Hello guys- in which Percy does not give a single fuck if she's talking to a god, and also, we love Zia.
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Ryan Fowler: This is a bit more cheerful, especially the end.
Guest: All of the gods know what Percy is- just to clear that up. And honestly, I've already planned Percy and Hades' first interactions and he's very much like 'What the actual fuck is this strange child?' because of how they meet, and it's gonna be fun.
Anubis led them from the field of darkness to a space in the darkness that looked no different than any other. But when he pushed with his hand a door swung open. The entrance blazed with daylight.
Anubis turned- he bowed formally to Carter, nodded respectfully at Percy and Sally before he looked at Sadie with a glint of mischief in his eyes, "It's been... stimulating-" and Percy heard her mom's soft little gasp and saw her smiling despite the sadness in her eyes as Sadie flushed and pointed at the god almost accusingly.
"We're not done, mister. I expect you to look after my parents. And next time I'm in the Land of the Dead, you and I will have words."
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I'll look forward to that." and then the four Kanes stepped through the doorway and into the palace of the gods.
It looked exactly like Sadie had described- she'd told Percy about her visions in much detail in the days after Phoenix and D.C.
There were soaring stone columns, fiery braziers, a polished marble floor, and in the middle of the room, a gold-and-red throne. All around them, gods had gathered. Many were just flashes of light and fire. Some were shadowy images that shifted from animal to human. Percy recognised some of them- from stories or meeting them recognized a few: She vaguely recognised Thoth from the stories Carter and Sadie had told her- as a wild-haired guy in a lab coat before he turned into a cloud of green gas, Hathor, the cow-headed goddess, gave them a puzzled look, as if she vaguely recognized them from the Magic Salsa incident. Bast wasn't there- Percy felt sad at that, but there wasn't anything they could do.
"What have we started?" Sadie murmured the words- and Percy couldn't blame her. The throne room was full of hundreds of gods, major and minor, all darting through the palace, forming new shapes, glowing with power. An entire supernatural army...and they all seemed to be staring at the four of them.
Percy's gaze sought Nephthys- though she couldn't find her. Perhaps she'd gone to deal with her annoying stupid husband Percy decided, it was fine with Percy. She knew the goddess cared.
In any case, even with all of the gods Percy didn't know there were two familiar ones stood next to the throne. Percy hadn't met either of them outside of when they were inside her siblings heads but she knew who they were- Horus and Isis. Horus wore full battle armor and a khopesh sword at his side. His kohl-lined eyes—one gold, one silver—were piercing.. At his side stood Isis in a shimmering white gown, with wings of light.
"Welcome." Horus greeted them.
"Um, hi." Carter looked incredibly nervous.
"He has a way with words," Isis muttered, which made Sadie snort.
Horus gestured to the throne. "I know your thoughts, Carter, so I think I know what you will say. But I have to ask you one more time. Will you join me? We
could rule the earth and the heavens. Ma'at demands a leader."
"Yeah, so I've heard."
"I would be stronger with you as my host. You've only touched the surface of what combat magic can do. We could accomplish great things, and it is your destiny to lead the House of Life. You could be the king of two thrones."
Carter glanced at Percy and Sadie, and Sadie shrugged, "Don't look at me. I find the idea horrifying."
And Percy glared at Horus, her eyes narrowing. "You tryin' to take my big brother away?" and Carter started to snicker as Horus blinked slowly.
"Are you trying to intimidate me?"
"Is it working?" and Horus' lips twitched at Percy's question.
"You're indeed a formidable little warrior." his expression was almost indulgent- and Percy found herself thinking that it was rather like the look Carter gave
her sometimes. "I would be a fool not to be afraid."
"Good. 'Cause if you try and take Carter away Imma chop off your arms and shove 'em up your butt."
"PERCY!" Sally's voice was shocked, and Sadie let out a loud cackle of laughter as Horus blinked rapidly, leaning back ever so slightly.
"I forgot how violent your kind could be." he said after a moment, shaking his head.
"Uh-" Carter let out a nervous laugh, "To answer your question... maybe some day. Much later. I think I want to stick around with my family for now. I have a
lot to learn still."
Horus sighed. "Five thousand years, and I still do not understand mortals. But—very well."
He stepped up to the throne and looked around at the assembled gods.
"I, Horus, son of Osiris, claim the throne of the heavens as my birthright!" he shouted. "What was once mine shall be mine again. Is there any who would challenge me?"
The gods flickered and glowed. A few scowled. One muttered something that sounded like "Cheese," although that could've been Percy's imagination. She caught a glimpse of Sobek, or possibly another crocodile god, snarling in the shadows. But no one raised a challenge. Horus took his seat on the throne. Isis brought him a crook and flail—the twin scepters of the pharaohs. He crossed them over his chest and all the gods bowed before him.
When they rose again, Isis stepped toward them, "Carter, Sadie and Percy Kane, you have done much to restore Ma'at. The gods must gather their strength, and you have bought us time, though we do not know how much. Apophis will not stay locked away forever."
"I'd settle for a few hundred years," Sadie pulled a face.
Isis smiled. "However long that may be, today you are heroes. The gods owe you a debt, and we take our debts seriously."
Horus rose from the throne. With a wink at Carter, he knelt before them. The other gods shifted uncomfortably, but then followed his example. Even the gods in fire form dimmed their flames.
Percy felt a rush of shock-because these were gods. They were gods and they were kneeling to three kids. Sadie and Carter looked as stunned as Percy felt.
And Horus laughed, his gaze focused on Carter, "You look like that time when Zia told you—"
"Yeah, could we skip that?" Carter's face went red- and Percy glanced at Sadie, who gave her a grin and a small nod-whatever happened they totally needed to find out so that they could tease him for the rest of his life. As was their duty as the youngest of the family.
"Go in peace, Carter, Sadie, and of course you too Percy" Horus said. "You will find our gift in the morning."
"Gift?" Carter asked quickly. "You'll see," Isis promised. "We will be watching you, and waiting."
"That's what scares me," Sadie said.
Isis waved her hand, and suddenly they were back on the mansion's terrace as if nothing had happened.
Percy blinked slowly, "So that just happened."
"You three should be so proud of yourselves." Sally spoke up- she'd been stood back during the meeting with the gods, she might have been there but she hadn't fought Set with them, so it made sense.
"Right." Carter looked down at his hand as he held it out, the amulet was glowing faintly beneath the linen wrapping, "Do you know what this thing does mom?"
"Hmmm." Sally pressed her lips together, "I'm not sure- but we'll figure it out. I assume based on what your father said that it'll help recruit other magicians. But I can't say for sure."
"You okay Sadie?" Percy asked suddenly- because Sadie was gazing blankly into the air.
"Hmmm- oh, yeah yeah I am." Sadie paused before asking, "What did Anubis look like to you?"
"What did-" Carter blinked, "He looked like a guy. What's the big deal?"
"A good-looking guy or a slobbering dog-headed guy?"
"He was very cute." Sally let out a laugh, shaking her head fondly, a knowing look on her face- and Percy blinked, confused- but hey, her siblings were weird, she didn't need to understand them to love them now did she?
"I knew it!" Sadie pointed at Carter triumphantly, "Good-looking! I knew it!" and with that she turned around, a huge grin on her lips as she skipped into the house.
And the next morning the Kanes got the gods' gift.
They woke to find that the mansion had been completely repaired- down to the smallest detail- things that the five magicians who had actually been working on it hadn't had the time to get to yet- it would have taken them weeks to get the fine detail fixed up, but that was no longer a worry.
And Percy was very happy to find that the closet was stocked with new clothes- sure they'd had some but- well there hadn't been many, the priority had been
sorting the house out, and Percy was very happy to be able to wear something new for a change- a light blue long sleeved dress- since she'd gotten used to wearing older mucky clothes that she could get dirty and ripped without worrying about. It'd be nice to feel pretty for once.
When she headed downstairs she could smell pancakes baking, and Khufu and Sadie were dancing around the Great Room, Khufu wearing a new Lakers jersy and holding a brand new basket ball.
When Sadie spotted Percy she let out a laugh, pulling away from Khufu to grab Percy's hand and whirl her around, Percy letting out giddy laughter as they danced.
"It's all fixed! We have a home again."
"I always had a home." Percy declared brightly, "Home is where you guys are." and that made Sadie blink, her expression startled for just a second before she laughed and hugged Percy tightly.
"That's kind of adorable-"
"I'm not adorable! I'm a kick butt warrior-"
"Damn straight." Sadie laughed, "I'll be sure not to forget that."
"You two are up early." that came from Carter- who was on his way down the stairs- and Percy beamed as she pulled away from Sadie and focused on her brother- her eyes widening in surprise.
"What are you wearing?" It was Sadie who asked the question. Because Carter usually dressed as smart as he could- to make their dad happy- he did usually expect higher standards of dressing from Carter because they all knew people would look at him differently than they looked at Percy- it was stupid but true.
Not that he didn't look smart enough- he looked like a normal teenager, in jeans, sneakers and a hoodie.
"Um, it's all cotton." his face was red, "Okay for magic. Dad would probably think I look like a gangster."
"You don't." Percy scowled, "I'll kick anyone who says you do in the butt."
"Y'know." Sadie snickered, "Percy's more of a gangster than you are-"
"I'm aware of that fact." Carter grinned slightly. "Thanks Percy- that's real nice to know."
"You look fine by the way." Sadie shook her head with a smile on her lips, "You almost look like a regular teenager. I bet Zia'll be super impressed-"
"Shut up. Before I get my sword and stab you for being annoying." he paused. "Where is Zia?"
"In the kitchen- Sally's teaching her how to do the perfect pancakes."
"Only mom." Carter grinned, "I'm pretty sure there's shabati's and other spells to do the cooking for us aren't there?"
"Yeah, but mom's like, the ultimate boss of the kitchen." Percy shrugged, "I don't think anyone could keep her away from making us food."
"I gotta admit, Sally's food is the best." Sadie nodded seriously, "Like- I don't know how she does it but I've never had anything bad- though I still think blue cookies are weird-"
"Blasphemy!" Percy pointed dramtically, "Carter! Carter she spoke ill of the sacred blue cookies!"
And Carter laughed, a grin on his lips, "That cannot be tolerated, you're right Percy. What should we do-"
"What should-" Sadie's eyes narrowed, "You two losers aren't doing anything you hear- no- no-" Sadie took off running as Carter and Percy shot after her, all
three of them laughing as Sadie leaped over one of the magical brooms that was in the middle of it's cleaning routine.
"Carter! You go round the other side-"
"Don't you dare!"
"We'll get her Percy!"
And by the time Sally and Zia emerged from the kitchen Sadie was pinned down beneath Percy- who was sat on her back with Carter running in a circle around them, all three of them cackling madly, though Carter skidded to a halt when she spotted Zia and Sally, Zia carrying a stack of plates and cutlery, and Sally carrying a tray laden with dozens of pancakes and toppings.
"Zia! I just- uh- Sadie and Percy-"
"You seem to be having fun." Zia's lips twitched. "You're cute when you blush Carter Kane."