> I dream of the gods standing over me
> I see Osiris, he compliments my sending the many evil gods to his realm
> I see Horus, who gives me a friendly nudge
> "You can thank me for all the help"
> I see Aunbis, who silently nods
> I see Ma'at
> "The balance will weight you favorably"
I could not have done it without your aid
> I see mother Isis, who embraces me
> "Thank you for stopping those evil beings"
Protecting mother, I did it out of love for my companions
> I awaken to find my companions standing over me
> I am still in the hospital
> I had been speaking to Isis, who is now the Twilight
> Rarity, in place of Ma'at, speaks
> "It was really quite wonderful that you saved us like that"
> I weakly test my arm, which can now be lifted
I only seek to protect those I love
> Rarity walks over, and places her cheek in my outstretched arm
> "Thank you, for what you've done"
> I withdraw my hand
> the blue one, who had been Horus in the dream, speaks
> "It's really cool that you care that much"
> the pink one speaks
> "Once you get out of this crummy ol' hospital, I'm throwing you another party!"
> I smile
Ever ready for a festival
> the fruit farmer, who had been Osiris in the dream, speaks
> "y'all did a mighty fine job taking care of them"
It was not easy, as my condition would tell
> the quiet one, Anubis in the dream, continues to stare, with a smile of gratitude
> I struggle to speak, but continue to converse with them for a while longer
> sensing the difficulty I have speaking, they keep the encounter brief
> I rest momentarily
What other deity could possibly seek to destroy me?
> the night sky enters my room
> she inspects me, calculating the damage done
> "Oh Anon, why do you do this?"
To keep you safe
> "but what about you?"
I worry not, for all I am capable of thinking of is you
> she nuzzles my shoulder, and I wince
What delivered you to me that night?
> "I had heard speaking, carried by the wind, and followed it to you."
I had prayed to Hathor, in hopes of finding a mate
> "I heard of your loneliness, and I too was lonely"
We took eachother unto our hearts, because of a prayer on the wind
> "Indeed"
> I raise my hand to her cheek
> the night sky takes it and rubs against it
> the feeling of her soft coat delivers a warm, welcome feeling
> "I must depart now"
Until we meet again
> I return my hand, and the night sky leaves
> I slip into slumber once more
> I dream of the pharaoh, murdered
> a lioness lapping from the pool of blood
> I startle awake
> The very same I had dreamed of stands over me now
Good afternoon, pharaoh
> "Good afternoon Anon"
Tell me, what brings you to my bedside? Tales from your sister?
> I manage a chuckle at my joke
> She smiles warmly, seeing my attempt at humor as a good sign
> "I came to ensure that you are alive"
Alive, yes, healthy, no
> "In time you will recover"
I only pray I have time
> "If a threat should arise, I shall have the guard end it"
> I smile
> "I must leave now, Anon"
goodbye pharaoh
> the pharaoh departs
> time fleets away
> I fall to slumber
> The two weeks pass
> I am released from the hospital, weak, but alive
> I head home
> upon entering, I find my entire home invaded by ponies
> "Surprise!"
She never fails
> I mingle with the ponies
> the party doesn't run long, thankfully
> I wish everyone a safe trip home, and go to bed
> I recall the dream of the pharaoh
> I awake quickly, sweating
> the pharaoh visits me the next morning
> "Come to Canterlot Castle, we shall ensure you are properly rested and cared for until you are healthy"
You are too kind pharaoh
> "it's the least we can do"
> I relocate myself to the castle
> I have royal nurses tend to the slashes on my body
> they bandage me
> they ensure I have almost no unnecessary disruptions
> almost
> I awake from sleep with a start
> I hear a loud crash
> I exit my room, careful not to alert anything
> several guards rush past me and cluster at a point
> I see two guards, laying dead
> I hearken back to the dream
> my heart accelerates
> I open the door the two guarded
> I freeze
> the pharaoh lie dead, bleeding from wounds on her neck
> a lioness laps smugly at the pool of blood on the floor
> upon seeing me, the lioness flees
> I rush over to the pharaoh
> her eyes stare, lifeless, emotionless, the pupils large balls in her iris
> I fall to the ground, in shock
> the guards surround me
> tears form in my eyes
> the puncture wounds in her neck are pronounced, and red stains trail from her neck to the floor
> I, and several guards, let loose tears
> I shake uncontrollably, and strain to not allow more tears
> the night sky walks next to me
> she cries out, and sobs
> I stand, and embrace her
> she weeps into my shoulder
> I squeeze onto her neck
> We maintain this stance for many moments
> We return to our quarters
> I did not sleep this night
> the next morning, the room was cleaned
> the entire castle lay in a deafening silence
> the pharaoh's throne sits vacant
> I must somehow resolve this tragedy
Luna, bring me your chariot
> The chariot is brought
> I board it
do not expect to see me for a long time
> I set off, following the sun, and Ra, to the gates of amenta
> I ride for the full day, tracking the sun along its path
> the gates stand before me
> Two massive doors, carved of solid ebony
> At the gates stands Anubis
> "Halt mortal, you are not fit to enter the amenta"
Anubis, I beseech thee, grant me passage, I must right a terrible wrong
> "No soul shall enter which is not fit for this land"
Anubis, the pharaoh has been wrongfully killed, her spirit must be rescued
> "I shall grant you entrance, but I warn you. The land is hostile, and the road long."
I shall brave it
> The massive doors open, and in front of me is a vast desert
> I ride into the desert
> I would spend the next 7 weeks in this desert, traveling the path of souls on their journey to judgement
> I neither hunger, nor thirst, as that is the way of this land
> I fight against fatigue as I approach the hall of judgement
> I enter the structure
> In the middle lay a massive golden balance
> to the right, a bird man, Thoth, writes on papyrus
> to the left, Osiris, lord of the dead, sits
> behind the balance sits Ma'at, providing the feather with which to judge a soul
> in front of me sits the pharaoh
HALT!
> Osiris stirs
> "Anon, how dare you interrupt the sacred process!"
Her end was met before it was her time
> "You dispute the judgement of Anubis, keeper of the gates?"
I know she is not for this world
> "What death has befallen her, that assures you it is unjust?"
a lioness slayed her, and drank proudly from her blood
> "that is not an unjust death"
you speak the truth, however, could a lioness slay a daughter of Ra so easily?
> "Are you implying that this lioness contained the power of the gods?"
> Thoth speaks
> "Sekhmet"
> Ma'at confirms
> "Thoth, in his infinite wisdom, knows of the truth. The bloodthirsty huntress Sekhment is to blame for the death of the pharaoh"
> Osiris considers what has been said
> "Provide to me the soul of the huntress, and I shall ensure her return to the realm of the living"
> I awake in my bed
> a dream?
> No, I must seek the huntress
> a roar bellows from in town
> I rush to the scene
> Several more ponies lay dead
> I swallow my sadness and examine the area
> a fleeting shadow on a rooftop
> I follow it, but quickly lose it
Damn
> I curse myself, knowing more are to be killed
> I go to the Twilight
> she is clearly mourning the pharaoh
> "Anon, it's good to see a friendly face"
yes Twilight, I have news about the pharaoh
> "What is it?"
The lioness that killed her, was Sekhmet, a huntress, and extremely dangerous
> "How did she get here?"
I don't know, but I spoke with Osiris, and should she be returned to the land of the gods, the pharaoh will return to our realm
> She immediately cheers up
> "well then, I guess we better get searching"
I will continue my search, you tell the others
> she runs off to fetch the others
> I walk through the town, warning those I can
> I turn a corner near the center of town
> the streets run red with blood
> Slashes to the face, gouged out eyes, strips of flesh missing from the bodies, some with organs on full display
> I feel ill, and must turn away
> I hear a female laugh
> I turn again, to see a woman with a lion head
> "oh the thrill of the hunt"
> her eyes gleam
> her lips are stained red
> I cannot speak, I am too appalled at what has befallen these creatures
> Sekhmet stares directly at me, and announces
> "let the games begin"
> she vanishes
> I run to an alley, and heave
> the rest of my companions find me soon after
> they too, are in shock at the display
> We head away from the bodies
> It is getting late, but we cannot stop the search
> I search the perimeter of the town, the others search in the town
> throughout the night, various screams are heard
> undoubtedly more of Sekhmet's pleasures
> I hear a rustle from a bush in the forest
> I rush into the forest
> I follow the sound as it takes me left and right
> the sound is coming from behind me
> I pounce on it
> nothing
> I see a glint from the corner of my eye
Clever girl
> I dodge to the left, and flee
> the tree limbs above me shake as Sekhmet bounds from limb to limb
> I cast glances behind me, to see the shining eyes of a lioness on the hunt
> I stumble, and fall
> before I can recover, a sharp pain hits my back
> I feel the claws dig into my back as Sekhmet prepares to take my life
> "what a pity that you couldn't do better"
> she stomps on my back
> I feel my recovering ribs splinter once more
> I feel a sharp pain with every breath
> he claws dig deeper into my back
> I let out a weak cry, as I gargle on blood rising from my punctured lung
> Sekhmet turns me over
> her eyes show the lust of a primal predator, delivering the kill
> she raises her claw
> she strikes down
> a loud thud is heard as flesh meets flesh
> I open my eyes to see a rainbow streak
> the Twilight rushes to me, I sputter up more blood
> "Stay with me Anon"
> I can do nothing but breathe
> a bright flash envelops me, and I find myself once more in the hospital
> I fade away as the doctors remark
> "Honestly, Anon, you must stop hurting yourself like this"
> I awaken in the hospital bed, once again
> my six comrades are by my side
> I am too weak to speak
> the blue one speaks
> "She got away"
> the Twilight interjects
> "But what matters is that Anon is safe"
> I grunt in frustration
> each moment I'm on the bed, Sekhmet is hunting another pony
> "We need to think of a way to get her to stop"
> I recall a myth
I...
> I wince, it hurts to speak
I know how
> "really! How!?"
Make her drink
> "how will that help?"
if she's drunk...she doesn't kill
> "how do we get her to do that?"
make it like blood
> they recoil at the though of drinking blood
> "a-are you sure this will work?"
yes
> I lay in the hospital for the next two months
> the Twilight reports progress, and deaths
> Sekhmet has slowed
> I burn at the idea of not being able to stop her
> my two months are over
> I have seen several nurses not return to work
> I join my companions at the fruit farm
> the brew is complete
> "now what?"
we lure her to it
> the fruit farmer will be the lure
> we each hide
> the fruit farmer waits outside, in the dark
> she gallops down the stairs to the cellar
> the footfalls of the lioness follow in pursuit
> the fruit farmer comes to the end of the cellar
> the blue one, and the pink one throw the brew onto Sekhmet
> Sekhmet licks at the brew
> "delicious"
> the lioness breaks a barrel, and drinks
> she breaks several more
> she has drunk nearly fifteen barrels before she falls over
> I draw a khopesh, and leap from the shadows
> Sekhmet, in her inebriated state, does not comprehend this before it is too late
> I slash into her neck, and decapitate the lion from the woman
> she fades from this realm, and the others cheer
> I do not
> I think of all those, slain under her
> walk outside, and into town, bodies litter the streets
> I see a shimmering light, which descends onto the bodies.
> wounds on the bodies heal
> the bodies reanimate
> they awaken, as if from slumber
> I run to various places, each body rises
> I am overjoyed
> I collapse onto my knees
oh most generous Osiris, who restores the life of those who met an early end. Praise thee, and praise his abundant kindness.
> the ponies speak of strange dreams, and wonder why they were asleep in the middle of the street
> the night sky flies to me
> "the dead are living once more!"
I know, isn't it a miraculous thing?
> We ride back to the palace of the pharaoh
> the body has been laying on a bed
> I and the night sky rush to the bed
> the trail of blood from the neck fades
> the holes seal, and vanish
> the pharaoh inhales, and awakens
> I, in my joy, throw myself to her
> I wrap my arms around her, tearing with joy
> "Anon, you saved me"
I ended the hunt
> the guards have come rushing in, to see the revivified pharaoh
> I smile, and take my leave
> I make my way to the guest chambers
> I whisper to myself as I climb into bed
the night is young, my fatigue is great, and my heart is full
> I feel a rustle as the night sky joins me in the bed
> I sleep soundly, unpestered by night terrors, and joyful in the new life of the pharaoh