The Fury of War

by DJPet

What if Ares, the Greek God of War, quit? Like just left? For years he was hated, mocked and generally disliked by everyone save for a few people. One day, he finally snapped and left Olympus. Evil stirs in Tartarus however. A being Ares slayed long ago begins to awaken. Will he be convinced to return and face it? (Reimagines 2 tales from PJ's: Greek Gods in the first 2 chapters)

3. A God Snaps

III.

A God Snaps (Ares)

Note: I am aware that Enyo is also depicted as Ares's wife, but I have chosen to ignore this and just make her his twin sister

Ares was right. Enyo did indeed punch him in the face as soon as she saw him in her doorway. Of course she ruined the effect by helping him up off the ground and gave him a hug.

"Ow. Was that really necessary E?" he said, rubbing the side of his face. Enyo stood in the doorway of her living quarters, arms crossed. It was scary how much Eyno and Ares resemble each other, except she didn't have facial scarring. She wore a dark blue muscle shirt and a spiked leather vest so she could show off her bare arms which were muscular. Her hair was the same color, jet black, and was styled in a short ponytail that fell just past shoulder length. She had her own assortment of tattoos as well which were, again, similar to Ares's. One arm was a tattoo sleeve depicting Amazonian warriors and the other bore logos of the bands Vixen, Nightwish and JINJER. She also wore black jeans, lace-up boots and aviator shades which hid her eyes which blazed with blue fire. She openly displayed her weapons which were 2 Spartan swords sheathed along her back. Sometimes she had them take on the appearance of blades wielded by a video game character who yells a lot to poke fun at Ares. She addressed Ares,

"Yes. I don't see you for like 6 months after you tell me you're going to go fight Typhon, THEN you go to Athens WITHOUT ME to kill giants?! What gives?!" Ares raised his eyebrows

"Believe me, I would have rather fought with you in that battle rather than the other clowns I deal with on a daily basis but as soon as that statue was placed at the Camp and I was able to be myself again, Zeus basically grabbed all of us and whisked us to Athens." Enyo nodded resentfully. Enyo shook her head and turned to Ares,

"Still wish I could have gone with you. I mean, I helped my Roman child kill Orion so there's that" she said. Ares grinned. He himself preferred Enyo when she was Greek but he was fond of her Roman form Bellona as well. Enyo preferred to be Greek whenever she could be and only sired children in her Roman aspect.

"I'll make sure you're by my side next time ok E? We would've had that battle won in like 45 seconds. MAYBE 60. So, what's been up with you. I got some time before this stupid meeting nonsense to catch up." he said. Enyo clapped him on the shoulder. If a mortal had been nearby, the shockwave would have knocked them back a few feet. She answered

"It's alright bro. I know being an Olympian takes up most of your time. I have something to show you. I figured it make a fine addition to Chez Enyo" Ares raised his eyebrows

"Chez Enyo? Last time I checked, this was my fortress E." he responded. Enyo chuckled.

"I was kidding bro. C'mon. Eris should have delivered it by now," she said. Ares grimaced. Last he knew, Eris was working with Hermes. He brought this up to Enyo as they walked through the halls of Ares's Fortress.

"Isn't she working with Hermes?" He asked. Enyo nodded.

"Yeah. She works in customer service I think. I think she owes Hermes a debt." They continued to walk towards the direction of the courtyard. He saw his sons Phobos and Deimos fixing their chariots which resembled Kawasaki Ninja motorcycles at this time. Both waved and called at Ares and Enyo as they passed.

"Hey dad!"

"'Sup Aunt E!" Ares and Enyo flashed both of them salutes and continued on their way. Ares was very fond of his immortal sons. They were the second of his children with Aphrodite. His first son with her was the god Eros who looked very much like his father. Ares suspected it was because of Eros's resemblance to him that caused Hephestus to become suspicious of him and Aphrodite's love. Ares loved his son Eros but preferred being with his twin sons. Phobos represented fear while Deimos was terror. Both of them resemble their parents in their own way. Deimos was the one who resembled Ares the most, sharing his muscular physique and commonly dressed in jeans, a black shirt and black jacket. He also wore a baseball cap backwards. The cap had a Spartan helmet on it. Meanwhile Phobos inherited more of the qualities of his mother but had inherited Ares's fiery eyes which burned a coral like color rather than pure orange like Ares. He wore a black shirt, ratty jeans, a leather jacket and a red bandana on his head. Most mortal girls (and perhaps a few boys) were often amazed about how handsome he looked despite his brutal nature. Both of them were often at Ares's and Enyos' sides as they charged into battle. They took the reins of Ares's chariot as Ares and Enyo slaughtered their foes on the ground. As he looked back towards the both of them he was struck with a sharp painful recollection. He saw them being blasted out of the sky by a hulking monstrosity of a creature. It laughed as they crashed to the ground and Ares remembered himself yelling in utter fury. Ares clutched his head as he remembered this and fell to his knees. It took several slaps from Enyo to rouse him.

"Bro. Hey, Ares. You good dude?" she said. Ares shook his head to rid himself of the memory. He could still faintly the creature's low guttural laugh ring in his ears. Enyo helped him up and studied his face. She frowned and said

"You thought of that day again didn't you?" Ares pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose and nodded. Enyo patted his shoulder consolingly

"Hey come on bro. You got him in the end" she said. Ares looked at her and scowled.

"Yeah, but did Pops or anyone else say ANYTHING about what we had done? Of-freaking-course not. I barely got all of you out of there and not before," he gestured at his scarred face. Enyo also scowled and winced. Ares thought she was struck by the memory of that battle too. She turned to him and said

"Leave it bro. It was thousands of years ago. You got him. He's dead. Look, we're here anyway"

They had arrived in the courtyard of Ares's fortress. It was filled with plants but they were mostly in the colors of red or black. There were bushes of red tulips and black orchids surrounding a small field where a woman in black was standing next to a tall statue-like object covered in a tarp reading "Hermes Express." Vultures called from the trees which all had leaves in a dark red. Ares looked confused at the statue-like object. There were many statues of Ares, Enyo, Phobos, Deimos and others in the courtyard (he had to carefully fix a good amount of the ones of him due to Annabeth giving them stuff like "kick me" signs and outrageous mustaches) but now, they seemed to have been rearranged. Great he thought Now Aphrodite is going to want to spend a day having me move them around again. Enyo seemed to noticed his confusion and said

"Don't worry bro. There's a purpose for this"

"So there's a purpose of moving the best statue of me off to the side rather than right in front of the door? Outstanding. I finally got the place looking like how I want it and then this happens" Ares answered resentfully

"Ares. Chill. C'mon. That's Eris" Enyo walked over to Eris. Eris was standing by with a clipboard and greeted Enyo warmly. Too warmly. Ares thought he saw both of them kiss but was too busy trying to figure out what the statue was. He made a face that basically said "Nice. Good for you E." Eris was wearing a black mail carrier's uniform with Hermes' smiling face on the back of the shirt and black shorts. Normally she wears just a black toga. She was a slender woman with pale skin, long, straight hair and blood-red lips. She and Ares had always been on good terms as she accompanied Enyo into their battles. Come to think of it, Ares saw both of them together quite often over the years. Jeez, he was clueless sometimes. Enyo waved Ares over. Ares did so and greeted Eris

"Hey Eris. E said you were bringing something for me. That and explaining to me why you messed up my courtyard statue placement" Eris pinched his cheek.

"Aw, wassamatta Big Guy? Did I make you mad?" Ares slapped away her hand. Big Guy?

"If you keep doing that I will be. What is this anyway?" He gestured at the statue.

"Oh just a little something that I had some of my people make for you at Enyo's request" she answered. Enyo took her hand and looked at Ares, who was standing with his arms crossed and eyebrows cocked. She said

"You know how we make the annual trip to Thermopylae?" Ares's face hardened. Every year, he and a few others made a journey to Thermopylae to pay tribute to his mortal son, Leonidas I, who died in battle. He and Enyo along with Eris and his sons had gone just a few weeks ago. Ares responded

"Yes. Continue."

"Well, Enyo thought that it was a rather large problem that your son was not near you so you'd always remember him and his sacrifice so..." Eris said and ripped off the tarp. Ares's eyes fell upon a gorgeous statue. A life sized statue of him locking arms with his son Leonidas. Ares was depicted in his more modern attire, his left arm hooked in Leonidas's left arm as they faced each other. Their right hands raised spears to the heavens and their mouths open looking as if they were bellowing war cries. Ares reached up and touched Leonidas' face. He curled his fingers into a fist as he touched it, remembering the real Leonidas. How he looked to Ares for support and guidance. He also remembered standing over his dead body, utterly consumed by grief and fury. He looked toward Enyo and Eris who were smiling at him. Ares said

"Thank you. I...I miss him." Enyo walked over and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"I know bro. I know. I was with you remember? I was just as mad. Now don't you have that meeting or whatever at dad's place? Afterwards you have a date with Aphrodite? She invited us to go dancing with you two. You're gonna wear the old bell bottoms right?" Ares pulled an annoyed face as he walked towards his motorcycle which was parked in the courtyard nearby.

"Real funny E. Hilarious." he said as he swung his leg over the seat and went to start the engine. Enyo and Eris stood back and waved as Ares's cycle roared to life. He gave them both a 2 fingered salute before rocketing towards the Hall of the Gods.

Ares parked his bike in the lot off to the side (in the smallest spot because OF COURSE) and walked into the Hall of Gods. He was the first one there save for Hestia. His throne was made of leather and chrome with large human skulls built into the arms. Kronos had damaged it during the Second Titan War but Ares had been able to fix it with little effort. His throne was the fourth from the left if one were to look at all the thrones head on. Hades was supposed to sit on the end of the left side but had recently taken a liking to sitting on Ares's right side where Apollo usually sat. Apollo was more than willing to move away from Ares for one night and allow Hades to sit there. Ares walked over to it and sat in silence sharpening his knife while Hestia watched. After a while she said

"A bit early aren't we Ares" Ares sniffed in response.

"Sooner that this is over the better. Can't wait to not be here" he said. Hestia nodded politely and left him alone. Ares thought of the time he judged Percy during the second rise of Kronos. Athena's daughter, Annabeth, had been outraged that her mother had voted to destroy the boy. It was also one of the few times Athena had agreed with him, before she called him thickheaded. Poseidon had vouched for Percy, which turned out to be a good decision as Kronos was defeated and Olympus was saved. He, like Ares, tended to value their demigod children more than the others. He also was reminded when his daughter Clarrise, whom he believed rivaled Leonidas for his favorite mortal child, arrived in the Hall after she had slain the Drakon in the Battle of Manhattan. He had been so proud of her. His good mood was suddenly strengthened when Aphrodite arrived with Demeter and Hermes behind her. Aphrodite caught Ares eyes and walked over as Demeter and Hermes took their thrones each focused on their own tasks.

"You talked to Enyo?" Aphrodite asked. Ares nodded. Aphrodite pecked his cheek (the others pretended not to notice) and said

"That's my Spartan. This shouldn't be long. We'll be out of here before you know it" She went to sit on her throne and started to work on her makeup which Ares thought was a complete waste of time. He didn't say this of course. He had learned his lesson. The last time he did, Aphrodite had smacked him across the face so hard he smashed through the wall leading into the bathroom...where Hera and Zeus had been bathing. He then proceeded to throw up for 20 minutes while Aphrodite laughed. The other gods filed in. Dionysis arrived looking annoyed, still dressed in his Camp Half Blood attire and drinking a Diet Coke. Apollo and Artemis came in talking about something that Ares didn't bother to ask about. Hephaestus came limping in with Hades behind him. Aphrodite glared at Hephestus and he returned her look with his own look of disgust. Ares now shared Aphrodite's belief that Hephaestus gave up on her. That glare he had given her had been quite scary. Hades took the seat to Ares left and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Greetings nephew" Ares looked at Hades who was smiling kindly. It was a tad creepy. Hades usually looked pissed or at the very least annoyed. Ares holstered his knife in his boot and turned to Hades

"Hey uncle. Who are we roasting tonight? Zeus again?"

"Glad you asked," Hades responded. "Have I ever told you about Zeus's many failed attempts to land dates?" Ares smirked. This was going to be a good night

"You have not. Proceed." Hades began telling Ares a story about how Zeus's first attempts at courting his original wife, Metis, ended in complete failure. Apparently he had tried to serenade her. Poseidon had arrived and leaned over to listen. He grinned

"Oh yes. I recall that. Never had a talent for singing Zeus" Poseidon leaned back on his throne looking completely at ease as Hades finished the story and both he and Ares chuckled. At last the final 3 Olympians arrived, Hera, Zeus and (Ares's eyes narrowed) Athena. She was talking with Zeus about something. Ares pretended to make up their conversation in his head.

Oh look at me! I'm Athena! Whatever I do is the right thing because I can't shut up about being the Goddess of Wisdom! He imagined Athena saying to Zeus.

Why yes oh daughter of mine! Much better than my disappointment of a first born son. Zeus would respond. Athena caught Ares staring at her and the others and glared back angrily. She along with Zeus and Hera took their thrones. Zeus addressed the room,

"Are we all here, Hades?"

"Indeed" Hades responded. Zeus looked from Hades to Ares and rolled his eyes. Ares knew what he was thinking. Why are you sitting near him brother? Ares didn't care. Anything to make Zeus annoyed. Zeus had begun the meeting. Ares's mind immediately turned off. He barely took in anything Zeus was saying. Instead he thought about his date with Aphrodite later. Ares imagined him and Aphrodite on the dance floor holding each other away from the mess that was his family. He thought of what they would do afterwards. He had noticed that Aphrodite's tactics were a little sloppy during the fight at Athens and thought he wou-

"ARES" Zeus thundered. Ares jumped a bit.

"What?" he responded. Zeus's eyes narrowed.

"Not paying attention again. Figures. I said, what have you got to say about what's going on in the Medditeranian area? Specifically Athens?" he said. Ares narrowed his eyes. He had in fact been keeping an eye on the disturbances in that area but he hadn't done jack all to cause them. There was surely no way they were blaming him for this.

"Oh and I suppose that it was my fault wasn't it." he responded.

"Oh please. The violence? Death? Destruction? Fear? Did you and your other punk sister decide to have a killing spree again?" Athena said. Ares clenched his fists.

"First of all, NEVER refer to Enyo as a punk. Second of all, what the hell makes you think that was me?" he asked angrily.

"It has your name written all over it. Who else would attack Athens?" Athena responded

"Why are you asking me? Aren't you the 'all knowing' Goddess of Wisdom?" Ares replied mockingly and leaned back in his throne. "Go on, we're waiting." Athena scowled.

"What a surprise. Not taking blame for something he did. Will you ever grow up boy?" Zeus responded. Athena smirked when Zeus called him "boy"

"That depends. Will you learn when to shut up or to stop pissing me off?" Ares said...out loud. The silence that followed was frightening. Zeus glared at him maliciously.

"You know what Ares. I have put up with your nonsense for 4000 years. 4000 years of you bitching, moaning and being generally unpleasant to be around. I have tried to drill sense into you multiple times, yet you constantly go against my orders. We're all sick of it. All of us. You took Aphrodite away from Hephestus and you took my Master Bolt from that demigod and instead of returning it to me. You decided that you'd wanted to start a war between us because 'it'd be fun.'" he said. Ares's anger began to rise. It had not reached the breaking point yet but he felt it start to build. Part of what Zeus said was true but he failed to mention that Luke/Kronos had tricked Ares into keeping the bolt.

"Not to mention his general cowardice. Remember how he came crying to you father? After getting beaten during the Trojan War? Or when he ran away when Typhon showed up the 1st time? Or when he sulked when all those Spartans died at Thermopylae?" Athena added. Aphrodite looked murderous. Ares however had smiled maliciously. He was still seething with suppressed rage (especially at the Trojan War comment) but still managed to look smug.

"Ah, see that is where you are mistaken smartass. I seem to remember a certain Spartan soldier from the Second Persian Invasion that was influential in securing many victories. Do you?" Ares asked. Athena frowned.

"You'll have to be more specific. There were over 10000 of them" she answered. Ares continued

"He was ruthless. Unkillable even. Like Achilles but without any weaknesses. Many said he had eyes of pure red. Arrows seemed to bounce off him. Men ran from him in fear. Entire squads wiped out by this one Spartan. He hid the bottom half of his face too. Almost like one of those superheroes mortals read about. Do you remember his name?" Athena looked as if she was vigorously searching her memory. Eventually she nodded and said

"Yes. I do now that you elaborated. It was Aerimas wasn't it? The mind on him was incredible. He constantly disobeyed orders given to him by superiors but his strategies worked 100% of the time. What a hero. I recall trying to contact him but he always seemed to disappear after a battle was won." Ares bowed in his throne

"You're welcome." he said. Athena scoffed.

"And what is that supposed to mean? Was he one of yours?"

"You can say that," Ares said, smirking. "Spell his name. But in English". Athena looked down and mimed spelling out A-e-r-i-m-a-s in the air. The letters appeared hovering in front of her. She looked at them for a moment and Ares saw her eyes widen. She flicked her hand and the letters rearranged themselves. They now read "I am Ares." Athena looked back at Ares who had changed his form into the Spartan soldier he impersonated. He wore standard issue Spartan armor with a kopis attached to his belt. As stated the bottom half of his face was covered in cloth so only his eyes were visible through his helmet. His irises were blood red. Ares snarled

"You thought I would sulk in my room after those bastards murdered one of Sparta's greatest kings a.k.a. MY son? No. I slaughtered every last Persian that crossed my path as if they were the one who killed him. I made sure that Aerimas's actions didn't get recorded in the history books. I helped secure victory for Greece." He changed back into his modern attire. The room was silent. No one knew Ares had done this as well as how. Not even Enyo or Aphrodite. Aphrodite looked at him in amazement. Gods could see through the mist. They never bothered to check on the identity of that man named Aerimas. Ares had defied one of the sacred divine laws which stated that Gods couldn't interfere that much in mortal affairs. Zeus was undeterred, probably because he now knew Ares had broken a law

"Did you now? Even though I told you not to interfere? Disobeying me AGAIN? I'll deal with that later but now, we get word that there is violence in Athens that looks a lot like your handiwork and you say that you have nothing to do with it. A likely story. You did it for attention didn't you? You wanted me to actually notice you? I should have thrown you into Tartarus long ago where you would rot away from the rest of us and we'd live in peace. Sometimes, I wish you had died at Troy." Zeus said. Some of the other gods looked at Ares and their eyes widened in fear. Now Ares was glaring at Zeus absolutely seething with rage. Smoke was seeping out from behind his glasses. Hades placed a hand on Ares's shoulder to try and calm him while Poseidon attempted to stop Zeus but he continued

"I'm almost certain I blamed the wrong person for the war between the camps. I wanted to blame you but your little girlfriend made me second guess myself and blame Apollo. I also know, I KNOW it was you that goaded your mother into trying to usurp me all those years ago. I will offer you one chance. ONE. To clean up the mess in Athens. You clearly are the worst of my sons." Ares looked up at Zeus, his teeth barred. Aphrodite looked terrified. She had never seen him so angry before...well maybe when…

"Leonidas would be ashamed of his own father. Attacking the city he died to help save thousands of years ago" Athena said. Zeus nodded and added.

"To be honest, I thought he was a bit pathetic. You heard me boy. Fix that problem in Athens or it's Tartarus for you"

Ares's rage broke. Not only did it break, it erupted. He was on his feet directing his anger at Zeus. His voice was at a volume no one had ever heard before,

"DON'T YOU DARE CALL HIM PATHETIC YOU STUPID OLD MAN! YOU DIDN'T LET ME SAVE HIM, THAT'S WHY HE DIED. THE PERSIANS WOULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED A LOT FASTER IF YOU HAD JUST LET ME HELP HIM. OH AND THAT RIOT? PLEASE, IT WAS ALL YOUR WIFE AND YOUR 'PERFECT' DAUGHTER. OH YEAH, I KNOW SHE HELPED. SHE WOVE THOSE STRINGS THAT BOUND YOU. WHAT, YOU THINK I WANT TO USURP YOU LIKE YOU DID WITH KRONOS? AS IF. BUT LET'S FOCUS ON ME BEING A BAD SON. POPS, LOOK AT THOSE TWIN ARCHERS OF YOURS. THEY HAVE KILLED ENTIRE FAMILIES. MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN. SLAUGHTERED THEM. FOR BASICALLY NO REASON. IF I'D HAD DONE THAT, I WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN A SMALL LITTLE SLAP ON THE WRIST, NOPE. I'D BE CHUCKED INTO TARTARUS. APOLLO WAS BASICALLY TO BLAME FOR THE BLACK PLAGUE BECAUSE HE WENT ON VACATION AND THOSE PLAGUE THINGS OR WHATEVER WREAKED HAVOC. AND SPEAKING OF SUNNY BOY, HIS KID ALMOST STARTED A WAR WITH THE 2 DEMIGOD CAMPS. NOT MINE. MINE DEFENDED BOTH CAMPS. HELL, I THINK THAT FRANK ZHANG PREATOR DUDE IS ESSENTIALLY MY SON LIKE HOW JASON GRACE WAS ESSENTIALLY YOURS POPS. OH AND SINCE WE'RE STILL ON THE SUBJECT OF YOUR KIDS, LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT THE FOOLING AROUND WITH EVERY WOMAN YOU SEE. I HAVE NEVER DONE THAT. YOU CAN'T KEEP IT IN YOUR DAMN PANTS OLD MAN!" Ares screamed. He had pulled the knife from his boot and spun it in his hand so he was holding it by the blade with 3 fingers, ready to throw it at a moment's notice. Zeus responded

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME?!"

"YOU HEARD ME!" Ares shouted back. "YOU CAN'T KEEP IT IN YOUR PANTS. EVERY TIME SOMETHING OTHER THAN MOTHER WALKS IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU DECIDE TO SAY 'Hmm, what would happen if I fooled around with THIS woman.' I'LL TELL YOU WHAT. ONE PISSED OFF WIFE. AND YOU STILL HAVE THE BALLS TO CALL ME THE WORST OF THE GODS?! I CARE ABOUT MOST OF MY KIDS. I SAW HOW YOU REACTED WHEN YOUR SON JASON DIED DURING APOLLO'S TRIALS. YOU COULDN'T GIVE A -" Ares swore so loudly and angrily that Apollo had backed away in sheer terror. Poseidon and Hades looked at each other, unsure of what to do. Athena had risen and got right in Ares's face.

"SIT DOWN ARES. NOW" she demanded but Ares shoved her aside. She flew a few yards across the room and landed on her back. She looked outraged

"LET'S TALK ABOUT TROY SHALL WE BIG GUY?! DO YOU KNOW WHO HAD A HAND IN STARTING THAT CONFLICT? WASN'T ME. I'LL GIVE YOU A HINT THOUGH, CAUSE YOU'RE CLEARLY A MORON, I JUST THREW HER TO THE FLOOR. I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH STARTING THAT WAR. IT WAS BECAUSE PARIS CHOSE APHRODITE'S GIFT INSTEAD OF ATHENA'S OR MOTHER'S AND THEY GOT ALL MAD THAT THEY WEREN'T THE FAIREST. NO DUH APHRODITE WAS PICKED! HAVE YOU SEEN HER?! SHE'S BEAUTIFUL! WHO WOULDN'T HAVE CHOSEN HER OFFER! OH BUT I SUPPOSE I MANIPULATED APHRODITE TO START THE WAR OR I TOLD ERIS TO THROW THE APPLE?! IS THAT IT?! IT WAS MY FAULT?! ALSO DID YOU, OR DID YOU NOT ALSO 'FIGHT' ON THE TROJAN SIDE?! NO NO WAIT A MINUTE WAIT A MINUTE YOU SAT ON YOUR ASS AND DID JACK SQUAT! APOLLO AND ARTEMIS FOUGHT IN THE WAR TOO. WE FOUGHT FOR TROY. APOLLO FOUGHT POSEIDON AND ARTEMIS WAS AGAINST MY DISGRACE OF A MOTHER. I HAD TO DEAL WITH THE WISE ASS AND HER LITTLE PUPPET DIOMEDES. I WOULD HAVE BEAT HIM TO A PULP IF ATHENA HADN'T STEPPED IN TO SAVE HIM FROM ME. AFTER I GOT WOUNDED BY DIOMEDES PUNK ASS, OF COURSE I CAME TO YOU. BECAUSE I NEARLY DIED. I NEEDED HELP. YOUR DAUGHTER- OH WAIT EXCUSE ME, YOUR OUT OF WEDLOCK DAUGHTER NEARLY KILLED ME! BUT YOU TOLD ME TO JUST GO SCREW MYSELF HUH? YOU WERE LUCKY PAEEON HELPED ME. IF IT HAD BEEN THE OTHER WAY AROUND, I WOULD HAVE BEEN TORN APART BY YOU! YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD EVERY OTHER GOD TO BACK OFF WHILE YOU DUELED AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE MURDERED YOUR OWN SON. NOT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE CARED ANYWAY." Ares roared. Hermes had run off to hide behind Artemis's throne. Artemis looked at Demeter who was equally scared. Aphrodite was absolutely horrified and her hands were over her mouth. No one had ever seen Ares this angry before. Athena had tried to strike Ares in the back but Ares had heard her approach and backhanded her in the face with his empty hand. She fell back to the ground once more. Hera rose and bellowed

"HOW DARE YOU TALK TO YOUR FATHER THAT WAY! YOU LITTLE BAS-" Ares threw his knife. It sailed past Hera's ear and lodged itself behind her in the back of her throne. It cut off some of her hair. Hephaestus gasped. Dionysus dropped his Diet Coke. Hera, however, looked ready to kill. Ares continued,

"DON'T TAKE HIS SIDE YOU WENCH. DON'T THINK YOU GET A PASS BECAUSE YOU'RE MY MOTHER AND THE 'QUEEN OF THE GODS'. WOW! THE PARADE IS GONNA BE A LITTLE LATE BUT I HOPE THAT'S OK WITH YOU! YOU'RE JUST AS BAD AS HIM, IF NOT WORSE. YOU TORTURED ALL THOSE WOMEN POPS HAD CHILDREN WITH. YOU CAUSED HERCULES TO KILL HIS FIRST WIFE. I WATCHED IT HAPPEN. THEN YOU HAD HIM MURDER SOME OF MY AMAZONIAN DAUGHTERS AND KICK MY ASS. GEE, THANKS MOM. OH AND DID YOU ASK APHRODITE WHO SHE WANTED TO MARRY BEFORE DECIDING FOR HER?! SURVEY SAYS….NOPE! SOME GODDESS OF FAMILY LIFE YOU ARE. ALSO, YOU ASKED ME TO FIGHT IN THAT WAR. I NEVER REALLY PLANNED TO. BUNCHA BABIES WHINING ABOUT GARBAGE THAT DOESN'T CONCERN ME. 'BOO HOO. BOO HOO WAH, I WASN'T THE FAIREST.' YEAH I KNOW SPARTA GOT INVOLVED BUT IT STILL WASN'T MY BUSINESS. I WAS GONNA SIT THAT ONE OUT. YOU CAME TO ME WHEN POPS ALLOWED US ALL TO FIGHT. YOU WANTED TO PUNISH THOSE TROJANS BECAUSE PARIS DIDN'T CHOSE YOU. NOW YOU KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE. TO BE TOSSED ASIDE LIKE NOTHING. APHRODITE CONVINCED ME TO GO AGAINST YOU. THAT'S WHY I CHOSE TO FIGHT FOR TROY. THE GODDESS THAT ACTUALLY LOVED ME ASKED ME TO FIGHT FOR HER SIDE SO OF COURSE I DID. MAYBE IF YOU'D HAVE BEEN A DECENT PARENT THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. MAYBE I WOULD HAVE TRIED TO GET APHRODITE TO SEE REASON AND FIGHT FOR GREECE BUT NOPE, YOU HAD TO BE AN AWFUL MOTHER. AND THEN THERE. IS. YOU." Ares turned his temper on Athena, who had gotten up from Ares strike to her face. She looked just as furious.

"OH AND WHAT DID I DO?!" She asked angrily.

"LET'S THINK." Ares pulled a mock thinking face and then continued, still yelling "FIRST OFF, YOU ALSO RAN WHEN TYPHON ATTACKED THE FIRST TIME! SECOND, YOU NEARLY KILLED ME WITH DIOMEDES PUNK ASS AND WITH THAT BOULDER. YOU WANTED TO MURDER YOUR OWN BROTHER. THIRD, YOU WOVE THOSE THREADS THAT BOUND THE OLD MAN IN HIS BED. YOU DID. NOT ME. YOU. I WAS SITTING IN MY ROOM WHEN THAT WAS HAPPENING, MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS. BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE! LET'S NOT FORGET THE TIME YOU GOT ALL MAD THAT A YOUNG GIRL SAID SHE WAS BETTER THAN YOU AT WEAVING SO YOU CHALLENGED HER TO A CONTEST. SHE WON DIDN'T SHE? BUT YOU, THE GODDESS OF PETTINESS COULDN'T DEAL WITH BEING BEATEN BY HER. SO YOU BEAT HER SENSELESS AND TURNED HER INTO A SPIDER AFTER DRIVING HER TO KILL HERSELF. MY GOODNESS, AREN'T YOU NOBLE?! THAT SAME SPIDER KILLED SO MANY OF YOUR CHILDREN OVER THE YEARS. IT IS YOUR FAULT THEY ARE DEAD. ALL OF THEM. HUNDREDS OF YOUR KIDS. DEAD. YOU AND YOUR MARK LEAD THEM TO THEIR DEATHS! YOUR ACTIONS ALMOST GOT THAT GIRL ANNABETH KILLED. IS THERE SUCH THING AS THE MARK OF ARES? NO. YOU GOT PISSED OFF WHEN WE WENT TO ROME AND THEY CHOSE ME AS THE WAR GOD INSTEAD OF YOU. THEY EVEN HAD ANOTHER FEMALE WAR GOD THAT THEY LOVED MORE THAN YOU. THEY ASSOCIATED THAT GOD WITH ENYO. YOU GOT PUSHED ASIDE AND THAT DESTROYED YOU INSIDE HUH? HOW A CIVILIZATION LOVED ME MORE THAN YOU. IT'S TERRIBLE ISN'T IT? NOT FEELING LOVED BY THE MORTALS?! AND YOUR IDEA OF REVENGE IS MURDERING YOUR OWN KIDS WITH YOUR STATUE QUEST OR WHATEVER THE SHIT IT WAS?! BUT WAIT! BEHIND DOOR NUMBER 2 IS OUR FRIEND MEDUSA! THAT WAS YOUR FAULT TOO WASN'T IT? YOU GOT MAD THAT HER VIRGINITY WAS TAKEN AND TURNED HER INTO THAT MONSTER INSTEAD OF PUNISH THE MAN WHO RAPED HER BECAUSE AND I QUOTE 'You should have made better attempts in stopping him' WHAT THE SHIT IS THAT FREAKING NONSENSE?!" Ares glanced at Poseidon, who looked away quickly. Hades had bravely moved forward and placed his hand on Ares shoulder, but he threw it off and went back to bellowing at Zeus,

"BUT IT'S ALL OK WHEN THEY DO IT ISN'T IT. BECAUSE YOU LOVE THEM ALL DEEP DOWN. BUT NOT ME. ALL I EVER GOT FROM YOU WAS DEATH GLARES WHENEVER I ASKED YOU TO SPEND TIME WITH ME WHEN I WAS A CHILD. WHAT, DID I REMIND YOU ABOUT YOUR WIFE OR SOMETHING? YOU AND MOTHER NEVER SHUT UP. EVER. CONSTANT YELLING. IT WAS YOUR ANGER THAT MADE ME THIS WAY. IT WAS YOUR FAULT. NOT MINE. I'VE DONE MORE TO SAVE OLYMPUS THAN ANY OF YOU IDIOTS. I ACTUALLY GIVE A DAMN SOMETIMES AND HELP THE MORTALS BECAUSE IF YOU FORGOT, I AM ALSO THE GOD OF STRENGTH. EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU HAVE DONE WORSE THAN ME BUT YET LET'S MAKE FUN OF ARES! HAHA! WHAT A DUMBASS! HE CAN'T WIN ANY WARS! WRONG! I WON THE 2ND PERSIAN WAR DIDN'T I? AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION? I SENT THE FRENCH! AND WW2?! I HELPED THE US AGAINST JAPAN WHILE THE REST OF YOU WERE IN EUROPE AND AFRICA! AND ESPECIALLY THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR! ATHENS TOOK THE L ON THAT ONE! ENYO'S SON LYSANDER CRUSHED YOUR CITY WITH OUR GUIDANCE WISE ASS! WHAT DO YOU GOTTA SAY TO THAT?! AM I STILL A FAILURE?! CAUSE YOU SEEM TO SUCK AT BEING A GOOD FATHER ZEUS." Zeus had stood and lightning crackled in his hand. Ares had been ready. Zeus threw it at him but Ares dodged it. If it had been his Master Bolt and not just a smaller bolt, that tactic would not have worked. Ares was lucky. Zeus must have wanted to rough him up a bit rather than just kill him. It hit the wall near Hephaestus who had ducked. He leered at Zeus. His sunglasses had nearly melted from the heat of his eyes. He ripped them off and everyone saw the pure orange fire of his eyes. It was Aphrodite's turn to walk forward. She grabbed his shoulders and shook him gently. Ares didn't throw her off but he ignored her tearful pleas to stop and sit down.

"Ares please. Stop this. It's me. It's Aphrodite. The one who loves you." she begged.

"YES. LISTEN TO YOUR GIRLFRIEND AND SIT DOWN BOY! HONESTLY I-" WHAM. Ares had broken free of Aphrodite, charged forward and punched Zeus in the face with all of his godly might. The resulting thunderclap shook the entire hall causing Hestia's fire to ripple from the shockwave. The other gods looked on, utterly stunned at Ares's rage. The punch was so forceful, Ares felt bones crack beneath his fingers and felt the flow of ichor on his hand from Zeus's nose. Zeus's head rocked backwards and slammed against the back of this throne. He collapsed into a sitting position, dazed. Hera roared in outrage and attempted to attack Ares but he grabbed her by the neck and tossed her back into her throne. Aphrodite had also screamed in alarm. Ares walked up to Zeus, grabbed him by the beard and growled so ferociously that even Hades trembled,

"DON'T. CALL ME. BOY." Ares slammed Zeus's head against the throne and turned away from him. Athena looked beyond angry. Aphrodite continued to beg Ares to stop. Ares made his decision.

"I'm done. I quit." He said as he walked towards the door of the hall. Hera screamed,

"ATHENA, STOP HIM." Again Ares was ready. He heard the sound of Athena's spear whizzing toward him immediately. In a flash, he called his sword to his hand, turned to face Athena and intercepted her spear. The resulting clash of metal was deafening. Ares shoved her back and flourished his sword.

"Unwise. Fighting me with no help or boulders nearby. Got a strategy or are you just gonna wing it?" he taunted. Athena snarled and threw her spear. Typical. Ares thought. He knew she would try the old Trojan War trick again. Ares jumped over it, front flipped and landed behind her, facing the other gods. Zeus had not recovered. Hera was screaming at everyone else to help subdue Ares. No one had moved, they were all still petrified. No one wanted to get close to him. Ares conjured another knife and threw it at Hera intending to shut her up. His plan worked, the hilt of the knife slammed against her head and she fell silent. Aphrodite had started to walk forward to help but Ares gazed at her so ferociously she backed away in horror. Athena, meanwhile, had recovered her spear and aimed another strike at his head. Ares dodged it almost lazily and saw that Athena had over extended her reach in her haste to beat him in a duel again. Ares slashed his sword along her arm, golden ichor flowing from the deep cut. Athena gasped and dropped her spear. She was too busy clutching her arm in pain to notice Ares's roundhouse kick flying through the air at mach speed. It connected with the side of her helmet with another deafening clang and she staggered. Ares kicked her spear away, sheathed his sword and took up a martial arts stance, motioning Athena to fight hand to hand. He knew Athena was not a great hand-to-hand fighter and thought she would instead go toward her spear. He was right once again (Wow. 3 for 3. A new record). Athena had fainted a strike to Ares's face and lunged for her spear. Ares however was faster. He unsheathed his sword and aimed a strike at her legs. His blade cut into Athena's calf and she fell to the ground. Ares picked her up by the throat. Athena clawed at Ares's hands and started gasping. He put his face right up next to hers just like he had done with Halirrhothius and snarled

"NEVER. SPEAK. HIS NAME. AGAIN." Ares headbutted her and she became dazed, barely able to stand. Ares delivered a ferocious Spartan Kick while uttering a warcry to her chest causing her to fly back towards the others. She slammed into the floor in front of Hera and didn't move again. Ares looked towards them and asked,

"Anyone else?" Silence. Ares continued on his way out of the hall, taking a new pair of sunglasses out of his jacket pocket and put them on. No one else had moved. No one else had said a word. They only continued to look on in stunned silence as Aphrodite followed Ares outside begging for him to return. The sound of Ares's motorcycle roared to life and they listened as the sound of the engine faded away. Aphrodite returned to the hall holding Ares's leather duster in her hands, her eyes full of tears and anger. He was gone.