Giza Port was a bustling hub of activity as Evelyn and Jonathon made their way to the ship's gangplank, Isis twirling on their heels in a celebratory dance among the floating luggage and Basil hanging off one of his human's shoulders to chatter at the various passerby.

"Do you really think he's going to show up?" Evelyn wondered, a smile tugging on her mouth as the Kirlia twirled past.

"Yes, undoubtedly, knowing my luck." Jonathon assured, steering his sister around the sailors and Pokemon busy loading up the boat. "He may be a cowboy, but I know the breed. His word is his word."

"Well, personally, I think he's filthy, rude, a complete scoundrel." She stated heatedly, causing Isis to pause for a moment as she filtered through the tumble of emotions that flowed over her horns. "I don't like him one bit."

"Anyone we know?"

That voice was familiar, but the man Evelyn came face-to-face with was a surprise.

Clearly, Rick O'Connell had spent his time out of prison wisely, if the way her Kirlia shuddered was any indication.

Even Tip, who had been caked in sand and blood from his own experience, was clean and handsome-looking, black fur shining and bony horns gleaming from a thorough grooming.

"Oh, um…Hello."

"I don't know, brother, I can think of somebody who fits that description."

Jonathon about swallowed his tongue, though Basil helpfully smacked it back out with both tails.

A shower and fresh clothes did wonders, apparently.

While Alexandra had seemed rather adorable and dusty at the prison, now it was possible to see the red tint in her curly hair and the soft golden hue of her skin, a fresh white button-up and dark pants failing to hide all the soft curves underneath.

"No hard feelings about the…?" Rick wondered, miming a punch, and Jonathon rushed to wave it off, hoping not to experience a repeat over ogling the man's sister.

"Oh, no, no, happens all the time."

"Mister O'Connell." Evelyn voiced, gathering up her wits. "Can you look me in the eye and guarantee that this isn't all some kind of a, a flimflam? Because if it is, I am warning you-"

"You're warning me?" Rick cut in, Tip shaking his horns with a snort. "Lady, let me put it this way. My whole damn garrison believed in this so much that without orders, they marched halfway across Libya and into Egypt to find that city. And when we got there, all we found was sand and blood."

His words dampened Alexandra's mischievous smile, who watched the man pick up the luggage from Isis' telekinetic grip and head towards the ship with a grumbled "Let me get your bags."

"Don't mind him." She rerouted, managing a grin. "He's a little jumpy about the place. I'm sure Ricky will mellow out."

Evelyn mouthed the nickname, still a little dumbfounded, before the sudden appearance of Scarlet surprised her a second time.

She had guessed that the Lucario was a rarer coloration under the earlier grime, a lighter green and aqua color that some people were lucky enough to spot, but Scarlet was instead a bright gold, the fur of her chest and throat an unblemished white that put the bone-bleached sand of Egypt's deserts to shame.

Pressing a hand to her human's knee, Isis hummed while the pair shared a glance, and Alexandra let out a drawn-out sigh as a familiar man approached.

"A bright good morning to all." Warden Hassan greeted them, Sabra lumbering at his heels.

"I'm going to jail for murder." Alexandra stated blandly, not even turning to face the man.

"Oh no, what are you doing here?" Evelyn demanded, exasperated with the day's surprises.

"I'm here to protect my investment." He explained curtly, following his Hippowdon up the gangplank despite the wood's creaking protests. "Thank you very much."

Isis rubbed her horns irritably as the humans sighed in unison, resigned to their fate, and Alexandra rubbed a hand between Scarlet's ears.

"If I throw him overboard, let's all agree to let him drown."

The night air coming off the Nile was cool on her face, soothing, and Alexandra closed both eyes as a stray breeze ruffled her loose hair.

Music and voices flowed over her, light spilling out into iridescent pools on the water, as Scarlet pressed close on one side, shades of gold flickering in her fur with each breath.

Auras mingled like rainbow fractals in the darkness behind her lids, and Scarlet hummed, lazily watching the gathering that was taking place on the main deck a few yards away.

Jonathon was playing a game of poker with three Americans, the men boisterous and loud as they dealt hands and traded chips with ease.

Evy was on the other side of the ship, safely away from all the hubbub, but Alexandra found the background noise comforting.

A ripple disturbed the pretty mosaic of Aura, and Scarlet went unnaturally still, fur starting to prickle against the exposed skin of her arm.

Someone slid into the seat across from them, the lack of a table allowing an invasion of personal space that was impossible to ignore, and she finally opened her eyes.

The man was lanky, like Jonathon, though a head or so shorter, his dark hair visibly oily and eyes sunken over a sly smile.

A Raticate shuffled closer, chattering softly, and Scarlet's lips began to pull back in a growl.

Alexandra said nothing, eyeing this man and waiting for whatever he wanted to say.

"It is not right for a beautiful woman such as yourself to be alone during such a celebration."

After a slow blink, the brunette smiled, leaning closer so long tendrils of curls slid over her shoulders and flashed red in the lamplight.

"You're right." She replied, apparently oblivious to the way her shirt revealed a sliver of skin leading down into the shadows between her breasts or his sudden interest in it. "And who's my savior this evening?"

"Beni." He squeaked, coughing to get the lump out of his throat. "Beni, at your service."

"I've heard a lot about you, Beni." Alexandra continued, walking her fingers up his hand so gently Beni shuddered with goosebumps.

"You, you have?"

"Yeah…"

Leaning in closer, the scent of vanilla filling the space between them, she walked a hand up his with feather-light touches until goosebumps rippled up Beni's arms with a shudder.

"I was hoping to see you…"

With the suddenness of a striking snake, Beni was yanked forward violently, face striking the railing with a CRACK, and Alexandra loomed over the man with a face like thunder.

"That's for leaving my brother to die in the desert."

Beni squeaked as her foot shot out, falling over while cupping his abused groin, Raticate squealing as Scarlet snarled, pinning the Normal-type down with one rear paw.

"That's for looking down my shirt."

Shoving her hair back, Alexandra turned and stalked off, though Scarlet stayed long enough to sear both with a red-eyed glare before following.

"Hello, Beni."

With a yelp, Beni whipped around to find Rick standing at his back, Tip sliding past to corner the Raticate with his fangs bared in a wolfish smile.

"Looks like you met my baby sister, Alex."

Wide-eyed, all the Hungarian could do was squeak.

"Sister?"