#vaguely... some of the spirits in the Duat talked about them...

[rubycarbie]

She didn't... she didn't even visit me in the hospital when I started my mummy transformation...

Hello, alchemy fandom!

[cherrycarmine]

Child Under The Rose (First Draft)

This is the first draft of a story that I wrote sometime last year. It’s apart of a series ( see here for more context). I don’t know if anybody will see this, but any constructive criticism would be much appreciated.

"Hey, come to Alexandria tomorrow. There's someone I want you to meet..."

Horus had finally landed near the temple the other Horus had told him about. Despite being outside of Kemet and surrounded by a lush garden that put his father's own to shame the structure of the temple vaguely resembled the ones back home; large and open to the world, but colored gray and with vines wrapped around the pillars. The red roses contrasted greatly with the temple, the small yet vibrant flowers seemed to compliment it well. He was sure his parents would love the scenery as well. But now wasn't the time for sightseeing; he had a more important issue to focus on. He took a deep breath, then walked forward.

"Wow. This place is really beautiful. I wonder why no one's around - Ugh! What's that horrible smell?!" The smell of rotting flesh hit his nose. Had someone died somewhere around here? Was it the other Horus? Or did he kill someone and planning on making Horus his next victim? Other Horus or not there was no point in staying here.

But as he turned around he heard, "That's the stuff on Lili's eggs you're smelling. She's a mother now!" Eggs? Lili? What on earth did that have to do with anything? And just who was saying all of this?

"Who's there? Show yourself right now!"

"Relax. You're in good company."

Horus jumped when he heard that same voice coming directly from behind him. Turning around he saw a young boy floating down towards him."D-don't sneak up on me, damn it! Where did you even come from?"

The boy laughed. "I've actually been hiding behind you this whole time... And didn't you hear what I said earlier? Lili just had babies! A simple congratulations would be enough!"

Studying the boy further Horus realized he looked kind of similar to the man in his dream; then who had led him here. But this couldn't possibly be him... Right? "Just who are you, anyway?"

"Fine. You don't have to say anything to her, I guess." He must've wanted to brag about his pet some more, Horus thought. Maybe they could talk some more later on.

"Hey, can you help me with something?"

"Sure. What do you need?"

"I'm looking for a man named Horus. Do you know where he is?"

"You're looking right at him!"

"...Excuse me?" This kid had to be joking.

"Yep. I'm the Horus you're looking for. Call me Harpocrates."

Harpocrates? So he was a Greek god... But what would a Greek god need with a Kemetic god? Even though Alexandria lies between Kemet and Olympus, and both cultures were at one point tied together back on earth, neither side interacted with the other much (outside of festivals and the occasional visit from one of the Greeks, of course. Horus and his fellow gods usually stayed in Kemet.). He even looked like one of the Greeks own, what with his black and white robes and all. Something didn't feel right about this kid...

"Er, you're kidding. The guy that led me here was much older." Harpocrates nodded his head, "That was me. I just told Hermes and Hades to make me look older and more like a Kemetic... Hey now, why do you look so skeptical? Just 'cuz we don't look alike doesn't mean we aren't related. Genetics is a mystery after all."

Was he hearing right? Now, this kid was telling Horus they were related. "What are you talking about? I don't have any siblings." Horus wondered if he should just leave right now. This kid was beginning to get on his nerves.

"Oh, I used my ability on you and our mother. That's why you and the other Egyptian gods know nothing about me."

"Ability?"

Harpocrates smiled, "I can make anybody forget they've ever met me once they leave my sights. What do you think? Pretty amazing, huh?" He looked pretty smug saying something so suspicious. None of this made sense at all, but Horus had to learn more about him, "Okay. But why would you do something like that?" Horus was tempted to ask how he managed to do such a thing at such a young age, but then he remembered how powerful (albeit unskilled) he was when he was a child. Hell, several of the oldest gods he knows, like Ra and the Ogdoad, were "born" as fully-grown adults. No sense in asking a question like that.

Harpocrates shrugged and said, "Well, it'd be shameful if anybody found out about the affair our mother had, so I blocked it out of her memory -."

Horus whipped out his dagger and held it to Harpocrates's throat, stopping him from finishing his sentence. "My mother would never do such a thing!"  

"Ah, but you don't really know that, do you?" Harpocrates laughed and said, "A secret tryst between two people from different backgrounds... Sounds exciting, doesn't it?"

"Shut up, already! We're not related so stop talking like we are-! Horus stopped when he saw the lines around Harpocrates's right eye, Just like the ones around his own right eye. He moved his dagger away from his neck and then said, " No way... Is that... the Wedjat?!"

Harpocrates sighed in relief. "' Wedjat?' We call it the "Eye Of Horus" here in Alexandria. But yes, it is. So now you know how to tell when you're in the presence of another "Horus". Or "Heru", as we're known as back in Kemet."

So he really was telling the truth after all. "S-sorry about attacking you earlier. I should've just let you finish your story." Horus said. He felt like leaving after that sudden outburst. Harpocrates probably wanted him to anyway.

To his surprise, however, Harpocrates simply laughed and said, "It's fine, it's fine. I don't blame you. It is a pretty shocking story after all. If anyone's to blame it's the humans for making our origins and histories so complicated."

"You're certainly right about that. I wouldn't blame them for everything though; they can only know so much about us without us telling them everything." Speaking of which: Horus realized how little he interacted with humans, especially on a more casual basis compared to some of his fellow gods; some, (like Bastet and Hathor) are definitely more sociable than he is in general. Maybe he should get to know someone new someday.

"Ain't that the truth. Soo... Do you wanna fight me?"

Well, that was a sudden change in topic. Horus raised an eyebrow and said, "Um, why'd you bring that up?"

Harpocrates looked just as confused as Horus, but it seemed like he was confused by Horus's question more than his own suggestion. "Well, isn't that how the people of this world get to know each other better?" he asked. "It's common among the gods at least." "Yeah, but-"

"What's wrong with that? If you haven't noticed the people here aren't what we would call normal." Horus couldn't argue with that. He noticed how his comrades seemed to be acting more... Wild? Carefree? - Proud would probably be the better word - ever since they were forced to move to the Spirit World. He figured it was for the best; the outsiders have no need so many gods now, and everyone here finally has the power and freedom they never had on earth.

As tempted as he was to take Harpocrates up on his offer Horus was too tired to even think about doing such a thing, Alexandria was much farther away from Kemet than he had imagined, even in consideration with his flight speed. "Um, no thanks. I've done enough flying for one day."

Harpocrates shrugged, "Well, if you're really sure... Why don't I show you around my place instead?"

"Sure."

The two gods walked towards Harpocrates' shrine, chatting about the scenery (Horus finally got to meet Lili, Harpocrates's pet Hoopoe. She was cute and he was happy to hear that she was a mother, but was it really necessary for her to use such a foul-smelling liquid to protect her eggs? Though he supposed it would keep most predators away.), as well as each others histories and comrades. Horus never expected someone as light-hearted as Harpocrates to only have a few friends (though the kid seemed to have a habit of saying whatever he felt like saying, regardless of the situation or the consequences. Then again, his ability does seem very convenient. Couldn't blame him for wanting to use it to his advantage). At least he had a few pets to keep him company.

They had talked for so long they didn't notice that the sun was beginning to set. Horus had to get back in time for his nightly trip through Duat with Ra and the others soon. "Damn! Didn't know it was getting that late." He ran towards the exit, completely forgetting about Harpocrates before he had called out to him.

"Hey! Where are you going? Everything all right?"

Horus turned back slightly and called back, "Yeah! I need to get home soon. I'll come back later. See ya."

"Bye! Thanks for showin' up!" Harpocrates waved at him.

"I'll be sure to tell the others about you, okay?" Horus flew out of the shrine. Now it was time for another long trip back to Kemet. (And he had to get to work immediately no less.) Oh well, he could tell everyone about the trip tomorrow he supposed. He knew his mother wouldn't be thrilled hearing about... Huh? There was something he had to say to her. At least he thought he did... Why did he leave Kemet anyway?