Chapter Text
Marc blinked and looked down. In one hand, he held Harrow’s staff, the sharpened end pressed to his blood forehead. Harrow was unconscious, helpless. Fires burned around them. Disciples’ bodies littered the ground. He stood and stared at Harrow in shocked horror.
“That wasn’t you, was it, Steven?” asked Marc slowly. He had no idea what had happened in the last few minutes.
Steven switched in and shook his head. “Not a chance, mate,” he breathed, looking around at the bloody battlefield.
“Marc?” asked Layla, finally getting a chance to free herself.
Marc shook his head as he stared at the bodies. However, all thoughts of what he or Steven did—for who else could have?—flew from his mind as he saw (Y/N) lying motionless on the ground.
“(Y/N),” he breathed, running towards them.
Layla didn’t bother to ask what had happened, also worried for the unmoving teenager. She knelt beside them, and her heartbeat quickened as (Y/N) didn’t stir.
“(Y/N)?” said Marc, lifting them up in his arms. “Hey, come on, kid. Open your eyes.” He cupped their face, shaking them gently. “Come on. Come on. You’re alright.” His heart clenched painfully. “(Y/N). (Y/N).”
From the reflection of a blade nearby, Steven spoke with equal panicked worry. “(Y/N)! Wake up! Wake up!”
“Come on, (Y/N). Just open your eyes,” said Layla.
All three adults stared at the teenager, pure panic in their hearts. They couldn’t lose (Y/N). They couldn’t. If they died, they wouldn’t be able to forgive themselves. Layla couldn’t lose another person she cared for. Steven couldn’t lose the teenager that he saw so much of himself in. Marc couldn’t let another child with so much heart and soul die because he hadn’t protected them.
(Y/N)’s eyes opened slowly. “…Wh…Wha…” They whimpered as the remnants of Harrow’s power danced through their nerves.
“It’s okay. You don’t need to speak,” said Layla, smiling in relief.
“You’re alright.” Marc held them close. “You’re alright.”
“We’ve got ya!” said Steven, beaming in relief.
“…Harrow?” groaned (Y/N) softly.
“He’s down,” said Layla.
“Am…Ammit?”
Marc and Steven exchanged a worried glance. Ammit was still fighting Khonshu and Ma’at.
“She’s still fighting,” said Steven.
“We need to bind Ammit,” said Layla. “That’s what Taweret said.”
“I…I know the…rites,” said (Y/N), fighting to lean Marc. “Ma’at…I’m her…Avatar.” He carefully guided them.
“Alright,” said Marc, though he was still concerned about their health. “We’ll get you to the pyramid.”
“I’ll bring Harrow,” said Layla.
Standing, Marc picked up (Y/N). They were still recovering, after all. Yes, with the suit they could heal more quickly, but he wasn’t letting them strain themself. Layla grabbed Harrow’s leg and dragged him behind her.
Together, the group rushed to the Great Pyramid and through the rubble to the chamber within. Marc gently put (Y/N) down but kept them standing upright while Layla tossed Harrow onto a fallen stone slab.
“The power of this room will help us bind Ammit to Harrow’s body,” said Layla. “(Y/N)?”
“I know the spell,” said (Y/N), nodding. They reached out to Layla and Marc. “Take my hands. I don’t—I don’t have enough energy on my own.”
Layla and Marc took each of their outstretched hands. They hesitated, but their remaining hands intertwined. (Y/N) lifted their head, and Ma’at’s signature azure glow swirled into their eyes. Ancient Egyptian spilled from them, and blue magic twined out from them, extending through Layla and Marc until they were a circle of power.
The energy spread out from them and connected to the statues of the gods in the chamber, illuminating each with azure light. The magic swelled, and Layla and Marc felt the knowledge enter their mind. Their own chanting added to the power as the spirits of the untethered gods. Having lost their Avatars, they clung to this circle of power to strengthen the magic of the three Avatars standing strong together.
Harrow let out a gasp and stirred as the magic swarmed around him and began to affect his connection to Ammit.
A similar circle of light twined around Ammit outside of the pyramid as she yelled and snarled against Khonshu and Ma’at.
“We could’ve made this our paradise!” said Ammit.
“It’s too late, Ammit,” said Ma’at. “You have lost our friendship.”
“And you will be destroyed,” said Khonshu.
Ammit snarled, but the magic circle was too strong, and parts of her began to turn to sand, swirling downwards. She roared in fury, but she was pulled back into the magic and dissolved into it. Purple light joined azure, and it flew downwards into Harrow’s chest as he gasped.
He let out a pained breath as the magic and essence of Ammit sealed with him. His eyes turned on (Y/N), Marc, and Layla.
“You can never contain me,” said Ammit through Harrow. “I’ll never stop.” Then, Harrow’s head fell to the side in exhaustion, and he stared at the chamber blankly.
(Y/N)’s spell ended, and the magic and light faded. They let go of Marc and Layla’s hands and glanced at them apprehensively.
“Finish it.” Khonshu appeared in the chamber and loomed over Marc. “Leave neither of them alive.”
Marc stepped onto the slab of stone, casting a shadow over Harrow’s limp, beaten body. He took out a dagger.
“Marc?” said Layla, gazing at him.
“Act, Avatar of Khonshu,” said Ma’at, sorrowful that her former friend and companion had to meet such an end. “While he lives, so does she.”
(Y/N) shifted uneasily. They knew Harrow had done terrible things. They wanted him beaten, gone. But killing him like this, when he was down, mind destroyed? It felt like what he had done. If he was still fighting, if Harrow still had his magic and strength and power, (Y/N) would understand. Now…
“I have to finish this,” murmured Marc, gritting his teeth. “If not, I’ll never be free.”
“Marc,” said (Y/N), and he looked at them. They swallowed. “We have a choice. We beat Harrow. We beat Ammit. We served our purpose.”
Marc hesitated.
“The choice is vengeance,” said Khonshu. “We cannot take a chance that Ammit finds a way out. She will kill again.”
Marc looked up at Khonshu, and the deity stared back coldly. Marc threw his dagger to the side, and it embedded in a rock.
“You want them dead. Do it yourself,” he said firmly. (Y/N) smiled. “Now. Release us.”
Khonshu was silent, but he had no other choice. He had made a deal with Marc and Steven. “As you wish.” He disappeared in a swirl of wind and sand.
Marc exhaled, and his eyes rolled back into his head. The bandages and cloth of his outfit retracted until he wore his regular clothes once more. In a burst of silver light, Marc was released from his Avatarhood.
“How do you feel?” said Layla, smiling.
“I…feel new,” said Marc. He was free. No more being an Avatar. No more fighting. He could just…exist.
Steven switched in. “I like this!” He grinned. “We did it!”
“We did,” agreed (Y/N).
“(Y/N).” Ma’at spoke, and (Y/N) turned towards her.
“Ma’at,” said (Y/N). They shifted and glanced at Layla and Marc. “Can I…Can I have a moment to speak to her? Alone?”
“Are you going to be alright?” said Layla, furrowing her brow.
“Don’t let any of the gods push you around,” said Steven quickly.
“I’m fine. I just need to talk to her,” said (Y/N) calmly.
“Alright. We’ll give you a moment,” said Layla.
Layla and Steven walked out of the pyramid, and (Y/N) turned to face Ma’at.
“You became my Avatar again to defeat Ammit,” said Ma’at. She had noticed the wording. “You wish for our connection to be dissolved.”
(Y/N) nodded. “I speak the truth, you know that.” They looked up at the goddess they had been with for seven years. “I’m ready for a chance to…be me. Not an Avatar. Not a guardian. Just me.”
Ma’at smiled. “Then I will honor your decision.”
“Really?” said (Y/N), blinking. They hadn’t anticipated Ma’at so easily allowing them to leave, to sever their connection as deity and Avatar.
“Yes.” Ma’at’s body swirled in azure light, and she shrunk into the form of a tall woman. She smiled at (Y/N), standing at (nearly) their height. “You have been an incredible Avatar. The truth comes naturally to you. You see things as they are.” She reached out and touched (Y/N)’s hand. “But the gods were right. Despite your strength, you are young.” Ma’at smiled. “It wouldn’t be right of the goddess of justice to not allow you freedom now after doing so much.”
“Thank you,” said (Y/N), gazing back at Ma’at.
“I have pushed you so far,” said Ma’at. “I hope you may forgive me for my wrongs.” (Y/N) opened their mouth to respond, but Ma’at raised a hand. “No. You have no need to respond. It is I who must be just to you now.” She straightened and looked at (Y/N). “You have honored my ways as an Avatar. I wish to honor that. How may I thank you?”
“What?” said (Y/N), furrowing their brow.
“Allow me to gift you something that may help you live freely,” said Ma’at.
“I…” (Y/N) knew their answer and met Ma’at’s gaze. “I want to hear the truth.”
“You wish to not just hear the language you grew with or the friend who controls the body,” said Ma’at knowingly.
(Y/N) nodded. They liked understanding people. And they liked hearing Marc or Steven when they weren’t fronting. They didn’t want to lose that connection to them.
“Very well.” Ma’at leaned in and kissed (Y/N)’s forehead.
A cool blue light washed over them, and their suit disappeared as their connection to Ma’at was severed. However, the scales tattoo given by Ammit’s judgement illuminated azure. It morphed into a feather, and when (Y/N) touched it gently, they felt a slight buzz of magic. Ma’at’s gift remained engrained within them.
“Know my offer to you will always stand, my dear Guardian of Truth,” said Ma’at quietly. “And may the truth serve you well.”