In which Percy gets to talk to Ra, and he is definitely the only god she shows any real respect for so far.
Replies:
Rage2091: Yep, you know it's important when Percy's being respectful.
Ryan Fowler: Awe! I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I hope like Ra and Percy's discussion.
thickneck: Yeah, yeah I'd say it is! And yeah there's some great moments.
Undeath9087: Yep, very much so :)
Jubby1905: enjoy!
Guest: To answer one of your questions- the first meeting will be with a non camper demigod- I think most people have figured who that will be, and then she will briefly- like, for less than five minutes, talk to another demigod who is from camp. And, just to see you guys freak, it's outside of the Empire State building on the Winter Solstice that she has the brief meeting. Make of what what you will.
Guest: Eh, it's Setne I mean he's tricky, and I dunno, I don't think it's too strange of a relationship. And it does seem to work lol.
Walter Ha: You'll have to wait and see.

"I see now." the voice that came from Zia's mouth wasn't hers- it was much richer, a chorus of tones descending in octaves through the Duat. "It's all about balance, isn't it? My thoughts and his. Or is it mine and hers…?" Ra let out a childlike laugh.

"Rebirth, at last! You were right, Children! After so many eons in the darkness, I am finally reborn through Zia's compassion. I'd forgot what it is like to be young and powerful."

Carter stepped back slightly, a stunned look on his face.

Bes knelt at that. "My Lord Ra."

"Ah, my small friend." Ra ruffled the dwarf gods hair. "Rise! It's good to see you- and you-" his gaze focused on Percy before his attention shifted elsewhere and she rose, feeling incredibly awkward.

And at the bow, Sobek came to attention, holding his long iron staff like a rifle. "Lord Ra! I knew you would return."
Ra chuckled. "Sobek, you old reptile. You would snap me up for dinner if you thought you could get away with it. Horus and Isis kept you in line?"

Sobek cleared his throat. "As you say, my king." He shrugged. "I can't help my nature."

"No matter," Ra said. "We'll need your strength soon enough. Are we approaching sunrise?"

"Yes, my king." Sobek pointed ahead of them.

And there was a light at the end of the tunnel—literally. As we neared the end of the Duat, the River of Night widened. The exit gates stood about a kilometer ahead, flanked by statues of the sun god. Past that, daylight glowed. The river turned to clouds and poured into the morning sky.

"Very good," Ra said. "Steer us to Giza, Lord Sobek."

"Yes, my king." The croc god thrust his iron staff into the water, poling them along like a gondolier.

Carter still hadn't moved. The poor boy stared at the sun god with a mixture of fascination and shock.

"Carter Kane," Ra said with affection, "I know this is difficult for you, but Zia cares for you greatly. Nothing about her feelings has changed."

Sadie coughed at that. "Ah…request? Please don't kiss him."

And Ra laughed at that. "It's alright Sadie." and it was Zia's voice now, "Now would not be the time."

Carter turned awkwardly. "Um…I'll just…be over there." He bumped into the mast, then staggered toward the stern of
the boat.

Zia knit her brow in concern. "Sadie, go take care of him, will you? We'll be reaching the mortal world soon. I must stay vigilant. Besides. I think Ra wishes to speak to Percy in private-"

"He does?" Percy's voice was slightly panicked, "I-."

"Percy-" Zia's voice was gentle, "It is nothing bad. I promise you. If it was I wouldn't let him speak to you at all."

"Percy-" Sadie's expression was worried, "It's up to you." and gods but Percy loved her sister- she'd disobey Ra himself to make sure that Percy was okay.

And Percy surged forward quickly, wrapping her arms around her big sister tightly. "I'll be fine." she promised quickly, "It- I can handle a conversation with Ra."

Then Percy pulled away from Sadie and she watched her sister jog over to Carter, who was sitting by the tiller, and Percy turned her gaze back to Ra, swallowing hard as she made herself look deeper into the Duat. In Zia's place stood a tall man in leather and bronze armor. In some ways, he still looked like Ra. He was still bald. His face was still wrinkled and weathered with age, and he had the same kindly smile (only with teeth). Now, though, his posture was straight. His body rippled with muscles. His skin glowed like molten gold. He was the world's buffest, most golden grandpa, and his smile was directed at Percy, and then his hand was on her shoulder. "I should thank you."

"T-thank me?" Percy blinked, "I don't understand Lord Ra. Why would you want to thank me for anything I-" her breath caught, "I know it wasn't me but- but I nearly- when Apophis-"

"I have fought the snake since the beginning." Ra's voice was firm, "I know his power- even I cannot defeat him alone. You child- what you did was courageous in the highest degree. You forced him out. Yes he almost managed to swallow me while I was weak and confused but you seized back enough control from him and you prevented it. If you had not had such strength-"

"I-" Percy shook her head, "But you wouldn't have been in that danger if it wasn't for me Lord Ra."

"Yes I would have been. If not you then he'd have possessed the magician Menshikov and things would have undoubtedly gone rather differently. No, what you did took much courage and saved lives I do not doubt that."

"I-" Percy ducked her head, staring down at her feet. "He- what he did to me, being his host... chaos magic-"

"Yes." Ra nodded, "There are few who would survive playing host to my foe. And none who could have forced him out as you did. The effects- well, I cannot claim to know how far they'll reach."

"I fell into the Sea of Chaos and it didn't kill me." Percy whispered the words, "That- that's not supposed to be possible Lord Ra."

"Perhaps not." Ra squeezed her shoulder again, "But then you are not supposed to be possible either and here you are. A child of two world. The rules don't seem to apply to you quite how they would to others. You have much potential- and more importantly you have a good heart. I look forward to fighting by your side."

"I-" Percy blinked, "What if Apophis tries to take me over again?" her voice was small, but the smile Ra gave her made her feel warm, safe.

"If he tries I have no doubt that he will fail." Ra told her, "You will force him out once more. My enemy fears your strength." Ra waved a hand and a Khopesh was suddenly in the air between them. "A blade for you."

"I-" Percy hesitated before reaching out and taking the weapon slowly. "You really want me to fight by your side?"

"Yes." Ra chuckled, "Your brother and sister have their roles to play- and they will need us to give them time to cast the spell after all. And it would be the highest of honors to fight alongside you." and Percy felt like her head was about to explode.

Ra was telling her that he'd be honored to fight beside her. Not the other way around, that it would be an honor for him.

It was more than a little mind boggling.

"I-" Percy straightened slightly, her expression turning determined as she tightened her grip on the hilt of her khopesh.
"It will be an honor to fight alongside you Lord Ra." and.. maybe he knew that she needed this.

"You shall be my second in this battle then." Ra waved a hand and Percy's ripped, burned, bloody and torn clothes were transformed and she was clad in a dress, much like those Percy had seen in paintings depicting ancient Egypt- there was no armor- but Percy was glad of that, it would be heavy and restrictive and probably not that helpful against Apophis.

There was a golden neck collar around her throat, and golden armbands on her upper arms and wrists.

She swallowed hard, forcing down the rush of emotions- and there were a lot of them. It was hard to process if she was honest- but she'd needed this. Needed the sign that despite what she'd done before she was still trusted.. He was Ra after all, it wasn't crazy to think that he could tell how shaken she'd been from that feeling of control being stolen. This was her chance to take it back.

"Good." Ra glanced back and Percy followed his gaze, "Your brother and sister have their own worries. I cannot blame them-" And Percy could see that Sadie was leaning into Carter's side.

"She lost Walt." Percy said after a moment.

"Not forever." Ra's voice was calm, "The boy is now Anubis' host. They can give one another the chance to live a full life."

Percy blinked. "That-" she paused, "So Walt's not dead and he's not gonna die?"

"Not if we can stop the serpent from plunging this world into chaos." Ra confirmed.

"Huh." Percy blinked before shrugging, "Well that should mean Sadie gets to stop being all conflicted about it. Honestly I dunno why she's looking so sad." She pulled a face, nose scrunching up- and Ra let out a loud laugh that seemed to startle Bes and Sobek- and Percy could hear Zia's laughter mixed in there as well.

"It is a rather big adjustment." Ra pointed out gently- and Percy could see that Sadie and Carter had twisted to look towards Percy and Ra.

"What's so funny-" Carter started to call before pausing, trailing off when his gaze focused on Percy. "Uh- why?"

"Persephone has agreed to aid me against the snake whilst you must cast your spell." Ra's voice was firm. "The time is coming."

"You-" Carter faltered, "You want- but she's ten she can't-"

"Carter, Sadie you can't stop me." Percy gave them a reassuring look. "I'll be okay."

"It is only fitting." Ra declared, squeezing Percy's shoulder again, gently. "Come now Carter and Sadie Kane. Join us."

And Percy could see Carter and Sadie exchanging bemused and confused looks before they both rose and made their way to the bow to join them as the sun boat finally emerged from the Duat.

The River of Night disappeared behind them and they sailed across the clouds.

The Egyptian landscape spread out red and gold and green in the dawn. To the west, sandstorms swirled across the desert. To the east, the Nile snaked its way through Cairo. Directly below us, at the edge of the city, three pyramids rose on the plains of Giza.

Sobek struck his staff against the bow of the ship. He shouted like a herald: "At last, Ra has truly returned! Let his people rejoice! Let his throngs of worshippers assemble!"

And Percy wasn't sure if Sobek said that because he wanted to suck up to Ra- after all Ra had been reborn now, he was himself again no longer a weak old man.

It was either that or he was just being an asshole and trying to make Ra feel worse- because there were no throngs of worshippers to assemble. Percy had never seen the vista looking so deserted- and over the years she'd seen it a lot. And there were fires burning across the city.

That was highly probable- Sobek was an asshole, Percy still didn't like him- the whole trying to kill Carter and Sadie stuff had been infuriating to say the least, she'd probably never forgive the god for that.

"Where is everyone?" that came from Sadie, her voice was shaky, which was fair enough in Percy's opinion.

Sobek hissed in disgust. "I should have known. The weak humans are in hiding, or scared away because of the unrest in Egypt. Apophis has planned this well. His chosen battleground will be clear of mortal annoyances."

Percy winced- she knew that had been a lot of strange natural disasters in Egypt lately- she'd seen other magicians reporting to Amos, she'd known that it was connected to Apophis but still. It wasn't good.

And Percy could sense him. She forced herself to look into the Duat, even though it was the last thing she wanted to do, and Percy saw.

The area wasn't empty after all. Encircling the base of the Great Pyramid was an enormous serpent formed from a swirling tornado of red sand and darkness. His eyes were burning points of light. His fangs were forks of lightning.

Wherever he touched, the desert boiled, and the pyramid itself shook with a horrible resonance. One of the oldest structures in human history was about to crumble.

Percy swallowed hard- the presence of Apophis, the closeness of the snake was almost overwhelming. But she braced herself, glancing towards Ra, who gave her a reassuring nod.

And all around them Percy could sense the mortals across Cairo, cowering in their homes, too afraid to go out. They might not know exactly what was going on but they knew something was.

It felt like the whole land of Egypt was holding it's breath.