Chapter 10: Moonlight

"Merlin?" Larry frowned at the Wizard, who stood beside the God who appeared as young as Merlin did.

"I was telling the truth, I am a statue here," he shrugged, smiling. "But my powers came from Thoth, who figured you guys might need a hand around this place," Merlin explained.

"This is way too complicated for me," Nick complained, shaking his head. "You guys are the Egyptian Gods, and you're how the Tablet works?" he asked.

"How else would it work? You think just anyone can use magic?" Thoth asked him, looking a little amused.

"Beth can," Nick complained.

"Jealous," Beth retorted, and he stuck out his tongue at her. She reciprocated, and Larry rolled his eyes.

"Okay, when the children are done, we should get back to it," he cleared his throat. "How do we restore the Tablet?" he asked. As if on cue, the Tablet in Merenkahre's hands began to glow green again. Ahkmenrah slumped, and Beth caught him quickly.

"Ahk!" she cried out as his skin started to turn paler and ash-like. He struggled to breathe, trying to say something to her, before Beth felt a sharp pain in her head.

"My son! What is happening to you?" Shepseheret rushed to Ahkmenrah's side, barely catching him as Beth pushed away from them, putting her hands to her head. "Safiya?" she looked to the young woman, and gasped as water surrounded her.

"Not again..." Beth whimpered. Merenkahre quickly held the Tablet out to Larry.

"It needs moonlight. Otherwise we shall all be dead by sunrise," he pushed it into his hands. "Hurry!" he yelled, and Larry took off, with Nick on his heels. "If the Tablet dies, nothing can bring it back!" Merenkahre warned.

"Go after them," Thoth told Merlin as the wizard squawked, hit by a jet of water fired by Beth. "There are others here that covet the Tablet, you know that. Go!" Merlin nodded and rushed off as Thoth went to Beth.

"Stay away, please!" Beth pleaded, tears streaming down her face as water and ice surrounded her. However, Thoth raised an hand and easily knocked it aside.

"Keep calm Bet'anya, this will pass in a moment. Be brave," he told her gently. Beth sniffed, before a sob escaped.

"I can't...I can't lose him again!" she cried, and Thoth blinked, surprised by her outburst.

"Steady, my girl," another figure crouched beside her, putting a hand on her head. "No such thing will happen," he told her gently, and Beth looked up, her eyes widening.

"You..." she whispered, as the water slowly calmed around them.

Larry sprinted through through the hallway, desperately searching for a window where the moonlight could reach the Tablet.

"Larry, this way!" Merlin called, leading him down a different corridor, where they spotted a window. Moonlight streamed in from the full moon above, and Larry stopped, desperately moving the panels back into place. However, before he could fix the final one, he heard a thud and Merlin cried out before hitting the ground. Looking up, Larry froze as Lancelot stood in front of him, holding Nick tightly. His blood went cold when he saw the knife pressed to his son's throat.

"Lancelot..." Merlin groaned, a hand to his head as he remained on the ground, his vision spinning.

"What are you doing?" Larry asked slowly, not quite sure what was going on.

"The Tablet. Now," Lancelot ordered, but Larry didn't move. Lancelot then yanked the Tablet from his hands, and shoved Nick into him.

"No, listen to me, that thing is dying!" Larry yelled at him, staring at the corroding Tablet. "If it doesn't get moonlight, then everything ends, for real," he told him.

"King Arthur wasted years searching for the Holy Grail. To think it was a Tablet all along," Lancelot wasn't listening, pointing his knife at the three to stop them going for the Tablet.

"Lancelot...please, listen to reason," Merlin got to his feet and pleaded with the man. "That isn't the Holy Grail. It's something completely different, and you will cause a lot of people a lot of harm if you take it," Merlin warned him.

"Oh typical Merlin, no wonder Arthur entrusted this quest to me. And now I will be rewarded," Lancelot smiled at the idea.

"Would you just give it to me! You don't know what you're doing!" Larry yelled as Merlin sighed.

"My quest is complete. I ride for Camelot," Lancelot backed away.

"Alright, just keep it, okay? But just put it in the moonlight and turn that centre piece!" Larry pleaded with him in horror.

"Sorry, not my first quest," Lancelot sheathed his dagger and took off at a sprint. "And by the way, Eric was much funnier than you!" he shouted over his shoulder.

"Eric was a tool," Merlin muttered under his breath, rubbing his head.

"Go get the others," Larry shouted to the pair, and they nodded, running back as Larry sprinted after Lancelot.

The group took a breath, feeling even more drained as Teddy spoke quietly with Sacagawea and Attila, and Beth sat on the ground, trying to stop her vision from spinning. Beside her, Thoth was speaking with the newcomer.

"What brings you here?" Thoth asked as he swept his hand out and let the water vanish.

"I'm the God of Death, what do you expect?" the man replied with a shrug. "And I've been watching Bet'anya here since she first came to my domain. I like to check in now and again," he replied.

"Osiris, you know it's a bad omen for you to be here," Khonsu commented from where he stood, beside Merenkahre. Osiris just shrugged.

"Just so I know," Beth spoke, standing up and looking at Osiris. "How many more of you are there? I assume the two I saw with you yesterday before coming here were two more?" she challenged him. The man grinned, his blue eyes shining.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you. You have spirit!" he laughed, and his appearance changed to another that Beth found familiar. With dark eyes and green hair, he stood out in Beth's mind, even if the memory was still fuzzy.

"You were the one there when Kahmunrah opened the Gate to the Underworld," she accused. Osiris just shrugged and Thoth put a hand to his face, muttering about everyone interfering and keeping him in the dark.

"Why is this affecting her as much as the others?" Shepseheret asked Khonsu, her eyes on Beth as she supported her son. Ahkmenrah hadn't looked away from her either, seeing her looking as awful as he felt. He wanted to go to her, but his strength was not so quick to return this time.

"It's the consequence of her being connected to the Tablet. If it dies, so shall she. And this time, she will not come back," Khonsu explained. "She is its guardian, and will live only as long as it does. I warned you of this a long time ago, Merenkahre," he looked to the man, who was watching Beth as well.

"Just how has she returned?" he asked, finally looking at Khonsu. The God just smiled back at him.

"Where's Larry?" Beth suddenly asked, looking around for the man.

"He should have found a window by now," Khonsu frowned, folding his arms. "And the absorption of power should be almost instantaneous," he mused. Hearing footsteps pounding towards them, they looked up to see Nick run into view. He coughed as he reached them, leaning forwards as he caught his breath.

"Nick? Where's Larry?" Beth asked as she hurried over to him.

"Lancelot," Merlin reached them as well. Nick straightened up, and Beth saw the worry in his expression.

"He took the Tablet!" his yell made everyone in the room, Gods included, freeze in horror.

"We're bound to almost be there by now," Jedidiah complained as the three miniatures, plus Dexter, walked through the corridors.

"You said that an hour ago," Claudia sighed as they kept walking. "Are we sure we're going in the right direction?" she asked.

"Would the two of you stop complaining? It really isn't doing us any good," Octavius snapped at the pair, who exchanged mildly surprised looks.

"Someone's cranky," Jedidiah muttered, and Claudia hummed her agreement. The male Roman sighed heavily.

"Great. They finally start getting along, and I'm still suffering," he complained under his breath.

"Hey, stop," Claudia stopped the pair. "Something's up," she gestured to Dexter, who had stopped. He chirped, sounding worried, before they heard clomping. A man turned the corner, wearing armour and carrying the Tablet under his arm.

"Whoa, easy there partner, slow down!" Lancelot skidded to a stop, looking down to see Dexter, as well as the three miniatures as Octavius drew his sword. "Now, I don't know who you are, but I'm pretty dang sure that Tablet don't belong to ya!" Jedidiah yelled. However, Lancelot just laughed and walked around them. "Wait a second, come back here!" he yelled as the knight ran off. "This ain't over!"

"You'll rue the day you mocked us with your huge sword, and your hypnotic blue eyes!" Octavius yelled. Jedidiah and Claudia stared at him. "His eyes are very blue," he defended weakly.

Everyone regrouped as they met at a corner, including Dexter and the miniatures.

"Larry!" the miniatures yelled for his attention as they spotted the man approach with Teddy.

"Hey guys!" Larry smiled slightly, relieved to see their missing friends. "How're you doing?" he asked.

"Still in one piece Gigantor!" Jedidiah yelled up at him. Larry pulled the small red fabric from his pocket and handed it to Octavius, who thanked him for it.

"I don't understand," Teddy shook his head. "Why is Lancelot staying strong, while we get weaker?" he questioned.

"It's his first night, newborns are stronger," Merenkahre explained. "But it matters not, unless we succeed, he too will be dead come the dawn," he warned them.

"We can't let him get out, who knows where he'll end up," Beth groaned.

"Merlin, can you use your tracking spell?" Larry asked the wizard, who shook his head.

"I'm sorry, but whatever that idiot did to my head, my magic is..." Merlin held up a hand, but all that appeared was a small puff of smoke and a hissing noise. "Well, useless," he shrugged. Larry sighed, before shaking his head.

"It's okay. Sir, can you go back to Egypt in case he comes through there?" Larry took charge, and despite the situation, Beth smiled slightly. Lancelot called him a fool, but Larry was a great leader when the time called for it.

"Of course," Merenkahre nodded, a little surprised at his take charge attitude.

"Nicky, take Attila, check the loading dock," Nick nodded, and he and Attila took off with Dexter and the miniatures. "Teddy, Beth, go to the South Wing, check the side doors. I got the main entrance!" they all split up, trying to find Lancelot.

"How's the head?" Merlin asked as he ran with Teddy, Beth and Ahkmenrah.

"How's yours?" Beth countered, and he smiled, amused at her deflection. He could see that she was weak. Three of her four abilities were gone, leaving her with power over air, but even that would be gone soon if they didn't hurry. His smile faded. If that happened, it would take with it her life, and the whole reason he was there was to help keep her alive, as instructed by Thoth.

"Anything?" Beth asked as they all looked around the exhibits for any sign of the knight.

"It doesn't appear that he's gone this way," Teddy shook his head.

"If he leaves the museum, we're in trouble. We don't know this city at all," Beth shook her head, running a hand through her hair. "That's what you were warning me about," she turned to Merlin as she remembered his earlier warning. "You knew Lancelot would do this," Beth accused.

"I didn't!" Merlin raised his hands quickly as he backed away from Beth, whose eyes turned silver. However, a hand caught hers, and her rage died somewhat.

"We cannot turn on one another now Bet," Ahkmenrah told her softly. She sighed, and nodded.

"You're right. I'm sorry Merlin," Beth apologised.

"It's alright, I know what's at risk here. I did have my suspicions about Lancelot, yeah, but I never expected him to steal it like this. His desire to be with Guinevere has corrupted him," Merlin sighed heavily. He shrugged, and offered a small smile. "There's no point to us standing around moping, let's find the muppet and knock some sense into him," he told them.

"Now you're talking my language," Beth grinned, making Merlin's smile grow.

"Indeed. Best not to mope over this," Teddy nodded. "We should rejoin the others, see if they had any more luck," he suggested, and the three nodded, heading back the way they came.

"Any luck?" Nick called as they regrouped.

"Nothing," Beth shook her head. "Where's your dad?" she asked, looking around.

"Oh, bloody hell," hearing Merlin's groan, they looked around, and all of them darted for cover as they saw Larry and Laa being lead away by Tilly. They rounded a corner, and Beth sighed heavily.

"Of all the times for her to interfere," she hissed, running a hand through her hair. "We're going to need to stop her from doing anything stupid. Nick, can you and Attila handle that?" she asked, looking to the boy.

"Yeah, we got it," Nick nodded, and glanced to Attila. "Come on," he motioned, and the two rushed off with Dexter to stop Tilly from alerting others.

"What about Larry?" Ahkmenrah asked, worried.

"And Lancelot, can't forget him," Merlin chipped in. Beth pressed her fingertips to her temples; her headache growing worse and worse. She wasn't a leader, she couldn't give orders and work like Larry did.

"We need to keep searching for Lancelot," she finally decided, looking up at the exhibits who watched her expectantly. "Larry will get himself out, I know it. We need to find Lancelot before he gets out," Beth looked around. "Let's keep searching for any sign of Lancelot," she said.

"I think that may be an issue," they looked around at Sacagawea, who was crouched. "Lancelot headed this way...and made his escape on a horse," the woman warned. Merlin cursed.

"The bastard took my horse!" he realised.

"I think that's the least of our worries right now," Beth arched an eyebrow at him, and Merlin blushed a deep red, which spread to his ears as he saw them all stare at him.

"Well...yeah...but I love that horse," he mumbled. Beth shook her head, rolling her eyes.

"Okay, then we'll wait till Nick and Attila get back, then we'll find Larry and head out there," Beth amended as the others shot Merlin odd looks.

"Mystery...why would you take him..." Merlin mumbled.

"Forget about the horse," Beth groaned, her hands to her head.

"We locked her in her security booth!" Nick called as they ran back over a few minutes later. Attila trashed her phone too," the boy nodded.

"Excellent work," Teddy nodded in approval.

"Everybody okay?" they looked around to see Larry and Laa run over.

"Yes Lawrence, Attila and your boy secured the lady guard in her booth. I don't know how long it'll hold her for!" Teddy warned as he followed them down the steps.

"Alright, we gotta find Lancelot. But somebody has to make sure she doesn't get out," Larry decided. Laa squeaked, raising a hand. "Yeah. Laa, okay," Larry nodded, approaching him.

"Yeah we're doomed," Beth muttered under her breath.

"No doubt," Nick agreed.

"Alright, you know what you have to do?" Larry asked his primordial doppelgänger, shooting Beth and Nick a glare. Laa nodded eagerly.

"Stay!" he shouted, miming.

"That's right, just make sure she stays in there," Larry nodded.

"Stay!" Laa repeated, not lowering his arms.

"Good, now go!" Larry ordered, and the caveman took off, muttering 'stay' repeatedly.

"Lawrence," Larry whirled around at Teddy's worried voice. "I can't move my arms. We're becoming less useful by the minute," he warned, before Attila shrieked and Ahkmenrah stumbled. Beth caught the Pharaoh standing beside her as her head pulsed in pain, while Attila almost fell. Pegasus struggled to maintain a specific form, alternating between his stars and horse-form, and Merlin sneezed loudly, causing another bunch of flowers to sprout around him.

"Hey, come on, big guy," Larry and Nick helped him to his feet, to find one of his eyes had frozen, leaving him cross-eyed. He began to panic, before Larry slapped him, scolding him for hyperventilating.

"Now for the hard part," Beth sighed as she looked up. "Finding Lancelot," she spoke softly.

"Yeah, there's like eight million people in this city, he could be literally anywhere by now," Nick agreed.

"We'll find him," Larry spoke confidently, but the fear was evident in his expression. "We have to," he muttered, stepping away from Attila.

"How? My magic isn't-" Merlin sneezed again, and flowers continued to sprout through the tarmac, with one resting behind his ear. "Working right," he finished with a sigh, pulling it free. There was a polite cough, and they glanced to Sacagawea. Beth grinned.

"Who needs magic, when you have the Queen of Tracking here?" she laughed.

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