and no one- nothing living nor dead- will ever hurt him again. This is the heroism that kept Mahad and Atem alive. I know it now. They do deserve my doubt or slander for being what they are; leaders, brave and true. Warriors, through and through. Perhaps that very drive is what this world needs, not selfishness. This is the kind of power this apocalypse molds. Connection. Unity. There is no more fight or flight, there is only win, win, win.
"Stay behind me, Uapat. Your auntie Mana will protect you no matter what it takes!" I hiss into the faces of the Isfet-Ka. I want them gone. I want them dead. Dead dead, as they should be.
My wand raises. Somewhere ahead of me, Atem is calling me towards him, telling me not to stay there much longer. And I wish to be with him too, but not now. Not until he sees the person this world made me too.
"Dark Energy Burst!"
All around us is a warmth, a tingling glow of purples and pinks that we know mean nothing but victory. Win, win, win. I let the power ride over us, and somehow soothe us with all its adrenaline and spark. At the end of my wand, it collects in enormity until it can not hold any more. And like a star ready for its supernova, I toss the spell deep into the crowd of killers where it shatters. It quakes so many of them and the light draws many more. Bodies are tossed. The crash rings through our ears. Damn, it's so bright. All I can see are a few limbs raining down upon us and, yes... yes a path. A clear path at last.
Now I see the way Atem looks at me. It's not with fear or worry, or panic that I may be lost to the rotting heap of people he used to know. I'm someone who'll he'll always get to have with him.
He smirked, and this time...truly... for a chuckle and blush came with it, "Maybe you should lead the way then, Mana."
"Or, maybe," I say, taking his had in mine, "We could do this side by side."
To be continued...
A/N:
Well, here it is. *blows dust off of this fanfiction*
It only took long enough! SHEESH! I only stayed up until 4 in the morning wrapping this up for you guys.
Next chapter has all the juicy stuff, I promise!
I know, I know. But, the next chapter should be done quite soon, actually. See, I had a lot more to this chapter, but I decided to cut it a bit to not only get this out quicker, but to ease my flow.
I know, I know. It's been SOOO LONG. I apologize. See, as much as I love vaseshipping, there are things called "Blueshipping", "Jelsa" and "Hiccstrid" that have consumed my inner ship captain. So I'm sorry that I had to put this on hiatus for a while. I am working heavily on "Always That One Day" because it is currently my tantrumming baby that needs love and affection. I am also plagued by my new Jelsa fanfiction, and NextGen Batman story that will be coming out next year. That one had been posted briefly, but I decided to take it down because even then I KNEW it would not see an update for years. Which was unfair.
Anyways. I hope this satisfied your appetites for now. Next chapter will arrive shortly.