A/N: this was born of the battle between Athena and Ares (from the Iliad) , kind of like the whole Hephaestus thing, without the snake baby, lol. I thought Athena being wounded would be interesting so I did some research and read other fics and was introduced to the glorious works of Athenares who has a one shot which has the same thing only Ares isn't as bad. I'm going to go out of my way to make this story as different as possible.

PLEASE NOTE: Although I am shooting for accuracy, there will be some OOC as far as Poseidon and Hera's feelings towards Athena and there is one event that had to do with Mars from Roman mythology. This is rated M for later chapters

Special thanks to: LauParisi (without whom I would still be stuck and Ares would never have thrown a fit on the battle field), to theheartsbeat (for getting wicked excited about the idea), to Athenares (for writing), and the readers for reading all this. Read the bottom A/N and Review my darlings please! Enjoy.

Ares inhaled deeply the smell of death as he made his way through the aftermath of another battle. The God of War always seemed to be drawn to them. Shrieks and bones breaking were the prayers which most appealed to his waiting ear. Ares frowned a bit disappointed that he missed this one though; it truly was a blood bath. He had traveled to Rome that day to enjoy the festivities of early summer. Where many despised him, the Romans loved him and had many festivals in his name. After this, he had the good fortune to meet a son of his who was making sketching for a temple to honor him, a temple made out of skulls, He glanced around the large field with approbation. Now what gods bickered on this field? He thought feeling blood splatter on his armored shins. To every one of them my compliments.

Any other being would have retched at the carnage strewn for miles around, but to Ares the twisted broken impaled bloody feast was invigorating. Oh mankind and gods, you spit on me with your words, but your actions heap praises to my name. He whistled a jaunty battle tune until he stepped on something soft which stole his attention. He had been happily sauntering through gore, why would this one obstacle make him look down? His jaw dropped slightly when he heard a soft groan as he removed his foot from where it had been standing on a small hand, its delicate fingers unclenching themselves from the long spear it held making the weapon meet the dirt with a dull thud. With a slight nudge of his foot, the body that had fallen on top of the owner of the hand was sent rolling away.

The God of War's eyes lit up when he saw it was a woman face down in the dirt. Her rich almond hair spread like a silky wave which reached the small of her back a fresh wound bled from her side. The fates were generous today, not only did he drink past his fill at a festival in his honor after which meeting a son who was perhaps as blood thirsty as he, but now while he wandered through an impressive field of gratifying mortal carrion, now they left a glorious creature to ravage at his feet.

Ares squatted beside the woman whose face was turned away from him. The hand that reached out for her halted when he noticed a round shield with the head of a gorgon not far from her other hand… Could it be?

"There are those who say I am not favored," he hummed gathering a handful of silky hair and wrapped it around his hand in a lulled motion before sharply yanking it up, enjoying the shocked cry that came from him pulling her to kneel before him. "If I am un favored, why are you prostrating yourself before me sister? Hmm?" The woman looked up at him, her dazzling eyes of silver seeking to burn holes into the reds of his. "You look awful." He hung his head feigning concern. "Daddy's little princess," he spat. "You should have stayed among the scholars with their soft hands and weak constitutions and kept your nose in your dusty scrolls where it belongs."

Athena's face hardened at this. She had flown down to quell the war which had started to break out dangerously close to the borders of her city; she had not expected to be run through by her uncle though. Everything had been happening so fast, she only saw the golden flash of the trident as it tore into her side. They had put aside their differences, they were on good terms….how could he strike her and leave her among the dead? "You speak the truth brother. War is a pastime for fools and bumbling drunkards, I have little place among it." Her eyes held his, she wouldn't look away. Him leaning forward slightly caused his fiery irises to momentarily trap her in a trance. His eyes were more brilliant than garnet, lighter than blood, deep scarlet pools of brilliant red with flecks of gold which felt as if they were pulling her into an endless void of black. The smile that pulled roughly at his features jerking his lips into a crooked grin disillusioned any thoughts that loss of inchor was making her hallucinate. He really was there, Ares, scurge of Sparta, Destroyer of Cities, Maker of Mischief, all those glamorous names he had earned for himself held her by her long hair forcing her to kneel in front of him. The leech! The parasite! Hiding in the shadows waiting for another to do his dirty work, the rushing in to revel in the spoils when the smoke settles!

"And yet you eagerly rush into it like a moth to the flame, 'She who wields her mighty spear, so stout and sturdy and strong, with which she quells the ranks of heroes who have displeased her.''' He chuckled running his hand through the wavy raven black hair that fell down to his shoulders. "How the histories sing the praises of a fledgling, a small godling to the art: my art." He released his hold on her hair watching with amusement as she collapsed to her hands and knees. It was becoming harder for him to focus, all his immortal years since she first sprang from the head of Zeus full grown and clad in armor he dreamed of owning her, to see her as she is now, at his mercy.

Her whole appearance threatened to overpower his mind, where twisted Ares made mischief; beloved Pallas Athena always outwitted him. The wench now did this without even needing words! Her long hair which was always pulled back immaculately was tumbling down her shoulders disheveled and matted with dirt and inchor, the crisp clean peplos of pure white was torn and stained, even her tasseled aegis seemed to lack its stunning shine. Enchantress! Damned enchantress!

"Two diving beings of war," He grasped her jaw using it to lift her to her feet before releasing it and circled her once so he was now behind her. "Your vows be damned. Join me." He whispered huskily in her ear before moving his mouth to kiss her jaw possessively. "Divine power, immeasurable power will be but a minor of many rewards that will come with our union."

Athena's breath hitched and all coherent thought left her as she felt his mouth moving up to her jaw before his teeth lightly tugged on her ear lobe. She felt her own quickened heart beat hammer in her head louder than thunder as her already weak knees threatened to buckle and send her to the ground. It was a wonderful feeling, a feeling that made surrender almost leave her lips before the smell of alcohol reached her nose and broke his spell. Vile Ares! The disgusting piggish monster almost got the better of her! She felt her cheeks burn with rage and roughly jerked her shoulder away. "Zeus clearly appointed a second god of war to make up for your short comings. Your licentious megalomania and lack of control warps war itself and I was sent forth to balance the scales as little as I am able to."

She barely had time to register his armored hand coming down to strike her, knocking her to the ground making pinpricks of light dance in her vision.

"Zeus?!" He snarled, his face contorting into a look of rage. "Zeus! Zeus, Zeus, Zeus!" he thundered pacing in front of the Goddess of Wisdom who lay sprawled on her back. "All hail Zeus! Mighty bastard disgrace of the Divine Three! They say I am a drunkard while he drinks then sleeps with his cupbearer! Zeus! They say I am a womanizer while he rapes his own daughters and betrays his wife with mortals, nymphs, and gods of all genders by the thousands! ZEUS who schemes and tricks! I who am trapped in a jar and he who lives without consequence! Zeus…" he spit at Athena's feet with distaste. "Praise be to Cronos who could hardly measure up to the evils of his son." The God of War moved so he was standing over her, his face turning into a smile as he leered down at her. "Forgive me if I do not think he is worthy of respect. The dung of horses shall sooner earn my love." His words were the last Athena heard before slipping out of consciousness.

The seas of the land railed with the rage of Poseidon and the heavens of Olympus were veiled in grey clouds showing the unease of the other gods because of it.

"Do not worry brother." Zeus put a comforting hand on the arm of the God of the Seas who was clenching his white knuckled fists and mumbling vile oaths under his breath. "The mortal who is responsible for this atrocity shall be severely punished."

At those words the large golden doors that lead to the throne room where The King and Queen of the Gods sat with their disgruntled brother and a few others burst open and Hermes who was followed by more gods entered dragged in a mortal clad in a dented crown and bloody armor and threw him at the foot of the dais. The messenger god's face was darkened with disgust as he revealed Poseidon's trident covered in blood.

The Gods stared wide eyed in shock as Poseidon slowly approached Hermes and took back his trident. The golden weapon still dripped with blood running down the handle and wetting his hand. He held it, allowing his eyes to move over its length noting for the first time the divine residue that identified it not as blood but immortal Inchor. A loud cry of outrage escaped his throat and the heavens quaked with rage making all of the other god's cry out in horror. "NOOOOOOO! Vile miserable demon! All of Tartarus shall suffer a kinder fate then you!" He bellowed approaching the trembling human with murder in his eyes.

"Brother! What do you speak of?!" Hera gasped.

"The divine inchor of my beloved niece stains my trident! Beautiful Athena bleeds on my scepter!"

The gods erupted into chaos at these words.

"Where is she?! WHERE?!" Zeus roared.

"Your goddess stood in the way of my victory! I struck her in the side and she lies among the dead on the field of battle." The mortal instantly regretted his words as soon as they left his mouth when he saw Poseidon round on him with eyes looking as if they only saw red and behind him Zeus erupted from his throne, a metal bowl of divine ambrosia clattered loudly on the floor. "Gods can't die!" the mortal king cried out in terror. "She lives! I swear!"

"Gods can't die but mortals can!" Nemesis stepped out of the shadows brandishing a sword. "Your good fortune is that you still breathe filth among kings! Your luck ends here!" she yelled advancing on him.

"Enough!" Dike, the goddess of justice shouted getting everyone's attention. "You bicker like children! You forget who in the end owns the souls of mortals!"

"Let Hades punish him!" one of the gods cried out.

"The punishments of Lord Hades are eternal!" Eros yelled, his golden wings sweeping back and forth in agitation.

Zeus still didn't look satisfied but Poseidon relaxed his death grip which at some point had found itself around the mortal's neck.

"I want him to suffer!" Zeus slammed his fist on the arm of his throne. "May he be delivered to the hand of the god who will bring the most suffering on him!" He gave a sharp finger at the mortal. "Depart or I shall test my own hand in bringing about your destruction!"

Zeus waited until Poseidon left dragging the man who was now weeping away and closed the massive doors behind him before letting out a nervous breath and turning to the others who awaited his orders. How could this happen? His beloved and most favored daughter was hurt, struck down by some filthy insect and no doubt laying in pain. And what's worse was the coward had not revealed which field it was. "All listen!" Zeus's voice sounded settling the gods down. "Apollo shall search the skies, Artemis the woods, and Demeter the fields, I want her found with haste!" He waved his hand dismissing all the gods save for his wife who sat back in her throne.

"You send out a search party to find a goddess who has merely scraped her knee." Hera hissed quietly. Once she realized the blood belonged to another of Zeus's bastard children all worry left her to be replaced with apathy. Why did everyone love the little chit so much? To listen to everyone break into chaos for this?! True she had been shocked, but she thought someone who actually mattered was in danger.

"What do you speak of?" Zeus asked tiredly glancing over, not hearing her, all thought sick with worry.

He can't even think strait! Hera thought feeling her temper raise. Little Athena was always his favorite. He must fear she will not make it by nightfall to warm his bed. The whore! Hera would put nothing past Zeus now, not after Persephone and Nemesis. No wonder Hades hated Zeus so! Deep down…she always knew she had chosen wrong, how she wished she had chosen one of the others! "I said you worry for nothing! You search places she won't be! You send a whole party for nothing!" Hera snapped "You need only send Hermes! Not even him! Thanatos would be on the field already gathering the dead and would have helped her!"

"THAT MONSTER LAY A HAND ON MY BELOVED DAUGHTER?!" Zeus cried out in rage and horror.

"Fates forbid your pampered princess ever know hardship!" Hera slammed her glass down on the arm of her throne making it shatter to bit before standing up. "He wouldn't dare because he answers to Hades, and like the rest of you sorry lot, Hades is enamored with the little wench!"

Hera over the ages had become so physically and emotionally wontedly to pain that she was hardly bothered by Zeus striking her, sending her crashing into the tall ornate candelabrum knocking both her and it to the ground with a crash. Her response was only to stand up and dust herself off. "Mighty Zeus dread son of Cronos!" She laughed loudly as a trail of inchor fell from her lip which had been split open making its way down to her chin where it dripped onto her dress and the alabaster floor. "How mighty the son of Cronos is when he towers over a woman…" her laughter faded and her eyes darkened. "Because we all know mighty Zeus could never tower over a man." And with those last words dripping with hatred, Hera vanished leaving Zeus alone to bellow in anger.

Poseidon himself had not been in the Underworld since the three brothers had divided lots and found it to be ominous and unsettling. The air was frigid and the pathways were dark, lit only by long torches of obsidian which were lined along the path leading further into the nightmarish realm.

The God of the Seas knew now why Hades always wore fur and cloak and thick cloth with heavy boots rather than the light garments and sandals that all the others seemed to favor, his realm was meant for nothing less. Poseidon glared down at the captive who shivered and blubbered glancing quickly around. The God would admit that Hermes or another lesser god would have been better suited for this task, but he wanted to be the one to present the nameless king before the Gate Fastener himself. "Feeling nervous yet insect?" he whispered as they headed towards a river of darkness where a cloaked man on a boat was now docked. "Lord Hades is clever. Do you ever wonder what kind of being could possibly sleep soundly in a place such as this? You shall rue your birth Athena holds a special place in the heart of Hades. He is cold and calculating and level headed as he might be, his vengeance and wrath has no match."

"Halt." A voice sounded making the two turn to the ferryman. "This realm is for the dead. The living are not welcome." He pointed a long gnarled finger at the mortal who was trying to pull away and run for the exit.

"Hades will make an exception now move asid-"

"LORD Hades!" Charon hissed. "To all who behold him he is Lord and King."

"As are all gods." Poseidon growled.

"Silence! You forget where you are Olympian! All you see before you is kingdom of Lord Hades. Zeus holds no power here nor do you." the old creature glared up at him. "Here you are as low as a mortal, and all mortals must pay." He held out his hand waiting for coin.

By the time the god and mortal made it to the throne room, both were weary, Poseidon was more anxious to be finished with both the underworld and Hades. The Lord of Death wasn't a favorite of anyone to be around. Since before they even divided lots Hades had been a recluse, he would just sit silently and watch his fellows. And his sarcasm was the bane of everyone! He hardly associated with the other gods either, only the poor goddess he tricked into being his wife and whatever creepy rock dwellers lurked here. They entered the throne room without any pomp, not even their arrival was stated by a servant. I would surely have extended more welcome than him. The Sea God frowned.

"Brother, come in and step forward." Hades greeted, as always his tone dripped with sarcasm as he turned his attention from his wife to his brother. Hades was in many ways strange when it came to his looks, handsome in a sinister way. His build unlike many gods today was medium and possessed no extra muscle than necessary making him strong yet not very showy in that strength. His long black hair contrasted greatly with his deathly pallor making him look even more fearsome. His pale blue eyes flashed with a fire that spoke of immeasurable knowledge and lifetimes of secrets, one such secret was that his eyes weren't actually the pale blue everyone saw them to be, it was merely an illusion which served no purpose other than to hide the fact that his eyes were actually different colors. Out of all the children of Cronos, (or any god for that matter) Hades was born with one eye bearing the fiery emerald green of their father, and the other the striking sapphire blue of their mother. Save for his eyes and the amount of muscle he had, Hades looked the most like their father out of them all. "To what do I owe this pleasantly unplanned and unwonted intrusion?"

"I seek justice brother!" Poseidon yanked the mortal forward.

"Justice? Surely you jest.. What wrong did he do hmm? Did he seduce a woman you wished to debauch, or perhaps he stole from your wine casks and burnt fish offerings, what did this wretched swine do?" Hades grinned leaning forward.

"Why you..!" Poseidon growled. He was incorrigible! This was a serious matter and he still finds time to ridicule others!

"Yes me." Hades replied settling back in his throne, all humor leaving his face. "I really must apologies brother, I was merely enjoying myself at your expense, and your kind's frivolities are taxing to the point of madness." He glared for a moment before his face returned to a more business like look he always wore when going about his duties as Lord and Master of the realm. "You are troubled, let me see if it is within my powers to appease you, but be warned, I will not be a tool to be used by your lot."

"I can handle my own punishing without your aid!" Poseidon ignored the look Hades gave him that said "if that is the case why are you here?" "This wretch stole my trident from me and returned it to me drenched in blood!" the god paused for affect seeing only that the two Underworld royals were listening, though a frown reached Hades' face. "Drenched in the blood of our beautiful niece."

At this Hades' eyes widened. "Speak! What is this thing you have done?" he turned his glare to the mortal.

"I only sought to gain victory in the battle, I am without guilt!"

"By battle you mean attacking a goddess?" Hades questioned, the wheels in his head already turning in contemplation.

"Your precious Pallas Athena was keeping my kingdom from advancing!" the king cried out scared past the point of sanity and thus unable to keep control of his words.

"Your kingdom?"

"Y..yes." the man settled down slightly seeing Hades voice seemed calm and at ease. "I was married to a princess and became king, I would expand to give room for my subjects-"

"Your subjects? Do you mean the subjects whose blood stains my earth and whose souls crowed my halls? Those subjects? I do hope you don't call that victory." The Lord of the Dead replied looking down at the man through half lidded eyes. He paused and after getting no response, he then continued barely hiding a sneer. "Is it not said a king and his subjects are one?"

"Yes!" the accused brightened. " Surely you Eubouleus are the wisest of the gods!"

Hades stood up and put an arm around the mortal and began to lead him to the door. "Of course I am." He smiled. "A king such as you should be justly rewarded, follow me."

As soon as the two left Poseidon lowered his head and shook it in disbelief as he always had when around his brother. Hades you wretch, I couldn't in a million years think of a punishment as vile as whatever you have in store for that fool.

Ares whistled a spirited tavern ditty as he descended the stairs of his temple, entering a large room that served to house all his trophies of conquest. The room was of his own design, upside down skulls that had been nailed into the walls served as sconces and dimly lit the darkened room whose walls were lined with weapons and shields of all kinds. He paused mounting the round shield he was carrying in between the shields of Diomedes and Achilles. He remembered every one of his rewards and who he won them from, most were petty and unimportant but he did have some gems among the lot. The god of war always had a creative side and liked to show victories in the most glamorous… and humiliating light. The whistled song moved into its chorus as he passed mummified bodies that were posed and set up against the far wall until he reached the final destination which was a collection of statues.

Each statue was carved out of a dull brownish stone and like the bodies were posed either foolishly or with agony, each one wearing a very real piece of armor, whether it was a helm, breast plate, or any other uniform piece.

Ares let out a content sigh and approached the statue in the center of them all. This one was made out of white marble and carved to perfect detail. He paused to stare into the statue's frightened eyes before placing the breast plate on it. "My my, how long have I awaited to don you." He dusted off the stone face with his hand before stepping back to admire his work. "You look just as lovely clothed as your counter part looks without." He laughed picking up the torch and turning to leave, the stone effigy of Athena chained to the wall screaming in agony faded as the light left it.

A/N: oh good goddess that was wicked long. Sorry about that. It looked better in my head to be honest I am iffy about how everyone will like it. Yes I know Ares never beat those two heroes and everything wasn't entirely accurate but it made it a little more interesting. The other chapters probably won't be nearly as long so don't fear. Oh please don't hate it and its grammar which I'm sure has at least one thing wrong. If you see a quote from the Iliad I snuck that in to show my love. I do not own Greek Mythology it is far too awesome to be owned. Thank you for reading NO IDEA when I will be able to update, so be patient and review kindly. Pssssst. See that button? That button that says review? I hear good things happen when you hit it.