''Gods…'' Zeus addressed. He was actually serious for one, which was an unusual change, especially if one had endured through his past meetings. ''The situation is grave. Gaia is on her rise, and we can't afford to tread mortal Earth.'' His voice sounded hoarse. ''Not anymore.''
''But why are you scared of just a Spirit, Father!'' A cry resounded from the back. The Olympians, who were standing in a crowd, parted to reveal Apollo, in full war-gear and a celestial bow strapped to his back, as he glowed a shade yellow. ''It's just one lone spirit!'' Apollo yelled, exaggerating the one lone spirit bit. Pulling his bow from his back, he held it up for all to see, the light of the Sun glistening off of the bow's crystal-like structure. ''We shall curb it and rid its existence! Who is with me?!''
No sound emerged from the Olympians. One of them let out an awkward cough.
A few moments passed. Apollo didn't seem to get any luck in recruiting the Olympians, as Zeus' face seemed redder and redder and his hand was on his Lightning Bolt—until surprisingly, Ares stepped up. He slapped Apollo on the back. ''I'm with you, brother,'' he snarled, which was the first time Ares addressed an Olympian as a brother. It would definitely make its way to the Olympian Tabloids in no time.
Addressing all the Olympians, he cried: ''WE SHALL STOMP THIS SPIRIT! WE SHALL KILL IT! WE SHALL RID OF ITS EXISTENCE! WHO IS WITH ME!''
Ares was very good at War Cries. Just a moment later, the entire Olympian counsel responded, shouting their own variations of war cries and curses towards Gaia, the lot.
''WE'RE IN!'' yelled Demeter, Persephone, and Hera, in an unusual act of synchronization.
''I'm joining you in the fight, Ares,'' said Athena as she sighed irately as she stepped towards the War God. ''Although we may disagree on certain events, from one War God to another, I have to agree—this spirit must be stopped.''
''I'll fight alongside you, brother,'' said Artemis to Apollo, smirking. ''Though you don't get to boss me around.''
''We will help you,'' said Hades and Poseidon, their weapons of power ready at hand.
''I would hate to see Gaia's resurrection,'' grunted Hades as he readied his Helmet of Darkness.
''Agreed, brother.''
''As long as I get to apply my perfume, I'm definitely joining in,'' Aphrodite said towards Ares. Wrinkling her nose, she said: ''The smell of destruction ruins my appetite.''
Hephaestus heaved a contraption of his as he glanced at the remaining Olympians. ''I'd hate to see the Spirits ravage Lemmos,'' he grunted. Eyeing the War God critically, he said: ''Even if I dislike you, Ares... I'm in.''
''Count us in,'' said Hermes lazily as he pointed to himself and Dionysus, fingering his Messenger's Bag.
''WAIT!'' Hestia yelled. All of the Olympians turned back to her in surprise. ''We cannot kill this spirit!''
Demeter sighed exasperatedly and patted a dumbfounded Hestia on the back. ''Sister,'' she said as she smoothed out her wheat-themed armor. ''Sometimes, murder is necessary. We have to kill it. If you haven't noticed—such a creature of Gaia's threatens our existence and we have no other choice... especially if it leads to Gaia's rise. We need to show her that we cannot be messed around with.''
Hestia sighed irately. ''That wasn't my point,'' she said softly. ''My point is— if we kill the Spirit, then won't we enrage Gaia even further? She would send an even larger influx of Spirits into our World. By then, we cannot even hop over to the mortal world without encountering one of them...''
''What do you suggest, then?'' asked Zeus, combing his beard. To put it frankly, he wasn't a big fan of Apollo's idea, especially when Apollo had interrupted him while he was making his speech. The nerve of his son! Besides, he knew how dangerous Gaia is. She wasn't to be easily messed with, so to put it. Heck, she even (albiet with her sons) indirectly murdered the last Sky Deity! Zeus would rather listen to Hestia's idea, thank you very much, even if it was done a little out of spite.
''I suggest that we leave it be. If it destroys enough and Gaia is satisfied, then perhaps it would shrink back into Earth and Gaia would continue on with her sleep. But if we act rashly, then we may enrage Gaia—to the point where she rises from her sleep and decides to take a course of action against us.''
Hestia didn't have to explain what the course of action against us was. The Olympians shifted, as uneasy murmurs broke through the crowd.
''Fine,'' Zeus said, addressing the ready-to-war Olympians. ''I agree with Hestia. Let's get on with life normally, and make everything appear the same. If we do that, and the Spirit leaves, then no harm would be done. Okay?''
He made a point to glare at Apollo as he said that.
Apollo sighed, and put down his bow. ''Maybe you're right, Father,'' he admitted. ''But I really don't want to be stuck on Olympus till the end of time.''
Before Zeus could retort, all the other Olympians chimed in. Choruses of ''yeah!'' and ''we agree!'' could be heard from the crowd.
If it were any other situation, Zeus might've had a headache, but he knew what to do this time. The Sky God gave them a small smile as he thought about the Ball Dr. Quinzel suggested. Maybe they could repair their relationships. ''Olympians? We're going to a Ball.''
A/N: I'd like to thank procrastinatingmushroomfangirl for pointing out my mistakes in the previous chapter, and I'd like to thank Queen of Poptarts for bearing with me the spelling, and Readerofthethings for the review. xD
The plot thickens! Or not, I suppose. A few chapters later will be about the Olympians heading into the Manhattan Ball. And yes, references. How much I do love references. :D