Me last night while writing and reading: Huh, the Egyptian gods really are a thousand times less shitty than the Greeks aren't they? And Brooklyn House is actually a thousand times better in many ways.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this first chapter, my replies to the reviews on the previous fic are in the AN at the end.

Five months. Percy had missed five months of her life. That had been strange to come to terms with. Waking up on her birthday was... good of course, but, it was a huge chunk of time for her- suddenly she was ten and so much had changed.

She felt strange every time she looked in the mirror, not like herself.

She tended to keep a bandage on to cover the brand on her neck- she'd nearly thrown up the first time she'd seen it, her
mom had held her while she sobbed.

And the hair was strange too, it didn't look bad exactly, but it was so different, her hair had been raven before, a deep black, and now- she was pretty sure it wasn't physically possible for it to be paler than it was.

At least she'd regained some color in her skin- she went out at least twice a day for a few hours at a time.

She hadn't returned to Brooklyn House yet- her mom was still worried about the damage that Apophis had done to her soul, she didn't like the idea of Percy being away from the First Nome until she was sure it was safe. Which was annoying because Percy desperately wanted to go back to normal.

Still, she enjoyed getting out- especially when Carter and Sadie visited- which they did at least two or three times a week.

Even Desjardins went on walks with her from time to time, which was kinda nice- they'd had a few talks during their walks, his magic was permanently weakened from what Menshikov had done to him and from his own attempt to execrate Apophis, but he seemed content with his new role as Amos' advisor.

And he'd apologised to her from not being able to keep his promise- Percy had hugged him at that.

But even with the walks and the visits Percy was chafing. She felt suck in place, trapped. Everyone was treating her as if she was made of glass, as if she'd shatter at a strong gust of wind. The problem was that they weren't giving her a chance to prove that she was better now.

And yes, yes she did still have nightmares from time to time, yes there were days that weren't so easy, but she couldn't just hide away from the world. She wanted to live- wanted to help her family stop Apophis.

It was the early morning when it happened- she'd gotten used to waking up with the dawn, if only for the healing properties of the sunrise. She was in the Hall of Ages when Zia arrived, staring at the purple images- at the images of her and Desjardins wrestling.

She turned her head slightly when she heard footsteps, and she grinned slightly. "Hey Zia!"

"Persephone." Zia gave her a wide smile, and Percy tore herself away from the images, darting down the hall to Zia, hugged her tightly. "It's good to see you again."

"I missed you." Percy pulled back, poking Zia's arm, "You've not visited since I woke up."

"I've been trying to keep things under control back at Brooklyn House. And I've been spending much of my time visiting Ra" Zia told her, "You look well Percy."

"I feel fine." Percy pulled a face, her nose scrunching up. "Honestly they act like I'm still in a coma."

"You were very unwell. You had us all worried Percy." Zia pointed out gently. "Especially Carter and Sadie."

"I know." Percy groaned, "I get it I do it's just super annoying." she shook her head, "I'm the one it happened to. I just wish everyone would listen to me and trust my judgement about how I'm feeling. I'm not some stupid little baby. I managed to force one of the most dangerous beings in the universe out of my body."

"Yes, and you nearly died." Zia rolled her eyes fondly, shaking her head. "Honestly Percy."

"Eh, am I dead though?" Percy shoved her hands into her pockets, rocking back on her heels, "So Zia, what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to check in on you before I go to visit Ra again."

And Percy hesitated. "You and Ra-" and Zia winced slightly.

"I'm- he gets upset if I don't visit-"

"Zia-" Percy hesitated. "He- are you-"

"I- Percy it's complicated." Zia's voice was tight. "I don't- Carter and Sadie don't-"

"I-" Percy bit her lip. "He needs you. You'll fix him-"

"How though?" Zia frowned, "Percy I appreciate your faith in me but-"

"I just know okay?" Percy's voice was soft. "You'll get him better. It has to be you." Percy's brows furrowed, "I- I think- I think Apophis knows too. He- he tried to kill you when you were little-" Percy shuddered, closing her eyes tightly.

She hated that- he had been in her mind- he knew her. But that meant she'd seen glimpses of his mind too. Even if she couldn't make sense of them.

Zia just stared at her, a stunned look on her face for a moment after that before she exhaled slowly. "I should be going." she bent down slightly, hugging Percy again and whispering into her ear. "The Dallas Museum of Art. Carter and Sadie are there tonight, they believe there's going to be an attack." then Zia was pulling back, a smile playing across her lips as Percy gaped at her.

"Zia-"

"If anyone asks I didn't tell you." Zia winked. "Good luck Percy." then Zia was walking away, and Percy took a deep breath, her mind racing.

Then she exhaled slowly, a wide smile spreading across her lips before she took off, she was sure she could manage one portal if she had to- and she was desperate.

It didn't take her long to reach the Obelisk- though she was well aware that if she didn't move quick she'd be caught and dragged back to her uncle and mom- who would definitely not let her run off to join Carter and Sadie in Dallas.

And thankfully no one else was at the Obelisk.

It took Percy longer than she'd have liked to make the portal, a good half an hour- which was probably better than Carter could manage- she reassured herself with that thought, though Sadie would have undoubtedly been able to summon one within a minute or two max.

Percy shrugged that thought off, taking a deep breath before she stepped through the portal, and moments later she was leaping out.

Percy looked around slowly as the portal closed behind her, and she brushed herself off as she did.

She was in the museum itself, clearly in the middle.

The portal must have anchored to something in the museum, though Percy didn't waste time trying to figure out what it was.

No, she got moving instantly.

She couldn't hear anyone else inside of the exhibit- which a quick glance around told her was a King Tut one.

She had to admit that when she stepped out of the exhibit the reactions of the two magicians on guard were almost comical. She did a mock salute. "Well hi there. I'm Percy Kane, you may have heard of me, and I gotta go-"

And she was moving before either of the magicians could react, glancing over her shoulder and waving cheerfully, "I'll be back in like, I dunno how long. Buh bye!" and it wasn't like either of them could really leave their posts. Besides, by now most people had heard of her.

No one knew the details of what had happened, but it was well known that the youngest Kane had forced Apophis back into the Duat.

In any case, there was no chase, and Percy slowed her rush through the halls when she heard voices, and Percy beamed- she recognised those voices, Walt, Alyssa, and was that Felix?

She didn't even hesitate, practically skipping as she followed the noise to the giftshop- and sure enough when she pushed the door open there they were.

Felix had summoned three penguins, which were waddling around wearing paper King Tut masks. Khufu was there, sat atop a bookshelf reading The History of the Pharaohs, which would've been quite impressive except he was holding the book upside down. Walt had opened the jewellery cabinet and was examining charm bracelets and necklaces as if they might be magical. Alyssa levitated clay pots with her earth elemental magic, juggling twenty or thirty at a time in a figure eight.

Percy couldn't help the giggle that slipped past her lips- and all four of them whirled around- Khufu let out an excited grunt, leaping down from the bookshelf, almost knocking it over as he flew towards her, and she opened her eyes wide, grinning brilliantly as he hugged her and she hugged him back.

"Percy by the gods it's good to see you!" That was Walt, who was setting down the jewellery quickly, and Alyssa frantically tried to catch all of the pottery- and most impressively she only dropped one of the pots.

And Felix was sprinting towards her, leaping over the top of one of his penguins. "PERCY!" and Percy laughed, managing to pull herself away from Khufu and hug her friend tightly.

As the two youngest magicians in Brooklyn House they'd bonded in the months before Percy's coma, he was Percy's only friend who was actually her age.

"You look awesome." Alyssa grinned, "I like the hair."

And Percy flushed, automatically reaching up to touch it.

Right now it was pulled out of her face into a high ponytail. Truthfully Percy wasn't sure if she liked it or not, but, she appreciated the compliment.

"Carter and Sadie didn't mention that you would be meeting us here?" it was almost a question, and Percy resisted the urge to glare at Walt.

"Well- um-"

"They don't know do they?" Walt deadpanned, his lips twitching slightly. "Percy-"

"I heard that they were going to be here." Percy gave her best innocent look. "So I decided I'd come and say hi."

"On your own?" Alyssa's voice was worried, "Percy you're only ten-"

"I'm a ten year old who forced Apophis back into the Duat. I can handle making one stupid portal."

"How long did it take you." Felix's lips twitched- he'd often heard her complaining about how annoying portals were- she hated making them, oh she'd gotten better than she had been but she'd never, ever like them.

"Screw you 'Lix." Percy kicked his ankle and poked her tongue out at him. "I did it, that's all that matters."

"All that matters is that Carter and Sadie are going to lose their minds when they see you here. I at least want to be able to tell the that I told you you have to go home."

"Ah, ah, but y'see Walt, I'm not goin' home 'cause I can't make any more portals. I'm all portalled out for today."

"Yes you are." Walt looked very worried, "Portals- they've been dear impossible to summon lately Percy how did you-" he shook his head, "You know what you're a Kane I shouldn't even question it-"

"Portals- what's wrong with Portals?"

"Ever since Apophis rose they've been getting harder and harder and more dangerous to use." Walt frowned, "No one told you?"

"No, no they did not." Percy scowled faintly, "Which is stinky of them." did that mean- if Apophis was interfering with portals and yet she'd managed to summon one... did he want her here? She pushed that thought away quickly.

"You are a menace." Alyssa's lips twitched, "I forgot how ridiculous you could be."

"I missed you." Felix tossed an arm over her shoulder, "C'mon, you should meet my new buddies." and he towed her towards the penguins- and Percy felt a weight lift.

It felt wonderful, freeing, seeing her friends again, the feeling that she was actually going back to normal.

In any case, her arrival had distracted them from their bored messing around, and Walt and Alyssa make short work of fixing the messes they'd cased, with the help of Khufu, and Walt moved to the door quickly, poking his head out of it- clearly taking up guard duty.

Then, after maybe fifteen minutes he pulled his head back into the room, his eyes wide, "They're coming!"

"Quick!" Felix giggled, and Percy giggled too as he dragged her behind the till and shoved her so that she was on her hands and knees out of sight- and she full on laughed when Felix sat down on her back, clearly trying to act innocent.

Something must have been a giveaway though because a few moments later Percy heard Carter's voice.

"Okay. What are you four hiding?"