Chapter 21
A huge tremor shook the earth destroying buildings everywhere and causing fires to erupt from the damage. Many people scrambled from their day to day lives after they felt the wrath of the God of the Underworld.
Deep down below the earth, there was a confrontation between the said god and three demigods with their satyr protector.
"Do you think I want war, godling?" the Lord of the Dead bellowed.
"Well, the soldiers behind us tell a different story." The blonde shinobi said earning a hit on the shoulder from Annabeth.
"Stay out of this Son of Artemis." Hades said. "This is no time for jokes."
"The name's Naruto by the way." Naruto introduced himself.
"Yes, I have heard of you and your mother's fiasco." Hades said. "Frankly, I would like to have your soul once you die, but I'm afraid your soul goes back to the Shinigami of your world."
"I don't suppose my parents…"
Hades shook his head. "They're not here."
"Ahem…" Annabeth interjected. "The lightning bolt?"
"Oh yeah…" Percy remembered. "A war between the gods would expand your kingdom, right?"
"A typical thing for my brothers to say. Perhaps you didn't see the sprawl of souls on your way here? Do you think I need more subjects?"
"Uhhh…" was all the four could say.
"Do you have any idea how much my kingdom has swollen in the past century? How many subdivisions I had to open?"
The four couldn't speak.
"More security ghouls." Hades moaned. "Traffic problems at the judgment pavilion. Double overtime for the staff. I used to be a rich god. I control all the precious metals under the earth. But my expenses!"
"Not to mention Charon wants a pay raise." Naruto said.
"Don't even get me started on him." He yelled at the blonde. "He's been begging me for that ever since he discovered Italian Suits. These problems everywhere, I have to handle myself. The commute time myself is enough to drive me insane. And the dead don't stop coming. No demigod, I did not ask for this war."
"But you…" Percy was about to say, but Naruto stopped him. The son of Poseidon looked at him and the blonde shook his head.
Hades rose from his throne. From the perspective of the demigods, he was as tall as a football goalpost. "You and your father may fool Zeus, boy, but you won't fool me. I see your plan."
"What plan?" Percy asked.
"You were the thief on the winter solstice," Hades accused. "Your father thought he could keep you as his little secret. He directed you into the throne room on Olympus, took the master bolt and my helm. Had I not sent my Fury to discover you at Yancy Academy, Poseidon might have succeeded in hiding his scheme to start a war. But now you have been forced into the open. You will be exposed as Poseidon's thief, and I will have my helm back!"
"Wait a minute, Lord Hades…" Annabeth said. "Your helm is missing too?"
Do not play innocent with me, girl. You, the satyr and that boy have been helping this hero come here to threaten me in Poseidon's name, no doubt to bring me an ultimatum. Does Poseidon think I can be blackmailed into supporting him?
"Wait just a darn minute." Naruto said, his eyes flickering from blue to red. "Percy hasn't even been to Olympus. Why are you blaming it on him?"
"SILENCE!" Hades yelled at the blonde. "I am not afraid of your power, boy. You are just a weapon brought into this world by your mother, no doubt to aid her father in the war. Those Olympians have the gall to send someone to threaten me hear in abode when no one would offer me the slightest justice, the slightest help. It was bad enough I had to keep the word of my greatest weapon from leaking out. So, I searched for you myself, and when it was clear you were coming to my domain to deliver your little threat, I did not try to stop you."
Percy, Annabeth and Grover recoiled at Hades' mention of Naruto's power.
"Naruto–" Annabeth tried to ask.
"I'm sorry Annabeth, Perce, Grover. I have been dodging this topic for along time now, but this isn't the time for that. I promise I will tell you when I'm ready." Naruto apologized.
The blonde turned to the God of the Dead. "Oh please, Lord Hades. What do you call the Minotaur, Echidna and the Chimera?"
"Don't talk to me in that tone boy. You are lucky that I still need my Helm from you. If not, I would have vaporized you on the spot." Hades snarled. "Return my helm now, or I will stop death. That is my counterproposal. Or better yet, I will open the earth and have the dead pour back out into the surface world. And you Percy Jackson, your skeleton will lead the armies of the dead out."
The skeletal soldiers stepped forward cocking their guns and brandishing their swords and shields.
It was Percy's turn to get mad this time. "You're as bad as Zeus. You think I stole from you even I haven't been to Olympus yet. Then, you send your furies and monster after me."
"Monsters? To answer your question, Naruto Uzumaki, I had nothing to do with them. I didn't want to give a swift death. I wanted you brought before me alive so I could subject you to every form of torture available in the Fields of Punishment. Why do you think I let you into my kingdom so easily?"
"Easily? There were security ghouls looking for us."
Hades ignored him. "Return my helm! Now!"
"I don't have your helm. I came here to get the Master Bolt from you. Or that was the plan at least."
"Which is already in your possession." Hades shouted. "You came here with it, fool, thinking you could threaten me!"
"But I didn't–"
"Open your pack, then."
A horrible feeling struck Percy. "The weight on my backpack… On our way here… It can't be…"
"Perce, what are you talking about?" Grover said.
Percy slung off his backpack and unzipped it. inside it was the a two-foot long metallic cylinder, spiked on both ends, humming with energy.
"Percy," Annabeth said. "How–"
"You mean, you already felt this happening on the way here?" Naruto asked.
"I-I don't know. I don't understand it either. I didn't think it was important at that time. I thought you guys were playing pranks." Percy explained. Well, at least he tried to.
"We weren't, Perce. You should have said something." Naruto scolded.
"All you heroes are the same." Hades said. "Your pride makes you foolish, thinking you could bring such a weapon before me. I did not ask for Zeus's master bolt, but since it is here, you will yield it to me. I am sure it will make an excellent bargaining tool. And now ... my helm. Where is it?"
"Lord Hades, wait," Percy said. "This is all a mistake."
"A mistake?" Hades roared.
The skeleton warriors behind them began to take aim. From somewhere up above, there was a familiar fluttering of leathery wings. The Furies swooped down to perch on top of their master's throne. On of them, the one Naruto and Percy recognized as Mrs. Dodds, grinned eagerly and flicked her whip.
Hades shook his head. "There is no mistake, Percy Jackson. I know why you come here bearing the weapon of Zeus."
Hades flicked his wrist, and loosened a ball of golden fire from his palm. The flames exploded revealing the Sally Jackson frozen at the moment the Minotaur began to squeeze her to death.
"Mom…"
"Aunt Sally…"
Naruto and Percy said in unison. Memories of the battle they had with Pasiphae's son resurfaced on their minds.
Annabeth and Grover each placed a hand on each of their shoulders respectively.
"Yes," Hades said with satisfaction. "I took her. I knew that you would come to bargain with me eventually. Return my weapon, and perhaps I will let her go. Displease me, and she will stay here forever."
Percy placed his hands in his pockets and held the pearls in his palms. "These could save my mom." He thought
"Ah, the pearls." Hades said. "Yes, my brother and his little tricks. Bring them forth."
Percy brought out the pearls and looked at them in his hand.
"Only four?" Hades chastised. "You do realize that each pearl only protects a single person. Try to take your mother then, demigod. Which of your friends will you sacrifice for her? Or give me the backpack and accept my terms."
Percy looked at his friends, their faces grim.
"We were tricked." Percy said. "Set up by someone."
"Yes, but why?" Annabeth asked. "Unless, the voice in the pit–"
Naruto placed a hand on Annabeth's shoulder. "No not here. Not when we are so close to the pit."
"Perce, the backpack..." Grover brought something up. "It was given by–"
"Ares!" The four said together.
"But when?" Percy asked.
"Probably when he gave you the backpack." Naruto suggested. "Works like our pens somehow, but when we are close to the pit."
"Are you demigods, done?" Hades asked. "Let the boy decide."
"Percy, you can't give him the bolt!" Grover said.
"I know that." Percy answered.
"Use the last pearl on you mom." Grover suggested. "Leave me here."
Percy was deep in thought. All he did was shake his head.
"I'm a satyr." Grover argued. "He can torture me all he wants till I die, but he won't have me forever. I'll reincarnate as a flower or something."
"No!" Annabeth argued back. "You three go. Grover, you have to get out of here safely, and protect Percy so you could get your searcher's license. Get out of here so you could live your dream."
"No way! I would still have failed if you were left down here." Grover said. "I'm staying."
"Think again, goat boy!" Annabeth said.
"OW!" The two exclaimed. Naruto had hit them in the head. "What did you do that for?"
"You do realize that I was the one who forced myself into this quest despite Chiron's warnings. And besides, I promised the old centaur I would keep an eye on you. He would kill me if anyone of you were to die here." Naruto explained his side.
"NO!" The two shot down the older blonde's idea causing him to sigh.
The arguing continued, this time the blonde didn't even try to jump in with them.
"You shall fail to save what matters most in the end." Percy murmured.
Naruto smiled. He had picked up the same idea as Percy.
"Guys! Stop!" Percy shouted to get the attention of the two who were arguing. "I know what to do!"
Percy turned to his mother. "I'm sorry. I'll find another way."
"What?" Annabeth and Grover said.
Even Hades didn't understand what was happening. The smug look on his face disappeared instantly. "Godling?" All he could do was watch as the son of Poseidon handed each of his friends a pearl.
When he was done, Percy turned to Hades, "I'll find your Helm, Uncle. I'll return it. And don't forget about Charon's pay raise."
"Do not defy–" Hades yelled.
"Oh, and it wouldn't hurt to play with Cerberus once in a while." Annabeth chimed in.
"Percy Jackson, you will not–"
"Guys now!" Percy shouted. Each of them smashed a pearl at their feet. Nothing happened.
"DESTROY THEM!" Hades shouted with full rage.
The skeleton warriors charged. The ones with guns clicked their weapons at full automatic. The furies threw their flaming whips at them. Naruto began to build power, while the three closed their eyes to brace themselves.
Just then, green mist covered the demigods protecting them from the attacks and a milky white sphere encased them all. The sphere floated up through the walls of the caverns. The demigod closed their eyes to brace themselves as they were going to hit the wall.
Hades yelled in rage and threw curses as he watched the demigods escaping. Another earthquake shook his domain. Los Angeles was not having a peaceful night.
"FOLLOW THEM TO THE SUFACE WORLD!" Hades ordered the Furies.
SANTA MONICA BAY
The bubbles they were in continued to go up higher even after they hit the Underworld ceiling.
When the demigods opened their eyes, the bubbles bloked roke through surface of the Bay. They even knocked a surfer off his board.
Percy grabbed Grover to drag him over to a life buoy. Naruto did the same to Annabeth. A curious great white shark was circling around them.
"Beat it!" Percy said, causing the shark to turn and race away.
The surfer dude raced away screaming about bad mushrooms or something.
"I'm so going to kill Ares." Percy said.
"But he's a god Percy." Annabeth said.
"Don't worry. I'll have his back on this." Naruto said.
"Guys, don't tell me it's…" Grover said.
"Yes it's the 21st already." Percy said.
Naruto looked over to the city. Los Angeles was on fire, plumes of smoke were rising from neighborhoods all over the city. Apparently, Hades' outburst a while back affected the mortal world.
"We have to get to Olympus now!" Annabeth said. "It's the solstice. We have to return the lightning bolt."
The sound of motor cut off their conversation.
A Coast Guard boat was approaching them to pick them up, but they were too busy to keep them for long or to wonder why four kids were in street clothes got to the middle of the bay. Their radio was jammed with distress calls. The kids from the bay were the least of their worries.
The demigods were dropped off at Santa Monica Pier with towels wrapped around them and water bottles the read I'M A JUNIOR COAST GUARD plastered around it.
After drying off for a bit, they stumbled on the beach, watching the city burn against a beautiful sunrise. It was so refreshing to see this, especially after coming from the Underworld and all.
"I can't believe our little theory was right." Annabeth said. "I was hoping we were when we made it to the Underworld but–"
"The prophecy came true." Percy said. "We were all thinking that Hades was the culprit." Percy said.
"I think you mean hoping." Naruto corrected.
"I can't help but agree." Grover commented. "But who would be so sneaky–"
A big familiar man in a black leather duster cut him off. "Hey kids, you were supposed to be dead."
"You tricked me," Percy yelled. "You stole the helm AND the master bolt"
Ares gave out a wide grin. "Well now, I didn't steal them personally. As you know, we gods can't steal each other's symbol of power. It's a big no no, but you're not the only heroes who can run errands."
"Who did you use?" Annabeth gritted her teeth. "Was it Clarisse? Or maybe another one of you children?"
"Doesn't matter." Ares shrugged. "Point is, kids, you're impeding the war effort. See, you were supposed to die in the Underworld. Then Old Seaweed will be mad at Hades for killing you. Corpse breath will have Zeus' Master Bolt, so Zeus'll be mad at him. And Hades will be looking for this."
He pulled out a ski cap, the kind worn by bank robbers, and placed it on the handlebars of his bike. Immediately, the cap transformed into a bronze war helmet.
"The helm of darkness." Grover gasped.
"Exactly," Ares said. "Now where was I? Oh yeah, Hades will be mad at both Zeus and Poseidon because he doesn't know who took this. Pretty soon, there'll be a three way slugfest."
"But they're your family!" Annabeth protested.
"That's the best kind of war." Ares shrugged. "Always the bloodiest. There's nothing like watching your relatives fight. Besides, it would knock those three down a peg."
"You gave us the backpack in Denver." Percy said. "It was in there the whole time."
"Well, yes and no." Ares said. "It's too complicated for your little mortal brain to follow. Basically, the backpack is the master bolt's sheath, just morphed a little. The bolt is connected to it, kinda like that sword you got. It always returns to your pocket, right?"
Percy didn't react.
"Anyway, I tinkered with the magic a little, so the bolt would only return to its sheath once you punks are in the Underworld. The closer you get to Hades…Bingo, you got mail. If you died along the way, no loss. I still had the weapon."
"The bolt was already in the bag when we were getting sucked in the pit, right Percy?" Naruto asked the son of Poseidon.
Percy nodded.
"What if we got sucked in that pit? Then, you would have lost the weapon."
"That's–" Ares twitched.
"Yeah, you could've also kept the weapon to yourself." Annabeth added. "Why send it to Hades."
Ares said nothing for a few seconds. It was like he was in a trance, waiting for instructions from deep inside his head.
"Fire power… why didn't I?" He mumbled.
"It's like he's in some kind of genjutsu." Naruto commented.
The others gulped.
This time, Ares face cleared. "If you guys were sucked in that pit, Zeus still didn't have the weapon, there'll still be a war. And sending it to Hades? Keeping the bolt for myself was just trouble. Besides, it was better to have you punks caught red handed holding the bolt."
"Heh," Naruto smirked. "You didn't plan for us to get sucked in the pit, did you?"
"OF COURSE I PLANNED IT!" Ares roared smoke drifting from his sunglasses as if they were catching fire.
"I don't think so." Percy shook his head. "Someone else was sent to steal the Bolt and the Helm. Then Zeus sent you along with the others to look for his weapon. You caught the thief, but you didn't turn him over to Zeus. Something convinced you to let him go. You kept the weapons until someone else could make the delivery."
"I AM THE GOD OF WAR! I TAKE ORDERS FROM NO ONE! I DON'T HAVE DREAMS!" Ares got angrier.
Naruto smirked even wider. "We didn't say anything about dreams."
Ares mouth hung wide open. He cleared his throat to regain his composure and smirked himself.
"Let's get back to the problem at hand punks. Old seaweed's kid is still alive. I can't have you return the bolt to Olympus. You might just get those idiots up there to listen to you. So, naturally, I have to kill you myself. Nothing personal." Ares said.
"Then again, maybe this is personal. Especially for you." He pointed to Naruto.
"Me?" The blonde asked.
"Yes, you." Ares answered. "Anything to piss off old Arty"
The god of war snapped his fingers. Just then, the sand beneath the demigod's feet exploded. A huge boar uglier than one hung over Cabin Seven's door. (Don't tell Clarisse I said that.) Fortunately, the blonde shinobi was able to create a clone and pull his friends out of the way.
A few feet away, the demigods and the two Narutos stood eyeing the boar. The said boar pawed the sand beneath its hooves, ready to charge.
"Hiding behind your overgrown porkchop, ey Ares?" Naruto taunted.
"Yeah!" Percy agreed. "If you want to kill me, fight me yourself."
"It would be a waste of energy." The god of war shrugged. "You're not at my level."
Ares snapped his fingers and the boar charged.
Percy and Naruto stepped forward to the surf.
"No guys! Run!" Annabeth warned the two.
As the boar rushed the two Percy side stepped the boar and uncapped his pen. Naruto, on the other hand, threw his pen in the air and back flipped to avoid the tusks and kicked pen at its but, and it flew toward the god of war.
The pen he kicked flew towards the god of war, while it changed into his three pronged kunai. He easily caught the weapon in his hand. "You have to do better than…"
He stopped what he was saying when he felt ichor drip from the side of his face. "How–"
Right behind him, the other three pronged kunai dug itself in the sand.
"WHY YOU?!" Ares roared.
AT THE SAME TIME AS THE PREVIOUS EVENTS
Percy, with his pen now uncapped and riptide in his hands, slashed upward severing the boar's right tusk in the process. This disoriented the huge animal.
At the same moment, Naruto, who was in the air, landed on the animal then brought out a kunai, and drove it to the back of the animal. The boar squealed in pain, but not for long as the son of Poseidon's sword sliced through its tusk.
In the background, the god of war roared in anger. "I WILL TURN YOU INTO A–"
Naruto didn't let him finish. "A tapeworm?" He asked. "A mutt? Taking the easy way out are we?"
Flames were dancing on his shades. "YOU'RE DEFINITELY DEAD MEAT!"
"Are we talking or are we fighting?" Naruto taunted.
"Or maybe you're going to hide behind another pig?"
"Naruto, Percy, don't do it! He's a god!" Annabeth shouted.
"God? He's a coward. Do you have my back Naruto?" Percy asked.
"All the way." Naruto said. "Let's go."
"Wait. How about some good luck." Annabeth said when an explosion permeated the air from where Ares was.
"You go Percy." Naruto offered. "I'll hold him off."
"Will you be okay?" Percy asked.
"Just don't take too long." Naruto said.
Naruto went on to take on Ares and Percy went to Annabeth to receive their charms.
"What do you have in mind?" Percy asked as the sound of steel clashing sounded behind them.
Annabeth took off her necklace containing her five years' worth of beads and her father's college ring and tied it Percy's neck.
"Reconcilliation." She said. "Athena and Poseidon together. I feel bad, though, I don't have anything for Naruto."
"Oh here." Grover took out a flattened tin can. "It's my lucky tin can. Give this to Naruto, later. We satyrs stand behind you."
Percy's face began to feel warm. "Gee.. Thanks guys."
Another explosion came from Naruto's battle with Ares.
Naruto panted as stood his ground in front of Ares, the fatigue from the battle beginning to show.
Ares cackled a sort of a crazy laugh. "Is that all you got, punk? I've been fighting for all of eternity. My strength is unlimited and I can't die. What have you got?"
Naruto was about to answer when Percy shouted, "You okay?" he asked as he ran to Naruto's side.
"I've been through worse." Naruto said in between pants.
"Here take this." Percy handed Grover's can. "A good luck charm from our satyr friend."
Naruto smiled as he placed the can in his pouch.
"Hey Ares, you know what we got?" Naruto said. "We got our friends with us."
"Yes, yes. They're going to die after you cocky punks." Ares said as he cleaved downward with a two handed great sword.
Percy was catapulted into the air with the aide of the water around him, while Naruto side stepped the blade, slid under the god of war, and delivered a kick to Ares' stomach knocking him to the air.
Four clones appeared in the air, and together was about to stab the god of war while in the air.
Unfortunately, Ares was able to twist in the air and slash through the four clones. Percy was able to block the strike, but he was knocked back down to the ground.
Ares landed on the ground with flare. He grinned. "Not bad, punks."
He slashed again, forcing the duo to jump back to dry land. Percy tried to get back into the water, but Ares knew what he wanted so he pressed harder for them to get as far from the water as possible. Naruto and Percy defended themselves as they exchanged swipes and slashes with their swords (and kunai for the case of Naruto) and tried their best to get back to the water.
The two tried to get in closer to Ares since the both of them had the shorter blades.
Percy went in for a thrust, but Ares anticipated that. He knocked Riptide out of his hands and kicked him in the chest. He went airborne for about twenty, or maybe thirty feet knocking Naruto back who was charging right behind Percy.
"Percy! Naruto! Cops!" Annabeth warned.
-TO BE CONTINUED-
