Horus and Akefia watched as Ardeth and Rick flew on that bizarre antique plane and laughed their asses off while they tried to stay on.
Had Rick known that Horus had flying transport and liked them enough to share, chances were good that they would have been asked for help.
Instead, they got to watch them suffer through the flight.
"I will never speak a bad word about those pets of yours again!" cackled Akefia.
Horus snickered. When the undead mob created by Imhotep came around, Horus had his 'babies' eat anything that came too close to where they were enjoying a nice cup of tea. Scarabs didn't discriminate about the flesh they ate.
On the plus side, they did find out why the things ended up in those odd shells. It turned out that the scarabs often seen on walls (and collected by Horus) were in fact the eggs of the insects. The reason why they tended to attack when they hatched was because by the time they broke free they were voraciously hungry, having devoured the shell's 'yolk' for lack of a better term after only a few years.
Because of his love of the things, the scarabs never bothered him or Akefia who was often roped into helping him shine the egg shells. As far as the scarabs were concerned, the two brothers were their caretakers.
Imhotep apparently noticed this fact (or he was tired of having to replace the dead bodies that went near the two) because eventually they were left alone.
Surprisingly enough, this time the curator lived since Allah was paying attention. Apparently the appearance of Bast's chosen was enough to catch his attention.
Horus dropped him off at the nearest hospital for his wounds, and they went to follow Imhotep.
He wouldn't bother them while they were raiding the ancient city, and they would ignore his priests. Seeing Evy save Rick and Ardeth by kissing the undead priest just made them laugh harder.
While flying carpets were outdated, they still worked.
"Hello Imhotep. I see you've found your sacrifice."
"Mage, Thief. I take it you've found the treasury?"
"Indeed. I must thank you for giving us directions."
"If you'll excuse me, I must awaken my priests."
"We won't keep you. I've found another cache of scarabs that I intend to...liberate...from the walls."
Imhotep chuckled. Horus' fascination with scarabs certainly never made it to the tombs.
"Hello Ardeth. I think you guys need directions, because the statue of Horus is in the opposite direction," said Horus pleasantly.
"How the hell do you know that?"
Horus hooked a thumb to the wall five feet from him.
"That right there is a directory. Being able to read is a bit of a requirement for thieves if they want to live."
"Directory?" said Rick in disbelief.
"What? You think the planners kept the directions of where everything was supposed to go on a piece of paper? While this place was being built they had guards everywhere even during construction."
"Then do you know how the hell they built the pyramids?" asked Jonathan. He had to ask, otherwise Evy would kill him later.
"Are you nuts?! If we went anywhere near those things while they were being built we would have been roped into building the damn things! Besides, they were after our time!"
"How old are you two anyway?" asked Rick.
"Physically? In our twenties. In reality? Both of us lived during the Nameless Pharaoh's time and we hated his father."
"So you know where the statue is?"
"Follow us. There was a cache of scarabs we haven't hit."
"What is it with you and scarabs?" asked Rick.
"I like them. It amuses me to hear idiots pick them up only to get their hearts eaten out."
"I'm amazed that your animal form isn't a bloody scarab."
"By the way, what the hell happened to that fat pig that followed you here?" asked Ardeth.
"Killed by scarab from what I can tell. Fat bastard tried to steal them, didn't know one hatched, and then went running screaming only to crash into a wall. He was dead long before reached us, though I got to admit that it was a hell of a show. Most aren't able to run after the scarabs eat their heart," chuckled Horus. He had found it very entertaining indeed.
"I thought your pets went for the internal organs first? How the fuck was he able to scream?"
"It went after the heart first. He must have been running for only a few seconds, and there was only one hatched scarab near where Jonathan found his bag."
"I'm amazed the sleaze didn't accidentally hatch one," said Akefia.
"I CAN hear you, you know!" yelled Jonathan.
"We know! How you've managed to survive this long must be the luck of the gods!" retorted Akefia.
"You know what they say, brother. The god's favor fools and gamblers."
"Ain't that the truth."
Akefia laughed his ass off when Jonathan stupidly awakened the pharaoh's mummified guards. Too bad Horus only found ten of those jars.
"How did he managed to survive this long?"
"Fools and gamblers brother. Fools and gamblers. Jonathan is clearly both. Still, to try to read the incantation aloud when he barely remembered his hieroglyphics is just plain stupid."
"So when do we act?"
"Who the hell said anything about acting? We already rescued Ardeth, let's help ourselves to more treasure!"
"I love the way you think! To the treasure room then!"
They ran into Beni, the coward who had been helping Imhotep (why the mummy hadn't killed him yet was a mystery) carrying treasure out of the tombs. They kicked him out of the room and went back to work. There was more treasure than usual to steal, and Horus was very well aware how much the coins were worth.
He had practically cornered the market on genuine ancient coins since his return. The goblins were more than happy to help for a small fee whenever a collector wanted to add them to his collection.
It was the first time Horus had ever found a good use for all those copper coins he had around his treasure room. He had millions of those lying around.
When they felt the presence of Anubis, they did pause, but quickly went back to work. The scarab mounds occasionally cropped up, but they never went near the two.
Horus had Maha Vialo create a new pocket dimension for the bugs to run around in and filled it with sand from Egypt's desert. The little critters loved it, and quickly scampered through the portal into their new home.
At least now Horus had a place to throw Dumbledore if he continued to annoy him.
When the walls started to close in around them, Horus looked at his brother.
"Should we leave?"
"I've gotten my fill of gold. Let's leave the rest for the Medjai."
The two threw their sacks over their shoulder, walked into the Shadow Realm and popped out near Evy and Rick.
"I see you two are fine," said Horus amused.
"Where were you?"
"Raiding the treasury. Consider this my wedding present to you two," said Horus grinning.
Rick looked in the bag. It was mostly coins and a few odd artifacts.
"Why coins?"
"Do you have any idea how much these things are worth to collectors? I happen to have the black market in antique coins covered, and they go for more than the metal itself is worth. The pieces you can sell to the museums for a very good price. Like I said, consider this our wedding present to you. Something tells me this won't be the first time we have to keep wizards from using the Priest to further their own ends."
Once Akefia gave Ardeth his bag (as a down-payment for continued assistance later) the two went deeper into the desert.
"Ready to go home?"
"You better believe it. The sooner we deliver this traitor, the sooner Sirius can be free to walk around without the Ministry bothering us."
The English Ministry had been quite annoying when they learned Sirius was in Japan. Apparently they weren't pleased that the Japanese Aurors had cleared him.
"How was your trip?" asked Mokuba.
"Very good indeed. I found some of my missing pets and raided an ancient tomb. Which reminds me... Catch."
Mokuba caught the small bag, and opened it to reveal about fifty gold coins and a small statue of Hathor.
"Wow! Is this real?"
"From the City of the Dead itself. Even got a good Ouroboros bracelet with an Egyptian dragon instead of a snake for your brother. Figured he'd get a kick out of it."
Seto did, in fact, like the bracelet. The dragon was based on a living one that had been alive before the form had been breed out over a period of several thousand years.
He briefly considered starting a coin collection before dismissing it.
Two months after the Battle City tournament...
"Would someone mind telling me why the hell the Realm of the Beasts is spilling out?" asked Seth, drinking his tea.
"No idea. Last I heard the Bastard went to try to get a hint as to what to do next to get his memories back with only two of the god cards. He still wants to try to win Slifer off of you," said Bakura.
"Not a chance. Now why are these fools hanging around us? They've been following me for a few hours now..."
"Duel them and find out."
"Not a chance. They have the same feel as someone with an item in their deck. There is no way in Amemit's unholy appetite I am going near those bastards."
"I have an idea..."
Seth grinned evilly as Bakura told him the idea.
"Oh that is perfect! Let's draw them out!"
Three hours later, the people following them challenged Seth to a duel, only to find themselves above and endless desert with no discerning landmarks aside from a small oasis.
(He only added that so he could have a place to sit while he polished the scarab shells in peace.)
"What is this?!" said the nameless duelist.
"This is my special hide away. Win, and you can leave with your lives. Lose, and you get to enjoy wandering around here looking for the exit...unless my pets get to you first. Find the exit and you can get Slifer...and a few pieces of my treasure."
Seth believed in taking risks. He did have an exit for people who ended up here by accident. And anyone who was lucky enough to survive walking across the desert and not get eaten by the scarabs deserved some sort of reward!
Considering Slifer gave him a pendant to summon him directly without the card, Seth had left the piece of cardboard in the treasure room to keep the Pharaoh from attempting to steal it...or letting his cheer squad get any ideas.
Being robbed by them would be beyond embarrassing.
In the end, Seth won but he learned something very important. Someone with a power to rival the Items was after the Pharaoh. And since they had already stolen the other two god cards, Seth didn't want to be around to face the harder opponents.
"It seems the little godling has a tough trial ahead."
"Please tell me you have another mission for us. I am not about to help the little Pharaoh!"
"As it so happens, I do. That pest known as Voldemort is about to try to capture the creature again. Only this time they will be in England."
"Oh joy, my least favorite country. Let me get a few others. I know Marik and Ryou won't want to deal with this crap."
"So let me get this straight. The Realm of the Beasts has opened up into our world, and the Pharaoh has to deal with it since he was the one to seal it off the first time. You, however, have been given another mission by Bastet that will lead to England and possible Egypt if we're lucky."
"Yup."
"Right, what should we pack and when do we leave?" asked Marik.
"Right after I've informed Kaiba. I think this time around he will be directly involved, so we're taking Mokuba with us to avoid him getting kidnapped."
"Where are you going this time around?" asked Seto.
"England and possibly Egypt. It alright if we take Mokie with us?"
"Why Mokuba?"
"One, he won't be kidnapped during this mess the midget is in this time around. Two, he asked if he could join us next time. And Three, we can protect him better."
"You had me at the first reason. Just make sure he doesn't get too hurt during your trip."
"You'll be happy to know I recently got my pilot's license," said Seth amused.
"Good. You can borrow one of the smaller jets. Be sure to bring back something good for me to show off. That bracelet of yours has brought me nothing but good luck recently."
"You're going to need it. Remember all that trouble we had with Pegasus and the soul stealing?"
"Yes?"
"Apparently whatever these new people are using is just as bad. So I would advise not losing."
"Oh hell no. Another soul stealing bit?"
"In old times, it was pretty damn popular. Want something that will help?"
"If you wouldn't mind!"
"I could lend you Slifer. I have another way of summoning him, but I still have the card. One condition though..."
"I won't give it to the Pharaoh. If he wants the damn thing so bad he'll have to duel you for it whenever you're in a tournament."
"And that is why I like dealing with you and not him," chuckled Seth. With a flick of his wrist, the card appeared. Kaiba put it in the deck with his Blue Eyes.
The fact Seth trusted him with the card and not the Pharaoh just gave Kaiba another reason to like his rather odd bodyguard.
(Seth had been promoted to being both Kaiba brother's bodyguards, so long as Dharc kept an eye on Mokuba. The fact that apparently Seth owned a rival company in Europe just amused Kaiba.)
Seth took off right before another set of duelists came after him for Slifer. To his amusement, they couldn't get one of their better duelists on the plane before it took off, because Seth chose at random which one they would use.
"This is so fun! So where are we going?" asked Mokuba.
"We're off to England. Luckily for us, your brother had a plane that wouldn't be too conspicuous."
"What do you mean?"
"We're flying into the past. I'll tell you when we're about to fly through the time stream."
A loud yowl was heard, and Mokuba turned to find a long black cat on the seat next to him.
"I like your idea. And a simple notice-me-not charm will keep people from asking too many questions."
"Hello Bastet. Enjoying the flight?"
The cat gave a small laugh. Halfway through the flight, Seth called out that they were entering the stream...and everyone looked outside. Mokuba came to sit next to him, since he was a good co-pilot.
"Wow..."
"Kinda like Doctor Who, wouldn't you agree?"
"Yeah! Hang on while I get my camera!"
Mokuba went into his bag and started to record the stream. It wasn't like pictures of events would stick to the digital camera.
(That only happened if you were in the stream itself without any sort of vehicle or shell around you.)
"This is so awesome! Wait till Seto sees this!"
Seth laughed. He banked slightly and the stream fell off. He had made sure to appear a hundred miles off England so no one would wonder where he came from. Because radar wasn't nearly as good here, it was unlikely anyone would ask questions about why his registration was off.
For the first time in months, Seth landed in England.