A/N: I am on fire on this chapter, but I'm not sure it's that good. Nevertheless, I represent to you Chapter Five...
R&R everybody.
Chapter Five: The Prophecy
December 14 (5:00 AM)
The morning was eerily quiet, which was odd. When you're in New York, a quiet morning is not to be expected. Usually, it was noisy – cars buzzing each other and drivers shouting each other to move. Even at the top-most of Stark tower, he could hear everything. Something was wrong or Tony was just getting deaf. He went to the balcony and looked down. There were no people in the streets, no shops opening as if the people in New York was playing hide and seek. The temperature was dropping beyond imagination. The buildings were slowly freezing, windows giving in, breaking because of the coldness. He tried to run but it was too late, he was frozen solid and then a devilish voice said,
"Filthy little mortals, standing in my way to victory. I will break you." Then he was falling in his ironman suit without any power just like what happened in the Battle of New York.
Tony woke up in a jolt, frightening Pepper Pots beside him. She gave him a worried look and he replied with face that said 'I'm okay' and went to the kitchen for a drink of water. As he was in there, he saw Percy and Annabeth talking with a shimmery rainbow-mist portal or video-call in the living room. He sneaked up and listened.
"Listen, there would be a war coming and there's nothing we can do to stop it. Might as well prepare, rather we would cram when the enemy comes." Annabeth said.
"What are we gonna do? The camp is already on shambles and we barely know what to do. Rachel didn't even contact us, probably out there not knowing the situation here," A voice from the shimmering rainbow replied which was probably a kid in their age too.
"We will return there as soon as possible until we finish this guard duty and we will come back to you with all the things we learn from here, understand? Just hold on for a while, soon the enemy will show themselves and it wouldn't be good, so prepare for battle and tell the others from Camp Jupiter on what's the update." Annabeth said and looked at Percy who had dreaded for lack of sleep. He waited for a while deciding if he would show up to them or not, but he decided not to and continue spying until Steve poked him and he yelped.
"You scare the hell out of me," he told Steve.
"What are you doing, sneaking to the children?" Steve asked. He gave him a 'REALLY' look and said,
"They were discussing their plan that they apparently have no plan on telling us."
"What makes you so sure of that?" he gave again a 'REALLY' look and said,
"They have waked up really early just to send a message to their friends not informing us… what makes you think they want to share what they're talking about?" Steve just gave him a 'whatever' look and greeted Percy and Annabeth, who stopped their conversation and greeted Steve back and he quickly acted as if he had just awoken– yawning and stretching his arms.
"Good morning. Sorry to disturb the teen romance, but I think I need a glass of water," he told them. Percy and Annabeth were turning red like a tomato.
"So, why are you so up early?" Steve asked like they weren't in an awkward situation already. Percy looked at Annabeth while Annabeth looked to Percy. He knew they weren't going say, so he just shut up on what he heard and gave Steve the look as in 'I told you so'. Then he went to the balcony and looked at New York to see if his dreams were dream at all– but it was still noisy as ever like there's no problem at all. Steve was still waiting for their answers that were still eye-conversing each other. Natasha then arrived making it more awkward than before.
"Hey guys, never thought you would wake up early Stark," Natasha said to him. He just shrugged and continued to find food in the fridge. Then a rainbow mist showed in the center of the living room, showing a red-headed girl in a fancy gown.
"Guys, I'm so sorry. I tried to contact but I couldn't. Luckily, I pack a drachma in my travelling bag. Tell me what's happening," she said to them.
"Rachel, its fine… Things aren't going well here in New York. The mist is failing and monsters are attacking mortals. I was hoping you were seeing this," Percy replied quickly. Rachel, as she was called, shot a worried look and said,
"I've been seeing glimpses, but I'll try to connect with you-know-who." Rachel stopped for a while and then a green glow covered the rainbow mist, her eyes shone like a go-sign in a traffic light and then her voice change like it was tripled or quadrupled and said,
"I am the spirit of Delphi, speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Approach seeker, and ask." Percy approached the mist like it was their daily routine and then said,
"Tell me the prophecy."
"You shall travel north to find the lost queen,
She will return what once was green.
No power can ceased against their might,
The world shall plunge in an eternal night."
The mist then disappeared leaving him, Steve and Natasha stunned and the demigods unsurprised and worried.
"What the hell was that?" he asked. But Percy and Annabeth already left the room.
Annabeth didn't know what to say and quickly grabbed Percy's hand to their room. He heard Tony asked about the prophecy but she gave him no time to talk and left. She was so worried that she didn't know what to do. The last line was still ringing in her ear. 'The world shall plunge in an eternal night'. Her thoughts kept looping on the 'an eternal night' phrase. She looked Percy who was beyond worried. Then she thought again the prophecy until her head burst. She knew Percy would really on her about prophecies but sometime it has double meaning. It could be anything. Last time, she tried to interpret a prophecy of their quest, she thought Percy was going to die but in the end, he didn't. Percy then looked at her with his sea-green eyes. She was so lost in those eyes; she didn't even know that the Avengers were assembling in front of them.
"Okay, team meeting…" said Tony cheerfully. They were now all gathered in the room.
"Before you say anything, how about let's make a deal. You tell us everything you know about the situation and we tell you everything you want to know. Deal?" Natasha said. As if she would, she might have started trusting the Avengers but she had boundaries. Whatever the prophecy stated they were not included in it. She drew her celestial bronze dagger and pointed it to them,
"What makes you think you are a part of these? You're mortals. Whatever is happening, you are least affected by it." The Avengers lowered their weapon as if they were raising a white flag, but she knew they have hidden weapons everywhere, especially Dr Banner their secret weapon. Percy lowered her hand that was holding the dagger.
"We certainly have trust-issue here, but we need to overcome this to defeat the enemy," Steve said while holding up his hands like a policeman trying to stop a crazy criminal.
"You heard the Oracle said 'No power can ceased against their might'. What makes you think you mortals could stop what's coming. This isn't like what you did before," She snickered.
"Annabeth, you are a daughter of Athena, do you truly believe that there is such enemy?" Tony replied her with a question. Percy was silent; she knew he was still thinking about the situation on which side to take on. But as always, Percy would not choose side but be a bridge to the team.
"I don't know, but when I think again I never understood the Oracle's prophecy," Percy replied this time to stop the global-warming tension that was developing.
"How about you both discuss these and we'll leave you both, and tell us when you're ready." Dr Banner suggested. The others gave Dr Banner an insane look but then again, it was better than any idea that they could come up with. They agreed the terms and the Avengers left them to discuss about the prophecy.
Thor saw the Lady and the Three in a bar where they were fighting who was the best. He waited 'til everything cleared up and approached them.
"Friends," he said aloud and hugged them one by one and continued,
"It's been a long time since I've seen you," then a chorus reply from the Lady and the Three, Lady Sif, Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg, respectively.
"What brought you here my prince?" Lady Sif asked and the others were eagerly waiting for the answer.
"War is coming to Midgard. The goddess, Athena, request Asgard's aid, which I will answer." Thor replied. They were stunned. They never thought this day would come that the Olympians ask for help in Asgard. Then they laughed. They thought the prince was joking but when he didn't join there merry, they stopped and asked,
"Wait, are you serious?" Hogun asked who looked like an Asian in a cosplay costume.
"Yes, a threat in Midgard is rising, far more dangerous than the last threat, the Earth-Mother, Gaea." He said. They were again stunned but not with surprise but a tad-bit of fear. All of their thoughts were rummaging, looking in their minds to see who would fit the description of the enemy.
"I request your assistance. Together, we will go to Midgard and aid the Olympians to their fight." He said. But none of them moved. Their pride was far larger than their willingness to help. To them, the real enemy was the Olympians. They remembered it clearly in their history that the Olympians never helped them in their time of need, even their own people. They remembered it like it was yesterday that the Olympians abandoned their people to freeze to death against the Jotun (Frost Giants) from Jotunheimr. Luckily, the Asgardians were there in time to stop them from doing it, together with the All-Father, Odin. And the Olympians did nothing not even thanking them for helping their people. Then all Asgardian vowed never aid and welcome the Olympians for they could have lessened the bloodshed of Asgardians during the war against the Jotun but never did they aid.
"Overlook the past and your pride, what will happen in Midgard, will happen to us." Thor said with a pleading voice, desperate. But the Lady and the Three never wavered. Thor was left with no choice but to help the Olympians alone.
(12:00 N.N)
They were now gathered in the dining table to eat lunch. Percy and Annabeth were discussing about what they know with the Avengers and Pepper.
"As I repeat, the Prophecy said that you shall travel north to find the lost queen,
She will return what once was green.
No power can ceased against their might,
The world shall plunge in an eternal night.
"Probably the lost queen can stop the world from destruction that the people are calling 'global warming'. And second, these guys, our enemy, have power beyond imagination and the world will be drowned in darkness or that's what I can say about the prophecy. Any question?"
Steve raised his hands and asked,
"So who would travel north to find the lost queen?"
"Well, other quests that we completed, usually, we go on three. But doesn't mean we literally go on three. But tradition is tradition,"
"Specifically speaking, who would actually go in this quest? What's with north anyway that there is something important." Tony asked.
"Obviously, north is Canada, what is this lost queen doing in Canada anyway? Enjoying the free health care?" Clint snickered.
"We don't know what's important in the north but there is Boreas, Lord of the North wind in Quebec though and my friend's, Frank Zhang, burnt house." Percy replied.
"Other than that, there is Alaska to think about," Ms Potts added. Then it hit Percy like a bullet train ran over him. When he think about it seem connected. Annabeth looked at him like he just hit a jackpot of $1 million dollars.
"Percy, what are you thinking about?" she asked. Then Percy told them but particularly Annabeth,
"Of course, remember before that Gaea's eldest Giant, Alcyoneus was rebirth there. That was Gaea's first move to destroy the gods. When I think about it, they all seem connected. What if this lost queen is our enemy but change side or remain neutral and ran away on where nobody could find here, and thanks Ms Potts."
"Glad I could help dear," she replied to Percy, sweetly like a mother, reminding him of his own mother.
"But why would the lost queen stay on Alaska when it was in the enemy's side?" Dr Banner asked.
"Alaska is known as the land beyond the gods. It is out of their sphere of control. Not even the most powerful god or titan could see through there, maybe except for Gaea, she is Mother-Earth after all. Gaea is now backed in slumber and no powerful goddess could have her sphere of control making it as a neutral ground. She must be retreating there when she knows that enemies are awakening and after her." Annabeth replied.
"Wait! Mother-Earth is evil?" Steve asked, beyond surprised.
"I know right! You know, I thought she was warm and sunny since you know Mother-Nature is quite good, but when I found out she was evil, I was terrified. I mean come on, the books and the news keeps on telling to be green and save Mother-Earth and finally I met her in the flesh, she was pure evil," Percy replied to Steve who was still in shock.
"Anyways, the prophecy pointed out our group. Three of us will travel north. I have already told my fellow half-bloods about these and they were not surprise about it. They will help us while they can to the quest, nevertheless, that's all that they can do for now," Annabeth said, continuing the topic about the quest.
"What about we all go north with the fastest jet that's ever been made and find this lost queen, it'll take 30 minutes to travel." Tony said. Percy had gone white like never been before.
"No… no… a-air… travel," he stuttered. Natasha gave him a confused look. And the others follow.
"Why not?" Natasha asked.
"I'm the son of Poseidon. Going air travel would mean I'd be entering Zeus's domain. He might destroy the plane with all of us in It." he replied. The Avengers gave him a look as if to say 'seriously'.
"Fine, what better plan you have Captain Nemo? Sea travel?" Tony mocked.
"Anything's fine as long as no air travel, I don't think I could last a minute in the air," Percy replied.
"But you travelled with us in the helicopter together with Fury. And nothing happened," Natasha said.
"There are certain exceptions but I don't think it's advisable to do it again especially when you are now aware of the gods." Annabeth said to make Percy relax.
"Surely the god of heavens could make this exception. We are on a quest after all." Tony replied getting annoyed with the gods by the second.
"Quests are not really an exception. Percy must stay away from the heavens as long as he can." Annabeth said.
"Then we leave out Percy from the three that would go to quest and go to Alaska by air," Steve said, not helping with the situation.
"Percy was appointed by the Oracle. It's only natural that the quest leader is the one who asked the Oracle. So Percy is essential to the quest," Annabeth said with finality. The rest of the lunch was eaten in silence for no decision could be made from the arguments they were making.
-End of Chapter Five-