The Labyrinth

**The Labyrinth** (French titled *Le labyrinthe*) is the ninth episode of the first season and series overall.

## Plot

The episode begins in a Mediterranean island of Crete, a civilization that worships and fears the Minotaur. However, a disease plagues the livestock and causes them to languish. In a palace, King Minos is aggresively adviced by Pronas to declare war, as he claims the minotaur god has. Minos scolds him and rejects the idea, however, Prince Melos insists on traveling to Egypt for help. Minos agrees to the decision and dismisses Pronas.

Pronas makes his way to a shrine and complains to the minotaur god. Aker's nefarious plots against are no different from being against Egypt. He sends a demon of Seth to carry out his plan and possesses Pronas.

A dream is Théti is then shown where she gets swallowed by a colossal water bull, with her falling into the whirlpool after. Papyrus wakes up in Tiya’s home, attracting concern to the latter and Shepsi. Due to the nightmare, Papyrus informs that Théti might be in danger. Tiya comments that he is a mind reader and tries to contradict Papyrus, but he has already left the place. She asks to come with him from the top.

Papyrus and Tiya go to Ratoufer at the palace about the dream. Ratoufer makes a confirmation from a talisman Théti had worn in the dream, that it might be true. Théti steps into the room, confident that she is not in danger. She informs that Prince Melos is visiting Thebes from Memphis, urging Papyrus to come with her. Before they depart, Ratoufer offers to Théti the talisman for luck. Tiya questions what she will do, and Théti pesters her to come too, commenting that Papyrus wouldn't mind traveling with two princesses.

The three arrive at the designated location to welcome and greet Melos. Upon his welcome, Melos lightly flirts with Théti, causing Tiya to giggle, much to Papyrus's displeasure. Papyrus then suggests that they visit the sacred bull of Memphis, to which Théti agrees sarcastically.

Melos pays tribute to the sacred bull by offering Théti a pectoral. She approaches the bull, however, the bull runs at her, preparing to strike. Fortunately, the bull submits to the pectoral and becomes docile. Théti places the pectoral along the head of the bull, bringing relief to Papyrus. Melos is in admiration and wishes for his sister, Ariadne to witness such scene. He proceeds to cross the wall but is shoved into the arena by Ulès. The bull, aggravated, runs toward him and strikes him, causing injuries to him.

Ulès makes a move and blames the injury on Papyrus and Théti. Théti reasons that it was an accident and insists on taking him to Thebes to rest in the palace. Meanwhile, Aker rejoices over the conflict and the possibility of war between Egypt and Crete.

Melos is resting, and Ratoufer concludes that he is unconscious. Théti, however, never fails to remain optimistic and promises he will get better. In the throne room, Merenre worries that if Melos dies, it will trigger a war between both sides. Ratoufer suggests to take the sacred bull and offer it to Minos, so that way, it serves as an uplift of the disease, theologically. Merenre agrees to the advice and declares Papyrus as an ambassador of Egypt in favor of Minos. Théti wishes to go to, but Ratoufer deters her to, sensing sinister forces against her. The rest unanimously agree.

Papyrus is set for the voyage, Théti offers him her talisman and wishes him luck and safety. Papyrus wishes likewise and playfully teases Théti's affection for Melos. A messenger approaches them, with Tiya and Shepsi, and informs to them that Melos has died from his wounds. Théti is in shock, believing Papyrus should not go. However, Papyrus is confident things will be fine and sets for voyage.

While Tiya stares at the palace pond, Shepsi interrupts her by his screeching. Tiya asks what is wrong, and is lead to witness an argument between Ulès and the messenger. Melos, still unconscious, mutters in his sleeping state. Meaning that Ratoufer has cured his wounds. Théti questions why the messenger would lie, Tiya steps in and informs them about the messenger, with an identifiable trait being a large scar on his cheek. Théti is concerned and asks how she knows. Tiya gives overwhelming praise to Shepsi for her encounter and gives him a sweet peck.

Papyrus is on the voyage, in the middle of the sea. Aker unleashes a violent storm to prevent him from going. The turbulence causes the entire ship to sink, and Papyrus to fall unconscious due to the impact of the boat. He is rescued by dolphins, who pull him up to surface.

Papyrus wakes up on a shore, and is met with Cretan Palace Guards. Papyrus wishes to see the king and they lead him to the palace. His sword is swept on the shore, seen by Ariadne, who picks it up. Papyrus is brought to Minos, but Pronas immediately comes to the conclusion that Papyrus is a spy, suggesting that he should be brought to the bull. Minos shuts him up and instead decides to test Papyrus's honesty by having him face the sacred bull.

Meanwhile, Théti and Tiya are walking down the hall, concerned with Melos's health. They quickly spot a hooded man stepping out of Melos's resting room, who soon runs off. Tiya proceeds to go after him, leaving Théti to investigate why he he was in the room. She notices tiny bits of powder beside Melos's mouth, along with picking up a tooth piece filled with the rest of it. Tiya comes into the room, having failed to catch him. Théti informs to her that someone had tried to poison Melos. Tiya closely looks at the tooth, and recognizes its familiarity with Ulès's piece from his necklace.

Papyrus is locked up and tied. He hears Ariadne face the bull and watches her perform wonderful tricks while riding the bull. Papyrus is impressed with the skill, but is called out to face the bull himself. His wrists are tied to the back, but he manages to dodge each strike from the bull. Papyrus is eventually assisted by Ariadne, who cuts the ropes with his sword. Papyrus does not wield his sword against the bull, but he utilizes the talisman Théti had offered to him earlier. The talisman glows, with the bull kneeling before him.

Pronas denies his victory and orders the guards on him. Minos cancels the order, dismissing him once again. He apologizes to Papyrus and expresses gratitude toward him. Papyrus now offers the bull to the king for health and fertility to the Cretan bulls. Papyrus is escorted by a guard, only to be surrounded and knocked out by two other intimidating guards. Pronas threatens the guard escorting him by urging him to forget what he saw. He orders the guards to take Papyrus to the labyrinth, where his fate lies. Ariadne witnesses this.

Papyrus wakes up in the labyrinth, trying to find his way out. Meanwhile, Ariadne sets off to find and save Papyrus, taking his sword along with her. Before she does, she lends her bangle to a man, who wishes her luck. She rows to the island. Papyrus still tries to find his way out and soon finds himself walking in circles. He then decides to climb over a wall, believing it is the only way. He does so but is attacked by prehensile moss, pulling him back down. Papyrus loses hope, until Ariadne approaches him and hands him back his sword. He asks for her name, but she is mute, unable to speak. She proceeds to leads him out with a yellow thread.

Théti is soothing Melos of his wound, with Ulès standing beside. Tiya steps in with Shepsi, Théti informs that Ratoufer has fully cured the prince. Tiya then adds about the poison and insinuates that Ulès is accountable for the crime. Ulès grabs Tiya by the wrist, ready to hit her. Shepsi stops this and attacks him. Melos gains consciousness, trying to remember what happened. He reveals that Ulès is responsible for pushing him off the wall in the first place. Ulès quickly makes his getaway, and Tiya chases after him. Melos's however, urgently insists that he must return to Crete, feeling Papyrus being in grave danger. Ulès has escaped, but Théti informs that he has little chance of getting away with the guards and the desert.

Ariadne and Papyrus walk through the labyrinth with the help of her string. More moss gets in their way, but Papyrus manages to desist them. Pronas is confronted by Minos for his behavior, and having Ariadne risk her life to save Papyrus. Pronas further makes absurd claims against him, causing Minos to lose his patience and arrest him. He then orders to prepare the boat, that he is leaving for the labyrinth. Pronas is thrown in the cell, but it does not stop him from ending Papyrus on the spot.

Melos thanks Merenre for his hospitality, having to return to Crete to save Papyrus. Théti again pleads to go with him, but Melos insists for her to remain, fearing that the process might be too dangerous for her. Merenre agrees to his words. At the Memphis stop, Théti and Melos bid farewell to each other, Théti promising to him he will look out for Papyrus. He leaves for Crete.

The moss engulfs more around the area, losing the thread and essentially has Papyrus and Ariadne lost. They suddenly hear loud stomping around the labyrinth. A giant minotaur shows up with a size-fitting pitchfork, scaring Ariadne so much that she screams. Pronas controls the minotaur from the dungeon through Seth's magic, and proceeds to destroy both Papyrus and Ariadne. Papyrus is no match for the giant and has difficulty defeating it. Ariadne pleads to let Papyrus go and let its anger fall on her. The minotaur throws its pitchfork at where Ariadne is standing, but Papyrus pushes her out of the aim. While the minotaur tries to retrieve its pitchfork, the moss engulfs around the minotaur and pitchfork, subduing him to the ground.

Papyrus now has the chance to defeat the giant. He sways his sword and severs the horns of the beast, also causing pain to Pronas. Pronas's magic wears off and he and the minotaur switch locations, with Papyrus and Ariadne realizing it was the latter all along. The entire labyrinth starts to sink into the sea, fortunately for Papyrus, he and Ariadne swim to safety on Minos's boat.

In his palace, Melos and Minos thank Papyrus for his help and contribution. Minos offers Papyrus a seal as a token of their alliance. Papyrus promises to deliver it to Pharaoh Merenre as a gift from him. Ariadne escorts Papyrus for his departure and thanks him, wishing he could live in Crete. Papyrus adds it would have been nice if he could, but he needs to get back to Thebes.

The episode ends with Théti and Tiya waiting for Papyrus to return.

## Characters

**Main**

* Papyrus
* Théti
* Ariadne
* Melos
* Pronas
* Seth

**Major**

* 'Aker
* King Minos
* Tiya
* Shepsi
* Ulès
* Pharaoh Merenre
* Ratoufer

**Minor**

* Messenger
* Cretan Royal Guards