The Tale of Coltypt

by Rakoon1


Clash Between Brothers

It's been a few years since Anubis revolted against his father when he chose Kefer instead of him, deciding for abandoning Coltypt to get stronger so he could challenge his brother in the challenge of the feather of Maat, to achieve the title of Crown Prince.

During that time, Coltypt changed considerably. The golden citadel had become more utopian, with more beautiful and modern buildings to take the place of the old ones. The technology had also changed, like the design of the pyramids that had become more modern.

In addition, more of the Coltypt technology had also evolved. One of the great technological creations were the flying vessels with a sail boat shape, designed to fly across the vast desert. Furthermore, it was also created gliders in the shape of bikes.

All these inventions got out of the mind of a young inventor named Hyksos, who was a unicorn with brilliant amber coat with three gears as Cutie Mark, moderate tangelo mane hidden in a dark olive headdress and moderate orange eyes. He was also a good fighter, using his spear with immense skill. All this allowed him to be able to overcome the last level of the Labyrinth of Apis, deserving a Golden Bracelet and becoming part of the Golden Army.

Beyond him, others also managed to go through the Labyrinth, having become Golden Warriors too. One of them was a stallion with a strong body with moderate gold coat with chains linked to heavy balls as Cutie Mark, hairless dark gold hooves, brown mane with dreadlocks and also brown eyes. He was once a rebel who had been imprisoned in the dungeons and that, thanks to Kefer, had the opportunity to redeem himself, joining Apis’ army, using his own chains as weapons, and eventually overcome the challenge of the minotaur’s Labyrinth, receiving thus the Golden Power.

Another member of the Golden Army was a unicorn named Ramses that had a moderate green coat with a sword on a crescent moon as Cutie Mark, dark gambogeish gray and dark brownish gray mane covered with a brown headdress with a brilliant gamboge front and very dark olive eyes. In addition to being a good fencer, Ramses had a unique ability. He was able to use perfectly the metamorphosis spell, which allowed him to take the form of others. It was this ability that allowed him to overcome the challenge of the Labyrinth of Apis.

Finally, there was Sobek, a stallion with moderate spring green coat with a crossed spear and sword as Cutie Mark, grayish green mane and moderate turquoise eyes. He not only had the Golden Power, but he had also been appointed as the Guardian of the Gates of Coltypt.

It seemed that the peace in Coltypt had just gotten stronger and stable. However, something was about to happen that could put in jeopardize all that Coltypt had won since its liberation from the influence of the Lord of Chaos.

During a quiet day, Sobek was on watch on the wall where the gates of the citadel were, when Horus, with his Golden Power activated, landed on the edge of him.

"How are things here, Sobek?"

"Quiet, Horus" Sobek replied. "I have to admit that, in this way, be a Guardian is quite dull."

"But it is an important work in the safety of our kingdom" Horus said.

"Maybe..." Sobek said.

He then looked and saw somepony approaching.

"Somepony's coming" Sobek said, adopting a serious position. “Is he friend or foe?"

Horus turned to where Sobek was looking at and noticed the pony that was approaching. Despite the scarf that he was using to involve the face to protect it from the harsh desert wind, the half-griffon was able to recognize him, something that left him stunned.

"It can't be..." Horus said. "Is he..."

"Do you know who that is, Horus?" Sobek said. "Is him a villain of the Lord of Chaos?"

"Anubis..." Horus said, still shocked.

"Anubis?" Sobek repeated. "Are you talking about Prince Anubis?"

But Horus didn't answer. He was still recovering from the sight of seeing his old friend approaching. However, he didn't know if that was good or bad. The last time he saw him, Anubis swore that he would return to challenge Kefer for the title of Crown Prince. Horus wonder if he had returned to fulfill his promise? Or is it that he had accepted Pharaoh’s decision? Although the latter question sounded pretty implausible, Horus knew he should tell Kefer about the return of his twin brother.

"Let him in, Sobek" Horus said. "After all, he is the son of the Pharaoh and a Prince of Coltypt."

"Okay" Sobek said. "What are you going to do?"

"I’ll warn the pony who is the most interested in the return of Anubis" Horus said.

And, having said that, Horus took flight.

In the distance, Anubis saw Horus taking off. He knew he would warn Kefer about his return. It seemed that he was making things easier for him. That way, he wouldn't have to wait. Upon arriving at the entrance of the golden citadel, the gates opened, with Sobek in the hallway saying, while making a bow:

"Welcome back, Prince Anubis."

"Yes, it's really good to be back" Anubis answered, pulling out his scarf and revealing his face, where a smile with a slight malice garnished his face.

In the Labyrinth of Apis, the general and Kefer were watching the other Golden Warriors training. While they trained, Apis and Kefer talked between each other about their abilities.

"It seems the new Golden Warriors are adapting well to their new condition" Kefer noted.

"They still have some rough edges, but you're right, Kefer" Apis said. "We finally have our Golden Army completed."

It was then that Horus appeared, landing in front of Kefer and Apis, saying to them:

"I have news from the entrance of the kingdom, Kefer. News that I think you will want to know."

That made all the others to turn, curious.

"What's the matter, Horus?" Kefer asked.

"It’s your brother" Horus replied. "Kefer, Anubis is back."

That news caught Kefer off guard, but he was not surprised. He knew that the day that Anubis would return would end up arriving.

"Are you sure, Horus?" Apis asked. "It was really him?"

"He looked a little different, but I would recognize him everywhere" Horus said. "After all, we grew up together."

"Prince Anubis is back" Hyksos said. "I wonder how is he? I think none of us came to know him well."

"I heard he's not very nice" Kha said.

"Come on, let's not get talking about Prince Anubis in that way” Ramses said. "After all, he is Prince Kefer’s brother."

"Where is he?" Kefer asked to Horus.

"I'm not sure, I came to tell you about his return as soon as I saw him getting closer of the citadel” Horus answered. "But the most logical is that he went to the palace."

Kefer, listening that, began heading to the exit of the Labyrinth. Watching that, Apis and Horus followed him, with the former saying:

"Relax, Kefer. I know that Anubis’ returning was inevitable, but you have to think about this calmly. Have you forgotten what was the reason for him to have left Coltypt?"

"Apis is right" Horus said. "If he came back, it’s because he's going to..."

"I don't care" Kefer said, continuing to advance. "He's my twin brother and that is above everything. Besides, if what you’re say is true, then it doesn’t matter how much I delay our meeting, isn't that right?"

To that argument, Apis and Horus didn't know what else to say.

As Horus had suggested, Anubis had gone indeed to the palace, where he met with Amun and Hathor in the throne room. When she saw her son entering the throne room, Hathor went to him to hug him, but Amun simply remained sitting on his throne, looking to Anubis.

"It's so good to see you and hold you, my son" Hathor said, while holding Anubis. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too, mother" Anubis replied, although without holding her back and keeping looking to his father.

"I see that you decided to return" Amun said, keeping his expressionless tone. "I hope you came back with more sense."

"Amun!" Hathor said, turning to her husband with a disapproval tone. "How can you talk to your son in that way after years without seeing him."

"It's okay, mom" Anubis said. '' I understand dad’s reaction. After all, when I got out of Coltypt, we were not on the best terms. But rest assured, father. My journey was... revealing."

Listening his son talking in that way, Amun did not fail to feel a strange sensation. It was as if a certain darkness was shining in Anubis. But that thought scattered when the doors of the throne room were opened and Kefer entered, followed by Horus and Apis. Kefer stopped to see his brother who turned to him.

"Anubis..." Kefer said.

A silence broke in the room, while the two brothers finally met after years away. The silence was such that Hathor retreated to stand next to the throne where her husband was sitting.

"Hello, Kefer" Anubis said. "You look stronger. But I also got stronger."

"Anubis, please..." Kefer said, while attempting to approach his older brother. "It had passed a few years since that time. Can't we go back to what we were before?"

Anubis just made a smile and replied:

"We both know that's impossible. We're not the stallions that we were at that time."

"I'm still the same" Kefer said. "I haven't changed."

"But I did" Anubis replied. "And you can believe that I have changed for the better."

Suddenly, Amun came back to see the darkness that he had seen him in his son before Kefer get in. But how could that be? What did his son do during all those years he was out of Coltypt?

Anubis took the hoof to one of his saddlebags and pulled out of what everypony recognized as the Coltypt seal that Maat had given him if wanted to resort to challenge him to the challenge of the feather of Maat. Seeing that seal, everypony got in suspense. Amun’s older son lifted the seal and then broke it in two and launched one of the halves to the front of Kefer.

"Anubis..." he said, seeing the half of the seal before him, not wanting to believe.

"I challenge you, my brother, to the challenge of the feather of Maat" Anubis. "Let's see who is the most fit to be the next pharaoh."

Hearing that, Hathor tried to intervene, but Amun extended his arm to her. He knew very well that Anubis wasn't doing it just to get Kefer, but also to him, as he didn't have chosen him as his successor. There was nothing anypony could say or do to make him change his mind. So he got up and said:

"If it’s that what you really want, Anubis, then so be it. I’ll communicate that to Maat and prepare everything, so that everything is ready and we can start the challenge."

"I can't wait to start" Anubis said.

Kefer was still looking at the half of the seal that Anubis had thrown. So it had come to that point. Now that he thought about that, in the past, they were inseparable. Kefer was filling up of frustration for not having done anything in relation to the distance that was forming in their relationship.

Horus watched his best friend with sorrow. He knew what he was thinking, but Horus knew it wasn't all Kefer’s fault. He was also Anubis’s friend and he could also have helped to mitigate the distance that was emerging between the two brothers.

With the challenge of Anubis to Kefer announced, preparations were made. It didn’t last until, at the front of the Kingdom, were presented, in addition to Kefer and Anubis (who were prepared with saddlebags with provisions and carrying their swords), the Pharaoh and the Queen, the Coltypt Council and the Golden Army. Maat advanced a few steps in the direction of two participants, levitating beside her the container with her feather, and proclaimed:

"When I open this box, the feather will fly. The first to bring the feather back to me will be the winner. Prince Kefer, as you can imagine, the Golden Power is forbidden. If you use it, we will know and Prince Anubis will be the winner. Now remember, young princes, only the most worthy will be able to get the feather. Do you understand?"

"Yes" the two replied, making a slight bow to the Supreme Judge.

Then, using her magic, Maat made the glass of the box disappear and the top half frame was collected. Being freed, the feather took flight, as Maat said:

"Let the challenge… begin"

And the feather moved away quickly toward the desert. Kefer and Anubis began running, addressing the two gliders that were there for them. After rising to them, they started flying to go after the feather, not passing to much time for them to disappear from the field of vision.

"We'd better get back to the citadel" Maat said to everypony. "The challenge may take some time. Possibly days or weeks."

And, with that, everypony started to get back into the citadel. However, Amun took longer to return. There was something that bothered him, something that started when he felt that sudden darkness coming from his son. He could be exaggerating, but everything in that challenge was troubling him.

Of course, this could be due to the fact that one of his sons was about to be moved away from the citadel to live at the desert, but Amun couldn't help but feeling that something bad was going to happen.

The challenge was extended for a few days and the two brothers sought the desert for the feather, but it was quite difficult to find. Even they did that, it would just fly away.

Kefer was getting exhausted just by looking. After all, his provisions were running out. He had to find the feather quickly. It was then that a glow in the distance caught his attention. The prince knew that glow as the one belonging to the feather of Maat. Realizing this, Kefer followed the glow and finally saw it. It was really the feather of Maat.

Kefer landed his glider a few hooves, but, at that time, Anubis also appeared on his glider, landing on the other side, almost at the same distance that Kefer was. The two left their respective gliders and looked intensely to each other. It was then that the two started running in the direction of the feather.

Even though they started at the same time, Kefer was faster and was approaching the feather more quickly. It was obvious that it would be he who would get it. Anubis, realizing this, knew he couldn't let that to happen. If Kefer caught the feather, he would be in advantage and would have more chances of winning the challenge. Therefore, he concentrated deeply and darkness began to envelop him. He could feel his strength increasing considerably.

Kefer was amazed to see that. He could feel all the negative energy surrounding his brother. But what was that? He wondered if that was what he was thinking? Anubis then unleashed that energy at once and it hit Kefer strongly and threw him to the ground. The younger prince was sore and saw his brother approaching him with a cruel smile.

"Anubis... what did you do?" Kefer asked. "All this darkness…"

"I know" Anubis said. "It's amazing! You know, little brother, our dear old dad told us so many horrible things about the Lord of Chaos, but I think he forgot to mention how generous he is."

"You fool..." Kefer said, trying to get up, but he couldn't because of the pain he was feeling. "How can you have fallen into the ways of the Lord of Chaos?"

"If that means I can get what I want, I don't care" Anubis said.

It seemed that Anubis was pretty confident in the power of the Lord of Chaos. Kefer couldn't believe his own twin brother was allowed himself to be influenced by the master of all evil, just like their great-uncle.

"Now, if you excuse me, dear brother, I have a feather to take" Anubis said.

And he started going towards the feather. Kefer began to rise, ignoring all the pain he was feeling, as he had to prevent that Anubis took the feather and took it back to Maat, because he would become the Crown Prince and, if he did anything to harm their father, he would become pharaoh, who would launch Coltypt into the influence of the Lord of Chaos.

Anubis approached and prepared to take it, saying:

"And now, it's time to claim what should have been mine."

But when his hoof was a few inches from the feather, it began to shine brightly. The light was so intense that hurted Anubis’ eyes and made him groan and retreat.

"But what is this?" he asked, while retreating.

Kefer realized what was that. For what he had learned about the feather of Maat, it was loaded with the very light of the Lord of Order and, having felt Anubis’ darkness, it made his brother move away from it. That was his opportunity.

Using all the forces he had, Kefer started running and hit Anubis, throwing him against the ground. After this, he approached and grabbed the feather, running then to his glider and taking flight to the citatel. Seeing his younger brother getting away, Anubis said, with his anger rising up:

"Kefer! I'm not going to let you to beat me."

And Anubis went to his glider and tried to follow his brother.

A race between the two brothers began. Kefer was trying to reach Coltypt as fast as he could, while Anubis was trying to reach him with his anger rising even more. Relief began to invade Kefer when he saw the golden citadel.

"Finally…" he said.

"No way, little brother!" Anubis’ voice exclaimed.

He then appeared in front of Kefer, with the darkness enveloping him with more intensity.

"I'm not going to let you steal my destiny again!" Anubis yelled.

And he fired a strong shot of darkness. Kefer tried to dodge, but the attack was too fast and eventually hit him, making him fall off of his glider and landing hard on the burning sand of the desert. The feather was released and stopped at some distance, keeping itself floating, but without leaving the place it was. The glider continued to advance, while it fell to the land hardly, getting damaged. Anubis jumped off his glider, which also crashed, and approached his brother.

"This is the last time you put yourself in my way, Kefer" Anubis said.

And he began to throw punches to his younger brother, while saying with all the anger he was feeling:

"You've always been that way! You never stopped being the perfect child. You have always been father’s favorite, with that fair and calm attitude of yours."

"Anubis... please..." Kefer said, while blood began dripping from his nose and lips for every punch that Anubis gave him.

But Anubis continued with its brutal attack to Kefer, unloading all his anger on him. It was then that a voice exclaimed:

"Sun Ray!"

An intense beam made of sunlight appeared and hit Anubis hard, taking him off Kefer and throwing him to the ground a few hooves. Horus appeared, with her Golden Bracelet activated, having been responsible for the attack, and landed on the edge of Kefer, asking, as he helped him getting up:

"Kefer, are you okay? Don't worry, I'll get you out of here."

Anubis stood up and asked Horus, angrily:

"How dare you to interrupt me, Horus?!"

"What are you doing, Anubis?!" Horus asked. "He is your brother!"

"I don't care!" Anubis exclaimed, with his darkness shining again, but with more intensity. "You interfered and, because of that, you will pay!"

Anubis prepared to launch a new attack, but before he could do it, a wave of light struck him and he groaned, while he was paralyzed and the darkness around him disappeared.

"I don't think so, my son."

And Amun appeared between Anubis, Horus and Kefer. Then, Ramses and Kha appeared alongside him, with their bracelets also activated.

"You don’t pass from there" Amun said. "Neither you nor your attacks."

"But this is a challenge that is above the Pharaoh himself!" Amun exclaimed. "You had no right."

"You don't think I had the right to stop one of my sons from killing his own brother?!" Amun yelled. "I can be Pharaoh, but being a father is my highest priority. This is the true meaning of the crown: protect the kingdom and the loved ones, something that obviously you don't understand."

"You were always the same" Anubis said. "You always favored Kefer."

"I love you and your brother the same way" Amun said. "But your brother deserves the crown. He has the qualities necessary to be a great pharaoh, unlike you. You think I didn't see that darkness surrounding you, even though latent? This challenge is cancelled! The feather of Maat can only be taken by the most worthy, those who do not serve Evil, something that apparently perfectly describes you."

Anubis drew an evil smile and he began to laugh evilly, saying then:

"I'll take that as a compliment, dear father. However, let me correct you. Coltypt does not need a fair and compassionate pharaoh. Those are no more than weaknesses. A Pharaoh must be strong and powerful, able to rule with firm hoof. And you can be sure I'll do that, in the same way that Seti and Khonsu did!"

Hearing that, Amun realized that Anubis was completely under the influence of the Lord of Chaos. The negative energy he was releasing was a lot. It was even stronger than the one that he once felt in Khonsu.

"You leave me no choice, Anubis" he said. "No matter how much pain this may cause to me, I can't let you get away with your crimes."

"Father... please" Kefer said, weakly.

"No, Kefer" Amun said. "I take care of Anubis. This is now an issue that concerns the security of our kingdom. Rest, my son. Horus, protect Kefer."

"Yes, Pharaoh" he replied.

"Ramses, Kha, get ready" Amun said.

"Yes!" they answered.

Despite the words that he had just said, Anubis realized that he couldn't fight his father and two Golden Warriors. His only option was to run, but even that option seemed to be almost impossible to be performed.

Suddenly, an immense darkness appeared in the air and a cold voice said through it:

"Easy there, Amun."

The Pharaoh of Coltypt recognized that voice.

"You..." he said.

And the darkness took the form of the Lord of Chaos.

"Hello, Pharaoh."

"Lord of Chaos" Amun said.

Ramses and Kha were a little impressed with the appearance of the Lord of Chaos, but they didn't lose their composure and kept their attack position.

"What did you do with my son, you bastard?" Amun asked.

"I just tried to give him what he wanted" the Lord of Chaos answered, trying to make a fake innocent air. "After all, isn’t that a good thing to do? And I was thinking that I was doing a good deed."

"You're going to pay for this..." Amum said.

"I doubt that very much" the Lord of Chaos replied, revealing his serious side. "What can a simple pony against a deity like me? Furthermore, your son serves me because it’s what he wants. It's not true, Anubis?"

"Yes, master" Anubis replied, making a bow to the Lord of Chaos.

"You see?" the Lord of Chaos asked to Amum cynically. "And now, if you don't mind, oh great Pharaoh, I and my servant will go. After all, we don't want to infect your beautiful kingdom with our sweet darkness."

And the Lord of chaos laughed while he and Anubis disappeared in a wave of darkness.

With the disappearance of the Lord of Chaos, Ramses and Kha felt much relieved. Despite the pain that was seeing one of his sons becoming a servant of the Lord of Chaos, Amum had to look ahead and focus on what he could do. He turned to Kefer and told him:

"We're going to take you to Osiris, Kefer. Don't worry, you're going to be fine."

"Wait, father" Kefer said, freeing themselves from Horus and holding up. "There's still something I have to do first."

And he began to go towards the feather of Maat.

"Kefer..." Horus said.

"You don't have to do this, my son" Amum said. "The challenge was cancelled."

"I don't care" Kefer said, grabbing the feather. "I have to finish what I started. After all, that's what you always taught me, father, isn’t it?"

That made Anubis to smile. Kefer was without a doubt the best choice. In spite of the consequences of their choice, he didn't regret anything.

Appearing in the Desolate Area, the Lord of Chaos said to Anubis:

"Too bad you lost the challenge. I was counting on your victory to recover Coltypt."

"I'm so sorry, master" Anubis said. "It seems that my brother has a lot of luck."

"Yes, and a lot of allies" the Lord of Chaos said.

Then an idea came up in the mind of the master of evil and he giggled.

"If that is so, then you just have to do the same thing."

He turned to Anubis and continued:

"You have to create your own army. Do that and then conquer Coltypt by force."

"But how am I going to do that, my Lord?" Anubis asked. "Even if I get my own army, Kefer has the Golden Power."

"Don't worry about that, because I will give you the power you need" the Lord of Chaos said. "But, like any other powerful magic, there is a price: your equinity."

"I will do my best to win Coltypt for you, your lordship" Anubis replied. "I’ll pay the price required."

"Very well" the Lord of Chaos said.

And he pointed his spear to Anubis and released the darkness. Darkness surrounded him, until it hid him completely.

"It's time for you to reborn, Anubis" the Lord of Chaos said. "Introduce yourself to me... as a jackal warrior."

And the darkness dissipated, revealing the new form of Anubis. He had become a jackal with black fur and brilliant scarlet eyes with yellow sclera with white markings. In his head, he had a blue and black headdress.