A/N: Hurray! I am completely caught up with all that work that had been dragging me down and keeping me from writing! What does that mean? More time for my hobbies! And what is my hobby? Writing! I am determined to finish this fanfic before the end of summer. And with my goal of one update a week…I think we have that in the bag. Which is awesome! Because I'm writing a novel! Another one…well, a rewrite of a novel I wrote five years ago.

Anyway….on a not so positive note, I found an interesting mistake in in this chapter. Or at least in the show. So basically, we know that the episode said Ladybug of Egypt took place in 3000BC, and the Pharaoh was Tutankhamun, and his wife was Ankhesenamum. I took this as correct, and didn't bother to research that. Well for this chapter I mention Ammon's great-grandfather. Tutankhamun, Ankhesenamum and Shen's grandfather. I go to look it up on an Egyptian timeline, and what do I see. I see that Tutankhamun ruled from 1336BC to 1327BC. So….yeah. Big hugs fricken mistake on the show's part, and me for not looking that up sooner. And apparently Egyptians were terrible at record keeping until about 2700BC so they have a list of Pharaoh's but no time dates of how long they ruled or such. So I can only really guess. So…hurray, I've been totally wrong this entire time.

Of Gods and Heroes

Chapter 24

Ammon released the frightened and soaked child in his arms. Elisheva was shaking, but she wasn't cold. The two had just left the cool waters of the Nile, and Elisheva had a panic attack throughout their entire swim across. He could see their destination in the distance now though. A huge cliff wall, and near it was an abandoned half built structure of a temple. It had begun construction by Ammon's great-grandfather, but had been abandoned after his death when Ammon's grandfather took the throne. It had been left in ruin ever since.

Ammon was confident no one would think to come here to look for them. It was much hotter here, and every step burned Ammon's bare feet. In Memphis the sand had been beaten down and formed solid dirt paths. While here, the sand still made him sink a little with every step. The hot sun was absorbed into every step, and it burned him with every single step. He did his best to ignore it, and continued. He moved around the foundation of the temple, and went in where the entrance was once supposed to be. He walked in under part of a small part of where the first wall they attempted to put up had once been. It had fallen over and was now resting against a status of Ra that seemed to be holding it up with ease. He went underneath, shielding them from the sun. The sand was much cooler, and he felt sweet relief from the heat.

He knelt down and put Elisheva down. He then sat down beside her. He felt Plagg release himself from under Ammon's wig. He ended up knocking it off of Ammon's head, but Ammon didn't care at the moment. He felt way too flushed and exhausted at the moment. Plagg was gasping for air though, and then collapsed onto the cool sand. He groaned in bless by the cool sensation.

Elisheva brought her legs to her chest, and held them close to her body. She had a distinct expression of worry on her face. Still she glanced at Ammon. "Where are we? What is this?"

"It's an abandoned temple," Ammon explained.

"Abandoned? Why would anyone ever abandon a temple?" she asked.

"Happens more often than you think," Ammon explained with a chuckle. "You see, many Pharaoh's strive to create something they can be remembered for. Most create a grand statue, or just go all out for their tombs. My great-grandfather planned to build this temple after his tomb was complete. However, he died before it was complete. My grandfather then cancelled all plans. He had to begin his tomb right away as well. So, there are these ruins."

She nodded slowly. "It's different from what Mazel told me about Hebrew burials."

"Yeah, how is it different?" Ammon asked. He was generally curious. He knew very little about the Hebrew faith, and he wanted to talk to Elisheva as long as he could before he knew he had to leave in early evening. Under the cover of darkness would be for the best.

"She told me that we are buried in a shaft tomb. It's a small hole that's dug out. It has rocks that line the walls all the way around. The body is placed inside, and buried. A marker of some kind is placed."

"So, your dead do get a sort of burial. What about the ones who can't afford that?" Ammon asked.

Elisheva's eyes went wide. "Can't afford….no! It's not like Egyptian burials at all! I know that only those that can afford to be mummified can move onto the next life. For Hebrew's you don't pay for it. They just, they just find a place to bury the loved one, and as a family they bury their deceased family member…"

Ammon had no words. That was drastically different from the burials he knew of. He had a little bit of an issue grasping it. He always knew that not everyone in his culture would have an afterlife to go to. It didn't seem that way in the Hebrew faith. The whole family worked together to put that person to rest.

"That's, really something, Elisheva," he expressed after several moments of silence.

Elisheva took out the beads that had been intrusted to her, and grasp them tightly in her hands. She turned to look at Ammon. There was a serious expression on her face. "Go get my sister back. I don't care what you have to do. Just bring her back to me."

There was a powerful confidence in her voice, and for a moment he was greatly reminded of Mazel. He placed his hand out, to take the choker from Elisheva, and she handed them over to him. He grasp the beads protectively, and turned to Plagg who was still resting on the sand. He scooped him up and climbed to his feet. "Sorry Plagg, but transform me!"

8 8 8

The Pharaoh hadn't come to see her. And it was well into the evening now. But Mazel was no longer in the throne room. She was now chained to a wall at the back of the palace, located in the dungeon. She was alone in her room, but there were several cells, and she saw plenty of people filling the other rooms. She was on her own. Probably to protect her for the time being. So the Pharaoh could inflict any suffering her on her himself.

She heard movement down the hall, and supposed it was a guard, doing their round. However, when they came into view, she stared in awe. A large man stood in front of the bars of the cell, and looked down at her. Mazel knew the man well, and she felt an overwhelming sense of shame fall over her. She broke eye contact from the man.

"Master Shen," she whispered.

"Mazel, I wish to speak with you. Will you permit me to?"

She didn't dare look up at her owner, but even so, her eyes went wide. "Why are you…you're asking me permission to talk to me?"

There was a quiet calmness in his reply. "You are the Goddess Ladybug…I am but a mere human."

Mazel was stunned by his words, but his actions surprised her even more. He knelt down, and he bowed. He didn't bow in the same way, one would toward their Pharaoh. He bowed in prayer. Shen only bowed like this by his altar. 'After everything…does he still actually believe I'm a goddess?'

"Master Shen…no, pl-"

"Please, Ladybug, do not call me Master."

"I am not a goddess!" Mazel cried. "I never once calmed to be!"

It was his turn to look at her in awe. "But, Ladybug, you have saved so many lives. Created such miracles. Only a Goddess could do such! You and Chat Noir, you two are the real thing. You saved my life. A slave would have gladly seen their owner murdered."

Mazel glared at Shen. "I am not a goddess," she repeated. "And secondly, do not question the character of my fellow slaves. I have special abilities that were given to me. At the most, I was chosen these powers by God to protect. Regardless of who. I saved you because it was the right thing to do! And I know other slaves that would have done the same thing. And it's not for you to judge and decide who is a good or bad person. The judging should be left to God or whatever god you Egyptians believe weights your hearts in the afterlife!"

Shen stared at her. He was silenced, but she could see his mind trying to work out and process what she had said to him. If she hadn't been chained to the wall, she would have stormed out at this point, and probably would flee knowing the whipping that would be coming. She looked away, choosing to stare at the ground in front of her. There was silence around them for several minutes. Until Shen broke the silence.

"Mazel…you really can't save my sister…can you?"

"No," Mazel replied. "I don't have that kind of power."

"If you could…would you?"

"Of course, I would."

Silence once again. It lasted several minutes more. Then Shen continued.

"Mazel…do you know where Ammon is?"

That caught her attention. She looked back at him. "What? W-Why would I know?" She tried to play dumb, hoping that Ammon and her sister were somewhere safe.

"Ammon…hasn't been himself in a long time. He was always quite, and kept to himself, but he always respected my choices. I tried to set him up with an arranged marriage, but he rejected it. Said there was someone else he wished to marry. He has never shown interest in anyone before. Until…the day he came to me and asked me to let him take a slave girl as an assistant. Now, I catch him glancing out to the fields more often. I think he meant you. But…for you…there is Chat Noir."

Mazel stared at him, her eyes were completely wide. "…M-master S-S-Shen…"

"He's my only child, he's all I have. You must understand, you only have your sister. I need to know if he is safe. Please. You must know where he is."

"I-I'm sorry," she cried. "I don't know! I have no idea where he is! I promise you I'm not lying."

Shen gave her a sad nod. "I understand. I believe you, Mazel. You are just a slave. An honest one. And brave. Dare I say, since I learned your secret, braver than I ever could have imagined. I want to talk to my brother about freeing you. But before I do…I have a question for you."

She lightly nodded, having the hardest time believing that this conversation was happening. "Yes, what is it Master Shen?"

"Do…you love him?"

Mazel opened her mouth to speak. Though she didn't know what she could say. It wasn't like she had an answer to that question. Though she didn't have time to answer that question. There was the sound of a horn. She sent Shen a questionable look. His eyes were wide.

"Please, not three."

The sound of the horn stopped.

"What does three mean?" Mazel asked.

"They call the horn when something important happens. One means the birth of a child, two means the birth of the heir. The young prince didn't have a horn due to the false god attack."

There was a second horn.

"And three, what does three mean?" Mazel cried.

The horn was silenced again.

The color drained from Shen's face.

A third horn sound was heard.

And then silence.

Shen answered. "The queen is dead."

8 8 8

Ammon was half way to the palace when he heard it. The three horns going off. He stopped in his place on the roof tops. His eyes went wide. He felt his knees go weak, and then they gave away. He caught himself with his hands, and leaned over, his eyes wide. Tears stinging the corners of his eyes.

The queen. His aunt. The closest thing he had to a living mother in this world. She was gone. He tightened his hand around the wooden bead necklace that belonged to Mazel. He snuffled back the tears he wanted to shed, but climbed to his feet. Now that the queen has died, he knew there would be nothing stopping the Pharaoh from coming after the person he would blame for this.

"Hold on, Mazel, I'm coming."

8 8 8

Shen had left, leaving Mazel by herself. He had fled the dungeon to go see his brother in hopes of comforting Tutankhamun. She knew it was slim. He had just lost his wife, who he loved so dearly. She knew she would feel the same about losing Elisheva. Still though, her darkly bruised face reminded her of the rage and anger he had towards her. And the pain reminded her what awaited her when he reached her. For the first time in a long while, Mazel felt a shiver of fear run up her spine. She had always accepted the prospect of her death as a slave, but not now. Now that she knew how likely her own death was, she was scared. She wasn't ready. There was so much she wanted to see and do. So many experiences she had yet to enjoy. She wanted to taste freedom. See more of the world. Have a child. Have a family all her own. She needed to know her sister was safe. She needed to know Tikki was safe. She needed to know the miraculous' was safe. She wanted to see Ammon again.

Her heart skipped a beat. And her stomach did flip flops. And her entire body ran cold.

Ammon.

She imagined his smiling face. That hilarious cocky smile he got when he had a dangerous, but effective idea pop into his head. She giggled softly. Remembering the dumbfounded look on his face the first time they fought side by side. When she easily brought Tefnut to her knees. Back when he thought he was the toughest guardian of them all.

She remembered how he tried to protect her from the whipping from attacking the undead cats. She had been completely ready and willing to take her punishment, and yet he protected her. And a million other happenings between them flooded to her. Secret little moments. Stolen glances. Gentle touches. Comforting words. Memories she would always hold dear.

She let out a trembling gasp the moment tears began to fall down her cheeks. She needed to see him again. She needed to know he was safe. She needed to see him. She just...needed him.

'Oh God…when did this happen,' she thought as a cry fell from her lips.

"Are you seriously crying and blubbering in there? I thought you were this tough as shit warrior! You fight like a warrior, maybe you should damn well die like one!"

She silenced her sobs when she heard the voice. It was so familiar to her. It wasn't a friendly reminder. It made her entire body run cold. Colder than she had ever felt before. She hadn't heard that voice in weeks. Not since they fought the day Mazel defeated her. It was Menhit. Or rather, the warrior woman from the lower kingdom who became Menhit.

"Y-You're still alive?" Mazel cried!

She had heard that the woman was taken by the palace guards and was to be put to death for her crimes against the people.

The woman chuckled. "Well, you see, the Pharaoh was too busy worrying about his wife, and oh, you know, trying to convince you to save the queen to worry about me. So I've just been here, rotting away."

Mazel bit her bottom lip. She could sense the anger in the woman's voice. There was only anger and hostility in her tone. She clearly still had no regrets about her murderous actions.

"To think, the great and powerful Ladybug, is in a cell, crying like a babe crying for their mother's tit. How pathetic. How could someone like you defeat me?"

Mazel didn't know how to answer. Or if she should. Instead, she brought her legs closer to her body and pushed her face into her knees to muffle another cry that escaped. She couldn't let herself be heard like this. She felt weak as hell, and scared out of her mind.

"She defeated you because she is a far stronger person than you could ever hope to be."

Mazel's face shot up to see a tall young man standing in front of cell. He smiled at her. And her heart raced, and her spirit began to soar. She cheerfully smiled in return. "Ammon!"

He lifted up a small set of keys and wagged them in front of her. Then he placed one into the locked door, and with a click and then a creek, opened up the door. He was transformed, and ready to fight at a moment's notice. He wasted no moment in reaching her side, and with the set of keys, unlocked her shackles. Releasing her.

"There!" he cried. "Now we can esc-"

He was cut off, by Mazel's freed self, leaping at him, wrapping her arms around him. He was strangely at a loss of words by her actions. Mazel was crying into his chest. He realized she must have been terrified. His arms came around her, and began to comfort her. One hand ran through her hair, and the other around her mid-back.

"Don't worry. I'm here, and I will never leave your side again," he assured.

"Is she safe?" Mazel cried.

"Yes," he answered.

Mazel felt that warm feeling in her chest that she felt the last time he held her. That beautiful, comforting warmth. She couldn't take anymore grief or fear. Her sister was safe, and she had gotten to see Ammon again. There was a God. Her God. No doubt about it. He had granted her this moment. And she needed it. She needed Ammon. She wanted that warmth that only he was able to bring her. And she was going to take it.

Mazel pulled away from Ammon, only long enough to look at him and smile. There was something about her smile that must have struck Ammon, because his eyes slightly widened and he gave her a puzzled look. "Mazel?"

She reached behind him, grabbing him by the back of his head, and pulled him forward toward her, forcing him into a passionate kiss.

There was nothing undesired about this kiss from him. She knew it the moment their lips touched. Their lips moved across the other in the same feverish manor. They battled against the other for power, but they soon became lost in the ecstasy they were sharing. And it turned to a slow tenderness. Another new experience neither knew was possible.

Then they parted. Both were without words. And they could only stare at the other. Mazel's arms were still around Ammon. And his hands were still around her, though one was considerably lower than the other, while one was lightly caressing the nape of her neck.

They would have been content in remaining in that moment, if it weren't for the explosive sound of the entire palace shaking. The two quickly detangled and jumped to their feet. "Oh Gods no," Ammon cried. He quickly reached into his robs and pulled out her miraculous. "I don't like this. Transform now."

He gave the miraculous to her, and she grabbed it. With the moment of contact, the little red kwami popped out of thin air. She gasped and looked for the one who freed her. She grabbed Mazel the moment she saw her. "Mazel!"

"Tikki! We're in trouble!"

Tikki sent her a determined look. "You know what to do!"

Mazel nodded. "Tikki, transform me!"

A/N: Bwahahahaha! It's not as long as I would have liked, but I am exhausted after this. So that being said. Hope you enjoyed it. And…of course, see you all next time. Next week! I promise! Hunt me down and force me to otherwise!