"Well...you wanted a desert so...here we are." Jexi said as they stood in the middle of a vast desert.
"Ugh...It's so hot." Rutee said with a shadow over her eyes and her upper body slumped over.
"It's a desert, so naturally it's this hot." Hope said.
"Ugh...it was cooler in that oasis town. Why did we leave?" Gemini asked.
"Cause we're following some rumor about a tomb being supposedly out here in this part of the desert." G. Aqua said.
"Oh come on. The desert heat is not as bad as you think." Nesma said.
"Maybe it's due to you being a Bastet?" Emil asked.
"I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it." David said.
"You know, travelers tend to stock up on water bottles to keep themselves hydrated when making long treks through the desert. You'll never know what you'll end up running into or how far it stretches before anything is found." Kareem said. "Heck, I think there may even be a golf course or two out here."
"Are you messing with us?" Al asked.
"Forgive him. He tends to be rather outgoing in times like this." Bassam said. "But it is true, the desert and mountains make climates for some pretty tricky golf courses."
"Wait, really?" Al asked surprised.
"I think it's pretty true. We can always check other locations to confirm it." Sakura said.
"Well if that's the case, I bet golfers would have one hell of a time getting around this desert." Fefnir said.
"Seriously, no one would come to the desert to...hey...I think I see something." Cobalt said as they rushed to see a large temple standing tall and made entirely of stone.
"Hmm… Yes, no doubt about it. This looks like the place." Nesma said.
"It's almost as big as Apocalypse's pyramid." Duran said.
"Hmm...looks like we have some willing explorers already." Gardevoir said, looking down to the entrance as they saw four small Pokèmon running into it.
"A Torchic, Tepig, Shinx and Rockruff. Quite the quartet." Riolu said.
"Hmm… I wonder what reason they would have for coming here…" Cheetah said. "After all, temples in deserts tend to usually contain some sort of puzzle."
"We can attest with her on that." Jade C said. "A lot of temples we tend to run into have a lot of puzzles of different varieties."
"Yes, however, Egypt tends to have a lot of mythos, and thus, there could be a lot of different kinds of monsters lurking in there." Cheetah said.
"Yes. These temples have been known for housing powerful monsters that guard their treasures." Nesma said.
"We'd better follow those Pokémon in then." Lin said.
They soon headed on into the temple to find the interior dark and decorated with a number of statues.
"These are a lot of familiar sights. We almost feel at home here." Kareem said.
"Who are these guys?" Theo asked.
"Atum and his nine warriors. The protectors of the Desert Universe." Sheer said.
"Atum...you mean like that guy we met in the Tower." Jexi said.
"Yes...you could consider him a current king as it were." Sheer said.
"His nine warriors: Osiris, Anubis, Isis, Ra, Horus, Seth, Serket, Hathor and Bastet." Robin said.
"Wait a second… Those names, they're… It can't be…!" David said.
"Yes… Those are all names of Egyptian Gods." Cheetah said. "Some of their namesake creatures from desert areas are even said to have been built in their images."
"We… We can attest to that." Nesma said. "This has been mentioned before, but I am a Bastet, and Kareem and Bassam are Anubis. We…look very much like our namesake gods, don't we?"
"Oh I can attest to that." a voice said as they looked down a hall as a woman with long blond hair dressed in white and pink, carrying a golden sword and having cow horns on her head.
"Those cow horns… You're...Hathor, right?" David asked.
"Correct. As of right now, this unknown temple is under the protection of Atum and his nine warriors, myself included." Hathor said.
"Hold on Mistress Hathor, we're not intruders." Ichiro said.
"Uh, Ichiro, we came inside this temple unannounced. I think we qualify as intruders." Vashyron said.
"It doesn't matter if you are intruders or not...I have been asked to chase away all intruders." Hathor said.
"Now, now… I'm sure there is no need for us to get testy with each other here." Ross said.
"Well...aren't you big and tall? Mmm...maybe you and I could...work something out." Hathor said to Ross.
"W-wait, what? Are you really insinuating…" Ross started.
"Is she really...seducing him?" Mayumi asked.
"Well, Hathor is the Egyptian Goddess of Love, after all." Cheetah said.
"Yes and the job does get lonely with only human men around." she said.
"Well, if Ross is okay with it, perhaps you could let us through provided the two of you spend some time together?" Ichiro offered.
"A-are you out of your mind?" Ross asked flustered.
"I second that question, Ichiro!" Mark practically yelled.
"Wait, isn't Hathor Horus's consort?"
"I'm pretty sure gods and goddesses aren't exactly restricted to one mate." David said.
"Plus all of those myths you humans read don't always apply to us since there are lots of universes out there. Gotta expand your thinking." Hathor said.
"Wow, you don't let anything stand in the way of love, way to go!" Marta said.
"Please don't tell me you're encouraging this." Ross said.
"Encouraging or not, she does have a point. I mean, the Mythos Universe houses pretty much every mythological creature known to man. Even ones supposedly tied to specific lores." David said.
"Yes, the Mythos Universe even has an area tied to each specific region of lore." Kokoro said.
"Exactly!" Hathor said.
"Guys, while I appreciate the educational factor, can we perhaps skip to the part where we stop this mad woman from hurting Ross?!" Mark said.
"What are you talking about? She clearly has no intention of hurting him." Nesma said.
"Honestly Mark, you worry too much sometimes when it comes to women." Hope said. "Although I can't blame you considering what happened in your past. Scars run deep sometimes."
"Don't want to know." David said.
"Not important right now." Mark agreed. "Look, if Ross is alright with it, I'd be fine, but he's clearly not. I'm not gonna let him take one for the team like this when we have other options."
"Well, she did say that she feels a bit lonely here… Hmm…" Ross ponders in thought.
"Guys, he's still in shock from how straightforward she was about this whole thing. Just give him some time to think it over." Petra said.
"Okay...I can wait." Hathor said.
"So, what's the plan, Stan? It's your call." David said.
"Well, it may have come out of nowhere, but… Just look at her. She's all alone out here with no one to talk to." Ross said.
"Yeah, she did seem very interested in you. Plus, we don't know for sure if she really does intend to harm you like Mark said she would. But this is someone in the image of an Egyptian Goddess… Maybe this will work out? I don't know… I'm not that good at this kind of thinking." Jesse said.
"Well, I'd say Ross will be okay with Hathor." Hope said. "She doesn't seem to have any intent to harm him. In fact, she lost all conflict in her eyes when she made eye contact with Ross."
"So, you could tell, too, huh?" Cheetah asked.
"Yeah. Who are we to judge people who are in front of us at first glance just because they are standing in our way. Hathor is lonely, and we can't really say she's an enemy because she's a guard." Hope said. "Fighting in a dungeon is one thing. But balancing that combat with compassion, is another."
"Hope is absolutely right. Not everything has to be solved by fighting." David said.
Mark took a deep breath and exhaled. "Alright. We'll let Ross hang out with her." he agreed.
"If it's any consolation, knowing how lonely she is, I would've wanted to stay with her anyway." Ross said.
"I knew you'd say that. You've got a big heart." David said.
"Heh… My heart amongst other things." Ross said.
The group soon broke up the huddle.
"Hathor, I… I'll do it. I'll stay with you for a while." Ross said.
"Oh wonderful." Hathor said, taking his arm.
"So...we saw four Pokémon walk in. Did you…" Theo asked.
"Oh...yes. They were so adorable I couldn't bear to strike. They headed towards the hall that leads to the treasure room." Hathor said.
"Treasure? That's quite the coincidence." Meowth said.
"See, Mark? Nothing to worry about. Ross is safe in her hands." David said.
"However, the other warriors in this temple are also styled after Egyptian Gods. Getting to the treasure room in this place isn't going to be easy." Cheetah said.
"It never is, but it hasn't stopped us yet." Kor said.
"I am quite interested in what trials we'll be put through." Bassam said. "Ross, you stay with her. We'll be back soon."
"Don't worry about me. We're going to have a lot to talk about." Ross said.
And so, the group left Ross to spend time with Hathor, ready to face the remaining 8 trials that laid before them.