To daringwolf2000: Thank you so much! I hope I don't disappoint!
John: Thank you. You don't think I overdid it? Someone did! And yes, I will take that suggestion into consideration- I'm planning on telling Fury anyway about famous demigods.
GUEST: HI!
Jasongreen: I do my best. Her flaws will become even more prominent. And her confidence will be seriously shaken- there is character development- mistakes and lessons learnt, as well as things amended. As you see here, she becomes darker.
TacoPartyPack- thank you so much! I try to update as soon as I can, but I may be getting very busy before this story is even finished. Hope it doesn't go for too long though.
To adipose1913: Thanks, I actually watched choreographed moves, and I also do martial arts. The war-chant Enyalios is actually an epithet- or an offspring- of Ares- you'd notice this in the Oliver Stone film Alexander when the Macedonian Phalangites chanting it as a tribute to Ares during the Battle of Gaugamela. As for Aglaia being kidnapped- of course that was going to happen. But it wouldn't have to be the usual way- I mean the Avengers seriously underestimated the demigods in the last chapter! That's why they lost! Yeah, the secret is going to come out in the mortal world soon. Ironic much?
MoonLightNinja- let's be frank- none of them are perfect. After all, Alex vastly outmatched the two Avengers he fought, and he nearly dealt with them terribly. He also thought of the Hulk as an 'it' rather than a 'him', because he took out all his anger, rage and bitterness at Banner in Hulk form- all the feelings he felt when he was being tortured and brutalised as a youngster before he was brought to camp- he saw it and he was ashamed of what he did, even though the Avengers were fighting them. But seriously- Team Percy is AWESOME!
Guest: Thank you!
HaywireEagle- Seriously? If you are going to criticise my work, please make it constructive. I mean, how exactly is it too much? Also, these are the Avengers for goodness' sake! They are definitely toomuch! Don't just criticise me based on one finding! You don't give any constructive feedback or suggestions- just complaints- and you're the only one!
Percy groaned.
Now that the adrenaline rush was wearing off… He shook his head.
He was tempted to douse himself with water once again, but decided it was best to get over the after-effects of the rush.
Princess Sereneia was seriously pale. Percy eyed her. But he guessed he couldn't blame her. After all, could he imagine anything worse than having his own child start dying in his arms?
Percy winced.
Where was Aglaia anyway?
Percy didn't have to be a political genius to know that these events would have serious consequences for everyone involved. Now the demigods and gods of Olympus were out in the open. And how long before the Avengers find out? What will anyone do then? Will they have a moment's peace?
He stood.
The king, queen and Crown Prince were discussing something quietly and hastily nearby. The Crown Princess- Aglaia's aunt- was attempting to console her sister-in-law. Not currently working. Percy sighed and looked around.
The children of Apollo were currently busy tending to everyone's injuries. Mortal soldiers- Greek ones- were also injured. They tended to them too. Many of them were too stunned to believe that the children of the sun god, were actually tending to them.
Wearily, Percy straightened. But he had a horrible, horrible feeling inside of him.
Something had happened.
His suspicions were confirmed when one of the military personnel came running into the room.
"Κύριε! Της δραπέτευσε! Romanoff έχει ξεφύγει!" He panted heavily. "Romanoff has escaped," he repeated in English.
Percy cursed loudly in Ancient Greek- before remembering that there was royalty in the room. "Call Aglaia! Where is she?"
Her mother turned even paler.
He dashed off towards her room.
"Wait!" Percy heard a shout. It was Alex. He looked wan, pale and desperate- there seemed to be lines around his face. "I'll come with you!"
Percy barely had enough time to nod before he was running again.
But the window was open- and Aglaia wasn't there.
How the heck did she escape with all the tight-knit security?
And to kidnap Aglaia too? Percy felt blind rage seize him and he kicked a table. Alex screamed in rage.
"I'm over here," Natasha called out into her com-link.
"On it," Clint replied. He moved the Stealth craft silently to where Natasha stood with the unconscious princess.
Yep, he was aware they were going to be in very serious trouble. But how much more in trouble could they get?
He carried the princess aboard and prayed silently that they would be able to get out of this mess as quickly as possible.
"We got her," he announced. He carefully tied her down on a gurney- bad taste, he knew- but it needed to be done.
Natasha sat quietly beside him.
"What do you think they are?" She asked quietly.
Clint shrugged nonchalantly. "Can't really say," he grunted. "Can't really do anything until we get her to the lab."
Natasha frowned. "Back to New York?" She wasn't stupid. By now news would have spread. And they would not be welcome anywhere in the globe- unless they could seriously prove that Princess Aglaia was up to no good and betraying her country.
Natasha sighed. Seriously, people were going to be extremely pi***d at them to say the least. But it needed to be done. After all, they didn't do this for credit- well, Natasha didn't and she thought Tony didn't- even though he certainly enjoyed that part of his life. They had to do what they had to, to keep the world's people safe. Even if they were hated for this.
Then a thought suddenly struck her.
"You know," she said casually to Clint, frowning. "We've called him millions of times. Where is he?"
"Who?" Clint asked, not taking his eyes off the front.
Natasha rolled her eyes. "The tooth fairy. No, Thor."
"Oh, him?" Clint shrugged. He made a turn right.
"I don't know." He was frowning deeply. "Honestly… I think it has something to do what is happening in Asgard.
In Asgard…
"Thor!" Odin bellowed.
Sighing inwardly, Thor cringed. Asgard was in the verge of nerves right now, and his constant insistence to be allowed to go to Midgard was grating on everyone's nerves even more.
He knew Asgard couldn't afford war with Olympus. And there was the question on whether Vanaheim would support them. Already Frey and Freya were upset and angry.
The last time both pantheons had been war, the loss of life was unthinkable.
Apparently, many Asgardians seemed to think that Thor's presence on Midgard would spur the Olympians into warring with them as well. Others thought that if he were there he could talk reason to the Avengers and convince the Olympians to stay peaceful.
Before the Nine Realms broke out into utter and probably infinite chaos.
Furthermore, Asgard had never lost, except to Olympus.
Thor remembered it all too well.
Apparently, Thor was of the latter opinion too.
"Yes, Father?" He called out.
Odin looked up from the holographic map of the Nine Realms.
"There is more trouble in Midgard," he said. "Your friends have kidnapped one of the demigods."
Thor cursed inwardly as curses and gasps of shock and horror penetrated the air.
"Father, you have to let me go down there, now." He insisted.
"Are you mad?" An Einherjar captain demanded. "The Olympians would believe that Asgard is involved in this. They'd declare war!"
"No!" Another warrior stood up.
"Thor's presence would be the only thing that would knock sense into the heads of his friends and make peace with the Olympians."
They began clamouring again.
Odin pounded Gungnir onto the floor. "Silence!" His voice rang out- if he wanted to, it would have rang out all across the Nine Realms.
"Thor," Odin began. "Go to Midgard. But be careful. Avoid contact with both the Olympians and the Avengers. In this, you cannot be seen by either party."
Thor nodded.
"If the Olympians so much as suspects Asgard's involvement in this, there will be war." Mutters and whispers of fear and doom echoed throughout the room. "So if word gets out and you are seen with either- that you cannot do. Not yet, in any case." Odin closed his remaining eye and breathed deeply.
"Seek out the one who is their greatest hero- Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon the Earthshaker. He is the one you must speak to for all of this. But be careful. It was his sister that has been kidnapped. Olympus will be far from pleased." It was as if they could already hear the thunder right now, and the ground quaking. "Make sure he is alone. And make sure he is willing to listen to you. Bring an olive branch."
Thor looked somewhat confused. "What's an olive?"
"A fruit, invented by Athena whose oil could be used for cooking, cleaning, lighting and beautification." One of the Asgardian Keepers of Knowledge replied promptly. "The branch of the tree is a symbol of a truce- to come to talk peace terms, if not completely peace."
Thor nodded. "I shall keep that in mind," he muttered. "Where do you find a branch and what does a tree of such a kind look like?"
After a while, Thor was given specific instructions- and orders to keep his temper at all times. It was something he had learnt to do. After all, it was his mighty temper and his big head that got him in trouble in the first place.
So he was sure to do better.
"I will go with you." Sif declared. Fandral stood. "So will I." "And I!" Volstagg declared, standing. "Me as well," Hogan muttered.
Thor nodded his head in thanks. He would need their help. Particularly without the help of his Midgardian friends.
"Very well," Thor rumbled. "Thank you, friends." He nodded gratefully.
"Very well, my son. But, Thor, they kidnapped the Earthshaker's daughter," Odin warned. "Poseidon will soon unleash a vengeance like nothing you have ever seen upon your friends."
Thor cursed their stupidity inwardly- again.
Heimdall placed his sword in the centre.
Static electricity began to flicker and arc as the Bifröst Bridge prepared to unlock a portal into Midgard.
"Beware friends," Heimdall muttered. "It is a much troubled world that I find Midgard in. And it worsens. Soon the storm will rise, higher and more terrifying than we have experienced if you do not act quickly. And carefully. It has been millennia since the Olympian gods have stirred for so much. And yet, they have. They will unleash the greatest potential of their power when they can."
The Warriors Three, Sif and Thor looked on seemingly emotionless, but very grave and solemn. However they were very determined.
"Very well," Thor replied. "Thank you, Heimdall."
Heimdall nodded and the Bifröst opened. In a flash of light and a rushing noise, they were all swept to Midgard.
Odin watched them go.
"The girl…" he muttered. "Loki… Freya what is it that you have seen?"
"Nothing that can be certain," the Vanr goddess Freya- goddess of love and beauty, equivalent of Aphrodite, replied.
She also possessed the power of foresight.
"Hm." Odin grunted.
"What of the girl?" The king of the Norse gods asked. "Why is she so important?"
Freya grew troubled. "She is… different… A wild card. I cannot tell whose side she will take. As for her heart, I fear it is in the realm of Aphrodite, not I. And she would not allow me to interfere so easily."
"And you Frey?" Odin asked. "What of Loki?"
Frey- twin to Freya- looked troubled. "I cannot see nor sense him. Yet I feel he has been affecting the heat of summer more than he should have. He is hidden from me. Frost gathers. Either the Frost Giants have landed on Midgard or this is Loki's work."
Odin closed his remaining eye in everlasting regret.
"She still unconscious?" Steve asked. He looked very grim.
Clint nodded. "And restrained."
"Good," Fury nodded. Already he had been bombarded with… Well, death-threats, curses and swear-words, insults and more.
And so had the US government. Why? Because after finding out, they had agreed to this.
Honestly, they had insisted on just the Avengers and the Special Operations Unit of S.H.I.E.L.D, but apparently, their foes were more of a match and they couldn't enter as quietly as they hoped. The explosive they used had malfunctioned- it worked, but it was too loud.
Honestly, how the heck did enough teenagers in armour get on it so quickly?
Fury didn't know. And he wanted answers. The people needed answers. And he was going to get it, or he'd be damned.
Princess Aglaia lay motionless on the examining table, restrained. She was a beauty, admittedly the most beautiful thing he had ever seen- and was it possible she looked even more beautiful? But she was deadly.
And if she took Natasha out like that… Fury was troubled. He didn't want to know.
But somehow he had the feeling he was going to find out.
"Sir!" Doctor Helen Cho was calling to him. He frowned. "What did you find, Doctor?"
She looked gravely at him. "She's one of them, sir." She replied. "Her cells have only half the helix in appearance, yet on closer inspection they reveal the same type of chromosomes and cells displayed on the blood sample found in Stark Towers."
Fury's frown deepened. "So it was them, after all."
"And there's more," Helen looked fearful. "There's something going on- an anomaly. We can't be sure what it is, yet. We'll keep running scans to be absolutely certain of what it is."
Fury nodded. "Keep doing it. Meanwhile the rest of us have to handle the bad PR we have yet to receive."
Natasha scowled. "I can't believe she made us look like villains."
Tony sighed. "Sad to say, but she's right. Princess really hates us, you know."
"Tony," Steve warned. He sighed. "We need to talk to her as soon as she wakes up."
Banner was shaking his head. "Do you have any idea of the implications of the consequences of what we are about to do? I mean, it wasn't bad enough, attacking a palace that held members of a government, and kidnapping a princess, but holding her like this? Keeping her for interrogation like a common criminal?"
"Well, she is a criminal!" Natasha fired back angrily. She had been treated in Greece before she managed to escape. But she still looked very angry. "After all, what princess would harbour dangerous terrorists in her own country?" She looked disgusted and angry.
"Be careful, Agent Romanoff," Fury warned. "We're already treading on thin ice as it is. We don't need to make this worse by mistreating her. We need her to cooperate."
"Maybe she was taken in for illegal experimentation by H.Y.D.R.A," Banner suggested. "And brainwashed," Tony piped in.
Fury frowned. "Well, we'll get our answers soon. She's waking up."
Sure enough the princess was stirring. She groaned.
Fury nudged his head in her direction. "We'll take it slowly and gently."
Aglaia stirred her head and groaned. She blinked and slowly everything came back into focus. Then she remembered.
Damn! That Romanoff! Aglaia could slaughter her like cattle for an ancient sacrifice!
And she glared hatefully as the Avengers- followed by Nick Fury- came in.
She glared particularly hard at Romanoff and Stark.
"Well, well, well." She drawled. "Look who it is. Honestly, if I wasn't so tied up, I would have slaughtered you by now. How dare you! Attack my people- their elected members of government!" She raged. "And children!"
"Your highness," Fury warned.
"On any other matter I might have forgiven you," she hissed. "But children?" She gave them a look full of more loathing if it was possible.
"We never harmed children," Fury stated.
"Liar," she snarled. "I've seen the photographs. And I know the ones you took!"
They stared at her. "What?"
"Miranda Gardener," she snarled. "She was one of them. You took many of them, Avengers." She spat.
Fury looked bewildered. Steve shook his head. "Your highness, I swear we have never kidnapped anyone!"
She looked at him incredulously and then at her tied hands at the edges of the bed.
Steve sighed. "Okay, except for you, but we needed answers."
"And what makes you say you deserve answers you κάθαρμα γυμνοσάλιαγκα!" She snarled.
Steve didn't know what that was, but it wasn't bound to be pretty.
Natasha glared at her, and Aglaia glared back with loathing.
"We deserve answers for the attack these guys you harbour in your home country, did to us in the camp."
Aglaia hissed. "You attacked first. We do not murder in cold-blood, unlike you!"
Natasha was about to retort angrily, but Fury cut her off with a glare.
"You lost your right to call yourselves the protectors of this world when you started to deceive us all," Aglaia continued. "When you started taking and experimenting on young children and teenagers! Do you think that because some people fight unnoticed, means that they are any less heroes than you always portrayed yourself to be? People have died to save the world, yet they didn't expect any mortal to bow down and kiss their feet- unlike you, Stark!" She fired at him.
Tony looked taken-aback. "What did I do?"
"What, you don't remember the remarks you made about our soldiers at the Greco-Macedonian border?"
"Wha-" he began. Then he remembered. Oh, s**t.
He laughed sheepishly. Steve rolled his eyes and glared at him. "Oops. My mistake."
She took her eyes off him and then stared hard at Nick Fury.
"And if those weren't enough, when your agents demanded I surrender after I knocked Agent Romanoff out on the beach, and pointed their weapons at me- you are so dead, by the way- a little boy- around nine or ten- threw his ice cream at an agent's face. The agent prepared to shoot him, and his mother screamed." The Avengers- even Natasha, angry as she was- looked taken aback. "I stopped him, and got shot. Then your people clobbered me to the ground. And after that, your wonderful, little agent here," she gave a filthy look at the red-haired agent she loathed- "poisoned me and brought me here."
They were stunned. "If you don't believe me, look on YouTube. There were spectators everywhere, filming the whole damned thing." She said icily.
Fury held up his hands. "Your highness, I swear none of our agents would harm a child. This was an accident."
"Liar," she sang.
Natasha glared at her. "Look, princess, why don't you just listen and answer the damned questions that we asked? Then we'll see about letting you go?"
"Look, agent, you're going to get your answers I bet, when you turn on the evening news. I just told parliament. They'll soon make it official. As for opening my mouth and giving nice, clean answers to a bunch of child torturers and murders- you've got to be kidding me."
She and Romanoff narrowed their eyes at one another.
"Who says we're child killers?" Natasha snapped.
"So the photographs grew wings and then proceeded to waltz their way into Stark Tower, did they?" Aglaia challenged.
"So you admit you guys were snooping around in be tower!" Tony exclaimed.
She threw him an angry glare. "Only when our suspicions began to heighten that you had taken one of us."
"One of us?" Natasha barked. "What does that mean?"
"Down Lassie!" She shouted at Natasha like she was a dog.
Natasha looked murderous and Aglaia sneered.
"As I said, you'll be getting your answers, I wager… Soon enough. Oh, and enjoy the sea on your ride back to New York." Her eyes glinted.
"How do you even know we are on a ship?" Tony asked suspiciously.
She smiled. "Oh, you'll see," she said. "As I said- watch the news. If you make it that long."
The Avengers and Fury looked at each other, warily.
As they left the room, Aglaia closed her eyes.
Kymopoleia, she whispered. Sister, hear my prayer. Father
As soon as Thor and his friends landed on Earth, they knew things were bad.
"Well?" Fandral panted. "What do we do now?"
"Odin said to look for an olive tree," Volstagg explained.
"Right, well, we have the pictures," Sif replied, holding up diagrams of the tree. "All we need to do is find a branch."
It took them four hours, twenty-nine minutes and three seconds to locate an olive tree. Unbelievable as it seemed, but true. Furthermore, it took over ten minutes to safely retrieve a branch.
The Asgardians were great warriors, but they weren't used to this sort of thing.
Fandral grunted and stumbled, panting as he grabbed onto a thick branch for dear life. Wheezing, he tried to shove himself up. Leaves were stuck in his hair, and twigs. His clothes were smeared with dirt and mud, and the bark wasn't very comfortable. He grunted as he managed to pull himself up.
"Why couldn't the Olympians choose something easier to come up with?" He whined.
Sif rolled his eyes.
"Like a banner," he heaved. "Or an animal. Or a present."
"Just get on with it, Fandral," Sif said impatiently, her hands on her hips.
Finally, Fandral managed to clamber ungracefully to the top parts of the tree, whereupon he drew a dagger and proceeded to hack away at a branch.
"I got it!" He declared triumphantly, before toppling over backwards and landing in the mud. He spat out some that had gotten in his mouth. His golden hair- his great pride- was streaked with dirt. And his clothes had spots on them. Yes, he wasn't very happy.
"Give it to me," Sif ordered. She held out her hand for the branch.
"Thank you Fandral," Thor said as the warrior got to his feet. "Now we must find and locate Perseus Jackson, son of the Poseidon, lord of the seas and the Earthshaker."
"I don't think he's going to be happy to see you," Fandral grumbled.
"And Odin has forbidden us to use assault, we are to keep the peace," Thor answered. They went on their way.
"What do you think she could have meant?" Steve asked.
Natasha frowned. "She could be lying. Goading us, biding her time."
"Waiting for the Greek Royal Navy or Special Operations to save her."
"Or her friends," Natasha cut in.
Fury shook his head. "Whatever it is, I think I'll be watching the six o'clock news."
Banner looked puzzled.
"What time is it?" Fury asked unexpectantly.
"Six-to-five," Steve replied, checking his watch.
Fury raised an eyebrow. "Right on time, then."
The television turned on. They waited for five minutes.
All Avengers- minus Thor who was still missing- and S.H.I.E.L.D agents gathered to watch.
The newsreader looked… Thunderstruck. Dumbstruck. Whatever.
There was an image of an ancient statue of a Greek god- Zeus or Poseidon?- on the top right. And then the image changed to one of Princess Aglaia addressing the Greek parliament.
The newsreader then took a deep breath.
"Yesterday, we knew that Norse gods walked among us. Just a few hours ago Princess Aglaia of Greece revealed before the Greek parliament the existence of Greek gods and monsters in our midst."
Fury's jaw dropped. So did Tony's. The Avengers' faces were priceless. As were the S.H.I.E.L.D agents.
"A few hours ago, Princess Aglaia told of the Greek gods whom legend once said, resided on Mount Olympus, were very much real, and still very much alive in modern-day society. In fact, they never left- they're everywhere. And in case you're wondering- and I'm praying I don't get hit by a lightning bolt- the gods haven't stopped having affairs with mortals. The results of these are demigods- half-human, half-god, the legendary heroes of Greek myth and legend, famous in Hollywood Blockbusters today." The screen showed a picture of portraits of Perseus and Medusa, and a statue of Hercules, before another shot of the armoured teenagers and kids fighting S.H.I.E.L.D agents. And of Percy Jackson. Steve involuntarily winced, seeing himself being tackled and hurled around by Jackson. "Including Percy Jackson, the boy that, apparently as shown in these images, filmed by news-crews and spectators off a beach in Athens, defeated Captain America in a spectacular duel." Percy was shown hurling Steve into the sea. Then there was an image of Percy in the middle of his own hurricane. "Apparently the son of Poseidon, god of the seas." Natasha gasped out loud. She wasn't the only one. And Maria Hill placed her hands in front of her mouth. Steve was stunned. "And no doubt his godly strength is the reason he not only held out so well on his own, but also defeated the great Avenger.
"Meanwhile the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D for unknown reasons, have been authorised to attack Greece by the United States government, along with the allies that have not gone over to Greece's side in recent light of events. It was during a meeting of the Hellenic parliament, and members of the military in the royal palace-" It was Maria who gasped. "That the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D attacked. The demigods- and later members of the Greek Royal Air Force- defended and successfully routed them." Then a shot of Princess Aglaia fighting Natasha on the beach. "And it appears Princess Aglaia also decided to join in the fight." She was shown slamming Natasha to the ground and knocking her to unconsciousness. "But later, word has spread that the Avengers did succeed in kidnapping Princess Aglaia. Greece and most of Europe is reacting in rage to this attempted invasion and kidnapping. And it is clear the legendary great heroes will not stand idle." Then there were images of a mass-protests in Athens, Heraklion, Larissa, Corinth, Volos and Sparta. People were taking to the streets in such large numbers the camera could not get a clear shot anywhere- because everyone was crowding around.
And it was obviously clear. They were holding up signs such as: Bring back the Princess! Long live the gods and heroes of Olympus! Down with the Avengers, and S.H.I.E.L.D stinks! In Greek and English.
"As for now, the US government has not responded to these attacks. And the Greek parliament and the European Union is debating the next course of action. The royals have declined to comment."
That was the end.
The Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D agents stood stunned, and shocked to stillness. Now they understood by the newsreader was so thunder-struck.
Everyone was in silence as an air of doom settled in.
Up ahead, thunder started to boom and crackle. Winds started to howl and blow, rains started to pour.
And this time Natasha knew it was not Thor.
She turned to Fury, fear evident in her eyes. "Director-"
"Banner!" Fury barked. "Yes?" Bruce replied. "Go to Princess Aglaia. Ask he… About all of this. We will be watching, but none of us- especially not Agent Romanoff who she has taken an antagonistic feeling towards- will interfere."
Bruce looked puzzled. "But why me?" He winced as thunder smashed and the rains swept harder. The ship started to jolt.
"Because out of all of you, with the exception of the Asgardian prince, she seems less antagonistic towards you, and because apart from Rogers, you are the most sensible." They looked incredulously at him. So did Bruce. The Hulk? Sensible? "When you aren't transforming that is."
Bruce took a deep breath. "Okay."
In less than two minutes, Bruce was in the room where Princess Aglaia was being held. It was the same type of prison used to house Loki before he escaped during the Chitauri invasion. She sat calmly and neatly there.
Bruce swallowed. The others were watching through cameras and one-way mirrors.
"So, your highness," he began.
"Doctor," she replied.
"So… The gods of Greek myths are real."
She quirked her head and smiled slightly. "They never left. And I did warn you- or at least the Director. Just because great heroes have gone into hiding their actual identity after the Trojan War, doesn't mean they don't battle constantly, in a never-ending manner, to save the world from evil. They just have the grace to do it quietly- until now. But now they are forced to come out. Because you are targeting the young."
"We aren't targeting anything," Bruce blurted.
"Are you?" The princess challenged. "And why should I believe you? I saw those pictures. They were taken from the laboratory which you and Stark shared."
Bruce was speechless.
"Screw that," he burst out. "We don't know how it got there, but we didn't put it there! Heck, we didn't have anything to do with it!"
She looked emotionlessly at him.
"Anyway, why are you supporting them?" He asked.
"Isn't it obvious, Doctor Banner?" She asked softly in a more dangerous tone than he could have imagined. "I'm one of them." Her beautiful eyes were clear, bright green ice.
Bruce froze. So did everyone else.
Bruce went cold all over, and he felt himself drained of blood. He tried to speak through the dryness of his throat. "You're one of them?"
Her eyes glinted.
"You attacked my brothers and sisters-in-arms," she said slowly, quietly and dangerously. "You attacked my people and my country. Our members of government, our military, our civilians- even our children. You attacked my family. Your agent brought me here to be interrogated, and probably tortured like the others. If you think I can forgive and forget that easily, you have no inkling of how wrong you are."
Bruce was still as the dead.
"And of my father's wrath and vengeance." She said.
Bruce swallowed- hard, especially as his throat was dry. It was as if his heart had stopped. "And," he began. "Who is your father?"
She smiled. "Guess, Doctor. See my eyes. The colour. Isn't it obvious?" Her smile widened. And then as if on cue- the ship jolted- violently. Bruce fell down. Behind the one-way mirrors, the Avengers and agents were thrown.
Thunder and lightning flashed harder than ever, but it was the shaking and momentum, the great rumbling and churning beneath them, that seemed the real threat. Like the sea was about to rage.
Like there was a Tsunami brewing beneath them.
"Poseidon, Lord of the seas," Aglaia murmured clearly. "The Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of horses."
The ship quaked.
"Tsumani!" Screamed an agent.
Everyone panicked- except for the princess in her glass cage.
"S***!" Tony and Bruce swore simultaneously.
Aglaia sighed, as if about to take a break. Apparently her father wasn't very happy about her kidnap.
"Waves- port side!"
And there they had it- giant waves, way over one-hundred feet. Maybe three-hundred. And it was hurtling right towards them.
Not to mention the giant storm- the rain, the wind lashing at them- and the giant Maelstrom close by. As if the Tsunami wanted to smash them there.
"I suggest you hurry," the princess said languidly. "My father knows I can survive underwater- even in such conditions. He's out for you."
Natasha panicked. "Sir!" She screamed.
Just then, waves- not Tsunami waves, but very dangerous ones- crashed onto one side of the ship. The monitors went crazy.
Alarms flashed. Sirens wailed- and not the mythological kind. Amidst it all, Aglaia smiled inwardly.
Finally- she would get their blood.
And they would die.
She would stop at nothing to make that come true.
And to make the Avengers regret what they had done- utterly.
"We have to get out of here!" Steve shouted over the smashing of the ship. "Now!"
Natasha nodded.
"To the helipad!"
They stumbled around- no, it was not easy. And now, pipes had burst. Water was pouring in by the litres.
The ship was thrown, again.
Natasha managed to climb up the stairs, followed closely by Steve and Clint. She swung open the door. The ship was moving so violently and the waves at a distance were blocking the sky. It was already dark, but now…
The rain lashed at them, soaking them along with sea water, which seemed somehow, poisonous now. As if infused with pure, utter rage and hate.
Natasha, Steve and Clint coughed and struggled to keep the water- rain and sea- from stinging into their eyes. Hard to do so, especially when they knew, that was what the ocean and rain were aiming.
Aglaia tapped her delicate fingers, crossed on her lap. Her legs were crossed elegantly, one tucked behind the other. She sat in her cage calmly while Tartarus was unleashed.
"Wait!" She shouted. "The princess!" They stared at her. Banner had appeared behind them. "What?" He shouted amidst the noise.
Boom! Thunder.
"We have to get her- move her out!" Natasha shouted. "Bring her with us!"
She didn't know why. Maybe it was hope for a truce. Or maybe Aglaia's godly father wouldn't harm them if they held onto his daughter.
But Natasha knew it was a foolhardy hope.
Still, she had to try. For the sake of her friends.
I messed this up, she thought miserably. I really messed it this time.
If they died, it was going to be her fault. Because a father wouldn't be happy about his daughter being kidnapped. Especially an all-powerful one.
Just then, the helicopter toppled and flew towards them- not by its or any pilot's will. It rolled on the deck, hurtling towards them at enormous speeds and the seas became even more spectacularly violent. A father's rage.
"Duck!" Natasha screamed. They leapt aside. But the life-boats, rafts and everything else, came flying from the deck below and was sent smashing towards them too.
And the winds were becoming increasingly violent as well.
Meanwhile, Aglaia sighed. "Kym." She smiled and shook her head. "You and Father. Always a flare for the dramatics- though not half as much as Uncle."
Natasha managed to duck in time as a lifeboat was sent whipping through the air, as they boat came close to overturning- and smashed into Bruce.
It swept him back and something else smashed- up above- the bridge. The pieces hurtled towards Bruce.
"No!" Natasha screamed.
Too late. Banner- and any hopes for the Hulk to help save them- went down, buried under all of that.
"Smart," Aglaia complimented them in her cell. "Very smart." She stood gracefully. Anyone would think it was so out of place- she looked like she was welcoming someone to a tea party at the palace. She was dressed in a peach-coloured gown and a little jewellery. Coral and gold.
"Now, I believe it's time to go." She mused. She heard the sounds of screaming and people being smashed. "That was merely payback at the first stage." She smiled.
There was moisture at the floor.
She waved her hand in a circular motion. The water seeped towards her- like they were magnetically drawn.
It moved towards the cage- seeping into the metal lines and soldering. The magnetism. Everything. And it messed them up. She moved her hand again. They opened cracks and filled them up, solidifying them partially.
Then water burst from a pipe. Perfect. The water streamed towards her, just as the water already there had made everything brittle or malleable and pulling them, so everything was stretched. The water smashed into the cage.
Aglaia stepped out.
It was a stupid thing to kidnap the daughter of the Lord of the Seas, on a ship.
She sighed.
She made her way out of the holding room.
Just then, she spotted Natasha Romanoff.
She was running towards her. Aglaia stopped. Romanoff froze. She was shaking. The agent had never looked so terrified. It gave her a real thrill. Now she knew why the gods enjoyed destruction so much. She felt her lips twitch- barely noticeable- at the corners.
"Don't." Romanoff said. She lifted her pistol. "I'll-" "Shoot?" Aglaia asked coldly. "Don't you think you've done enough for one day? I think you heard my conversation with your colleague, Miss Romanoff. This isn't merely a diplomatic matter anymore. As I said, I will never forgive you. And neither will all the others."
Natasha felt- for the first time, in a long time- tears fill her eyes. Her hands- every part of her- were trembling. She couldn't do it. She couldn't take it anymore.
"Please." She whispered. "Please."
Aglaia regarded her silently. There was a part- not a small one actually- of her that stated that this was just a human being- half of what she was- the kind of people she aimed to protect. But this was an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D trained to lie and deceive. She felt pity. Yes. But she remembered Miranda Gardener and all the others. She remembered the pictures she had seen.
"I would have shown you mercy," she said. "I would have even given my life to protect you and your friends had you not attacked us. But you did. And innocent children died. Now, I have no mercy left to give."
She moved forwards.
Natasha's eyes filled up with tears and she despairingly took aim and shot.
But she knew it wouldn't harm the princess. Somehow, she knew.
The water at the floor- which hadn't even soaked the hem of her skirts- rose up. The water solidified into a shield in front of her.
The bullets hit it, and it sucked them in.
Despairing, Natasha kept shooting, but the water kept getting higher and thicker and the bullets were sucked in.
Suddenly, the water broke and sloshed, flying towards Natasha. It hit her hard. Coughing and choking, Natasha looked up just in time for her to see Princess Aglaia taking aim at her, with a back-kick.
She fell backwards against the wall, hair soaked and eyes damp and stinging.
She managed to block a strike aimed at her, but the princess hit her again and again, and Natasha knew she was outmatched, and severely disadvantaged.
"You're not the only one with tricks," was all Aglaia said. "I was merely biding my time. Now, you will pay for what you have done!"
Natasha blocked and parried. Desperately, she aimed a punch, but Aglaia moved aside, grabbed her arm, and knocked it down, hard. She then slammed Natasha's back and the wind was knocked out of her. She coughed and spluttered, down on her knees, completely soaked.
And Aglaia aimed a strike at her head. She was unconscious. Picking her up, Romanoff was heavier than she was, but she was carried like a rag doll.
Eyes glittering menacingly with vengeance, the Aglaia walked up the stairs.
Clint's eyes widened as he saw the motionless form of Natasha- half-dragged, half-carried, by the princess with ease.
"Natasha!" He shouted.
Aglaia raised an eyebrow.
"Princess, please!" Steve shouted desperately.
"I almost liked you," was all she said to the captain.
"It's a real pity you proved as rotten a soul as the others." She said. "But someone has to pay. Someone has to pay for the attacks and the innocents slaughtered."
"Your highness," Clint said hesitantly. He held his hands up in surrender. "Please. We didn't know. We didn't think-"
"That we wouldn't know about the children tortured and killed?" She asked in a deadly voice.
"Don't worry." She said calmly. "We won't kill you. Yet. I need the location of the missing demigods. I need them back and I need them safe and as unharmed as could be. Treated if possible. You do that, I give you your agent. You do that, we will all spare your lives. I will vouch for you personally on front of the Council."
Steve blinked. "We don't-"
He began. But the princess wasn't interested in hearing excuses. "You have until midnight three days from now." She said. She looked at Fury who had just arrived with Agent Hill.
"Director," she acknowledged unforgivingly.
She then looked up.
There, a funnel of swirling water appeared, gathering source from the waters below.
She gave a small half-smile unnoticeable to the mortals. "Kymopoleia." She murmured warmly. "Sister." She said lovingly.
The face of Kymopoleia, goddess of violent storms and daughter of Poseidon and Amphitrite appeared. Her features were delicate. She was twenty-feet tall, with luminous white skin, like squid and hair of jellyfish tendrils. Her smile was half-warm as she saw her half-sister.
"Kym," she reminded Aglaia. "Kym." "Did you hear everything?" She asked. Kym nodded. "Yes. Quite a delight. I hope for their sake they shall keep the bargain. Or else…" She grinned and laughed like a dolphin.
Then, out of the waters, untroubled by all the turbulence in them, several hippocampi popped up. "As I said, three days from now, on midnight. Find and return the children. You've already done more than enough on the lives of innocents. I suggest, you don't do more. Don't worry, unlike you, we Greeks have a certain law against harming our prisoners. She is a hostage- but I was kidnapped. So don't start talking now."
She boarded the hippocampus with Natasha in tow.
"Wait!" Clint shouted.
Too late. They sped off.
Kymopoleia looked at them. "My sister was too kind, I think," she mused. "For some reason she always valued human life. I say, kill you all. But I shall wait, and respect her wishes. I like her best. She asked not to kill you. But I am warning you…" She cooed.
The whirlpool rose up and she disappeared.
And suddenly, the sea was calm. As if like magic. But all in all, there was a dangerous, threatening undercurrent to it, like it was merely being restrained from smashing them in.
There were serious injuries. Critical even. But astoundingly, no one was killed. Half-dead yes, but not completely.
She had asked not to kill them.
But she clearly wanted them damaged.
Not such a perfect princess after all. There's a reason why she gets along so well with Kymopoleia, goddess of violent sea storms.
Everyone has flaws.
Latin Alphabet:
Greek words:
"Κύριε! Της δραπέτευσε! Romanoff έχει ξεφύγει!"- Kýrie! Tis drapétefse! Romanoff échei xefýgei!- Sir! She's escaped! Romanoff has escaped!
κάθαρμα γυμνοσάλιαγκα!- kátharma gymnosálianka!- bastard slug!
Norse words:
Aesir- tribe of the Norse gods, connected with power and war. They live in Asgard and are also referred to Asgardians. In Marvel Universe, they are given the looks of a human of European descent.
Ásynja- female goddess of the Aesir tribe.
Vanir- singular Vanr- A tribe of Norse gods. They are associated with fertility, nature, magic and the ability to see the future. They live in Vanaheim and are biologically- internally- the same as the Aesir. They resemble the Asians of Midgard. Frey and Freya and Hogan the Grim are Vanir.
Einherjar- The warrior elite of Asgard. In Norse mythology they're the spirits of the heroic dead taken to Valhalla to fight in preparation for Ragnarök- the end of the universe.