Hey all. Big thanks to those who have reviewed so far. Enjoy the show folks.

Chapter 9

Gathering Forces Part II

Sky above America
February 6, 2010
7:00am

The chariot of the moon moved swiftly. It cut through the early morning air as it raced towards its destination.

Its occupants sat in their seats, quiet and contemplative. Even the divine driver was alone with her thoughts.

The leader of the quest rested in his seat with almost statue like stillness. His brow was furrowed as he seemed to wrestle with some inner demon.

The others squirmed slightly in their seats, not as comfortable with their transportation. Clarisse had a sudden thought that entered her mind.

"Hey, pansy. Question for ya. How the hell were you moving like you did during the drakon fight but got creamed by me before you used that chain?"

Shirou glanced up. The others also listened, curious.

"It is a basic of basic spells used by magi in the other world. Its called Reinforcement."

"You use magic then?" questioned Nico. He did not know this person well but to prevent a war from erupting he was willing to work with the swordsman.

"To a point. What the children of Hecate use would called by magi as Divine Words. For a spell, they use a portion of their own power and speak the effect they wish to create in Ancient Greek. If they used a different language it would fail. With me the words I use for my spells are simply aids to put my mind in the right frame. Ancient Greek, English, Pig Latin or Farsi they are all the same to me as long as it makes me believe the effect is possible."

Artemis listened intently. Any information on this demigod would be good to know.

Will then frowned and spoke up.

"You mean some type of self-hypnotism?" he questioned skeptically.

"Pretty much." Shirou admitted.

"Still doesn't answer my question Pansy." drawled the daughter of Ares.

"Fine," Shirou grumped, "Reinforcement is all about taking something and giving extra purpose. It makes food more nourishing, armour harder, weapons sharper etc. It does so by fixing all those little flaws you don't see, the little cracks and faults in everything in this world, and makes it a perfect example of itself. Essentially it makes an object reach its ultimate potential. When applied to the human body it means that the body is able to reach strengths unseen to normal humans. It is not a just a boost to used carelessly however. If I put too much power into the item or do not distribute the power correctly it could destroy the recipient."

"Sounds dangerous and deadly." commented Nico.

"All magic is." Shirou rebutted, "I was taught at a young age that Magi walk hand in hand with death. Our experiments might kill us, our enemies might kill us and even our own power will destroy us if we lose control of it."

The chariot was quiet at this revelation. Such a grim statement took a bit of time to percolate in their minds. Their thoughts were similar at that moment.

What type of man are you, Shirou Emiya?

Unknown Location
Saturday, February 6, 2010
7:30am

The cave was large and only dimly lighted by torches in rings along the the curved wall. On the walls between the torches were artistic pieces. Each of them depicting a form of human suffering. Torture, starvation, sickness. All of these and more lined the walls.

In the centre of the cave was a large round obsidian table. Its centre was cut out and a statue was placed there. Made of white marble and stained with blood was a creation of a man dressed in old Persian clothes with a long beard. His black eyes were crinkled in malicious glee and held a dismembered head in his outstretched left arm and a scimitar in the other at his side. On the base was a collection of skeletons carved from the base of the statue making it seem he stood on them. A pool of blood was in a black stone basin before it. It gave off a palpable sense of bloodlust and rage and sadistic joy.

It made Amphitrite a happy woman.

"A splendid sight isn't," said Rihman, "A representation of true power. A man stands above the insects and does as he wills with them."

"Quite," she purred, "However, I have to ask what I am doing here?"

"A meeting between us and our allies," Rihman replied.

The earth rumbled slightly and large stone throne-like chairs began to rise about the table.

"This is the meeting place of The Black Order. For millennia we have worked behind the scenes for one goal. The revival and release of our lord. We were seen in many forms over the years. The Immortals of Xerses, Thugee Cults, Aum Shinrikyo and others. Where the most blood was spilled, we were there to collect the sacrifice to our lord."

He gestured to the statue.

"This is the medium we use to commune with him while he slumbers in imprisonment. Recently he has contacted us to work with other factions in this play we call life."

"Still the charmer aren't you?" spoke an oily voice that the queen of the seas recognized.

"Momus?" she questioned as she turned to indeed find the rat like man.

"Lady Amphitrite," he cried in delight, "You are joining us?"

"Perhaps allying to you would be more accurate."

"One hopes it will be more dear lady," another voice said deep and rumbling.

Turning she saw to her surprise a Gigante. He was about 35 feet tall and yet she hadn't heard him move. He also wore animal skins and wielded a truly massive hunting spear. His eyes burned with a feral lust, for her or her blood she did not know or want to. She finally managed to figure out his identity.

"Gration," she gave a quiet nod.

"Yep," he said in a chipper tone.

"Don't mind him. He hasn't slaked his lust this morning," spoke a serpentine voice.

Amphitrite turned again as two figures stepped out of the dark. One was an empousa, though she carried herself tall and wore a delicate gold crown upon her brow. The other was a tall and chocolate skinned woman with delicate facial features and a well porportioned body. Her black eyes however gave off a feeling as if she were a serpent in a den of rodents and was choosing which to have for dinner. An innate sense of superiority that grated on the sea woman's nerves.

A quiet cough turned all to Rihman.

"Azi could you please perform the rite so we can get this meeting started?" he requested.

Nodding, the chocolate woman identified as Azi walked to the statue, scooped some blood from the basin and splashed it carelessly on the statue.

A roaring sound filled the air as the stone monument glowed a dark red before the noise subsided. The eyes were now glowing with power and a voice seemed to enter their minds.

"Welcome to you all," the voice was smooth, dark and deadly like a sword wrapped in silk.

"What do you have to report Rihman?"

"My lord, we have managed to obtain the jar," he said pulling out a large pithos from beneath the cloak he wore.

"Excellent and the other items?"

"We are still searching sire. We have reasons to believe the Book is in New Rome but the Sword and Spear remain lost to us."

"That is unfortunate but managable. Double your efforts to find the Sword first as well as pinpoint the Book. I have a vague idea on where the most powerful item is and will disclose it to one of the searchers directly after the meeting. Gration, How go your collection of forces?"

"We're getting there," the giant rumbled, "but it will take time. My brothers are still waking up but we have enough monsters to pack a punch somewhere and the ones who have woken up, who are Enceladus, Alconyeus and the Aloadae, can lead them."

"Good and Momus? What have you to report?"

"A prophecy has been issued. I don't know the contents exactly but somehow it involves the camps working together." said the rat faced deity.

Stirs were heard among the seats as they contemplated such a development. The statue then seemed to glow brighter.

"Who is leading the quest?" the voice was urbane but there was an underlying tone of threat if the answer wasn't satisfactory.

Momus gulped, his face shone with nervous sweat.

"A son of Poseidon. He goes by Shirou Emiya. He was also the one that set up the defeat of Azi's spawn."

Raged flashed across the chocolate girls face and the sound of rock groaning filled the air as she tried to regain control of herself by grasping the table.

"Enough!" the lord barked, making Azi instantly freeze up and relax her grip.

"Find out all you can about him. If could face and defeat one of my daughter's brood and remain unscathed even with help then he is powerful. Watch him as well. If the quest is about us, chances are they will chase down the items as well. We can use them as our bloodhounds." the voice paused for a moment as if wondering if it should say more.

"Dismissed and report in one week. Glory to Earth and Darkness."

"Glory to Earth and Darkness," all the assembled spoke. To them, it was an oath they would keep. To raise the darkness. To raise the earth.

And tear down the Gods.

Amphitrite smiled as everyone started leaving to their tasks and started chuckling. A meeting of murderers and bloodthirsty fighters seeking vengeance on Olympus.

These were her kind of people.

Sky above California
February 6, 2010
12:00pm

A smack to the shoulder woke Shirou from his musing as he turned to the daughter of Ares in question.

"Up-a-days Pansy we're almost there."

Nodding he shifted straight in his seat and looked at the cloudbank they were driving through before it suddenly vanished and a the sight caused the campers to gasp insurprise much to Artemis amusement.

As looked down upon what looked to be a small town the goddess and assumed her Roman form of Diana.

"Welcome to Camp Jupiter."

Sorry for it being short but I am hashing out the storyline a bit more. The meeting of romans and greeks will be next chapter as well as a revelation on one of Shirou/Percy's tricks he used to one up Angra Mainyu. Cheers and please review.