The Metamorphosis of Imhotep

**The Metamorphosis of Imhotep** (French titled *La métamorphose d'Imhotep*) is the eighth episode of the first season and series overall.

## Plot

The episode begins at Saqqara, where the legendary Imhotep built the pyramid of Djoser. Fifteen centuries later, Pharaoh Merenre must carry out the sacred right of Hepsed, also known as the Sed festival, where ceremonies establish the legitimacy of his reign.

Aker plans to foils this by sending a demon of Seth to carry his plan.

Papyrus and friends, Théti, Imhoutep, and Tiya, are on a boat having their usual chat. Théti complains that Papyrus promised they could go to Saqqara together, but Papyrus insisted that she said they could go. Théti cuts him off and asks Tiya to vouch for her, who instead asks for Imhoutep to back her up. Imhoutep explains his calculations and theorizes the boat would make it either early or late, leading Papyrus and Théti to exclaim in unison that they are right.

They suddenly hear a man screaming for help and quickly row to the respective location. They witness the man but his life is threatened by a nearby white crocodile. Imhoutep is amazed at the sight of the crocodile, considering the rarity of white crocodiles is great. The man panics more and continues to cry for help until he is pulled into the water via the crocodile biting on his leg.

Papyrus quickly dives into the water to save him from death. He pulls and helps him out of the water, revealing to be a fisherman. However, the crocodile approaches them. Papyrus leaves the man to them and returns underwater to confront the creature. Sobek appears before him and pleads to the latter not to harm the lord of the swamps, as in the white crocodile, and he promises to help and protect him.

The team return the fisherman, Seneb, to his home and treat his wound. He has passed out due to the pain but the cut is not very deep. As Tiya cleans the moss of his face, she notices that he bears a striking resemblance to Théti's father, Merenre. The rest are mesmerized by this and conclude that it is a coincidence.

Back at Saqqara, an unseen character sneaks in a tent and poisons a drink made for Pharaoh. As they arrive back at the area, Imhoutep admires the pyramid of Djoser and dreams of becoming like Imhotep. Tiya comments that they have the same name, but Papyrus playfully corrects that the names are pronounced differently, adding that Imhotep was a genius and their friend, Imhoutep, is an apprentice genius. They all share a laugh.

A large statue built in Merenre's image is hoisted by a hoard of men, given by Shepsheska as a "gift". Théti and the others also appear before him. Merenre scolds Théti for her absence while the preparations were in place. To which Théti apologizes and Merenre is relieved that she is safe. A servant offers a drink to Pharaoh, while Shepsheska and the assasin smirk. Aker calls for the skies to darken and triumphs over Merenre's impending fall.

The skies start to redden and a snadstorm attacks. The others question the sudden occurrence while servant prays for Ra's mercy. Ratoufer figures it is the doing of Seth. The statue of Merenre begins to shed tears of blood, scandalizing everyone. Merenre then starts to stumble, affected by the poison, and is taken to rest with the help of Papyrus and Théti.

At a tent, Merenre is laid in the bed. Ratoufer informs that he is poisoned, with Théti grieved and afraid that he might die. However, his life is not in danger, but the ceremonies will not be held due to his condition, leading Ratoufer to conclude that Merenre and his descendants will not be fit for the throne, applying to Théti. Papyrus adds that this is why he was poisoned and immediately accuses Shepsheska of this crime, but Ratoufer advises him not to jump to conclusions.

Shepsheska and the assassin, Semeka, step into the tent to "check on" Merenre. Shepsheska informs that the sandstorms and tears of blood are bad omens from the priests of Memphis much to the Pharaoh's illness. Théti confronts that Merenre was poisoned. Shepsheska then makes an act on who poisoned the Pharaoh, but Papyrus makes an insinuation that Shepsheska and Semeka are responsible for the deed. Ratoufer again advices to keep calm, being the best way to find the guilty one. Shepsheska proudly claims that if the Pharaoh is not up and well soon, he will remove him from power. He and Semeka leave the tent shortly after.

Papyrus is lead to the suggestion that the fisherman, Seneb, should take Merenre's place as pharaoh, due to his resemblance to him. Tiya, Imhoutep, and Ratoufer agree to it but Théti doubts it would work. Papyrus and Ratoufer remind her of their lookalikes. As Ratoufer reassures that the gods are with them, Papyrus expresses displeasure and believes they are not there for them. Sobek appears to them afterward, much to everyone's convenience. Sobek informs to them that Papyrus can cure pharaoh with a herb of life, found in the source of the Nile. He vanishes, and everyone thanks him in his absence.

Papyrus, Imhoutep, and Tiya take routes on papyrus-woven boats in the late night, with Tiya and Shepsi going to convince Seneb about the arrangement, and Papyrus and Imhoutep on their way to retrieve the herb of life. They wish each other safety on their divergence and continue on ahead.

The next day, Tiya steps out of the tent and is asked by Shepsheska about Merenre's heath. Shepsheska and Semeka are appalled when they see the "pharaoh", up and well, when in reality, Seneb is substituting for Merenre and is dressed in his robes. As they go inside, Shepsheska questions his wellbeing, believing that Ratoufer could not have cured him. Semeka reminds Shepsheska that his magic is more powerful than Ratoufer, certain that pharaoh will no longer be pharaoh. Seneb leaves, and Shepsheska remains dumbfounded.

Théti is impressed he was able to fool Shepsheska, admitting she was also fooled herself. However, Seneb experiences discomfort in his leg, but Ratoufer offers his medicine to dimish the pain. Ratoufer also informs that his medicine was only able to cure the fever that torments Merenre. However, Théti is confident that Papyrus and Imhoutep will find the herb of life to cure him.

Meanwhile, Papyrus and Imhoutep end up in the swamp and are met with the white crocodile. Papyrus dives into the water and manages to follow it. However, Imhoutep gets uneasy around the other crocodiles but relieved that Sobek's protection is with them. Papyrus rises from the water, having the need to breathe air. He dives back in and meets again with the crocodile that offers him the herbs. Papyrus comes out of the water, claiming his success.

Seneb prepares for the ceremony and is greeted by the people of Thebes on his walk. Semeka, however, is aware that Seneb is not the pharaoh, due to his supernatural percieval. Seneb proceeds with the ceremony, assisted by Théti, but is unable to walk properly due to the injury. Théti tries to encourage him, hoping he will keep up.

At Saqqara, Papyrus suggests that he and Imhoutep go across the Memphis necropolis, so that way they can avoid the precession. However, Imhoutep does not walk very fast, insisting that Papyrus should go without him but they are almost there. Imhoutep is caught in quicksand, struggling to escape. Papyrus quickly tries to pull him out, but the force results in the both to fall in through the quicksand.

Papyrus and Imhoutep end up in a mastaba, an underground tomb, and try to find a way to get out. They come across a slab and suggest that they try to push it over. However, while the slab falls over, a mechanism is triggered, causing sand to burst through the walls and fill the room. The heap of sand leads them to a mortuary consisting of a sarcophagus and urns of mummified ibises. Papyrus tries to think of a way to get out but Imhoutep is mesmerized by the fact that the sarcophagus belongs to Imhotep. Papyrus comments that Imhoutep would die alongside his hero, considering him lucky.

Shepsheska challenges the "pharaoh" to prove to the people that he is worthy of the throne by having him perform ritual activities. Seneb's discomfort becomes worsened, but Théti continues to reassure and encourage him. Merenre, meanwhile, is still unconscious and is visited by Semeka, who gives off a smirk before his eyes glow red, unknown to what he did to him.

Imhoutep reads a riddle regarding Imhotep's restoration. Papyrus sarcastically questions is he will come back to life and save them, but Imhoutep states otherwise that it is some sort of formula. Papyrus repeats the first words of the riddle, that "sunlight shall once again strike the face of the great architect". He raises his sword adjacent to the sunlight light, causing the light to refract against his sword and lay on Imhotep's mummified body.

Imhotep's spirit appears before them, thanking them for his restoration and offers them a wish. Papyrus informs that Pharaoh is in danger and evil priests are plotting against him. Imhotep takes his wish and transforms into an ibis. Dozens of urns of the mummified ibises begin to shatter and the ibises are restored as well. The birds are led out of the tomb by Imhotep, while Papyrus and Imhoutep make their way out.

A priest greets the pharaoh but is interrupted by Shepsheska, whom declares that the substitute is the imposter. Théti refutes him, but Shepsheska claims if it is true, Seneb must walk around the foot of the pyramid three times. Seneb accepts the challenge to take the risk and does so.

Papyrus and Imhoutep accompany Merenre and assist him to take the herb of life, in the form of medicine, curing him. Meanwhile, Seneb struggles to make the walk and experiences more pain from the wound. He falls to the ground, giving up, unable to continue. Shepsheska could not resist gloating his victory and declaring himself as pharaoh. His triumph does not last long when the group of ibises flock the area and bring Imhoutep, Papyrus, and Merenre. The ceremony continues from there.

Merenre had finished the walking phase and proceeds to perform the act of the sacred arrows, where he reclaims the four corners of the kingdom. Merenre then decides who the traitors are by shooting an arrow that lands at Shepsheska and Semeka's spot. Shepsheska immediately denies his involvement in the attempted extrusion, and blames it on Semeka, claiming he bewitched him. Semeka is silent for a second, but he calls on Seth. He proceeds to kill Merenre but Papyrus confronts him with his sword. Unfortunately, Papyrus is unformidable against him.

Semeka nearly plunges Papyrus until Imhotep's sprit, bird form, subdues and sublimes him, causing him to disintegrate and the demon flees. Imhotep flies away, with Papyrus thanking him.

Théti thanks Seneb for what he has done, and Seneb does likewise. Théti implores Seneb to come to the palace, but Seneb excuses, that he is happy with his life, believing a prestigious lifestyle is not suited for him. Papyrus relates to this, but would have been in the same place if he did not have to rescue a certain princess, offending Théti. Seneb states that he has made friends with the white crocodile. The episode ends with the crocodile lurking through the swamps.

## Characters

**Main**

* Papyrus
* Théti
* Imhoutep
* Tiya
* Semeka
* Seneb
* Seth
* Aker

**Major**

* The white crocodile
* Shepsi
* Shepsheska
* Pharaoh Merenre
* Ratoufer

**Minor**

* Sobek

## Trivia

* It is one of the episodes to be adapted from the comic series.
* In the comics, it was not Ratoufer who assisted medicinal offer but a man named Sinuhe.
* The crocodile that attacked Seneb was an ordinary green crocodile rather than a white one, in the comics.
* Historically, a Heb Sed festival was held after a pharaoh had ruled for thirty years, after that they were held every three years.