In which we get a little Carter here. You guys will enjoy this I'm sure.
Replies:
Thickneck: We shall have to wait and see.
Undeath9087: Oh yeah, intense is one word for it. And I do get what you mean.
Guest: I mean, Sally is still very much in love with Julius and also is in love with a ghost, Ruby. All of their love lives are complicated. Sadie definitely has people she can go to for advice about her confusing feelings. Also, there will be certain interactions in the next fic with Percy and Anubis that I love.
Guest: I admit that made me laugh.
Guest: It's because Sadie is the most skilled with magic in this case- Carter's good at battle magic but he's not actually as good at normal magic like Sadie is. Walt is Death magic so that won't fly and Amos is working with Set and has more chaotic magic so it's out for him too.
Noir Nyan: I'm glad you're enjoying! And I hope you keep enjoying it lol.
Carter loved both of his sisters- and he was scared out of his mind about Percy as it was. Hearing Sadie invoking Ma'at again, after it had nearly killed her the last time, yeah, that was not something he'd wanted to ever do- but it worked. Carter sensed the shift, like Sadie had struck a tuning fork against the foundation of the earth.
Deep harmony resonated outward through every level of the Duat.
The Hall of Ages stilled. Columns rose and repaired themselves. The cracks in the ceiling and floor sealed. Holographic curtains of light blazed once again along either side of the hall, and hieroglyphs once more filled the air.
Sadie collapsed into Walt's arms, Carter felt like his world was falling apart, there was a roaring in his ears- but a moment later Walt turned his head to look at Carter.
"She's alive." and that sent relief flooding through him. One sister alive, the other- best not to think about that.
In any case Sadie wasn't out for long- though by the time her eyes fluttered open the other magicians around them were waking and slowly getting to their feet.
Sadie had been set down on the floor, only briefly but still- and Amos was the one who reached down to her and helped her to her feet with a reassuring smile when she let out a groan and opened her eyes. "Up you come, my girl-" and then Carter almost pushed past their uncle, his arms wrapping tightly around her.
"You did amazing." Carter muttered the words into his little sister's ear, "You did freaking amazing." then he pulled back, "But it's not over yet-" and- sure now probably wasn't the time but Carter had to ask. He needed to know.
"Where's mom?" because the idea of her still being at the First Nome was terrifying- but Amos gave him a reassuring smile, "She is safe-"
"I had her sent to the Fourteenth Nome." that came from behind- and Carter turned to look at Desjardins, who gave a small nod, "I thought it for the best- it was not ideal but she should be there and safe by now with two healers."
"Thank you!" Sadie lurched forward, hugging the Frenchman tightly. "Thank you so much Desjardins."
"There is no need to thank me." the white haired man looked faintly embarrassed, and Carter snapped back to the Red Pyramid for a brief second, forcing down a weak laugh at the memories- Percy and Sadie really were too alike- and it did show how much things had changed that Desjardins was patting her shoulder awkwardly. "I knew that if she was here she would be an attractive target for the rebels, so I convinced her to leave."
"You might have saved her life." Carter said firmly, "That's reason enough to thank you in my books." then he took a deep breath. "We need to get back to the surface now. Are you guys ready?"
Sadie nodded at that- though he could see the uncertainty in her eyes- he understood why of course. They were both in pretty rough shape from the fight. They'd used up too much energy in the fight for the Hall of Ages. Even with the gods help, well they were in no condition to fight Apophis, not really. But what choice did they have- Carter's mind kept slipping to Percy. Percy who was out there fighting alongside Ra- alongside Zia, to fend off Apophis for as long as possible.
Then Amos was speaking.
"Carter." his voice was formal- which felt strange-and he gestured to the empty throne. "You are the blood of the pharaohs, Eye of Horus. You carry the crook and flail, bestowed by Ra. The kingship is yours. Will you lead us, gods and mortals, against the enemy?"
And Carter forced himself to stand straighter- he had doubts- had fears, of course he did. But they needed him to be strong- he met Sadie's gaze and saw a proud gleam in them- though he was sure she'd later deny it.
He had to try and be strong- at least on the outside.
"I'll lead you." he spoke as loudly and clearly as he could. "But the throne will have to wait. Right now Ra needs us. We have to get to the surface. Can you show us the quickest way?"
Amos nodded. "And the rest of you?"
The other magicians shouted assent—even the former rebels.
"We aren't many," Walt observed. "What are your orders, Carter?"
And Carter knew that at least- and he knew what to do, which was a rare thing. And honestly he was glad it was all happening so quickly- it meant that he didn't have time to stop and process any of what was happening. "First we get reinforcements." he declared, "It's time I summoned the gods to war."
But first they needed to get outside. And he could hear Horus in his head, urging him on, lending him his courage- a fact which Carter was honestly kind of grateful for- especially when they did reach the surface because he felt the urge to run back inside screaming like a kindergartener- except the actual kindergarteners didn't actually look very scared- Shelby had quite happily asked Sadie where Percy was, and had then declared that she wanted to help Percy kill the snake.
In any case, when the small group of magicians popped out of a secret tunnel halfway up Khafre's pyramid it was... well, terrifying probably wasn't the right word.
And Carter wasn't sure how he'd describe the snake if he was asked later- to say Apophis was huge would be like saying the Titanic took on a little water. Since they'd been underground, the serpent had grown. Now he coiled under the desert for miles, wrapping around the pyramids and tunnelling under the outskirts of Cairo, lifting entire neighborhoods like old carpeting.
Only the serpent's head was above ground, but it rose almost as tall as the pyramids. It was formed of sandstorm and lightning and when it fanned out its cobra's crest, it displayed a blazing hieroglyph no magician would ever write: Isfet, the sign of Chaos- which Carter knew so much better than he'd ever wanted to.
The four gods battling Apophis looked tiny in comparison.
Sobek straddled the serpent's back, chomping down again and again with his powerful crocodile jaws and smashing away with his staff. His attacks connected, but they didn't seem to bother Apophis.
Bes danced around in his Speedo, swinging a wooden club and yelling, "Boo!" so loudly, the people in Cairo were probably cowering under the beds. But the giant Chaos snake did not look terrified.
Bast wasn't having much luck either. She leaped onto the serpent's head and slashed wildly with her knives, then jumped away before Apophis could shake her off.
And Carter could see Zia- stood between the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx, she was surrounded in brilliant golden light. It was hard to look directly at her, but she was shooting fireballs like a Roman candle—each one exploding against the serpent's body and disrupting his form. The serpent retaliated, biting chunks out of the desert, but he couldn't seem to find Zia. Somehow she was never there when he landed.
And for a second Carter's heart stopped as he tried and failed to spot Percy- until he realised that Apophis' attention was torn- torn between Zia and- Carter could hardly believe his eyes- he'd thought that it was part of Apophis' sandstorm at first but there was- it was like a miniature hurricane- it was picking up the sand in the swirling winds which was why Carter hadn't realised at first- and at the heart of it was Percy, bearing down on Apophis, her own storm battling with Apophis' sandstorm, and she was actually holding her own.
"Is that-" Felix's voice was startled, "Is that Percy?! WHOOOO!" he pumped his fist in the air, jumping and laughing.
"Well." Desjardins blinked, "That's not something I ever thought I'd see."
"That's our sister." Sadie's voice was proud- and Percy couldn't help but grin with pride too.
But Carter did feel a sliver of worry. Percy was strong and powerful but- how long could she last against something like that?
"What do we do?" that came from Jaz- and Carter could hear the anxiety in her voice. But he was grateful for the reminder that he was in charge- he needed to keep focused.
"Wait for my signal."
"Which is what?" Sadie gave him that familiar look and Carter managed a smile, "I don't know yet. I'll be back."
Then he closed his eyes and sent his ba into the heavens.
Suddenly he was stood in the throne room of the gods. Stone columns soared overhead. Braziers of magical fire stretched into the distance, their light reflecting on the polished marble floor. In the center of the room, Ra's sun boat rested on its dais. His throne of fire sat empty.
The room seemed to be empty- but it wouldn't be long. Carter and Horus spoke in unison. "Come to me! Fulfill your oath of loyalty!"
Trails of glowing smoke drifted into the room like slow-motion comets. Lights blazed to life, swirling between the columns. All around Carter, the gods materialized.
A swarm of scorpions scuttled across the floor and merged to form the goddess Serqet, who glared at Carter distrustfully from beneath her scorpion-shaped crown. Babi the baboon god climbed down from the nearest column and bared his fangs. Nekhbet the vulture goddess perched on the prow of the sun boat. Shu the wind god blew in as a dust devil, then took the appearance of a World War II pilot, his body created entirely from dust, leaves, and scraps of paper.
There were dozens more: the moon god Khonsu in his silver suit; the sky goddess Nut, her galactic blue skin glimmering with stars; Hapi the hippie with his green fish-scale skirt and his crazy smile; and a severe-looking woman in camouflage hunting clothes, a bow at her side, grease paint on her face, and two ridiculous palm fronds sticking out of her hair—Neith, presumably- the goddess Sadie had met- she'd briefly told him how she'd distracted the goddess and brought herself and Walt the time they'd needed to survive her challenge.
Carter had hoped for more friendly faces- but, well, their father couldn't leave the Underworld. Thoth was still stuck in his pyramid, and many other gods- those most likely to help were also under siege from the forces of chaos.
They would have to do. Hopefully they'd be enough to help them defeat Apophis.
Carter faced the assembled gods, and he hoped his legs weren't shaking too badly. He still felt like Carter Kane- but he knew that when they looked at him they saw Horus the Avengers.
He brandished the crook and flail. "These are the symbols of the pharaoh, given to me by Ra himself. He has named me your leader. Even now, he is facing Apophis. We must join the battle. Follow me and do your duty."
Serqet hissed. "We only follow the strong. Are you strong?"
Carter moved with lightning speed. I lashed the flail across the goddess, cutting her into a flaming pile of baked scorpions.
A few live critters scuttled out of the wreckage. They moved to a safe distance and began to re-form, until the goddess was whole again, cowering behind a brazier of blue flames.
The vulture goddess Nekhbet cackled. "He is strong."
"Then come," The words were an order.
And with that his ba returned to earth and Carter opened his eyes.
Above Khafre's pyramid, storm clouds gathered. With a clap of thunder they parted, and the gods charged into battle—some riding war chariots, some in floating warships, some on the backs of giant falcons. The baboon god Babi landed atop the Great Pyramid. He pounded his chest and howled.
Carter couldn't help the smile that formed on his lips as he turned his gaze to the others. "How's that for a signal?"