The foreboding Minotaur appeared into the faded noontime sunlight.
Minotaur's are a race of bovine humanoids who mainly live underground among the subterranean caverns and tunnels of the Under Dark, and can only appear on the earth during the Blue Hour, when the sun's bright light will not hurt their eyes.
He was a monstrous beast, standing over twenty-five feet high, weighing well over six-thousand pounds.
He was stark white from head to toe, like the color of a waterless cloud, hanging in the heavens. He had an exceptionally broad chest, over ten feet across at its widest point. There were thick, muscled hairy legs that were as ample and as thick as the trunk of an old tree, found in an ancient forest.
He had the body of a giant man, with the head and tail of a bull. The snow-white bull had two large horns placed on both sides of his head that were as sharp as a stonecutter's diamond tipped tool. The twisted bullhorns stood well over five feet in the air, off the crown of his substantial head. His tail was over ten feet long, hairy and thorn tipped.
Carried in his left hand was a pitched-fork hewn in the Dark World below. It was made of solid gold, diamond tipped, and was well over fifteen feet long from bottom to top.
Both, deadly weapons, if need be.
His name was Paragus.
Chug poked his head around a large stone block upon hearing the two great stone-marble doors open.
"No it can't be Louis...a creature to fear, worse than Petar...no..."
Louis had not had a Bodhi blueberry for over one hour now, his mind began to gently and very slightly clear, as Diggers had.
"What is it, what did you say...who is there? Chug...is it you...?"
"Louis yes! It is your Chug! Are you back with us? You must be feeling better, quickly back behind this stone block...here. Quiet down now, we are in trouble once again Louis."
"Did I flub up a catch again?"
"No Louis, you are in Egypt, on a great quest. You are supposed to save the world now."
"Oh I thought it was something important like winning the three-legged race at the fair, with Short-Stack. Now that is important!"
"No Louis, you must still be under the influence of those hated berries. Oh Louis please...wake up..."
Louis was very slowly coming out of his doldrums, out of his spellbound funk.
"We need more time Louis...you will be yourself once...again..."
"Yes but how is Petar...is he OK...?"
"No Louis...no..."
Paragus advanced to the front of the crypt, now standing as a sentinel, guarding the entrance to the Neither World.
"The great doors opened fully."
"Yes I see Aswan, and look, what comes from the depths of the dark?" asked Junior.
"It is...Paragus the Gate Keeper...a servant of the Dark Lord".
"That is true Tut-ankh-Amon. I knew we would have to face him, remember the writings in the Good Book foretold it. Hathor will be here soon at the base of vault. We must confront Paragus and now Petar once again," said Aswan as he motioned for them to descend towards the ground.
The three Pegasus shot downwards, onwards towards the great stone vault landing squarely in front of the two open doors, and the great white Minotaur.
Paragus raised his diamond-crested pitchfork, laying it crosswise across his body in a guarded stance.
"We must speak with Petar, Paragus," said Tut-ankh-Amon in a commanding tone "a deal must be struck, before Hathor returns."
"No deals! Petar plans your demise. It is too late for deals, look to the skies. Into the circle of light above...the Goddess of Darkness and Chaos...she comes!"
Paragus pointed his pitched fork to the sky.
Riding upon Rukh The Re-born Phoenix, Hathor approached. Circling downward, Rukh screeched out, a high-pitched wail. It echoed throughout the valley, clamoring against the great stone pyramids, down into the ears of all present. Rukh announced Hathor's arrival with flair.
Chug covered Louis's ears, as all others covered theirs. The scream of the firebird was horrifying and all encompassing. Lower and lower the golden firebird descended, towards the stone vault, until at last Rukh touched down in front of the Mausoleum of the Kings."
Rukh lifted her head upwards to the heavens sending forth, scalding hot, yellow, blue, and red flames from deep within her scorched throat, to well-over fifty yards upwards, into the world of the Blue Hour.
The full blue moon, in all her brilliance hung above the three great pyramids in the Valley of the Kings, upon the complete arrival of the summer solstice. The moon had now completely blocked out the sun's warmth. A cool, biting wind blew in over the fire-desert's red sands, upon her arrival.
Hathor demounted Rukh effortlessly and with great flair.
She was a tall, thin woman by means of porcelain skin, with elegant, well-designed features. Her face was long and lean, with perfect facial skin tone: thin lips, wide cat-like, stunningly beautiful green eyes, a slim nose, and a delicate jaw line.
She wore a long golden red dress, tailored to fit her slim frame. Precious jewels lined both sides of her gown, and a thin belt that was strapped around her slight waist. Her nails and feet were well-manicured and silky smooth. Each long lanky, frail finger was covered with larger than life diamond rings, which refracted out a ghostlike blue light, like that of the Blue Hour that surrounded them. Artfully placed upon her head, she wore the headdress of a sun disk and cow's horn, about twelve inches high and across, it was made of solid gold. It refracted the light of the Blue Hour, backscattering it about far and wide.
She was a spectacle to behold.
She gracefully glided towards Paragus.
"I see you have met The Gate Keeper of the Mausoleum of the Kings. He is the protector and sentinel of earthly jewels that lie deep within the stone vaults below. Have you brought me more jewels to add to my collection?"
"We have brought something more precious than gold and jewels," proclaimed Tut-ankh-Amon."
"I am listening Tut-ankh-Amon. For I know you. You have offered me many gifts in the past. It is time once again for your payment to me. For I am just like any other woman, I covet the things of beauty, prettiness, and splendor in the world, the things of true worth" said Hathor as she gently waived a diamond ring across her long, thin frame.
From the depths of the vault a foreboding, familiar voice interrupted them.
"I have brought you attractiveness and exquisiteness in the form of gifts of true value as Tut-ankh-Amon will now, only more so" made known Petar as he stepped into the blue light of the new hour."
Junior reared up in a defensive position as The Baron mimicked his plight.
Hathor spoke.
"We barter today. Good and evil must settle their differences at another time. I will be the arbitrator, adjudicator, and judge of the near future as in the past. Speak now Petar."
"I offer to you now for your considerations, a gift which no one can match."
"Continue Petar Deegan."
"I have brought you the future minds of all the children in the world: their souls and dutiful allegiances will be yours to command. For I have acquired the evil book of Aka Manah which has shown me the true light of the darkness. I also bring you their leader, his mind, and his loyalties."
"Who have you brought me?" asked an inquisitive Hathor.
"I bring you the soul of Ozymandia-Ra-Atum-Khepri, the Child-King. Step forward Ozymandia" decreed Petar.
Chug tried to stop Louis from advancing, but to no avail. Louis's eyes showed no emotion, they once again glazed over with nothingness, as his shoulders and arms went as limp as a windless sail. Louis advanced closer to Petar as the others could only observe in utter disbelief.
"Evil has taken a hold of his mind, can you not see that? He is under the spell of the Under Dark blurted out Aswan.
"That is not my concern. I o
nly desire complete wealth, power, and beauty, be it in the form of good or evil, it does not matter."
Louis spoke out in a meek, trembling voice.
"Mother...Hathor...I am here. I will do as you wish..."
"No Louis..!" shouted out Chug "it cannot be..!"
Louis now stood right next to the beautiful and powerful supernatural being. She placed her thin fingers upon his fiery red hair.
"He is the spitting image of Ra. The cobalt blue eyes are the same. He does have the mark, he must be from the right family line. I accept your gift unless..."
"I have brought gifts that are of more value than, that of the soul and allegiances of a small boy."
"Yes continue...," asked Hathor as she continued to stroke Louis's soft red hair.
"I have brought you the most valuable, Compass of Nubia. It helped build these, pyramids you stand before, all those years ago. It can give you guidance to build more cities and stone temples, a new kingdom I offer you. That is the power that lies within the magical compass's guidance," said Tut-ankh-Amon".
"That is indeed a fine gift, what else have you brought me Tut? Petar offers me valuable souls."
Petar interrupted.
"I have brought you an even greater gift than, the gift of a kingdom to build. I have brought you the most coveted jewel the world has ever known. There is nothing more beautiful in this natural world than this. It is the Jewel of the Nile. Queen Nefertiti, The Great Royal Wife of ancient Egypt was once the proud owner of this priceless jewel.
Paragus the Minotaur slowly raised his right hand, uncurled his fingers and there lying in his well-weathered hand was the largest diamond the world has ever seen. The allotrope of carbon was never more beautiful to behold. As the light from the Blue Hour shown upon its face' there was a broad optical dispersion
"Long ago it was buried inside of the Crypt of the Kings; I am now the ruler of that crypt, and I own all the jewels that lie within her belly."
If you accept my two gifts, then as it once was in the past, and should be in the future, the light of the Blue Hour will stay, and be mine to command. Evil will rule the world, and I will be its sole master. You will allow the full moon of the summer solstice to hang above the world till the end of eternity," said a confidant Petar as he moved next to Paragus with a cunning smirk showing on his face.
"Wait...! I am not done with my offerings Hathor. Before you accept an offer from the Neither World and fall into cahoots with its chief organizer let me put forth my full bid!" said an exuberant Tut-ankh-Amon.
"Show your worth to the world of good as the leader of the Ancients Tut-ankh-Amon. Arion and Ancient won this battle the last time I crossed your skies. You have always bought my services and won my loyalty. For me to move onwards again, back into my celestial cycle, and keep time with all things in the universe that are good, you will need to up the ante."
"Look...I bring you the Silver Shield of Hercales, and the Bow and Quiver of Ra, the Sun God. They are strapped across the back of our Louis, who stands beside you. They are most coveted, and there is none other that exists in the world. Surely you know their worth, and the power they possess?"
"That I do... Tut-ankh-Amon...those are indeed fine gifts."
"No Hathor!" shouted out Petar with a disturbed look on his face "he cannot offer you something you already own. The child is at your side, he has consented to be your servant. I have given you him and his soul. He is willfully accepting you as his master. He just spoke to you and called you mother, so you see Tut cannot offer what he does not rightfully own."
"You are correct Petar. We shall speak no more of his allegiances that is settled. Now before you were interrupted Petar, you were going to offer me another great gift. Speak."
"Yes now we are getting somewhere Hathor."
"This is trickery!" shouted out Chug above all other voices "Ozymandia-Ra-Atum-Khepri...my Louis...my best friend has been drugged by a spy of the Under World. Digger the thief, and bandit has been slowly poisoning Louis with blueberries from the Bodhi Tree, look at his lips and tongue, they are blue! The color of the spellbinding berries."
Digger now showed his face into the blue light of the day at the crypt doors, he was inside of Petar's lair, behind enemy lines. As he saw Louis again in his nothingness state, another tear crossed his cheek, it fell to the earth below. He thought again to himself as he slunk around a rock out of sight of the others. "I must right this wrong. This is all, my fault. Hathor must know the truth."
"Small boys are known to eat all types of things they should not. How am I to believe that Petar does not barter, and speak in good faith? I need proof of your allegations Chug."
Petar shot a blistering look at Digger, as he peered once again around the rock-face.
The stare chilled Digger to the bone.
Digger froze in place.
Fear gripped him.
"No one comes forward, no proof. Again, we have settled that. What else do you offer me Tut-ankh-Amon or Aswan the White? Then I will take one last counter offer from Petar. A decision will be made after that that should decide this mystery and most perplexing problem, and the future of the world.
"Good! I am glad you grow weary of this, as I do. I now offer you something that nothing on this earth could possibly be more valuable. It has been the most coveted prize that the Ancients and Arions have possessed though out history. This prize is the guiding light that has transformed, modern day man. Through its magical powers it has bonded Ancient and Arion and all good in the world since man himself first started to walk upon this earth" said Tut-ankh-Amon.
Aswan gingerly approached his friend, The Wizard.
"Tut-ankh-Amon, I do not carry that bell anymore. It was a gift to...to...Louis. He is the wearer now, and the holder of that magic, do you not remember?" said a crestfallen Aswan.
"No Charlie...Mr. Beamer...it cannot be...not again. Louis has the Magic Bell of Amun-Ra around his neck. It cannot be offered as a gift...!" cried out a hysterical Chug as he ran to Mr. Beamer's open arms "we have lost!"
"Yes you have boy! And you Aswan, and you Junior, The Baron and of course Tut. Plus I now offer my last gift to Hathor only to seal the deal."
"I agree with you Petar. It is not theirs to give. I already own the bell. Go on Petar, because our time here is up" asked Hathor with a quizzical eye bent towards Petar.
"You see there are two great thief's in the world, Digger the criminal and burglar and I. I have been following Ozymandia-Ra-Atum-Khepri for the better part of two years now. I lingered and watched him in the dark, just waiting for his great quests to take him to the most valuable thing the world has ever known, and what the world covets the most. The most powerful thing on earth that only Tut-ankh-Amon and Aswan the White would know about, and understand what I speak. They in fact lead me to this thing of beauty unbeknownst to them."
"What have you done now Petar Deegan Aden? What...Mehan the Serpent Rider, the ruler of the Neither World, the Giver of Darkness, the Harbinger of all Things Dark and Evil!" called out Tut-ankh-Amon at the top of his lungs!
"The Eye of Providence, the all-seeing Eye of Divinity the Watching eye of all Humankind that belonged to the Healer...to...Sanat Kumara...The Super-Being, now belongs to me. His demise was at hand, and he owes it all to you Tut-ankh-Amon. You lead me to him. With the help of Rukh we flew into his cloudy lair, it was a quick death, he did not suffer."
"I knew that evil has corrupted your dark soul, but you have gone too far! There will be no deal. Death is now at your door Petar!" shouted out Tut-ankh-Amon.
"I am drained of your bickering," said a wearisome Hathor "I will return within the hour. Give me your final offerings then"
Alighting to Rukh, she mounted gracefully. She was away. Lifting upwards, easily riding Rukh great wings, into the dark maelstrom circling overhead. As she entered the dark storm, a la
rge band of black lightning bolts shot downwards, striking the earth about the stone pyramids. The thunderclaps echoed about the valley.
Chug cowered as the thunder rang about him, as Louis looked to the black heavens above, lost in confusion.
"Your pitchfork Paragus; aim for the heart of our detractors and enemies! Tut-ankh-Amon, you will not survive the day!" roared out Petar as the sounds of thunder dissipated.
As the ground began to shutter again with the continuation of The Procession of the Equinox, Paragus lost his footing as he raised his gilded, and diamond encrusted spear. His throw went errant, landing harmlessly to the left side of Tut-ankh-Amon and Aswan. Petar howled out in defeat. "After them, Paragus!!"
Louis being grabbed by Chug was dragged to cover once again behind a great stone block off to the left of the stone gates. Petar noted the movement out of the corner of his eye. He then shot his angry gaze back at Tut-ankh-Amon and Junior. The earth's shaking subsided as another lightning bolt shot out overhead.
Petar, the Giver of Darkness summoned his rage and resentment for the living world. Raising his boney head, he exposed his spinning evil eyes, locking his deathly gaze upon Junior. Junior accidently locked eyes with Petar. Being the younger, less experienced, and weaker of the Pegasus's he immediately fell under his wicked spell.
"Do not stare straightaway into his watch!" wailed out Aswan.
It was too late.
Junior quickly slumped to the ground, with his forelegs and hind legs folding under him in an awkward manner. It was painful to watch for his father.
Petar moved ahead towards Paragus with a quick bound, grabbed the Eye of Providence, forcefully he shoved it into his mouth, swallowing it whole.
"The only way this will return to the living world is over my dead body!" bellowed out Petar.
"That arrangement can be made!!" shrieked out Aswan, as he looked his fallen son over.
Digger seeing the mayhem, he had participated in, fumed and angered under his fur! Gnashing his two large front teeth together, he found a solution to his outrage.
He spoke again.
"I will end this evil."
He shot into the earth once again, digging like a ravenous snow fox scampering to find its terrified prey, retreating in horror under the thin snow below.
Digger was gone in a flash, out of sight once again, heading towards the Neither World...toward his own salvation.
"Louis...oh...please...please wake!" cried out an impassioned Chug "you are to save the world. Wake up! Wake up!" Chug shook Louis with all his might, rattling the sliver chainmail hanging across his thin chest, and The Shield of Heracles strewn acro ss his back.
To no avail!
"Where did my mother go...Hathor? Where is my father...?"
"No..."
"I hear you son. He will be here shortly...we await his arrival from the Under Dark!" said a heated Petar as he wiggled about in delight.
"Hathor is not your mother Louis! You are Ozymandia-Ra-Atum-Khepri and your destiny calls you! Step forth young man and claim your future!!" hollered out Tut-ankh-Amon.
Chug shook Louis again...nothing.
"Enough!" shouted Aswan "we will move forward without him the best we can!"
Gabbing Paragus's spear, Tut-ankh-Amon, sent forth a return salvo. As the spear flew pass Petar's left ear, it landed squarely in the middle of one of the stone doors to the crypt, shattering it to pieces, sending stone flying out in all directions.
The ground shook again violently, sending all crashing to the ground. Two large black lightning bolts thundered down from above, blistering the ground at The Baron's hoofs.
"I can best win this fight from the air!" shouted out The Baron.
"I as well" shot back Aswan. Both Pegasus bolted for the skies as Petar shouted commands to the Minotaur.
"Apophasis the Destroyer comes to our rescue! My father comes!! Paragus release the beasts of the deep upon the world! I command you!"
"Yes my lord. You are Mehan the Serpent Rider; you are the wearer of the Evil Eye of Horus Amduat and Eye of Wedjat. Behold!" said Paragus.
Paragus stumbled to his feet. His barbed tail took a wide swipe at Chug as he spun about. Chug shoved Louis out of the way, as he ducked for cover, narrowly missing both with its deathly intent.
Paragus dislodged his pitched-fork from the crushed stone door and as he did, he raised it above his head. Another quick whip of his massive tail and the second stone door of the Mausoleum of the Kings shattered into a thousand stones.
With a quick downwards stoke of his arm the pitched-fork was loose again, hitting the far back wall of the crypt. The back stoned wall crumbled under its power, opening up the vast vault of the Neither World to the world of blue light.
"Come forth my friends and allies, for we are now free to roam in the new light of the new day under Hathor's gift to us."
Thunderous footsteps, deep voices, hideous growls, and screeching caterwauls sprang out from deep within the throat of the crypt. The voices of the beasts of the night called out.