To sid.kush32: Thank you! And good luck with your exam! I wish you all the best. As for the Hindu gods- I thought about it- I really did. A relative of mine is Hindu (though I don't practice the religion myself). I did think about incorporating them into this story- after all- Vishnu's other incarnations being Krishna and Rama. The many aspects of Parvati, including Durga and Kali. All those different aspects- just like the Greek and Roman gods. The problem is incorporating them into a story with so many characters inside- or planned for this already!

To Guest Reviewer: Well, nobody else knows. Not Aglaia, certainly. Not Annabeth or Jason and Piper. Certainly not the Avengers who would hunt them down. So they won't feature in this storyline. Maybe in a prequel… You decide. P.S: Percy doesn't like that certain Mr "Oh-I'm-so-perfect-and-Prince-Charming"- do you want to hear the story?

This chapter: The Avengers slowly begin to realise and find connections to everything else- and modern beliefs- and they and the demigods realise they were only a small nuisance to the Agóna- but they're catching up. They realise that there are portals- connections which the Agóna use and exploit. But there's a power that the Greek/Roman, Egyptian and Viking gods can't match- and He might not have a reason to trust or help them again. Still, what choice do they have? Alex, Aglaia and Samirah Al-Abbas share reasons as to why they felt so at home- so determined to be the people they wanted to be- and the shame and guilt they felt.

"Did you guys even get half the things they said back there?" Tony muttered.

He received helpless shrugs from most of his comrades.

"I got the part where they said that a Christian/Jewish/Muslim God exists." Clint said, shrugging. He held an arrow-head with one hand, trying to sharpen and otherwise fit more arrowheads of unusual functions onto the shafts. "But other than that… Nah…"

Natasha frowned on where she reclined on the sofa. "I think they said that these things are connected. Like there's a pattern or something."

"It could be true," Thor said, turning away from the window. They were on S.H.I.E.L.D's temporary base. "Three Norns. Three Fates. The three unspeakably ancient goddesses who spin the threads of life into being, who weave it into the pattern of their destinies, and who cut the threads so that the person would die."

Clint frowned. "You guys have it too?"

Thor nodded. "The Norns, we called them."

"And the Chaos bit," Natasha frowned, thinking. "The Greeks said that in the beginning, there was something called chaos."

"Not in the chaotic sense we know of today," Tony interrupted.

"No, but a gap. A chasm and a cosmos. And Aglaia said that the meanings changed over time." She sat up. "Just like languages do. The part where the Egyptians said there was literally chaos before order emerged out of nowhere- along with creation."

"They found a link," Tony muttered impressed. He was beginning to see, sitting there, in partial Iron Man armour, minus the head-gear. "These guys found a link. A connection between all of this," Tony stammered, standing up and walking to the window. "And then-" He looked back at the other Avengers who were staring at him curiously. "And then they said that there were powerful beings- these, these…" He fumbled for the right word. "Primordials," Clint helpfully supplied. "Primordials, man, that's it!" Tony exclaimed. He turned back to the window. Outside was already dark. "And whoever these guys are… They're supplying them. With information, with things they can see throughout time- even older than your father," he said to Thor. Thor shrugged. "They saw it. They saw it all. So, they were able to find doorways," Tony muttered. "That Egyptian dude- the bad guy- what was his name?"

"Kwai," Natasha stated.

Tony snapped his fingers. "Kwai- that's it. Kwai nearly destroyed the world- right? According to the Egyptians, he was helping that monster dude." Tony frowned. "And they said- um, what was it? Something about a blast."

"Yeah," Natasha spoke up. "The Egyptians said he created some sort of blast. Gave up his whole life-force- supposedly. Except that he was taken away- and he apparently survived." Her frown deepened.

"Someone, with all the powers, to access these different mythical worlds," Tony murmured. "But there might be another way."

Clint frowned and he and Bruce exchanged uneasy glances. "You're not seriously saying we pray for help?" He asked. "Like in a church, a synagogue, or a mosque?"

Tony scowled in frustration. "Damn it! I don't know! But these faiths are connected right? Everything- like she said, in the Bible, it says that in the beginning, there was nothing. Nothing except God who was always there, and will always be there. Like a circle," Tony drew one with his finger in mid-air. "And the Greeks, Romans and Vikings believe there was a chasm- a great emptiness- like it says in the bible too!" He continued. "So there was also a consciousness," He looked up. "A consciousness inside that swirling chasm- or gap- which must have given life to all these gods." He murmured.

Thor frowned. "My father told me my great-grandfather Buri was the first of the gods. He was born in a block of salt."

"Salty," Clint muttered. Tony agreed with him full-heartedly.

"And that Auðumbla the cow and Ymir the Giant were born from there too." Thor continued.

"And what did you say about science, again, Thor?" Tony demanded. "That in the old days, people called it magic." He exclaimed excitedly. "And people over here are beginning to talk about what some scientists call-"

"The so-called, 'God-particle'," Bruce exclaimed slowly, his eyes dawning on realisation. "The thing inside cells which gives us life."

"And how did scientists say the first life came into being?" Tony demanded.

"They said that the beginning of this planet was a terrible, terrible place. No oxygen. No water. No life. Nothing. But eventually, there were tiny organisms- like singular cell structures,"

"Yeah," Bruce nodded, pointing his finger and nodding in agreement. He looked thoughtful. "They were cells. They didn't have much, but they could reproduce. They contained amino acids, which are the sources of protein- they came from there."

"Nothing into everything," Tony muttered. He pointed back at Bruce in agreement and nodded. "Your first ancestors were cells, Brucie."

"Yeah, I know," Bruce chuckled softly. "Nothing into everything."

"But the Greeks called it Chaos," Tony continued. He walked over to the side-bar. "And meanings differ. The Egyptians called it- erm, what was it again?"

"Isfet, or something like that," Clint admitted, shrugging. "Isfet," Tony nodded his thanks. "And out of chaos, something was born- creation. Order. Civilisation. But it wasn't just that." He looked around at the others. "The Egyptian view of chaos in the beginning was different from the Greek and Roman view of what it meant."

Natasha frowned. "It's like the Greek and Romans influenced the Vikings. But chaos means chaos- I mean disaster-" she shook her head. "In today's sense. And the Egyptian civilisation was older than the Greeks. And they believed that as well. The Greeks called it Chaos, but it wasn't the same meaning."

"No," Tony snapped his fingers in agreement. "But there it is. There's a connection. All these cultures and civilisations. They never had contact with one another. And yet they have something similar. Something that joined them together. In the beginning, there was nothing. Nothing worth living more because it was all chaotic," Tony explained. "Pre-historic earth, before the dinosaurs and Neanderthals and mammoths, everything was a mess. First it was nothing- then something was there- and it was chaotic- volcanoes and earthquakes, poisonous fumes-"

Bruce's head snapped up. "They somehow knew," he exclaimed. "They somehow knew about these things, but they didn't know how to interpret them, so they interpreted it in many different ways. Sometimes with different words, like the Egyptians and Greeks," his eyes lit up. "And sometimes with different meanings not just words- like the err-" He looked helplessly at Thor. "Ginnungagap," Thor explained. "The Gap of Ginnunga." Bruce snapped his fingers, "That's it- thank you." He nodded at Thor. "Which is closer to what the Greeks believe to be their version of Chaos, rather than the Egyptians," Bruce concluded.

"What did the princess say?" Tony asked quietly. He came back around with a drink and glasses in hand. He passed on to Thor and poured some whisky. "That the gods are manifestations of people's cultures, civilisations and beliefs. The way the Greeks interpreted things came to be- and their gods to be- was different to how the Romans interpreted them- but close enough- and even more different to how the Vikings interpreted them and the Egyptians. What did she say- she said that the Greek/Roman gods adopted traits- like new immigrants staying over several generations- of their new country. Something about pinstripe suits and Hawaiian shirts," Tony shook his head, bemused. "And eventually, the longer they stay there, in those countries- in which case, the longest happened to be Greece and Rome- those traits eventually develop into a flip-side- an entirely different persona and consciousness." Tony looked at Thor. "Like you." Thor winced. "Please, let's not talk about me."

"Sorry," Tony muttered. "But you get it, don't you- just because we interpret things in many different ways, doesn't mean it's not real," Tony explained.

"So the reason as to why any gods don't develop American or British forms, or German, French or Spanish- whatever- is because they didn't stay in those places long enough?" Clint frowned. All of this was beginning to make him feel dizzy. He wondered how the gods could cope with this. And their kids. Made him wonder if being a god was all that great.

"They stayed only for a few centuries," Natasha realised, remembering what the nymph said. "The heart of the flame- the politically strongest centre of Western culture and the source of all these things."

"What did people say about America?" Tony demanded. "They called it a melting pot- of many different cultures and immigrants. People of German, Italian, Greek, Spanish, Latino, French, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Chinese, Korean, Arab- all these different nationalities, ethnic groups- these different cultures. The Egyptians built their pyramids. But even though they're now mostly ethnic Arab whose gene pool mingled with those of the Native Egyptians from long ago- Egyptian culture- it's still remembered. Archaeology- stories about the pharaohs and their families, Hollywood films, the tourism industry, the mummies. It's still there. People not only remember the Egyptians, but the people of Egypt, take great pride in their ancient history. Plus, it earns them extra money." Tony murmured. "All those diggers- hired by archaeologists- they must have told their families all the treasure they dug up and saw- what it was all about. All the museums- the people working there, the people seeing them. This keeps them alive." Tony concluded. "Even though in comparison to the Greeks and the Romans- more parts of those cultures survive than the Egyptians."

"The Egyptians said their gods were banished somewhere, called the Duat," Natasha stated. "But they were brought back."

"And the Greeks and the Romans never vanished because we see traces- like buildings today." Bruce said. "The neo-classical style. The White House. The British Museum. That statue of Prometheus in Rockefeller centre!" He stood up. His eyes wide. "The Eagle- Oh- the eagle. It's a symbol of Zeus. And your father." He looked at Thor. "They survived. And the Lincoln Memorial- that looks Greek."

"Yes- I remember the part about them being banished," Tony agreed, nodding his head. "I also remember- correct me if I'm wrong- the Statue of Liberty. Something about it being modelled on the goddess of Wisdom?"

They all nodded.

"The stronger the memories and influences, the more people spread these things, the easier for the gods to exist," Bruce realised, impressed. "And the guy who made that statue- a Frenchman- was a demigod? The son of Athena?"

"And World War Two- Roosevelt, Churchill and Hitler," Tony mused. "Competing for the next heart of Western Civilisation. Things must have been changing then. The Age of Empires was slowly coming to an end. America must have only been a temporary base for the Greek and Roman gods- until the war was over, Europe was in ruins, America gave them the money to rebuild- and voilà- they saw that all things seemed to come and depend on America- at least at that stage in time. So that was when they must have decided to move-permanently." Tony looked at them.

"And whoever these guys are that are trying to kill them- the Greek and Roman demigods mentioned having to fight in wars. To prevent the Titans rising. And the Egyptians and Vikings too." He was careful not to remind Thor of anything, in case it triggered him going back and forth again. He had only just begun to take a rest from all that. "But they failed. Why? Because they didn't connect the dots. They tried to destroy them from the inside out- because the only way to prevent them from taking power- were these kids." Tony concluded. "These kids stopping them from hurting their parents- and gods." He said. "But then they realised. America is the melting pot. Of all these different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. People come to America from all over the world. The source of what we call international corporate culture. They couldn't destroy them in different times. In different places."

Thor's head perked up. "There is a portal to Asgard in Boston- our pantheon is strongest there." He rumbled.

"And Manhattan- that is where the Greeks and Romans reside," he continued. "Brooklyn – that is where the Egyptian gods are strongest in the country."

"Uh-huh. It all comes together." Tony nodded along. "They realised that."

Natasha shook her head. "So when all these people come together- they bring their culture with them- or at least- parts of it?"

"And it grows," Tony said. "And eventually it becomes so strong in America- that it gives parts of it onward. The heart of Western Civilisation- at least in this age."

His eyes suddenly widened in horror. He froze.

"The portals. You said there was one in Boston?"

Thor nodded, looking confused. "Yes, I did say."

"And the Greek gods were in Manhattan," Tony continued. "And Egyptians in Brooklyn."

Thor looked even more confused. "Yes, what is it?"

"They found the portal," Tony realised. "They found the connection right in the middle of the United States. That's why Loki went to invade in New York. Because he wanted to challenge- even get rid of- not mortal governments and all resistance, but the Greek and Roman gods- in New York- before he moved onto Boston. Because that's where the heart of their civilisation lies."

Everyone gasped. "S***!" Clint muttered. "How could we not see this? How could anybody not know?"

"Possibly because our worlds have been kept separate for centuries," Thor said, his eyes wide with horror.

"Percy said that someone must have talked to your brother," Natasha concluded, looking up at Thor. "Convinced him to turn against you and Odin. They must have told him about America being a melting pot of cultures too."

"And when you guys are kept separate," Bruce realised, "There's no way you can unite."

"We dealt with the Chitauri," Tony realised in astonishment. "The Greeks never came."

Thor shook his head. "My involvement meant that they weren't allowed. No one else was. One god is enough."

"So how do we stop them?" Natasha demanded. "How do we stop America from being a portal into this world- opening up to potential threats like that and these guys?"

"These guys don't know there's a connection," Tony said. "Their spies and sleeper agents amongst the demigods have been caught. But they don't know everything because they don't trust everyone! Damn it! This makes things more difficult to get way ahead of the game." He sank back onto the couch.

"We've gotta tell them." He said looking up at them. "We have to explain to them."

And they did.

Everyone looked at them in horror.

Aglaia closed her eyes. "Now it makes perfect sense. The portal to going inside and connecting all these pantheons and their threats is in America. But that's not all."

Everyone looked at her apprehensively.

"The serum- that was used to create not only super-soldiers- who've been turned against their parents," Aglaia explained. "But a new super-race to populate the earth."

"That's what you've said," Tony said, looking confused.

"But that's just it," Aglaia said. "A new race. They've still got a few. We destroyed a great deal of serum and super-soldiers. They can't afford to waste anymore- not until they rebuild again."

"Yeah, because not all of the serum was gone," Nico muttered. At least they destroyed the samples they kept.

"So they have another strategy." Percy shook his head, angrily and in despair. He came to the same realisation as his sister. "You do realise, don't you? We've only ever been a nuisance to these guys- we were hardly a threat!"

Annabeth's eyes widened. "Oh gods… You're right." She paled.

"They've got something else planned," Nico said grimly. "Something to wipe out the entire earth."

"But we've already gotten rid of the Infinity Stone," Hazel protested.

"But remember what you told me?" He asked Thor. "That our gods tapped into the Stones' powers- what if they've done the same? Or what if the thing that happened on the carrier was enough to summon- not all the stones- but the ones they need?"

Everyone gasped.

"We might be too late," Hazel whispered. "Oh, gods…"

"We've been busy fighting smaller scale conflicts, and threats… We didn't realise. Not even the spies did," Piper said, feeling sick. Jason held her close.

"They're way ahead of us," Aglaia realised, feeling horrible- again.

"And we didn't even catch up that far. Putting aside our differences- creating an alliance, realising that there were spies… That might have come too late."

Aglaia swallowed. "There has to be another way. There has to be another portal, somewhere, so we can go in all places where they are and stop them."

"We can't go back to the United States," Will pointed out gently. "If all this is true, it's too dangerous."

"But we can't just let it happen!" Thalia said, a fierce light in her eyes.

"No way," Clarisse growled.

"No, we might not have to," Aglaia's eyes were massive.

"No, but as we know there's a connection… It all comes down to one thing," she said. "The Christian Bible. The Jewish Torah. The Muslim Qu'ran. What did they say about the beginning?"

"That there was nothing- except for one supreme being," Annabeth stated. "Who had always been there, and will always be there."

Thor looked mildly annoyed- again.

"And that there was one Supreme Being who didn't interfere so much in low-level conflicts," Aglaia realised. "But was always there. And everything else came from Him. Like you said," she said nodding to Tony. "Different interpretations. Doesn't mean they're not real- they all are."

"So there may be another portal." Aglaia realised.

"But first of all, remember this- what are the three of the biggest faiths right now?"

"Christianity, Islam and Judaism." Annabeth responded.

"Uh-huh. And there is Buddhism and Hinduism as well." Aglaia blinked. "Hindu gods have many aspects." She blinked.

"But that's for later, I'm afraid," she said. "First things first: thee three religions all worship one God- the same One. So they all came from the same roots.

"Abraham." Aglaia said firmly. "Abraham had two sons. One with Sarah- his wife, the other with Hagar- his concubine. It was said that God promised to make a nation out of Abraham's descendants. But Sarah was old- too old to have children, and she doubted it would happen. So she gave her Egyptian slave Hagar to Abraham so she could bear his son. Hagar had a son- Ishmael. But Sarah gave birth to a son- Isaac."

"And Isaac became the ancestor for the Hebrews- or Israelites." Annabeth realised.

"And Sarah felt threatened," Aglaia resumed telling. She remembered this- she had plenty of Bible studies. Most of Greece's populations were devout Christians now. "When she saw Ishmael either bullying or playing too roughly with her son Isaac- she demanded that Abraham sent Hagar and her son away. It was predicted that the two sons and their descendants would be in constant conflict with one another."

She took a deep breath. "Abraham despaired, because Ishmael was his son as well. But God told him not to worry- there would be a nation made from the descendants of Ishmael too. And so Hagar and Ishmael left. Ishmael became the ancestors of the Arabs- from where Islam originated. And Isaac, Israel. Judaism came from Israel. And so did Christianity. Not Rome, not Byzantium. Israel." Aglaia's eyes widened. "And Islam states that Muhammad rose to heaven in a certain city in Israel. And that King David had his capital city there- the same city. Jesus was crucified outside that city and spent His last days there- he was also presented in the Temple there- the Temple which Solomon built- which held the Ark of the Covenant- the temple which was destroyed, but had a mosque built over it." She looked at Annabeth.

The holy city for Christians, Muslims and Jews- that same city- is Jerusalem."

"Talk about a melting pot," Tony muttered. "But it's still not safe to go to the Middle East, just like that."

"It's in less danger from supernatural forces, I'm willing to bet," Percy said, snapping his fingers. "As there is one God there- I don't think Loki wanted to go near during his planned invasion. He targeted America."

Thalia frowned. "But America has a very large- very large- Muslim, Jewish and Christian population."

"Yes, but that's because they're immigrants too, like the others," Annabeth said. "But other immigrants bring cultures, which brings gods, which brings monsters to the U.S. Even Christians- for all white supremacists-" she scowled. "Like the Ku Klux Klan, believed- this wasn't always the land of white people."

"Oh, gods, no." Piper muttered. She was half Cherokee, after all.

"They were immigrants too- they brought their cultures, languages, and religion with them." Annabeth explained. "The others just came afterwards."

"So this didn't come from there," Aglaia concluded. "There places of power… Annabeth you said that during the Second Giant War you guys travelled to Greece and Rome, Italy," she said looking at Annabeth.

"The Giants wanted to tear Mount Olympus at their heart. The Titans went to destroy the Olympians by tearing up their current seat of power," Aglaia realised. "In Manhattan. But the Giants had Gaea's help- they knew the original roots for this culture and civilisation- Mount Olympus- the actual mountain. Delphi. That temple in Sparta. The Parthenon. These were places of the gods' power. Where they would get to them- to tear them up," Aglaia explained. "Their original sources of power. The lands where they came from." She looked at them.

"There is a greater power which they can't challenge- maybe they've overlooked the idea, maybe they think they'll go for it later- when they've won everything. But its source isn't in America. America is the place where immigrants go."

"The American dream," Tony muttered. Percy and Leo agreed.

"That place… Jerusalem." Aglaia stated. "Some of us has to go to Jerusalem."

Thor nodded grimly. He didn't look too happy- at the idea of depending on a Supreme Being that was higher than any god. But right now…

"We have no choice." He said heavily. "They have us surrounded. They are everywhere. In mortal governments. Even within our ranks." He looked wearily at the demigods.

"Jerusalem it is," Percy murmured.

"So how do we get there? Without anyone of them knowing?" Annabeth asked.

Everyone looked at each other. Shrugs were given. Blank stares.

"Curse it," Aglaia muttered. She turned to the Norse demigods. "You said the portal in Brooklyn lead to Asgard?"

"Yeah," Magnus frowned. "Wait, are you thinking-"

"Is there any way to portal to Israel?" Aglaia asked wearily.

Magnus turned to Blitzen, Hearthstone and Sam.

"Well," Sam began uneasily. She shrugged helplessly. "I don't know."

Hearth signed, It could work.

"Yeah, but we'd need…" Blitz paused, frowning. Hearthstone gave him a few more sentences in sign language and Blitz responded. His eyes wide.

"You guys… Your goddess of magic- you're her kids, right?" He turned to Lou Ellen.

She looked mildly surprised. "You want us to help you- me and my cabin?" She frowned. "I don't know if this could work. We're different, our magic."

"It could work." He grinned at Percy and Sadie nodded proudly.

"It did work." Sadie nodded proud of their effort.

The two- and Percy and Annabeth- began to explain what they did with Setne."

"Wow." Lou Ellen sat back stunned. Blitz, Hearth, Sam and Magnus were stunned and impressed as well.

"This could really work." She frowned. "But that much power…"

"That much combined power," Sadie gently corrected. "This would attract a great deal of attention- possibly monsters."

"And this isn't the source of any of our gods powers," Jason pointed out. "This is a power on its own. We might not be able to do anything to get there."

Thor frowned. "Yes, that should be problematic, as much as I hate to admit it. I will go first- I travel with Mjölnir, or the Bifröst Bridge. Whichever will work."

"Land on the outskirts," Annabeth mentioned. "Off Israel's coast. Not in their territory. The closer you are to Jerusalem and other cities like Mecca and Bethlehem…"

"The weaker your power grows," Aglaia finished, realising what Annabeth was saying.

Thor nodded grimly. "Very well then. Work on that portal. In the meantime, might I suggest creating boundaries around this place so that monsters and beings of evil will not go near?" He asked.

Annabeth and Lou Ellen nodded. "Duly noted." Thor was just testing things.

Thor walked off.

Outside he held Mjölnir. He twirled it around vertically, then shot his arm upwards, and up he went, flying away at tremendous speeds.

Sure enough Thor returned, disgruntled.

"There is a block there," he muttered. "A force that prevents me from entering, like a shield." He blinked.

"The Bifröst?" Sam asked.

He shook his head. "No use. Heimdall states that we cannot enter- it is the place where gods like us are forbidden to go- even if we tried. Odin says it is forbidden. Higher powers are in use there." He frowned, looking confused. "I have never heard him talking of higher powers before."

"That confirms it," Annabeth said. "Aglaia was right."

"Yes, it appears so," Thor answered.

"So the portal might not work?" Lou Ellen was dismayed.

"Not if we enter Israel territory," Annabeth said sternly.

"Just outside then," Lou Ellen reassured.

Aglaia shook his head. "It doesn't matter. If I go in, I can't go in as a demigod. I can' go in even as a mortal princess." She took a deep breath. "I'm a mortal. As mortal as anyone there. And even then… I might not be allowed."

She shook her head. Percy shook his head, glaring.

"No one ever said you were the one going." Alex nodded along with him.

Annabeth winced. "Percy," she said softly. "She's got the best chance. She's a baptised Christian. And unless there are any Jews or Muslims…"

"I'm a Muslim," Sam said surprised.

"I'm a Catholic," Alex supplied.

"So you'll go with her," Annabeth said sternly.

"Keep her safe- but…" Percy winced. "Don't let her do anything."

"You're one to talk, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth muttered.

Percy glared at Annabeth. "And that's my point. Aglaia's like me. She's like, even more of me- my best traits and my worse flaws."

Aglaia winced. "We have the same fatal flaw."

"And they know it," Percy glared at Aglaia

"But that flaw is also a strength," Aglaia continued. "And that isn't a sin- not in Christian, Muslim and Jewish eyes."

"This could work," Annabeth said, looking at Percy.

"So you've said," he muttered walking away. "Maybe I'll…" He trailed off, walking away.

Alex sighed, shaking his head. "How soon will the portal be ready?"

Lou Ellen responded: "Soon enough."

"Got it!" Carter yelled.

"Yup!" Sadie ran for it.

"It's ready!" Lou Ellen yelled excitedly.

Everyone ran to get them.

"Can't take too much," Aglaia had reminded Alex.

"Got it," he mumbled. "Thanks."

"No Ambrosia or Nectar." Aglaia insisted. Alex turned to stare at her. "What? Why?"

"Because it doesn't belong there," she reminded him sternly. "And neither do our weapons." She slammed down her bracelet- Celestial Bronze and Imperial Gold. "That won't help us there."

Alex looked torn and ready to argue, but she had logic here. This wasn't going to be what they were facing. They shouldn't go armed there. And furthermore, they didn't even know if those things would work there- if they had any enemies there. After all, those metals don't harm mortals. And they don't know if they might offend a Supreme Being… And Angels.

Samirah Al-Abbas sighed. "So… What now?"

Aglaia zipped up her bag. "Off we go."

She felt very vulnerable. But resigned.

"Here we go," Alex muttered.

Magnus looked nervous. "Sam-"

"I know, Magnus," she assured him. "But I'm going to take the risks."

Sam had deliberately decided to leave her weapons behind too. And her Valkyrie swan-cloak/hijab. Instead she opted for an ordinary hijab made of cotton.

No magic food or drink. No weapons. No armour. No use of magical powers, whatsoever.

After all, they ran the risk of not being allowed to go past the boundaries, like Thor had discovered.

But they needed to take the risks.

Aglaia took a deep breath and was about to go through, when she heard scuffling.

Alex frowned and they all turned.

"Andrea! I know you're out there," Aglaia called. "Come out!"

Sure enough, a small girl toddled out.

She was dressed in cardboard 'armour' covered with tin-foil. The cardboard had been taped around her body in Spartan-style gear. Her 'helmet' had been folded over and glued with tin foil. It had a brush end of a scrubbing broom which looked like it had been broken off and dumped in red paint and stuck on top with glue before it even dried. Blotches and splatters of red paint stuck on the tin-foil and cardboard helmet, which Andrea must have thought would be awesome- it looked like blood. She held a stick that must have been the end of the broom that has been clumsily taped with something sharp.

And a manic grin.

It was Andrea- one of the kindergarteners- daughter of Ares.

Aglaia heaved out a heavy sigh. "Come out, all of you!"

Slowly, the toddlers all came out. They wore cardboard and tin-foil covered armour, and broom brushes stuck to their heads over the cardboard and foil.

One of them had a daisy painted on her 'shield'. For her weapon she had a garden trowel.

Two children had gold suns and dancing lyres painted on their armour. They had their small bows and their rubber arrow-heads had been snapped off and replaced by bits of scrap metal, nicked from the Hephaestus Cabin, no doubt.

One of them was wearing a broom-brush head that had been dunked in blue paint with spots and splatters all over his 'helmet'. Blue blood?

He also had a stick with rubber snakes glued around it, twirling around, and Barbie fairy wings stuck to the end. The top was taped with Hephaestus Cabin scrap metal. His sister was dressed identically.

Another kid had plastic, feathery wings taped to her back and sparkly, colourful tin-foil over her cardboard armour. She wore a dress, and face-paint, like she wanted to compete for best-dressed warrior toddler-in-tiaras.

Aglaia gave an exasperated sigh. Of course she knew the kids would do something like this!

Alex gave out a sigh. "Just what were you guys doing?"

"We want to fight," Andrea said with a fierce gleam in her eye that made Aglaia think of her elder sister, Clarisse.

The kid with a blue broom-brush stuck to his head grinned like a maniac.

"And why is that?" Aglaia raised an eyebrow. "This is no place for you," she said sternly.

Andrea pouted.

"Andrea," she said sternly but gently. She looks at the kid's eyes. "Lily," she said, doing the same to the Demeter girl. "Haruko and Marisol," she looked at the Apollo children. "Ryder and Tahliya." The Hermes toddlers. "Bella and Calista," The last two were Aphrodite girls. She closed her eyes. "Where is Miranda?" She was feeling better enough to look after the children. "And Katie?" She could always rely on Katie.

"Listen," she said in a stern, but gentle tone. "Look at me." Sadly they did. Her resolve threatened to crumble.

"Don't be so eager to put yourself in danger," she chastised. "Learn- watch. Train. I've taught you how to begin-"

"And we can fight!" Andrea insisted, brandishing her broom/spear. The tip wobbled and fell off, tape dangling off.

Aglaia resisted the urge to laugh. Andrea looked sulky, as she picked up the piece and began to rewind the tape around the edge again.

Natasha fought off a smirk. It was cute.

"Yes. But that was only the beginning. Remember what I said, about finishing your training?" They nodded glumly.

"Do you know how to kill the monster?"

"Stick 'em with this bit!" Andrea insisted, jabbing her chubby finger at the scrap metal the Hephaestus Cabin had chucked out. Ryder must have raided bins.

"Yes, and do you know that a dragon's scales are much, much harder for a spear, worked in the forges at camp, to cut through?" Aglaia asked. "What happens if you come at them?" Her eyebrows rose.

They looked down.

"If you don't know how to kill it properly, don't try it," she insisted. "Stay here. Train. I'm sure Clarisse would give you something to do- providing it's sensible," she muttered. "Soldiers listen to orders. Because they know unless the commander giving them is stupid, then they won't win unless they listen. And train." She looked hard at them.

"So you'll be ready when your Cabin Councillors say you are," she warned them.

They nodded glumly. They moved away, dejected. Shoulders slumped and heads bowed down.

"Please come back," little Tahliya pleaded. "You need to show me how to shoot a mile away."

"Yeah!" Ryder pouted. "You need to show me all your tricks!"

They dropped their weapons and ran to hug her. Aglaia sighed as she held them close.

"I will." She said. "I'll always come back."

When they moved away, Aglaia grimaced. "At least they didn't bring the babies."

"How many are there?"

"A few," Aglaia muttered. "Two babies." She sighed.

Clint nodded. He had a few of his own- unknown to the other Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D members, except for Natasha and Fury. Maybe Hill.

"Now I see what you guys are protecting. You've got to come back," he muttered.

Aglaia nodded. She looked at Sam- who was pursing her lips- and Alex, who looked saddened, but slightly amused at the kids' antics.

"Let's go," she murmured.

The wall in front of the wall was outlined- it looked like something made out of a slab- something cavemen would seal their cave openings with. A huge round stone. It had been replaced by rock, as a matter of fact, summoned by Hazel. It looked like they engraved deep grooves and symbols into it. Hieroglyphs, runes, and Greek and Roman symbols.

"Get ready," Carter warned.

The Kanes summoned the powers of the gods Horus and Isis to open a portal using the Duat, but not leading into it.

The gods of Egypt had been terrified- though they didn't admit it. They didn't want to fight or be challenged- again.

But they had no choice.

Hearthstone had stone tablets stuck to the stone. They began glowing.

Lou Ellen and her siblings chanted. The lines- including a line around the edge, began glowing, as if this was actually a door shielding them from a bright sunny day outside.

"Alright," Aglaia found herself saying.

Alex took a deep breath. He had never been so nervous before. He thought he'd faced everything. Sam started fiddling with the ends of her hijab.

Percy looked uneasy, still.

"Hold hands," Sadie ordered.

They joined hands and the light flashed brighter, forcing most of them to squint or cover their eyes. It was a combination of lights. Of many different colours. Hieroglyphs appeared on the stone, in lavender. Runes appeared in green. And pale blue light appeared, and strange symbols too- in the stone and the air in front of them.

The stone started to break apart and crack in half.

"Get ready!" Carter shouted.

"Everyone else take a step back!" Lou Ellen shrieked.

Everyone else did, for fear they would get sucked too.

And the stone kept splitting in cracks along the middle, almost reaching the bottom.

The different coloured lights paled and mingled. They became white-coloured light. After all, white light was all colours in one.

How symbolic.

Then the runes, hieroglyphs and symbols glowed brighter in white light. More lines- running horizontally along the middle appeared. The cracks were crooked, Aglaia realised. They had the outline of double doors with all these things etched onto them.

Then the doors- outlined by the light- seemed to break from the stone, collapsing inwards and blinding them all with light before they even realised it, and a whooshing sound.

And a great deal of light. Thor found it was strikingly similar to the Bifröst Bridge, as the light appeared to suck the three of them, until their solid forms and colours, mingled and paled becoming one with the white light, and being pulled at enormous speeds.

Then as suddenly as that had appeared, everything else disappeared.

Everyone else had collapsed or fallen backwards. The large, round stone was still there. There were no outlines. There were no cracks. No symbols, hieroglyphs and runes.

Not even the three demigods, Greek and Norse.

Aglaia fell flat on her back. She blinked.

She looked to her sides. She could see Sam and Alex struggling to get up. Alex rose and helped her up with one hand.

"Where are we again?" She asked.

"I think we're in think we might be in the Gaza Strip," Alex grunted as he helped Sam up. "Thanks," she muttered.

Aglaia looked startled. "Is-was that a part of Ancient Israel."

Alex frowned. "Must be," he squinted. "This is a very dangerous place to be."

"He's right," Sam piped in. "There's extremists- Muslim and Jewish alike. Israeli and Palestinian militants- and even gangs and common criminals." She looked apprehensive. She looked at Aglaia.

"I think it was Canaanite once," she explained slowly. "Then it was Egyptian. Then Philistine. Then Alexander the Great came."

Aglaia blinked. "Did you learn all that? Are you from around here?"

Sam shook her head. "My mom and grandparents are from Iraq," she explained. "But I learn a lot about history."

"Huh." Was the reply. "So this was disputed territory, even then."

"Yes," Sam adjusted her hijab. "We need to get to Jerusalem."

"And then what?" Alex asked. "Pray? Go the Wailing Wall? Golgotha? The mosque where the temple once stood?"

Sam sighed. "I don't even know if Allah would answer us." She looked down.

"We've gotta move," Alex suggested. He picked up the backpacks and the girls did the same.

This place was deserted. A bombed-out neighbourhood, Aglaia realised. Who did it? Israeli militants? Or Palestinian? Either way, she felt like it didn't matter. Both sides were not going to go for peaceful co-existence- not in this generation, anyway.

They found shelter- in a bombed out lobby of what might have been an office building once.

They huddled near the wall, taking off their packs.

Aglaia was silent for a long while.

"Samirah," she said quietly. "Did you ever feel… That you might be doing the wrong thing when you accepted the job of being a Valkyrie? Because you're a Muslim? I mean, you still wear the hijab."

Sam looked up. "Yes." She admitted quietly. She looked down. "I was chosen to be a Valkyrie by Odin. I didn't believe it. After all, a Muslim was never supposed to worship any other gods. Only Allah." She looked down. "And here I was, working for a pagan king of the gods, stealing away the spirits of those who died valiantly in battle, taking them to Valhalla, where they would train and prepare for the end of the Viking world," she sighed. "After a while, I found that I fit right in. I was part of a team. Back home- in the States, I mean- I would stick out like a sore thumb. Especially after 9/11." Aglaia winced in sympathy and even Alex grimaced.

That can't have been easy or pleasant for a young girl- to deal with all the 'Islamaphobia', because a comparatively small bunch of a***holes attacked and a bunch of white supremacists and Xenophobic people found excuses, like them taking jobs away, and the possible threat of terrorism. Even for a young girl. She must have experienced racism, possibly from adults as well.

"And even amongst Iraqi-Americans… I was born out of wedlock. My grandparents- Jid and Bibi- raised me and loved me- accepted me, even though they were as traditional as could be, and my mom had a relationship with a guy she didn't marry." She sighed. "They never knew. My mom died when I was young. They raised me like a good Muslim girl- I didn't have too much contact with boys, I went to the mosque, especially on Fridays, I prayed five times a day, did charity, studied and did my chores, even chose to wear a hijab. I was a good Muslim girl- and the people of my community-" She pressed her lips in a tight line. "They didn't accept me. They knew I was born out of wedlock. They didn't want anybody associating with me. Certainly not their kids, including their sons. They didn't want the possibility that someday, their sons would marry me. The other boys, not Iraqi-Americans, most of them just didn't understand, what it was like and how important it was for me- my culture, my religion. Others were like the president," she scowled.

"There were people telling me to go back home, even though I was born in the United States. I joined the Valkyries, because I wanted to fit in. I wanted to be accepted- a proud member of a society, just like an extended family. At home, only Amir Fadlan and his family accepted and liked me- Amir and I are engaged," she explained. Their eyebrows shot up. "It's an arranged match, but I wouldn't have it any other way," she said determinedly.

Aglaia nodded, not really liking arrangements- even royals have stopped them a long time ago- and Alex did as well. But if Amir was what made her happy and he and his family accepted her and treated her well… Then there was no reason why not.

"I had a chance," Sam sighed. "I felt guilty. I felt that I was weak. But I wanted to be a part of… Something. So I took it. And I felt at home." Her face fell. "Until I found out who my father is."

Aglaia cocked her head to one side and Alex's brow furrowed.

Sam sighed, closing her eyes, dreading the worse. "Loki." She admitted.

Aglaia nodded, slowly. Alex sighed. "That can't be helped," he reminded her.

Her head shot up. "You're not mad?" She asked, warily.

"Should we be?" Aglaia scoffed. "None of us chose this life." Aglaia then realised. "But they treated you like an outcast again, didn't they?" She asked gently.

Sam nodded. "I was determined to regain my place- to prove that just because my father is Loki, doesn't mean I'm like him."

"You shouldn't have had to," Alex's voice had a hard edge. "If people are going to blame you for something that isn't your fault, than they're not worth the effort. Not by a long shot." His mother wasn't the only one who was bitter about his sole existence. The other kids hated him. And the teachers. Alex had no expectations from them, even at an early age. They would only mock him for being a pathetic wannabe.

"But I had to try," Sam sighed. "I had to prove myself- Loki isn't a nice guy- and that's putting it mildly. Ever since the Chitauri invasion- though that's in another aspect- people have grown even worse." She looked out into the distance.

"And then I asked myself- am I doing the right thing? I thought I did. I was sparing brave, good souls from dying a terrible, slow death- I brought them somewhere where they could live in luxury- feast and make friends- even family with the others there. Then they would train and be brothers and sisters-in-arms. They would combat Ragnarök," she stated. "The ending of the Viking World. But…" She paused. "I'm lying to my grandparents," she admitted. "I'm being secretive to Amir and his family who unlike the others trust and accept me. A good Muslim girl doesn't do that."

Aglaia couldn't help but feel a strong surge of pity. So did Alex.

"I felt terrible, every time I entered the mosque," Sam admitted. "Because I felt like I had no right to be there. Oh, I don't think Allah would blame a child for its parentage, but I was willingly working for the Valkyries- for Odin," she admitted. "Muslims believed in Heaven and Hell. So do Christians," Sam continued. "And Jews in Sheol- or at least the Ancient Israelites," she frowned. "I don't know if they believe in Heaven and Hell. It is an Abrahamic thing after all."

"The word for Sheol in certain scriptures, is substituted for the Greek 'Hades'," Aglaia explained. "Possibly because the Bible was first written in Greek. In Christian tradition, they said that Jesus passed through that place where souls went- a cold, dark place- before setting the souls free, and rising to Heaven."

Alex sat straighter. "Yeah, I remember. It was in the Apostle's Creed which we recite during mass."

"Another connection," Sam sighed.

"I felt I was the worst person sometimes," Aglaia admitted. "Because during our civil war, soon after I was born, me and my mother were separated." They looked at her. "I was sent to a Meteora Monastery." She explained. "The monastery sat right on top of a Meteora cliff- very difficult to access. Hard to target. And the nuns there kept me safe- guarded me, loved me. And here I was.

"It wasn't my fault I was born a demigod," she said, looking down. "But even though I denied it- even though I questioned- begged Chiron, until he reassured me that there is a singular God- or at least, there likely is one- up there, I wasn't completely reassured. Still, the campers became my family. Percy was my family. Camp was a second home- Greece will always be my first. And Denmark. I funded the building of New Athens- a city for demigods and their descendants," she stated. "And a temple," she said quietly. "There was a temple, like the pre-Christian Pantheon in Rome, before it got converted. I was accepted," she looked up at them. "I was part of that place. I wasn't hated back home- unless you counted my stepfather- but I stood out. I would never fit in. In Greece, Denmark or anywhere else, I was never just another citizen." She admitted. "So I began fighting with the others- I already knew martial arts. I taught them. I helped them. I gave suggestions. I helped revive the Acient Greek culture back at Camp Half-Blood, just as they did the Ancient Romans at New Rome." She looked at them.

"When you're part of a Greek phalanx, half of your shield is for you, the other half is for the person next to you," she whispered. "Some people believed that the Ancient Spartans were stripped off their individuality. But when you take part in a protest march, when you go to support a sports team, wear the colours, even travel… That doesn't take away your individuality- at least, it doesn't feel like it. It makes you feel bigger, because you are a part of something more than yourself. It gives you a purpose." She closed her eyes.

"So I thought to be the best person I could possibly be- for the other demigods, Chiron, and the gods of Olympus. I felt like they'd given me something. I felt I was a part of something- and that something just included- and came from- them. I often prayed to my father. But it wasn't just my father," she admitted shamefully. "Other gods too. I burnt sacrifices- not live animals but part of our meals. I acted as a sort-of High Priestess, because I cleaned the temple every morning before everyone else got there- and burnt offerings for them. In every way, I have absolutely no right to be here. I saw that the minor gods- including my half-sister, Kymopoleia, felt like they were being overlooked. Disrespected. I heard Jason say that he promised every shrine for all the gods. So I decided to help him." She admitted. "The same way Solomon turned against Yahweh in the end, when he listened to his many foreign wives and agreed to build temples for them. The same way King Ahab agreed to please his wife to persecute priests and prophets, and build temples to Dagon."

Alex shook his head vehemently. "You weren't like that. You never harmed anyone- or even looked down on them."

"But I turned away," she said, her eyes shining with tears. "And we were so devout in Greece- I wonder what the nuns who kept me safe must have thought when they heard the evening news. That the princess they guarded, supported the Greek gods- and claimed their existence." She sighed and closed her eyes. "I reassured myself that we didn't worship them the same way the ancients did. But now… I'm not so sure. He is my father though," she said, almost pleadingly. "There's nothing I can do about it. And I can't abandon the campers. It's not their fault either."

"Shhh," Alex went closer to her and put his arm around her. "When I was rescued," he began softly. "They took me back to Ireland. It was the Greek royal forces that rescued me, remember?"

Aglaia looked up and blinked. "Really?" Alex nodded. "I went back to Ireland. The general who took me- his name was Aidan. He saw potential in me. I don't think he saw the makings of a hero- or a good person. But I think he saw the makings of a soldier. The perfect soldier, he called me. So I ended up in military school. I skipped levels because I was good. I was a soldier. But I think they were disturbed. I was emotionless- I didn't answer to torments and bullying. The teachers and commanding officers didn't affect me, or get me weary or sobbing. But it was like I didn't feel anything. I didn't want friendship. Oh, I knew I had to cooperate with everyone else. I knew I had to be part of a team. But that was just it- I spent years alone. And I didn't trust anyone to be my friend. I didn't know how to be a friend. And if there was one thing that endangered my future in the armed forces, it was my team spirit." He shook his head. "Aidan was concerned. He began taking me to church." He chuckled softly. "I was suspicious. I was dubious, I admit. He talked to the priest and the priest talked to me like I was some scared kid." He shook his head.

"Aidan was concerned that I might not feel as strongly moral as anyone else. He suspected that I might have psychopathy- after all- you've been to Eastern Europe, you've told me- institutionalised kids there had pathways in their brains blocked or not fully made because they didn't have mother-love. Or father-love. They never knew what it meant to be a family, even though they were abused. My dad I never knew- he didn't even know I existed at that stage. My mum hated the fact that I breathed. Her boyfriends were happy and excited to take every opportunity to hurt me. The kids at school mocked and jeered at me- I was an outcast, because my home-life was so pathetic and they could sense it," he shook his head. "And the teachers- I was a pain. The kids reported me if I ever tried to defend myself or fight back. Three against one- so I would be in trouble. They learned to hate the mention of my name. I had ADHD and Dyslexia- that was frustrating and a challenge for them. I was a bother- a nuisance or problem that couldn't be solved. So what did I know about family-love, I ask you?

"Aidan was afraid I might suffer from psychopathy," Alex admitted. "I often wondered that too. It's a mental illness after all- and it doesn't always mean the person is a murderer- just that they don't feel pain, grief or guilt the same way as an ordinary guy. Because their pathways in their brain are blocked. Or never fully developed. Because they never knew love or family- or because they were born that way."

He took a deep breath. "So Father John sought a mission to make me feel compelled to be a good person- to make me feel good when I gave meals to the homeless. To make me feel pity for someone dying. To make me feel bad whenever I did something I wasn't supposed to," he laughed softly. "He cared for me- him and Aidan. The third and fourth persons to do so. He did succeed- or at least partially. I began to feel. Most importantly, he wanted me to have hope for the human race- that we weren't all rotten to the soul and deserved whatever awful thing got heaped on us- I know I often thought I was as bad as all the rest. He succeeded in that at least. He and Aidan- and someone else- made me realise there was good in this world- and it was worth fighting for." He sighed. "Christians aren't like pagans. Or neo-pagans. We're supposed to forgive. We don't take revenge. That's only one thing. We don't make human sacrifices- because that's not the way to do it. Jesus already did that on the cross, I was told. I began to feel things the day I was rescued from the Agóna. And I was at the hospital." He looked hard at Aglaia.

"I was at the hospital. I was probably injured, sick or dying. Maybe of malnutrition, maybe an infection. Maybe I got shot. All I knew is that I was going to die- but at least, I thought, I killed someone. And that the whole world was going to collapse all around me- which satisfied me- because it was something I felt they deserved.

"Then I saw it." He answered. "Or someone. Someone speaking gently to me, which puzzled me, big-time. I heard teachers speaking gently to poor little Tommy or Gracie, so-and-so, trying to calm them down. I heard my mum crooning drunkenly to her boyfriends, assuring them that they would beat me up later. But why did it feel different? Why did it seem closer? Someone was speaking to me- but I was in denial. It can't be to me. Or at least, it can't be gentle. I was an atheist, I think prior to Father John and Aidan. I never cared a whit if there were gods, because as sure as hell, I didn't believe they cared about us. So why should I bother to care? About them or the scum called humanity? But I was confused, because there was someone speaking to me- a voice like no other- and someone's face emerged- a face like no other- and she was around my age- and looking at me. She was speaking to me. And I was in a state of rapture, as Father John used to say." He smiled a bit. "For the first time I thought angels existed. Because this could only be one. Someone I never forgot.

"You don't remember do you?"

And Aglaia looked confused- before her eyes widened.

Sokovia, many years before…

The boy looked dead- or at least half dead. He was covered in blood. Whether it was his blood, or someone else's, Aglaia couldn't tell.

She had been in Sokovia for less than threedays and already, she had seen more death and suffering up close than was normal. It haunted her. This boy was only a little older than her.

She couldn't stop herself from running over to his side as fast as she could.

He was unconscious. His hair was matted with blood, dirt and small stones from outside where he had fallen. Probably shot. His eyes were closed.

"It's alright," she said desperately in English. "You're going to be alright."

She stifled a small sob.

"I'm not going to leave you," she whispered. "I'm not going to let you die. You won't be alone, you'll never be alone. I will be there for you and look after you- and you will grow up and grow old and do whatever it is you want in your life- because you have so much to live for," she kept going.

He barely stirred. But she wondered if he was listening.

"And you won't be alone. You don't have to be- no one will hurt you anymore."

For the fraction of a second, she saw his eyes open. She caught her breath. They were so blue.

She took his hand. It was surprisingly warm. She gently held it. She gave him a reassuring smile.

He slipped back into unconsciousness, but it looked like he was trying very hard to keep himself awake- like he wanted to gaze and memorise her face, like he wanted to know if she was real.

"You."

Surprise: This came earlier than expected. Anyone else get that so far- no Loki or bad guys just yet.

Yes, there are many more gods. But I had to find some space first to fit them all in the plotline. And a way and reason as to why they all connected together.