Author's Note: Hey, guys! I actually have a new chapter for you! I had originally planned to end there, but then I had this idea and I was like: I'm doing it! Anyways, read and review, and have fun!

Barry's POV

I gave Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia a quick wave as they faded from sight. It was only then I noticed the crackling static in my ear. Ares must've messed with the comns so my friends couldn't hear. For a moment, I stood rooted to the ground, trying to process what I had been before running back up to the Cortex.

Once inside, I slid to a halt. For a few milliseconds, I waited with my senses sped up as fast as they could go. I knew what was coming. When I had prepared myself enough mentally, I allowed my senses to slow back down to normal speed.

As expected, once they could, my friends began asking questions. Cisco was the first with, "What happened? Who was that on the security feed?"

I removed my mask and rubbed the bridge of my nose before replying, "This is going to sound crazy, but-," I stopped. Fortunately (or unfortunately, I still can't decide which), I had been interrupted by someone materializing into the room. Who else would it be other than my new favorite freaky dude, Ares?

"Oh my G-," Caitlin started to yelp. She probably finished it too, but I was preoccupied with inwardly groaning and smacking my forehead. She had unwittingly just given the...well, war god, the perfect opening for a pun. Naturally, he took it.

"Oh my god indeed," Ares said with a cruel smile. "Although war god might be more appropriate."

As he was speaking, I examined his attire. Somehow, he had managed to change clothes in a matter of seconds, though that shouldn't have surprised me. Instead of the blood-red leather jacket, black muscle shirt, cargo pants, and combat boots he had been wearing outside, he was dressed in rather...unusual army fatigues. They were dyed in vivid pinks and reds, though I'll just skip over that first one. I have a feeling Ares would bite my head off if I didn't. Literally. Anyways, the "camouflage" made it look like he was trying to hide on a blood-stained field.

Unfortunately, these were not the most disturbing things about Ares's ensemble. He also had a grossly oversized gun slung over his shoulders that looked like something out of Aliens. Around his waist there was a tricked up Glock nine millimeter with a laser sight and everything. I noticed that the safety was not on. Ares had four extra magazines for the Glock already loaded; his pocket bulged, suggesting that more ammunition was stored there. There was a Smith & Wesson tactical knife strapped around his right thigh and...were those…? Of course he had grenades.

Joe, who seemed awestruck, leaned over to Cisco and asked in a stage whisper, "Is it just me, or is that a buff version of General Eiling?"

Before I could tell my friends who it actually was and prevent them from being incinerated, Cisco taunted, "Look man, don't go all Clyde Mardin on us. Besides Jesus Christ, Superstar, do you really think you're what you say you are?" Cisco turned to Joe, Caitlin, and I, arms spread and a goofy smile on his face. His grin quickly faded as we all stared at him with blank expressions. "Has no one seen that movie?"

Ares snorted. "Jesus gets all the attention these days. I mean sure, he's the son of God with the whole fully God and fully man thing, but honestly! Ever since he came along, the Romans were all like, "Hey, I'd like to go to heaven! Who cares about Elysium?" Then that confounded son of Apollo, Andrew Lloyd Webber, just had to write that musical about him. Thanks a lot, punk!"

My friends and I stared at Ares silently, mouths gaping. "I understood about half of what he just said," Caitlin stated.

Joe replied, "I understood less."

Cisco opened his mouth to say something else, but I cut him off. "Guys, this is Ares, Greek god of war."

My friends' expressions immediately changed. "Um, I'm...uh, so sorry Sir...Lord...War God...sir."

Ares gave him a evil grin. "No apologies necessary, Ramone. I'll let you off with a light sentence." We all breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe Ares just wanted Cisco's help with something. Everything would be fine. That's what we thought.

Until, that is, Ares waved his hand and turned the desk in the center of the Cortex, computers and all, into a loaded Civil War cannon with the fuse already lit. I immediately ran over and tried to extinguish the flame, but it wouldn't go out. Some kind of magic?

In desperation, I turned to Ares. "Hey, woah! Is that really necessary?" I tried to make eye contact with him, but he seemed preoccupied.

"No way, Zeus! You heard him. He insulted all the gods, not just me. And stay out of this, Barnacle Beard! You too, you vlasfimia thea tis sofias!" He was quiet for a while before he suddenly shouted, "Fine, Thunderpants! If he's so important, he can live!" The fuse went out immediately, less than a millimeter away from exploding.

Cisco let out a sigh of relief. "For a moment, I felt like that guy in Gettysburg that walked right up to a cannon during Pickett's charge." There was no reaction. "Seriously? No one?"

Ares ignored him and kept talking as if nothing had happened. "Anyways, I've got some things you need to hear. Unfortunately, he needs to hear them too," Ares continued with a glare at Cisco. "Now, I'm no Oracle, but even I can see this much: this isn't the end."

"You mean we're going to see the demigods again?" Caitlin asked slowly.

Ares tilted his head from side to side. "Yes and no. Percy and Annabeth? Definitely. Thalia? Maybe. But trust me, it won't be the same next time. And they aren't the only ones you'll meet. Trust me it'll be fun. For me. I guess what I'm trying to say is...brace yourself."

With that final statement, Ares faded into nothing.

Percy's POV

"...then Bob, the Titan who saved us in Tartarus fought Kronos and I used my powers to choke Kronos and then I accidentally tried to kill Bar- Flash and then Bob had to go back to Tartarus and then Flash helped us kill a small army of monsters and then Ares transported us back here." That was me, in case you couldn't tell from the lack of grammar.

Chiron sat farther back in his chair. "Wow. Quite an adventure."

Annabeth, who had been sitting silently up until now finally spoke up. "Chiron, why didn't you tell us about the metahumans and the Flash before?"

He shifted uncomfortably and sighed. "The explosion happened around the time of the Giant War. You had enough on your plate."

"But after?" Annabeth persisted. "We should have been told. Why did you keep it a secret?"

Chiron gave Annabeth and I a fond smile. "Would you two honestly have left it alone? No," he continued without waiting for an answer. "You would have wanted to help the Flash. You never would've had any recovery time. It was for your own good."

"Then why tell us now?" I asked, surprising myself. "Was it because of Lavander?"

Chiron lowered his head slightly. "Yes. She is the daughter of my son Aristaios, the shepherd god. You must understand, I don't have many children. When I do, I do my best to take care of them. She came through Camp Half-Blood before either of you, as an undetermined. She spent a long time there, and started to wander down the same path as Luke. I, of course, knew her parentage, so one day I told her. It saved Lavender from becoming evil. When she was about college age, she moved to Central City. I let her go, but made her promise to call me if she needed help. Her abilities are quite unusual, especially as her father is a minor god. She can...sense when something is wrong in the demigod world, like a shepherd with his flock. When that son of Ares was killed, she felt it. She could also sense that the monster was only going after demigods, so she called me asking for help. I didn't think it would be as important as this, and I certainly didn't want to send you three. But once you had accepted the quest… There was nothing I could do."

I shook my head slowly. "We get it. And hey, at least one good thing came out of this."

"What's that?"

Annabeth and I exchanged radiant grins. "We know who the Flash is."

Chiron leaned forward. "Really? And who is he?"

"Oh, come on!" I complained. "Let us enjoy this one secret. You've kept enough from us."

Chiron gave us a tolerant smile. "I see. I'll figure it out. After all, I already have the first syllable of his name."

I sighed, turning to Annabeth. "I gave that to him, didn't I?"

Annabeth nodded. "Yep."

"Whatever. I'm gonna go get Rachel all caught up. Just let her know how the prophecy turned out."

"Okay. See ya."

I headed out of the Big House and entered Rachel's cave. "How's it going, Rachel?" However, before I could even see her, I heard a loud thump. I ran forward. "Are you okay?" When I found her, green smoke was swirling around her once more. I smacked my forehead. "Great."

The demigods and metahumans have become friends

And one day they will meet again

Hero and hero fight together

Against a bout of horrible weather

The saviors of the world must die

And this time, the end is truly nigh

Rachel stood suddenly as the mist (or is it Mist?) dissipated. "When did you get here, Percy?"

"Just now," I replied tiredly. "I wanted to let you know how he quest went."

"Oh. Well, have a seat and tell me about it. Is something wrong?" she asked when I didn't move.

"Hmm? Oh, no." I sat down next to her and talked with her for a while, but didn't mention the prophecy. No one needed to hear about it. Yet.

A/N: One more thing before I go. I just wanted to make this clear: I'm not trying to detract from God and Jesus. I myself am a Christian, so I love the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Anyways, peace out!