And so it begins- and yes Percy would probably willingly attack Apophis all on her own even if the other gods weren't there. And yes she is awesome and badass.
Replies:
Thickneck: At some point in the future, Zeus is being a dick when they first meet. "How dare, you, who do you think you are-"
"I was Ra's fucking second in command bitch, I fought the Lord Of Chaos by his side when I was ten, I saved his life when I was nine. Fucking try me." Cue everyone around just staring in horror at this tiny mortal giving Zeus a death glare.
Guest: Ding ding ding. Luke stole it on the evening I believe when the rest of the demigods were asleep. Percy will meet a Demigod from camp when they're on their way to go to Olympus for the Solstice. And yes both Bast and Amos warned them against going to Manhattan but do you really think that would stop her.
Walter Ha: Well here it begins.
Guest: Would it now?
Undeath9087: It really is, and it's gonna be so much fun!
Rage2091: He's wise and he's kind at heart, he's a better king than Zeus in my opinion.
Brendiboi633: Thank you! I hope you keep enjoying this series.
Guest: I agree honestly. I think Ra's stronger than any of the Olympians, Horus, Set, Osiris, Isis and Nephthys are probably on the same level as the Olympians, and gods like Sobek and, as much as I love her, Bast, are probably closer to the level of minor gods. Still very powerful but not actually on the Olympians level.
AarBeaZ: There won't be a minific now, but the new character will be introduced in the very early chapters of the next fic.
As they watched Apophis reared his massive cobra head. He struck at the desert floor, biting a house-sized crater in the sand. Then he recoiled as if he'd been stung, and hissed with anger.
Percy's brows furrowed- what was he fighting? She leaned forward slightly, and- it took her a long moment to see what he was fighting and when she did her breath caught- it was a small lithe figure in a leopard-skin leotard, knives flashing in both hands as she leaped with inhuman agility and speed, striking at the serpent and evading his bite. All by herself, Bast was holding Apophis at bay.
"She's alone. Where are the others?" Sadie's voice was pained, she looked horrified.
"They await the pharaoh's orders," Ra said. "Chaos has left them divided and confused. They will not march to battle without a leader."
"Then lead them!" Sadie demanded, looking like she wanted to scream- which made sense, they all loved Bast. But-
Percy saw the look on Ra's face and she nodded to herself. She knew what he was about to do.
Ra turned, "I will face my old enemy." his voice was calm- and Percy blinked and it looked like Zia again. "I won't let my loyal cat fight alone. Sobek, Bes, you will attend me. Persephone-"
"I'll fight with you." Percy swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest- and she could see the terrified looks on her siblings faces- though they didn't argue.
And Sobek nodded, "Yes my king."
Bes cracked his knuckles. His chauffeur's outfit vanished, replaced by only his Dwarf Pride Speedo. "Chaos…get ready to meet Ugly."
"Wait-" Carter shook his head, "What about us? We've got the serpents shadow." The ship was descending rapidly now, coming in for a landing just south of the pyramids.
"First things first, Carter." Zia pointed to the Great Sphinx, which stood about three hundred meters from the pyramids.
"You and Sadie must help your uncle."
Between the Sphinx's paws, a trail of smoke rose from a tunnel entrance.
Percy felt her heart stop for a second- she knew that the tunnel was sealed to keep archaeologists from finding their way into the First Nome. Obviously, the tunnel had been forced open.
"The First Nome is about to fall," Zia said. Her form shifted again, and it was the sun god standing before them.
"I will hold off Apophis as long as I can," Ra said. "But if you don't help your uncle and your friends immediately, there will be no one left to save. The House of Life will crumble."
"Mom-" Percy felt her age suddenly- a terrified ten year old, "Mom's in there you guys-"
"We'll find her." Sadie said quickly, her face pale, "You're right Ra. We- we'll help them- Percy we'll protect mom. Carter-"
"Right-" Carter looked like he felt sick, before he took a deep breath, "You'll need these, Lord Ra."
He offered the sun god the crook and flail, but Ra shook his head. "When I told you the gods waited for their pharaoh," Ra said, "I meant you, Carter Kane, the Eye of Horus. I am here to fight my old enemy, not to assume the throne. That is your destiny. Unite the House of Life, rally the gods in my name. Never fear, we will hold Apophis until you come."
Carter stared at the crook and flail in his hands. He looked every bit as terrified as he had when Ra had crumbled to sand.
And Percy darted forward, wrapping her arms around her big brother tightly, just for a second, "You can do it Carter. You can do it you know you can. Now go make me proud."
"She's right." that was Sadie, "You're ready."
"Indeed," Ra agreed.
Carter looked up, a bit stunned as Percy pulled back and darted back to Ra's side.
Bes punched him in the shoulder. "'Course you're ready, kid. Now, stop wasting time and go save your mom and your uncle."
"I-" Carter and Sadie were both teary eyed, "Percy... Zia..." he swallowed hard, "You- good luck. Both of you. Percy-"
"Be careful." Sadie added when Carter's voice caught too much, "I don't think either of us can stand the grief of losing you for a second time today okay?"
"Got it." Percy gave a sheepish grin, "No dying on you guys."
And Carter gave a small nod before he stepped back and began to change shape. His clothes, his pack, even the crook and flail melted into plumage. His form shrank until he was a brown-and-white falcon. Then he spread his wings and dove off the side of the boat.
Percy watched before her gaze shifted to Sadie- who started to shrink too- and with seconds she was a beautiful kite- and Percy watched her sister soar into the air before she turned her head to look at Ra, swallowing hard. "I guess it's time." she wondered if she should reach out to Nephthys as Carter and Sadie had reached out to Horus and Isis.
She did like the goddess- and she'd been her host once before- but she hadn't really studied her path exactly, she'd always just done what felt natural. And the idea of being a host again- sure Nephthys was nothing like Apophis- she was good, kind, Apophis was terrifying and evil in the extreme. But still. The idea of being possessed again- even willingly, it made her chest go tight and she could taste the coppery tang of blood just thinking about it.
No. No. She could do this without the goddess.
"I understand." Nephthys' voice made Percy jump slightly, and she resisted the urge to shriek very loudly from surprise. Still, it was warm and gentle. "If you need me little one I will be here."
"I- Nephthys-"
"There is no need child. Be brave and fight well and when the time comes I will be ready."
Percy shook herself slightly, blinking rapidly as the voice faded, before she glanced at Ra again- and he was looking like Zia once more. And he- she- whichever was more appropriate, gave Percy a small nod- and Percy did what she did best, she acted.
She turned around, jogging to the other side of the boat before turning and breaking into a run, and she could hear Bes cheering her on as she ran past him, and then she was planting a foot on the railings, launching herself up into the air and forward- and really she was kind of sad that Carter and Sadie were already gone- Sadie at the very least would have probably cheered her on as she essentially did a front flip which turned into an elegant dive, she pressed one arm tight to her side, the other hand still gripping the gleaming golden blade that Ra had gifted her. And she could see Bast far before, and Bast had spotted her- she was purposely keeping Apophis' attention on her- that was good- Percy felt a smile forming on her lips- and then she was landing on the top of Apophis' head- and by all the gods but he really was huge- she felt like a flea on his back, but she didn't even falter.
Percy brought the golden blade down hard, digging it into the snakes scales on the top of his head- and she could see that Ra's sun boat was landing- that Sobek and Bes were rushing off to join the fight- and there was Zia- she was glowing- but Percy couldn't focus on that.
She took a deep breath before kicking her legs out so that she landed- and really, it was most helpful when Apophis reared his huge head in fury at the feeling of a sword slicing through his scales- and gravity did it's work- she clung to her khopesh, the curved blade hooked into Apophis' snakey flesh- and she slid down his head and back like a slide, tearing downwards through his scales, red gray liquid spilling out from the gash- though by the time Percy yanked her blade free and skidded down the last few feed she could see that the cut was already healing up.
Well that was going to be annoying.
And Percy grinned widely as she saw Sobek leaping onto the serpents back- and Bes had started to dance around in his speedos swinging a wooden club- and then a hand was hauling Percy to her feet.
"Kitten, you're not with Carter and Sadie." and Percy grinned at Bast- who looked exhausted, but pleased to see her nevertheless.
"They've gone to defend the First Nome and get the others help." Percy said quickly. "Ra asked me to help him battle Apophis-" and then there was another voice in her mind. One that was very distinctly less friendly. And the scar on her neck was burning with pain.
"Do you truly believe you can fight me?" and Percy felt her knees buckling instantly. She could hear Bast letting out a worried cry as she caught Percy's arm, stopped her from hitting her knees hard. "Your nature is of Chaos! You belong by my side Percy Kane. Abandon Ra, betray him, I will spare those you love-"
"No." Percy gritted her teeth, closing her eyes tightly for a brief second, "No, you won't." and then she was opening her eyes- and she was flying towards Apophis's head- he was lunging for Zia- trying to take a nice sun sized bite of her, not that he was having much luck- her location seemed to shift like a mirage, always several feet away from wherever Apophis struck.
And huh, Percy could work with that- yes, yes she could.
Whenever Apophis struck Percy was there, darting in, slashing at the snakes face- once, twice, sometimes three times before she'd dart backwards, dodge away.
She felt somewhat smug when Bast managed to leap onto Apophis' head, slashing wildly with her knives, then she'd jump away- they were both thinking along the same lines, short bursts of attacks and then retreats, they couldn't defeat Apophis but they could hold him off- and Zia was throwing fireballs at Apophis- each one of them exploding against the serpent's body and disrupting his form. Though it always flickered before returning to it's previous strength- which was super annoying in Percy's humble opinion.
Though- it was very satisfying, getting the chance to slice at the serpent- he lunged for her again and Percy focused, transforming- and she resisted the urge to cackle madly as she became a hawk and flew out of Apophis' closing jaws, wheeling around and clawing at his eyes before he could stop her before she soared away with a strong flap of her wings, transforming mid air and dropping down onto his head again- where she joined Bast for a brief moment slicing through his scales before they both leapt down in opposite directions.
It was annoying, knowing that they weren't causing significant damage, but again, they were just trying to weaken him, to hold him off for as long as they could. None of them would be strong enough to beat him- heck Percy wasn't sure if even all of the gods working together would stand a chance- and wasn't that an upsetting thought.
Still, they were definitely annoying Apophis- especially Percy and Zia- he couldn't seem to decide which of them he wanted to kill most.
On one hand Zia was the Eye of Ra, his eternal enemy, ever since Ra had existed Apophis' goal had been to eat him and plunge the world back into Chaos.
On the other hand there was Percy, the girl who he'd chosen to host him, who had in return defied him, denied him multiple times and cast him back into the Duat, even if it had only been a temporary thing.
That was good though- it split his focus, made it easier to fight him. But even with that small advantage it was very obvious that they wouldn't last for that long against the serpent.
And gods but Percy hoped that Carter and Sadie wouldn't take long.