Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait. Just a heads up: this chapter is a bit... I don't wanna say violent and I don't wanna say dark? But let's just say Ahk is pissed at his brother and at the pirates. We all know Ahk to be the sweet guy we see in the movies, but from time to time he had his moments, like in that extra clip where he watches the Kardashians with Attila. I just wanted to write a chapter where Ahk demonstrates his power. I hope you enjoy it!
When Larry arrived at the door of the planetarium, he realized that his keys were missing. He sighed in frustration; this was not the time for games.
"Dexter!" He shouted. Not even moments later, the curious monkey appeared from behind a stone column. "Dexter I need those keys." Larry pleaded. The capuchin did not seem to grasp the severity of the situation. "Dexter I'm not kidding around here!" But Dexter just made amused noises, jiggling the keys in front of Larry's face, and quickly drawing his paw back when Larry reached out to grab them. Larry was about to start the chase of his life when they heard a soft and gentle voice from behind the locked planetarium door.
"Dexter, it's me. Ahkmenrah." At this, Dexter ran up to the door and pressed his little ear against it. The voice continued. "Dexter, my brother took Amara. I need to save her. I need to bring her home. Please... please give Larry the keys. Amara needs me. She needs us all. Help us save her." Dexter made a soft noise, something resembling an apology and looked up at Larry with his big eyes. He hastily hopped on Larry's shoulder and handed him the keys before running off.
"Thanks buddy," Larry called after him before quickly unlocking the door, which flew open immediately.
Ahk appeared disheveled, still wearing the suit, though the tie was off, bundled up in his left hand and the top two buttons of the white dress shirt open. He was panting as if he'd ran a marathon. "Thank you," he mumbled quickly to Larry before storming past him.
"Ahk. What-"
"Not now, guardian of Brooklyn. My brother has declared war. I must change out of these modern robes."
Larry had to jog to keep up with the large and confident strides of the pharaoh. "Umm... okay? Look, try to explain what happened while we walk to your tomb."
"That traitorous rat!" Ahk said through gritted teeth.
—
Walking proved to be more like sprinting, but Ahk was able to give Larry a quick run-down of what had occurred in the planetarium. There was no knowing of what to do next. No one had seen Kahmunrah nor the Horus warriors, as everyone was still partying away in the lobby. The museum was massive and searching every room would be a waste of time, especially considering Kahmunrah was most likely on the streets of New York by now. As they arrived at Ahk's tomb, Larry spoke.
"Okay, we need a plan. And for that, we need Teddy's experience and... maybe Sacagawea too. She can help us track them. We cannot afford to tell the entire museum. We don't know who else would help your brother. You get changed, I'll find them and we will meet you here in 5 minutes."
"Alright," as Ahk made a move to go, Larry grabbed his arm.
"Ahk. We will get her back. I promise. But please, do not leave before Teddy and I get back." Ahk was distraught, that much was obvious, but he softly nodded.
—
Larry was able to find Teddy, but their female tracker was nowhere to be seen. They did not want to waste more precious time, nor risk the pharaoh's patience running short and him getting into a dangerous situation, so they return to the tomb.
Ahk was already changed out of the suit and pacing outside the entrance waiting for them. He looked different to say the least. While his signature golden crown remained on his head, the rest of his outfit was changed. Larry recognized what he wore from the display box located inside the tomb titled "The Presumed Battle Gear of Pharaoh Ahkmenrah". He wore a black leather material-looking sleeveless tunic, which sat firmly against his torso. The tunic had large leather scales, making it easy for Ahk to move in battle while still protecting him from the opposing army's archers. His arms and shoulders were no longer covered by a cloak and instead remained bare, making his muscles and form a lot more prominent. The tunic matched the Egyptian shendyt (battle kilt) which went down to his knees. In contrast to the black was a bright gold belt with two cobras carved into it, and ceremonial cloth that hung from the belt down the centre of the shendyt with a black and gold striped pattern. Ahk also had some black leather arm guards on his wrists and gladiator-like black leather sandals on his feet.
However, what truly grasped attention were the twin khopesh blades. The handles were bright gold, but the blades themselves were ink black, with the surface almost matte in texture. They had the most elegant curves to them, more so than normal khopesh blades; these ones were nearly full crescents, with bright gold hieroglyphs coating every inch. According to the display description, they were gifted to Ahkmenrah for his 18th birthday with the engraved hieroglyphs depicting him as a great ruler under whom Egypt has and would prosper.
Ahk always held a sort of authority and power amongst the exhibits. He was well-respected for his status but also his kindness. But standing in front of them now, Larry and Teddy saw Ahk as a ruthless warrior and conquerer.
"Where is Sacagawea?" He asked, nodding his head to Teddy in greeting.
"Forgive me lad," spoke Teddy, "we couldn't spot her. But I've got Jedediah and Octavius searching for her. She will be along."
Ahk didn't stop pacing, but nodded. Teddy continued. "There is no time to waste. We must find our mermaid!"
Larry looked at him, "how?"
Teddy looked down the hall and smiled, "I think I might just know someone who can help!" Ahk and Larry looked in the direction Teddy was. Teddy immediately pulled Larry out of sight behind a large stone pillar, while Ahk took a stride backwards into the tomb and out of sight.
Footsteps and a drunk, slurry voice filled the hallway,
"Now whiskey is the life of man
Always was since the world began
Now whiskey gave me a broken nose
And whiskey made me pawn me clothes
Now whiskey is the life of man
Whiskey from that old tin can
I thought I heard the first mate say
I treats me crew in a decent way
A glass of whiskey all around
And a bottle full for the shanty-AHHHH"
Ahk stepped out from his hiding spot directly into the path of the drunken pirate, who was momentarily startled, to say the least.
"Whaddaya want, boy?" He slurred.
Ahk was furious. He did not show it on his face, but the energy was radiating. Larry and Teddy could tell that he was trying to keep his cool.
"'Ere look 'ere boy, I got no time to waste on ye. I tell ye, I shall cut ye d-"
"Where is she?" Ahk said through gritted teeth.
When the pirate immediately drew his sword, ready to kill him, and bellowed, spitting in all directions and reeking of the drink he had so fondly sang about just moments ago.
"ARE YE OUT YER MIND BOY? Ye DARE interrupt me?! Well then MATEY, I challenge ye!" The pirate kept jabbing his sword forward into Ahk's direction.
Ahk smirked.
"Really, 'matey'? You hold up a weapon against a pharaoh? How brainless are you?" The pirate had a momentary look of surprise cross his features before it turned to fury and he began snarling at being disrespected. But Ahk held up his hand "wait, don't answer that. It's rhetorical." Then, Ahk placed his right hand on one of the panels which decorated the walls. Hieroglyphs were printed all over it in vertical columns. He closed his eyes and began to speak in Ancient Egyptian.
"Bi a'a chefu Ahkmenrah-hu!"
"What sorta voodoo are ye messin' with, boy? I shall condemn ye... A WITCH!" To anyone who was not aware of the backstory of this situation, it would seem almost comical. The pirate was drunk out of his mind, uttering complete nonsense, trying to look all tough although he was, compared to Ahk's tall, proud posture and well-toned muscles, barely able to stand upright.
For a moment, nothing happened. Teddy, who along with Larry also left their hiding spot, took a step towards Ahk. "Lad, he is not worth it."
However, as soon as the words left Teddy's mouth, the hieroglyphs beneath Ahk's hand began to emit a deep gold glow. This glow lasted for about 10 seconds, before the lights suddenly shut off and the occupants were left in total darkness. The lights flickered back on and the panel which Ahk touched has now spread its glow to the surrounding panels creating an arch doorway of sorts. It seemed like what one would imagine a doorway to heaven to look like. The arch had the golden hue surrounding it. From there, slightly darkened, fog wall-like structures appeared forming a tunnel. At the end of this eerie tunnel was a bright white light.
"Wha' in the devil?" Slurred the pirate. As the occupants of the room looked into the light, they could see a shade form in the distance and begin approaching at an unbelievable speed. Closer and closer with each second. As the shade came closer, it split off in two, then four and then eight. Larry and Teddy along with the pirate watched in shock as eight creatures, with the bodies of ancient Egyptian warriors and the heads of jackals exited the arch. Immediately, paying no attention to anyone except Ahkmenrah, they circled him, knelt down in unison and placed their firsts over their hearts. Ahk commanded something in ancient Egyptian, to which the warriors responded by instantly getting to their feet, facing the pirate and drawing their spears.
The jackal warriors created a sort of wall blocking the pirate's pathway to the exit. Larry and Teddy were off to the side, now standing pressed up against the column behind them, knowing that they should interfere as little as possible. Ahk was their friend and he wouldn't intentionally hurt them, but he was in a rage and they were in a dangerous situation. Those jackals, if they were anything like the ones guarding the tomb, would not hesitate to instantly spear anyone who in their eyes threatened the pharaoh.
The smug, cocky expression of the pirate was now replaced with terror, mirrored by his sword-wielding arm, which shook quite obviously. Two of the jackal warriors in the middle of the line moved aside as the pharaoh walked forward to face the pirate once again, smirking.
For several moments, the room was frozen. Teddy and Larry watched from the sidelines, periodically looking at each other and trying to make sense of the situation, meanwhile the pirate faced Ahk who was about two meters away from him, smirking, satisfied with showing his superiority and might. The jackal warriors maintained their position in the perfectly formed line behind the pharaoh, ready to protect him with their lives. Nobody moved. That is, until Ahk took a step forward.
Swiftly, with skills that are rarely seen outside royally trained swordsmen, he swung one of his khopesh blades into the direction of the pirate, who barely managed to block him. Ahk's second blade struck the pirate's sword again, only this time, the sword flew out of his hand and fell to the ground with a loud clang.
Egyptian war khopesh blades were made in a special way as to allow for the trapping of the enemies. And Ahk clearly knew all the uses of these blades, slamming the pirate into the wall, trapping both his arms with one blade and pressing the other one's sharp side to the pirate's throat. He again smirked and began to speak in a low voice.
"I must say, I'm disappointed," the pirate trembled under the blades, "I mean, did you have ANY training in sword combat?" The jackal warriors had now left their wall-like stance and circled around the pharaoh and the pirate, spears all aiming for the pirate.
Larry and Teddy were both quite shocked at what was happening, neither one knew what to say. They had not seen this side of Ahkmenrah. They knew he was a fair and just ruler, not a boy to be trifled with, however, he was always kind and soft-spoken. Sure he had his dark moments, but nothing compared to his behaviour right now. Larry and Teddy understood what Amara has become to him... there was no knowing what he would do.
The smirk had now left Ahk's face and his voice turned from amused to cold and livid, "Let me explain something to you, you brainless sea rodent. I was trained to take down legions threatening my kingdom from the age of 3, and not just some pathetic old one-eyed drunken fool. I WILL END you and your corpse will rot eternally in the underworld. Osiris may torture you for all nights and days to come and Ra shall laugh upon your damnation with every cycle he makes through the underworld, as you watch him and know you're damned to remain there and never follow him into re-birth.
"You think me a boy-pharaoh? Well, now you shall meet Ahkmenrah the warrior-pharaoh. Why do you think ancient Egypt survived so long as a civilization? Because each and every pharaoh is godly. I am the descendent of Ra- the sun god. I am blessed with eternal life, through Khonsu's blessing and it is through me and my powers that you awaken every night. In my short reign, I have dealt with scum much more vicious than you and your band of idiotic pirates. Oh, you didn't have any idea what I'm capable of before you messed with me and my queen."
At this, Larry and Teddy looked at each other quizzically. They knew Amara meant a lot to him, but queen?
Ahk continued his rant, "But now you will. You will rue the day you drew out this side of me when Osiris and Horus imprison you in the underworld. Endlessly. You may now utter your last words before you meet them, filth!" The rant felt like all the emotions Ahk had been holding in just suddenly poured out. It was as if he spoke not just to the pirate, but to everyone who ever thought him weak.
Larry tried to calm the situation, "Hey, Ahk... maybe we should just-" but before he could finish, one of Ahk's jackal warriors blocked him, pointing a spear at his chest. Ahk ignored him completely.
"What deal did he make with my brother?! SPEAK, YOU SCUM!"
"I-I-I don't know... w-who?"
"Your pathetic excuse for a captain! What deal did he make with Kahmunrah?!"
"I-I don't know!"
"Lies," Ahk yelled, pressing the cold blade closer to the pirate's throat.
"Nay! Not lies! Cap'n never tells us sea dogs nothin'! He always says to us te stay out 'is business! We jus' do de dirty werk if ye get me, mate!"
Ahk breathed but didn't lose face. "Where is Amara?"
"Wh-who?"
"The mermaid, lad." Teddy spoke up. "You better stop playing dumb. Our young pharaoh here is losing patience."
"H-he... yer brother... he p-p-planed on l-l-locking her i-in the basement. U-u-until w-w-we escaped with the tablet. S-she would n-n-not be able to return t-to the boy until dawn, b-by which t-time we w-would be l-long gone s-so they w-would never waken again t-to s-see each other and the b-boy would d-die th-thinking she was also dead."
"Call me boy one more time," Ahk seethed bringing the blade even firmer against the pirate's neck.
"SORRY! SORRY MATE- er... Yer lordship... yer greatness!" The pirate broke into tears at this point, crying out, "I beg mercy of ye, yer majesty! I swear yer brother means no harm to the girl. I-in fact, 'e told our cap'n that 'e would no' touch the girl. Cap'n was furious, I tell ye! 'e claimed the only reason that 'e brought yer brother 'ere was to dispose of the girl. So when yer brother refused, cap'n got angry. B-but! She- she will not be hurt! I beg mercy!" The pirate continued crying. "I ne-er wished to take 'er, sir! Cap'n threatened anyone who spoke against 'is orders. Yer pharaohness, ye gotta believe me! Please! Spare me!"
No one moved. The pirate, tears running from his eyes, distress all over his face was in an eye lock with Ahk, who wore a firm and hard expression. It appeared that he was not feeling any sympathy towards the pirate, the opposite actually, and was ready to slice his throat.
Larry could see that this would happen at any second, and against his better judgement, chose this as his moment to intervene.
"Ahk-"
"Not now, guardian of Brooklyn!"
"Ahk just listen to me! I read up on your history! I know you were fierce! But I also know you were kind and reasonable!"
"Larry, had I spared every enemy that begged for mercy, my kingdom would have fallen a long time ago."
"Ahk your battle is not with him. He is a brainless pawn. His leader led him down the wrong path! Give him a chance,"
"I do not believe in taking chances." Ahk's tone remained cold and indifferent.
"I took a chance on you, Ahk." Larry spoke softly. "Everyone at this museum thought that if I released you, we would all suffer from curses. I took a chance on YOU. Had I not..." he trailed off.
No one moved, but Larry could see that this point affected Ahk. For if Larry had not freed him, he would still be locked in his sarcophagus, begging for someone to give him a chance. But it was still not enough to get Ahk to release the pirate. So Larry decided to use his ace card.
"And what about Amara?" Ahk released a breath he didn't know he was holding, and turned to face Larry, desperation on his face. Larry continued, "many mermaids are evil. Even when you didn't know her, you still gave her a chance. Think about what you would have missed had you not. By giving her this chance you earned..."
"A queen," Ahk interrupted, "I earned my queen" he whispered the last part. Larry didn't speak. Enough was said.
After a moment, Ahk turned back to the pirate, staring at him for a few more breaths before, in one swift motion, he withdrew his blades, causing the pirate to yelp and tumble to the ground. Ahk knelt down and raised one khopesh blade to lift the pirate's chin with and spoke quietly, yet dangerously.
"If it were not for Larry, who, if we were in my kingdom, would be my most trusted advisor, and Amara, who I know has the purest of hearts and would want to keep you alive, I would gut you like a fish. Here and now. Your survival is heavily conditional. Should you momentarily step out of line, you are dead. If I see you conversing with Blackbeard ever again, you're dead. If you so much as look at Amara again, I shall personally gouge out your eyes, oh, and you're dead. Now. Get your sorry waste of skin up." The pirate was in tears and shaking. Ahk raised his gaze to his jackal warriors, two of whom came up behind the pirate and roughly hoisted him to his feet. "You shall lead me to my brother."
Hope you liked it! If you feel like it, let me know how I'm doing with the story! Stay safe and healthy everyone!