Pokemon have been a point of fascination throughout all of human history.

Allies, enemies, friends, pets…

The people of Egypt saw them as omens, good and bad, of things to come.

Rare colorations were each their own message from the gods, and these spread like wildfire through the nomadic tribes, warnings and prophecies in equal measure.

So when whispers reached the Med-Jai of a Houndoom that guarded the key and a Lucario gold as Ra's sun, Ardeth Bay saw the signs for what they were.

A great battle was coming…

Whether these people would be their destruction or salvation was yet to be seen.

Checking the moon's position overhead, Alexandra hummed an old lullaby to herself as the camel plodded on, a stray breeze rustling through the thin, gauzy layers of her garments.

Their saviors, a group of Bedouin who had spotted the fire and come to help any survivors, had not only led them to an oasis town for new supplies, but supplied clothes for the women to travel in.

Standing on the saddle behind her human, Scarlet scanned the horizon instead, ears twitching at every Sandile, Numel, and Skorupi that passed by under the sand.

Snores worthy of a Snorlax erupted from the rear of their little caravan, and even Sabra snorted in surprise at the warden's volume, swerving in his swim through the sand.

It certainly startled Jonathon, who, after a moment of thought, handed Basil the camel whip so the Ambipom could gleefully whack the warden instead.

Tip chuffed a laugh from his sprawl on the back of Rick's camel, horns gleaming wickedly in the moonlight, as Isis covered her giggles with both hands.

Then Scarlet touched her shoulder, and Alexandra zeroed in on the rock outcropping to their left, weak human eyes spotting the group of men on horseback after a few moments.

A tingle of awareness rippled down her spine, and Scarlet lent the woman her sight of black-robed, tattooed warriors watching them pass by below.

Isis went quiet, eyes locking on to the strangers as she projected uneasefearworry strong enough for Tip to bare his fangs silently at their new audience.

Rick glanced back, steadying a sleeping Evelyn as she swayed in the saddle, and Alexandra nodded back, hand falling to the array of knives safely sheathed on her saddle.

Let them come.

Dawn arrived with the Americans and their massive following, Beni at the lead.

"Good morning, my friend."

Tip leveled the man and his Raticate with a flat, burning look as Rick nodded back in almost mocking agreement, wheeling his camel around to face away from the rock face and out to open sand.

Patting her own steed's head, Alexandra eyed the many horses their rivals were riding, and Scarlet tipped her head with a smile.

"What the hell we doing?" One of the Americans, Daniels, demanded of their guide, his Boldore grumbling with a sound like scraping boulders.

"Patience, my good baratom. Patience."

"Remember our bet, O'Connell." Another, Henderson, shouted, his Sandslash perched like a spiky shield on his back. "First one to the city, five hundred cash bucks."

"A hundred of them bucks is yours if you help us win that bet." Daniels added to Beni, and Ammon chattered lowly in response.

"Oh, my pleasure."

The siblings shared a look, Alexandra's raised brow met with a slightly guilty shrug, before Rick nodded to the empty horizon.

"Get ready for it."

"For what?" Evelyn wondered, Isis seated safely in her lap.

"We're about to be shown the way."

All of the Pokemon went silent, a ripple of awareness, as the sun began to rise.

Wide green eyes watched as, like a mirage, sandstone walls and heavy pillars slid into view, a great shroud being lifted off the ruins of Hamunaptra.

A growl rumbled from Scarlet's chest into her own, Auras meshing, and Alexandra saw the darkness, so deep it blocked out the sun and the blueblueblue of living souls, like a shadow hanging over the world.

Taking a sharp breath, the hot air catching in her lungs like hooked claws, she was oblivious to the stampede that took off towards Hamunaptra, transfixed.

Something stirred in the depths of her soul, like a long-dormant facet finally starting to wake, and the word that fell from the woman's lip was both a surprise and a sad discovery.

"Imhotep…"