Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I do own both the novel and the game The Force Unleashed (I & II). Despite not being canon, TFU is a big favorite of mine and, well, let's say there's some obvious homages here. Enjoy.
AN: It would be wise during the fights to play "Duel of the Fates" by John Williams. Word of warning.
Prince of Heaven
Where...Where am I? Eyes as blue as the sky slowly opened to find a dark net and a good dozen feet or so between the owner of the eyes and the ground. Next to him were two draconian legs that made the ground shake with each step. A groan left his lips at the sudden swing the net that held him made.
A deep laugh made the eyes look up. A cruel grin spread across his captor's face. The serpent-like smile that formed within the gnarly green beard reached up to evil marble white eyes.
"Awake are we?" The deep voice of the giant asked. The net was lifted up to make him level with the giant. A set of nasty teeth exposed themselves to the captive. "Never thought I'd find a spy in my home. Won't Porphyrion be interested in knowing the Upper Air is intruding on an Olympian matter?"
The captive's teeth clenched tightly and an insult was swallowed, lest he make his captor angry. Giants were not to be trifled with, and Gigantes even more so. For now, the captive went quiet, glaring defiantly at the Bane of Poseidon.
Polybotes ignored the captive and lowered him back to his side as they entered a massive, and ugly, temple of rock and stone. He stalked forward, pushed his way past the shorter giants and shoved the lesser Gigantes away from his path.
"Poseidon is a brute, my son, but he is cunning and crafty like his brothers. Be cautious, for Polybotes is not easily fooled like the giants you've previously faced. He is the Bane of Poseidon with good reason. A simple sneak attack will not catch him off guard." The words of his father echoed in the captive's head. The youth sighed and ran his hand through his golden hair. He really should've headed those words.
"Porphyrion!" Polybotes' cry broke through the mutters and rowdy conversations between the giants and Gigantes. He lifted the captive in his net and grinned at the leader of the Gigantes. "Behold what I bring to you, evidence of treachery!"
The massive form of Porphyrion turned in his throne from his conversation with a hideous female Gigas to look at Polybotes. The King of Gigantes was massive with draconian legs the same pea green shade as his hair, which was groomed and laced with the weapons of fallen heroes. His eyes the same white as Polybotes', but his face, unlike his brother, was clean and freshly shaved.
"A mortal?" Porphyrion asked with distain. The captive rolled his eyes. Wow, what a reaction.
"Not just any mortal, brother." Polybotes smirked. "I give to you the turn in our war. A chip to use against the Upper Air, to make them bend to our whims."
"The Upper Air?" Porphyrion sat forward and cupped his chin as he examined the youth. His eyes widened and he looked at Polybotes. "A halfling from Aether?!"
"The very same," Polybotes said with a grin. He lifted the net and his eyes gleamed at the captive within. "It seems that a woman gained the attention of the Upper Air."
"Quite." Porphyrion rubbed his jaw in thought. He rose from his throne and snatched the net from his brother. The net was raised until the captive was eye level with Porphyrion's stony gaze. "What is your name, halfling?"
"My name translates loosely to Maelstrom in your tongue, Gigas scum." Maelstrom sneered at the giant, unable to hide his dislike of the Bane of Zeus. Porphyrion's mouth curled up into a cruel smile.
"Lively aren't you?" He asked. Maelstrom did not respond, and just glared at the king. Porphyrion let out a booming laugh and offered the net to the Gigas he was speaking with before. "Periboia, take this boy to our prison and set him beside my beloved."
"Yes, Father." The Gigas female said. Maelstrom tried to take his eyes off of her, but like most monstrosities, he couldn't help his stare. Her russet hair matted and grime coated skin did nothing for her already hideous looks, her bronze armor made her seem more masculine in appearance, and the brown draconic legs were almost chicken like.
Overall, Maelstrom determined that this would be one female he would gladly ignore...if he could.
Periboia carried Maelstrom from the throne room through a hallway into a tower of stone. With little care for his sake or body, the Gigas tossed Maelstrom from the net into a room and quickly closed the door. Maelstrom hit the ground chin first, which was very painful.
"Insufferable sow..." Maelstrom mumbled as he rolled onto his back and rubbed his jaw. Thank the heavens he padded himself for that. If not, his jaw could've been shattered.
"She is irritating, isn't she?"
Maelstrom turned to look behind him and gaped at the otherworldly beauty his eyes were graced with. Long black hair trailed down like fine silk from her head, and a face he was most unworthy to look at stared back at him. It was her eyes, however, the warm beautiful brown eyes that looked at him with intrigue that made his cheeks turn red. The woman was dressed in a white gown with rich golden accents that identified her as a goddess.
Well, to be accurate she was the goddess. The Queen of Olympus.
"Hera..." Maelstrom's eyes were wide. He quickly averted his gaze and ducked his head. "Forgive me, Lady Hera. I did not mean to-!"
"What, boy? Be thrown in here like trash? Be captured?" Hera tisked. "I doubt you had. Rise and introduce yourself to me, Mortal."
"I will stay kneeled before my Queen, if she so allows." Maelstrom returned, his head lifted only slightly. He focused his attention on the tip of her nose, lest he become dumbstruck in awe of her beauty once more. "I am known as Maelstrom in your language, Lady Hera."
Hera's brow quirked upward. "My language? You are not Greek?"
Maelstrom looked away in slight shame. "My mother resided in the Forbidden East, Lady Hera. I do not know her, but my father raised me as a Greek, even if I am not named as one."
"Tell me your name, Mortal. Your true name, not it's meaning." Hera ordered sternly.
The youth looked up at her with a slight hesitation before he spoke. "Naruto is my name."
Hera hummed and paced the jail tower. "Nah-rue-toh...An interesting name."
Naruto's cheeks burned. "A thousand thanks for your praise, Lady Hera, but I cannot claim them. My mother named me on her deathbed, and my Father saved me from servitude in the Forbidden East."
"Your father? He is the reason you are trapped here, I presume?" Hera asked. Her eyes were on him like a hawk's a field mouse. Naruto nodded slowly.
"Yes, Lady Hera," he said. He rose his head in pride. "I am son of the Upper Air, the son of Aether."
If Hera was taken aback by this information, she did not let it show. Instead, she merely watched him. "Are you? Aether has not descended from his golden kingdom above Olympus since the Titanomachy. I had not thought he would betray Hemera."
"...Hemera is a benevolent goddess," Naruto began slowly. Carefully. "Just and happy. She sees an expanded family where another would see a bastard. I am a bastard, but I have family that supports me. I am her son not by blood, but by name."
Hera said nothing to this and went quiet. She then pointed to a small corner. "You will stay there, Naruto son of Aether. If you come within ten paces of me, I will destroy you on the spot. No man, giant or god may have me save my husband."
Naruto ducked his head in understanding and quickly made his way to the corner Hera had pointed out.
He stayed there for five days and nights, quiet as he could be. He didn't dare to move an inch, not even to get food deposited to him while Hera was awake. He would rather starve than deal with a goddess' wrath. He wouldn't admit it aloud, but the way she murmured to herself about lazy no-good husbands was amusing.
As Naruto huddled in his corner, he listened as the Gigantes would argue outside the cell and in the throne room. Many times Porphyrion would approach the cell and seek out Hera's company. Each time, the goddess proved her loyalty to Zeus with a cold dismissal or a violent threat. Porphyrion would entice and smugly claim that she would be his soon enough.
Despite what mortals would think, even Gods slept. It was not the same as a human's rest, where most senses were shut off to the bare minimum, but it was a form of sleep all the same. Hera slept for no more than an hour and no less than thirty minutes.
On the fifth day, when the moon was at its peak, Naruto could bear no more. He needed to eat, but knew that Hera would awake if he moved. So, he went back to an old trick his father taught him as a boy. Naruto held his hand out towards the fruit placed on a plate. He felt the life within the apple, the energy the was hidden within.
There was a small pressure in the center of his forehead as Naruto focused on the apple. A second later and the apple flew from the cracked and warped bronze platter to his hand. Naruto took a soft bite of the apple and savored the taste. It wasn't much, but it was enough.
"Do that again."
Naruto nearly choked on his next bite and tossed his apple into the air. He swallowed the bite and caught his apple after it had bounced off his head before his eyes went to the now awake Hera. Her gaze was intimidating and intense.
"W-what?"
"Do not play games with me, son of Aether." Hera huffed. She pointed at the bronze. "Pull it towards you, but do not move."
Naruto blinked and looked at the tray of bronze. He held his hand out to it and focused his gaze on the bronze. Unlike the apple, the bronze did not have life. It was not grown from the trees, so there wasn't a source of energy for him to pinpoint. Minutes passed and sweat formed on his brow, but he could not bring the bronze to his hand.
"I cannot." Naruto muttered finally, in defeat.
Hera narrowed her gaze at him. "Pull the bronze towards you, mortal."
"It is impossible! A feat only a god can do, will metal to a hand!" Naruto returned hotly.
"Pull the bronze!" Hera demanded.
Naruto tossed his apple aside and rose to his feet as best he could. "I told you, I cannot!"
"If you truly believe that, then you are of no use to anyone." Hera's voice was cold and her gaze narrowed. The warm brown pools that were her eyes turned violent and angry. Naruto trembled under the pressure she expelled from her form. The power that wished to be released.
I...I don't want to die. The realization was fast, as it was for most men. Naruto felt more pressure on his forehead, but it wasn't painful. It was sudden, but his hand pointed at the bronze plate. The metal shuffled for a moment before it flew to his hand.
"There!" Naruto held the plate out defiantly to the goddess. "I pulled it to me! I..."
Hera smirked as the words clicked in Naruto's head. The pressure she expelled dwindled away to nothing and she approached the halfling. The bronze plate flew from his hand to hers.
"You, Naruto son of Aether, have a great gift. Not many can manipulate the energy of matter outside of immortals." Hera stood directly in front of the awestruck blond. She set the plate down and placed her hand on the youth's head. "Now, we can begin."
"Begin what?" Naruto asked.
"To plan our escape."
Hera had formulated a plan for escape as soon as Naruto revealed his heritage, and disclosed this information to Naruto the night after his breakthrough. As a goddess, she is power infinite, unable to be defeated, but while Giants could be felled easily Gigantes needed to be defeated by something more than a god. She felt that Naruto would be able to assist, if not in the death of a Gigas, then with the escape from this temple.
Days turned to weeks for the captured goddess and halfling. Naruto nurtured his abilities under Hera's watch. They practiced at night, when the Gigantes and Giants slept, a form of catch. Hera was fair and stern in her lessons, able to see when he needed to rest. Naruto took to her lessons like a fish to water. He was soon able to 'throw' or 'push' the energy in the air hard enough to make Hera stumble. (The first time he had been told of the exercise, Naruto had thought the goddess of heaven was kidding.)
It was in the second week of his imprisonment that Periboia came for him. He left without much struggle. That was his first mistake. He was taken to a chamber where Polybotes took deep pleasure in carving portions of his face off with his bastard trident.
Let it be known that tridents were not made to be precision weapons.
Naruto only survived his torture sessions thanks to Hera, who healed him in the night before they practiced. After two weeks, Naruto had gained his first permanent scars at the age of fourteen. Three jagged lines now graced either cheek and marked him like an animal, a pet of the Gigantes.
It fueled his desire to escape, and in a few days time, he would be given the chance to.
A month I have been captured by the Gigantes and trained by Hera. I wonder why Zeus or father yet to act... Naruto thought to himself as he laid in his corner while Hera slept. He was still a mortal man and Hera was still Hera, so the placement was understandable. He sat up slightly as the door to their jail tower opened.
A giant, no larger than twenty feet, snuck in and shut the door behind him. He was an ugly beast, man-like in appearance and scarred heavily. His dark eyes gleamed with lust and desire and were glued to the goddess' form. The giant ambled towards Hera and fumbled with his tunic.
"Finally, alone...With Porphyrion away at the battlefield..." The giant rumbled to himself. Naruto realized the beast's intent as its hand reached for the Queen of Heaven's body.
Knowing that it could be his last act, Naruto pulled the bronze plate towards him and whistled sharply. The giant whipped around, wide eyed and at full attention. Naruto glared at the nude beast and tightened his grip on the bronze plate.
"Back away from her."
The giant sneered at him. "Do you know who I am, boy? I am Eurymedon! King of the Giants! You dare interfere where you are not welcomed?!"
Not like I had the choice. Naruto mused darkly. He tightened his grip on the bronze plate and narrowed his gaze on the giant. "Porphyrion is king of the Giants."
Eurymedon laughed. "King of Gigantes, that one. I am King of the Giants! His forces are my own and I was promised a night with Hera, her body to use for my assistance."
"I will not allow it." Naruto scowled.
"You? And who are you to stop me, boy?" Eurymedon asked with a sneer. He dodged the bronze plate thrown at his head easily, but failed to dodge it on its return. The metal cut through his skin and made him bellow in pain.
"I'm the son of Aether." Naruto answered. He pulled more metal plates to him and had them float over his hands. His eyes narrowed and a bead of sweat went down the side of his head as the plates began to spin over his palms. Before the Giant could react, the two plates were thrown and sliced through the giant's shoulders.
One of the arms that were the size of grown trees fell to the ground and Eurymedon roared in agony. The Giant retreated, humiliated and defeated, but not before a final plate imbedded itself in his back.
Naruto slumped to his knees in exhaustion, his hair matted from sweat and his breath hard to retain.
"Well done." Hera's voice made the demigod look to her. The sleeping Hera that rested on her bed vanished and the real Hera stepped from the side with a look of gratitude on her face. "Eurymedon has made his desire known from time to time while you rested. I did not think he would be brash enough to act when Porphyrion was gone."
"This...was another test?" Naruto asked, incredulous at the thought.
Hera nodded. "One you passed magnificently. We will act tomorrow, Naruto son of Aether. Rest and prepare yourself."
Naruto nodded blearily before he slid down against the wall and let his eyes drift shut.
"The escape was flawless." Hera smiled slightly at the praise from her fleet-footed nephew. "...If one does not count the gaping hole that now resides in the side of a mountain."
Hera had been in contact with one god during her imprisonment, and that was Hermes. The swift messenger had awaited outside of the jail tower with Hera's chariot. The Queen of Olympus and Naruto utilized all of Naruto's energy with the 'Push' on their jail's exterior wall. Hermes caught Naruto as he fell and Hera stepped nonchalantly onto her chariot. The two retreated to Mt. Olympus posthaste and reported to the King, who was glad to see his wife, but curious about the tagalong.
"He is impressively strong," Hermes continued as he looked down at the unconscious youth. His gaze went to the Queen of Olympus. "But he is not one of ours."
"No, Hermes, he is not." The Olympians' gazes turned to the bright star that appeared in the center of the council room. It hovered over the boy, bright enough that it hid him from view. The bright light died down to reveal a being, godly in build, of pure light.
"Aether..." Zeus rumbled lowly. The gaze of the king narrowed in distain, an action not missed by Hera.
The ruler of the Upper Air looked back at the King with similar emotions in his golden eyes. Aether looked down at his son and then brought his gaze up to meet Hera's. He inclined his head slightly, and she returned the gesture.
"While I am grateful that you watched over my son, Hera, he was not to be brought into Olympian matters." Aether frowned heavily and said the word 'Olympian' as if it were a curse.
Zeus snorted. "Of course not, that was why he was with the Giants."
"Zeus..." Hera's sharp gaze pinned him to his throne. She was mad at him for leaving her a month trapped by the Giants. Her eyes went back to the embodiment of light and energy. "Aether, your son has done me a great justice. Surely you can let me repay the favor."
Aether scoffed. "The prizes of Olympus come with great cost. You wish to reward my son for surviving? No, Hera, there is more to your 'reward'."
Hera frowned. Aether was not like Apollo, who was foolhardy and acted young. Aether had been around for just as long – if not longer – than her accursed father. He was keen on the ways of Olympus, even if he did not operate with them. He was not under their rule, nor did he rise above it. Aether was truly his own immortal and that meant he was not easily manipulated.
"Yes." Hera admitted. The embodiment of Light and Energy remained quiet as she continued. "I desire your son to help us in the war."
"You dare ask me for help in your matters?" Aether fumed. The Olympians tensed as the primordial glared at their Queen, Zeus's hand tight on his Master Bolt. For a moment, the air was still, before Aether relaxed and the tension retreated to the background. "What do I gain from this?"
"What do you gain-?!" Zeus rumbled.
"Father Zeus, now is not the time." Athena's voice quelled the fury that grew in the god's body. Her gaze went to Hera, calculative and concerned. Hera did not doubt that the daughter of Metis knew where she was going with this and the gamble that was being made.
"Our gratitude and our assistance," Hera said. "A favor for a favor."
Aether pursed his lips and hummed. His gaze went to the lord of the oceans. "I need smiths. A weapon must be made in my kingdom for my son."
"Briares and his ilk have been getting bored," Poseidon said lowly. He looked uncomfortable while he bartered the Hundred Handed Ones.
Aether nodded. "Yes, they are fine craftsmen...but I will also need a temple. A way to ensure my memory."
"We will assign a scribe to you," Hestia said kindly. "And the hearth will pass stories of you and your family."
Aether looked at her for a moment before he looked back at Hera. He pointed at her. "I want your word...If my son is harmed in any way during this war..."
The threat was left to hang, and it was strong. Aether need not do more than pull his Upper Air from Olympus to get even Zeus on his knees. Hera quickly nodded. "I swear on the Styx that no harm shall befall your son, Aether."
The sky boomed and Aether nodded.
The deal was done and history changed.
"This is the third demigod the Olympians brought to fight with us?" The tall brown haired behemoth that was Heracles smirked down at Naruto. His eyes were a similar blue as Naruto's, and the cocky smirk that was plastered on his face was aggravating. Naruto just knew he'd want to punch the son of Zeus' face in by the time this was all said and done. Granted that would be impossible, considering the man's strength, but it would be welcomed all the same. "A bastard barbarian from the East?"
"The same could be said of you, only you're from the West." A joyful Dionysus pointed out with a smirk. He was a slightly hefty man with a thick purplish beard on his face that was as untamed as his father's. Rested at his side was his trusty thyrsus, the pinecone tipped weapon gleamed under the sunlight. In his hand was a fresh bottle of wine.
That one, Naruto thought as Heracles scowled at his half-brother. Is far more powerful than he lets on.
"So, who is your father? Oh, wait, let me guess!" Dionysus' smirk widened. "Zeus? No, wait, Apollo."
"Neither." Naruto muttered. He crossed his arms and sat against the large stone they were told to gather at. "I am the son of-"
"His parentage is not important." The baritone voice of the King boomed after a bolt of lightning came down across from the three. Zeus ignored Naruto as he greeted his sons with a small favorable smile. His smile vanished as he continued. "Ares is still missing and Artemis has yet to return from her latest hunt. Dionysus, you are to find and rescue Ares."
Dionysus groaned. "Must I?"
"Yes." Zeus frowned at the demigod. His gaze went to Heracles. "Heracles, my son, you and I take the fight to Porphyrion! We will end his reign today!"
Heracles grinned. "You have my strength and bow, Father."
Naruto and Dionysus rolled their eyes.
Zeus' gaze then landed on Naruto and his eyes hardened. "...Champion of Hera, you are to assist the other Olympians in holding off Porphyrion's forces as we do battle."
"...On second thought, I'm more than happy to go rescue Ares," Dionysus said with a smirk as he looked at the newcomer. "Have fun, my young friend."
"Thanks." Naruto drawled. Are all of Zeus' kids jackasses or is just his sons?
Naruto pushed another wave of Earthborn giants away from him, his brow dripping with sweat as he did. To his left, Athena did battle with her bane and beyond her, Poseidon and Polybotes grappled around in the ocean. On his right, Hephaestus fought off his bane while Hermes brought his sword against regular giants, a grin on his face as he did. What Naruto wouldn't give for the endurance of a god right now.
He was tired and caked in sweat, his armor no more than shreds of metal. Thankfully, there was some sort of protection granted to him by Hera, or his body would be littered with cuts and bruises from the Earthborn's weapons and thrown rocks. Another Earthborn charged from the right and Naruto thrust his hand right in its face.
"Die!" He yelled as the head was forcibly removed from the body. This would be so much easier if I had a weapon of some kind!
"MORTAL!"
Naruto looked for the origin of the cry and groaned as he caught sight of a familiar King. Eurymedon looked bloodthirsty, and frankly, Naruto could understand why. Hera was not in any shape or form ugly, but she was claimed and did not reciprocate the desire. To force oneself on a woman was not the way his father brought him up.
I don't have the energy for this. Naruto groaned as he backed away from the approaching giant. Naruto ducked under a sword swing and sent a hard push at the King of Giant's stomach.
Eurymedon stumbled back and glared at him for the strike. He lifted his massive onyx sword and pointed the tip at the blond. "Today, you die, mortal."
Probably. Naruto silently agreed. He hardened his eyes and clenched his hands into fists. "Not from you, bastard."
Eurymedon yelled as he swung his weapon down on him. Naruto brought his arms over his face and focused on the sword. He pushed against Eurymedon's strength, the blade visibly strained in midair. Naruto fell to a knee, his teeth tightly grit together as he tried to keep himself from being bisected.
"Hey Eurydice!" The giant turned and barely dodged a shot from Apollo's bow. The sun god gave a smug grin to him and returned his attention to the army of endless Earthborn. Eurymedon snarled at the god's chariot and made note to join whoever Porphyrion sent after the twins. He turned back to his current quarry only to get a massive push from the boy that sent him back a good few meters or so.
Uh-oh...that's not good... Naruto thought as he fell to his face and gasped down gulps of air. Really...a sword too much to ask for?
"Hekatonkheires!" A giant yelled as three massive beings fell from the sky. The Earthborn and a few giants were crushed beneath their feet. Naruto stared up in awe at the massive beings. Their fifty heads all seemed to be looking around for something.
"There!" One said with fifty voices. He turned towards him and a hand reached out to him, clenched in a fist. "You are Aether's son...This is for you."
The fist opened and Naruto looked at the sword handle that lacked a guard and, more importantly, a blade. Naruto looked at the Hundred Handed One with surprise before he returned his attention to the handle. Hesitantly and tiredly, Naruto grabbed hold of the sword handle that was easily as long as his forearm.
The moment he did, energy filled him. Naruto shook as his stamina refilled eight times over. He looked down at the silver handle, graced with gold of immortals, and gripped it in both hands. There was a brimming energy within the sword, demanding to be used.
Naruto focused on the energy and pulled it out. A blade of pure blue light emerged from the handle. Naruto looked from the blade to the Hekatonkheires that gave it to him. The faces grinned.
"You are welcome, son of Aether." He said. He turned to the battle and charged against the Earthborn that tried to near their master and Athena.
Naruto blinked and looked back at his new sword.
"...Who am I to complain? Thank you, Father." Naruto nodded to the sky and turned back to Eurymedon. The giant king had regained his courage now that the Hundred Handed Ones had turned their attention elsewhere.
Naruto charged at the giant with a war cry and used his innate gifts to fling himself across the distance that was between them in a mighty leap. Naruto brought his new sword of light down on Eurymedon's onyx blade and the metal was cut with ease. Eurymedon stared in shock at the remains of his sword while Naruto continued his assault. A slash and Eurymedon had lost his remaining arm. A swipe and both legs were gone.
The giant's eyes bored into Naruto's as the golden haired halfling stabbed his sword through the center of the King Giant's broad chest.
Naruto watched the body fall and collapse into the earth. He turned his attention to Poseidon and Polybotes, the nearest of the battles, and ran towards it. As he did, he missed the chariot of Ares fly overhead towards the battle of Hephaestus and his bane, Mimas.
"To Olympus!" Heracles' cheer made the other warriors gathered cheer. The celebration at the base of Mt. Olympus was well underway. The gods were victorious and the Gigantes' war had ended after several years of battle. Once Porphyrion had been felled, the other Gigantes retreated and separated, as they realized their weakness against both a god and a demigod.
Naruto, now an young adult around the age of seventeen, raised his cup in victory with a smile on his face. He had been officially claimed as Hera's champion the year before and his legend was just beginning to spread. Others had joined the three demigods, to an annoyed Dionysus' dismay for some reason (possibly due to Heracles' oafishness).
A son of Athena who went by the name Icarus stepped forward and offered his help. His arrow along with Athena's spear put an end to Enceladus' Earthborn, which led to more mortals coming forward.
Hermes and an unfortunate hero who lost his life playing the part of distraction had felled Hippolytus with the aid of Hades of all beings.
Aphrodite assisted Naruto in destroying the abomination that was Periboia. It wasn't terribly difficult, but Aphrodite had kept offering services to Naruto afterwards that were welcome, but made him uneasy. Especially when the looming threat of Ares' wrath was brought up after the god demanded to see his weapon. Naruto had shown Ares his sword, named Asteria (brightest star), but it refused to be properly wielded by the god. A look from Hephaestus and the smith god pointed out that it was honed to only work for one of Aether's. Ares did not take kindly to finding a weapon he could not use.
Aside from being enticed by Aphrodite and threatened by Ares, Naruto's other battles were minor skirmishes that were used to deflect the Gigantes and giants' attentions from the main target. He assisted Apollo in finding Artemis and then tried to help the 'good' giant Orion against the Scorpio. It didn't go well. At least the guy got a constellation for himself.
As Naruto drank his wine he couldn't help but feel that something was wrong. He shook the feeling off and drank more wine to Olympus' victory. Tonight was a night of cheer!
"...Naruto..." The voice was faint, but familiar. It was troubled. Naruto tried to look around. His eyes were stuck focused on a wall. His gaze would not turn, his body would not obey him.
"Naruto, do not panic." The voice said to him, calm but anxious all the same. "You're...dying, Naruto."
Needless to say, Naruto started to mentally panic. Dying. Death. Judgment. Afterlife. He didn't want to deal with that. Not yet. Hell, he hadn't even gotten to lay with a woman yet! He wanted to have a family, leave an heir behind, and leave his mark on the world! How could this have happened? When? Why?
"Naruto, you must remain calm!" The voice was firm and warm. Naruto clung to its words like a lifeline. "I swore to your father that I would protect you. I cannot let him know that you've been harmed until I know how to fix what is wrong. For the time being, I've turned you to stone and placed you in my temple. I will not forget you, Naruto. I will fix this. I swear on the Styx."
And that is the story of how Naruto, the son of Aether and champion of Hera, was lost to history, forgotten by all but one.
Decades, centuries and even millennia passed as Naruto remained stone. Every now and then he would be visited by the voice. Far and in between were moments where he swore someone moved him. Mostly Naruto was suspended in time and he would do what most others could in his situation: He dreamed.
He dreamt of a giant wooden horse going through a large gate. Then of a massive purple eagle that spread across the map of the known world. A vision of the map as it grew and turned into a sphere, followed by the vision of a small boat that travelled around the sphere as it grew larger. There were dreams of strange weapons that shot fire and smoke when used appropriately. There was a man with a weird hat crossing an icy river with a strange flag that had thirteen stripes and stars on it. After that came a dream of two men, one dressed in blue and the other in grey, that shot at each other, which was followed by a man dressed in a black suit with a tall hat entering a building with a woman on his arm. His dreams showed him a giant mushroom cloud formed after something had dropped from a high height.
Naruto's visions, he came to understand, were a sort of history lesson. He would wake momentarily in his suspended state and realize he knew what had happened around him. The dreams, visions, history lessons then turned to specific people.
First was a freckled girl with black hair and electric blue eyes that fought off a cyclops with a spear. Next came a blond boy with the same eyes as he moved in a formation with larger boys and girls all clad in a purple shirt with golden weapons. Third was a small boy that had dark hair and bright green eyes as he strangled a snake. After that was a taller boy with sandy blond hair that ran from a woman. A blonde girl no older than seven followed – Naruto was impressed by the amount of blondes, previously something he thought to be a rare hair color – and she attacked the last boy with a hammer. The young blond from before returned as he rescued a spotted cat.
The dreams went back to a boy with dark hair and green eyes. He watched the boy as he fought Ares, the god unmistakable even with his strange new attire. The boy then ran from a cyclops. A massive being, Atlas Naruto vaguely recalled the Titan in his lessons with his father, knocked the boy around. Then a familiar blonde girl led the black haired boy, a satyr and a young cyclops through a strange maze – the Labyrinth.
The dreams stopped after that, but then Naruto felt something pierce his arm.
"Rest, Naruto. You will return to the world soon."
Naruto dove into a dreamless sleep after the words echoed in his head.
"He's waking up! Quick, go get Chiron!"
That was probably the most irritable thing to do to someone who was just waking up after a millennia long nap, Naruto mused as he slowly came back to consciousness. A hand pressed down on his shoulder and Naruto grabbed it with his own. His eyes met the owner's warm brown. The brown eyes belonged to a simple beauty of a maiden that had long black hair. He could see his reflection in her eyes, and he looked rather annoyed.
"Stop. Yelling." Naruto grunted out. Huh, was my voice always that deep?
"We're not yelling," a voice to his left said. Naruto turned to see a maiden with honey blonde hair and calculating grey eyes.
Naruto squinted at her, for she seemed familiar. "Lady Athena?"
The other maiden snickered while the Athena lookalike shook her head. "I'm Annabeth. Athena is my mother."
Naruto nodded in understanding. "I see. I am known as Naruto, son of Aether. Champion of Hera."
The two maidens stared at him before Annabeth sighed. "Well, I guess that answers why you were in Cabin Two."
Naruto frowned. "Cabin Two?"
"Hera's Cabin," the other maiden said. Naruto's attention went back to her as she continued. "There was a missive from Hera to retrieve something within her cabin and...Well, Chiron certainly wasn't expecting you."
"Chiron!? The Trainer?" Naruto asked. He looked to the daughter of Athena. "He's here?"
Annabeth nodded. "Yeah. He'll explain when he gets here, but first." Annabeth's eyes grew stony as she stared at him. "How did you become a statue? Did you face Medusa?"
Naruto snorted at her question. "The Gorgon? Perseus slayed her centuries ago, has he not? It's impossible to kill what's already dead."
Annabeth frowned. "Monsters have been coming back from Tartarus to torment demigods since after Greece fell. But if Medusa didn't turn you to stone, what did?"
"That, Annabeth, is a question I don't have an answer to." Naruto shrugged. He turned and rose from the cot he previously lay on. Naruto rolled his stiff joints and gave the other maiden a smile. "I don't think we have been introduced. I am Naruto."
The girl flushed lightly and smiled back. "Katie Gardener. I'm the counselor of Cabin Four."
"Demeter's Cabin." Annabeth supplied.
Naruto gave Katie a grin. "I can see the resemblance."
Katie's cheeks darkened.
Annabeth rolled her eyes. "You can flirt later, you need to speak with Chiron."
"What is this 'flirt'?" Naruto asked with a raised brow. "Is it a fruit?"
"No, it's...the casual talk that comes before courting," Annabeth said, a mild look of amusement on her face as Katie's face turned a bright red.
"I wasn't courting anyone. Perhaps after I get something to eat," Naruto said as he rubbed his stomach, which chose that moment to growl loudly. Naruto chuckled and patted his stomach with a smile on his face. "Millennia of sleep makes one hungry, it seems!"
"If you're going to leave the tent, you need to change out of your...cloths...and probably shower," Annabeth said under her breath.
Naruto looked down at his chiton and sandals before he looked back up at Annabeth with a frown on his face. "What is wrong with my chiton? Both it and my perizoma were sewn by the finest of seamstresses in Olympia!"
Katie cleared her throat. "It's not, um, the latest fashion anymore. It went out of style forever ago," she said with a small smile on her face. "We could get you a camp shirt and a pair of jeans, and you could keep your sandals if you want."
Naruto's shoulders fell a margin. "I suppose...but what are 'jeans'?"
"These are the most uncomfortable fabrics I've ever worn," Naruto said a moment after he finished changing into the jeans. Next to him, Mitchell, a son of Aphrodite, rolled his eyes. Naruto caught it and frowned at the one that helped him change into the strange attire. "What? They are! Stiff and limiting. I doubt one could run very well with these."
"They're made of more durable fabric, and they break in quick. We could look around the camp store for some running pants, they might be looser for you. I told you to put the underwear on instead of that... thong." Mitchell shuddered. "How can you stand that thing?"
"...I stand very well, thank you." Naruto replied while he furrowed his brows. "What is a thong?"
"Mitchell, stop goofing around in there!" Annabeth's annoyed voice called from outside of the changing room.
"It's not my fault he's a fashion disaster!" Mitchell returned with a scowl on his face. He huffed and turned back to Naruto. "Word of advice, Annabeth's the smartest in camp, but sometimes she's not the kindest. She can be very bossy. I just hope Percy Jackson can handle that as a girlfriend. Whole camp knows they're going to end up together for as many quests they've been on. My money is it happens after summer."
Naruto arched a brow. "Girlfriend? Is that different than a friend who is a woman?"
"...Wow, man Ancient Greece must've been boring. Didn't you have a word for a, um...romantic interest before you married her?" Mitchel asked as he held a shirt up to Naruto's chest. He frowned. "A medium is going to be tight. My sisters would like that, but..."
"If I can function in combat with it, it won't be a problem. If it is, I'll rid myself of the nuisance," Naruto said dryly. He thought about what Mitchel said and beamed. "Ah, you speak of a Hetaira!"
"What are you talking about in there Mitchell!?" Annabeth yelled at the son of Aphrodite.
"Guy stuff! Gods know that he needs the help!" Mitchell returned with a frown. He offered the shirt to Naruto and then grabbed a larger shirt for himself. "Watch and copy, this is how you put it on."
After mistaking the arm and head holes a few times, Naruto managed to get the camp shirt on. He ran his hand over the fabric that clung to his chest and hummed. "A pegasus, hm? Noble, airborne and just. Met one once when I was a boy. This cloth is far more comfortable than the jeans."
"That's cotton," Mitchell said. He stepped back and gave the ancient demigod a once over. He nodded. "Yep. You're going to be the new camp heartthrob. You've got that heroic build, a strong chin, and a bit of a feral vibe to you from your whiskers."
Naruto grimaced and rubbed the scars on his cheek. "They aren't whiskers. Curse my father's flawless appearance. If I could grow a beard I would..."
"Next word of advice, most of the girls here don't care about the size of your facial hair. It's not as much of a status thing anymore," Mitchell said. He looked at the blond's discarded tunic and grabbed the golden and silver sword handle that lay atop the clothes. "We should get this repaired and a holster for it."
"Repaired? Asteria isn't broken, she merely rests." Naruto smiled as he held his hand out and brought the handle to his grip with a small glance.
Mitchell's eyes were wide. "No freaking way..." He turned to Naruto and asked softly. "Dude...are you a Jedi?"
"...A what?" Naruto blinked, his frown back on his face.
"Please tell me an energy sword comes out of that thing!" Mitchell said. Naruto merely held the handle in reverse and pulled the starlight from within out. A bright blue beam rose into a straight blade and Mitchell gaped at it. "...You are so much cooler than Percy Jackson."
"...I do not know who that is," Naruto said. He put a hand on his forehead. "And I do not seem to have chills, so I doubt I am cooler."
"Wow, a good looking Jedi and a comedian? The girls here are going to eat you alive!"
Naruto's eyes widened and he held his sword in a defensive reverse grip as he looked around fearfully. "There's cannibalism here?!"
Mitchell brought his hands up in surrender. "Dude, relax, it's a figure of speech. It just means that the girls will really like you." His eyes went to the glowing blade that was held by the older demigod. "Er, please don't slice off my arm."
Naruto blinked and relaxed his stance. "Oh..." He frowned. "Your language is strange...why didn't the world just stick with Greek?"
"Ancient Greek."
"...Thank you for the reminder." Naruto glowered and deactivated Asteria. He kept his grip on her and fumbled with the door before he stepped out. Mitchell came out behind him and patted the older boy on the shoulder.
"The world evolves man, even the gods have to follow that rule." The son of love shrugged and pulled off the oversized camp shirt. "Don't worry about it, you seem like a smart guy. We'll have you caught up to speed in no time."
The ancient demigod gave the modern one a small smile of gratitude before he looked at the expectant Annabeth and Katie. He smiled at the two maidens and presented himself. "Well? Does it suit your standards?"
"...Yeah it does..." Katie mumbled. She grunted when Annabeth elbowed her in the side.
"Reel it in, Gardener." Annabeth warned. She nodded at Naruto. "You look good, I guess."
Mitchell smirked at her and crossed his arms. "He isn't Percy Jackson though."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Annabeth said.
Mitchell rolled his eyes. "Right. Later Naruto. Look me up if you want to continue our 'modern' lessons."
"Thank you, Mitchell." Naruto nodded. He grinned at his two female guides roguishly. "Then let us meet the Trainer! I'm sure there's much for him to enlighten me with."
"I'll catch up with you later, I have to run the camp shop." Katie sighed sadly.
Naruto gave her a small smile of approval before he looked at Annabeth. "Shall we?"
"Sure, follow me."
"How did this happen while you were escorting him through camp?" The centaur trainer asked one distressed Annabeth Chase.
"I don't know, but I turned to talk to Malcolm for a second about the west perimeter defenses and when I looked back he was gone!" Annabeth frowned at the annoyed ancient demigod. "Next thing I knew, these four were on the ground holding their arms in agony."
"They attacked me." Naruto huffed as he crossed his arms and glared at the four children of Ares that had latched onto him while he waited for Annabeth. The four glared right back and favored their now split covered arms. He looked away and frowned. "I would have thought the demigods of today would be ...stronger."
"I'll kill him!" Three of the four had to jump on the last before he could leap at Naruto. They were already in enough trouble as it was with Chiron and their godly father, they really didn't want to piss Hera off.
"Settle down, Mark," Chiron said to the upset demigod and turned to Naruto. "Times have changed, Naruto. There's more heroes than there used to be."
Naruto gave him a dry stare. "Yes, I can see that. Although 'heroes' is not the word I would use."
"Hey!" Annabeth frowned at him.
Naruto looked back at her and shrugged. "Apollo's wisdom says to use the truth when one sees it, and punishment will be avoided."
"...I've forgotten he used to be like that," Chiron said softly.
"Has the sun lord changed?" Naruto asked. Hope not. Apollo was one of the few sons of Zeus that were kind to me during the Gigantomachy.
"...Not that much. He's less philosophic than he used to be. Philosophy isn't as...alluring as it was back home," Chiron said with a bit of a frown. "Shame, too. Kids today are more interested in hazing newcomers than listening to my philosophy."
The Ares kids winced while Naruto ignored them and frowned. "What is 'hazing'?"
"It's an initiation, a cruel rite of passage that senior members of a group perform on newcomers." Annabeth rattled off intellectually. "Nowadays it's been frowned upon for some horrors and psychological scarring that comes from some hazes."
"...This sounds unbelievably childish." Naruto deadpanned. "I thought this was a camp for demigods, not children."
Annabeth frowned at him. "We are still children."
"Children suckled on their mothers teats and stayed home to help with chores. Once one could go work in the fields or do battle, they were no longer children." Naruto drawled sternly. He smiled as he thought back to his childhood, or rather, the end of it. "It was in my tenth year that my father told me I was no longer a child and sent me down to study with a farmhand. Poor Thales, I wonder what happened to him."
"Good things," Chiron said with a secretive smile. He looked to Annabeth and gave her an apologetic smile. "You must understand, Annabeth, that the children of Ancient Greece had a shorter 'childhood' than you do today." He looked to Naruto. "And while this is difficult for you, Naruto, you must adapt to the times or you will be made into an outcast by your peers."
Naruto grimaced. "You could say I have prior experience."
"Pardon?" Chiron asked.
"Nothing, Chiron." Naruto rubbed his neck. "Tell me, are there any monsters I could assist in dealing with? There's a crick in my neck and I really must do something about it."
"...How would fighting a monster help?" Annabeth asked.
Chiron however stroked his chin. "I...suppose there is something you take care of."
The woods were filled with monsters, the trainer of old had told Naruto. Since the war with the recently returned Kronos – something that Naruto still had a hard time coming to terms with – the woods were no longer a safe haven for the demigods to perform 'games' in. The mere thought made Naruto scowl. In a new time he may be, but demigods were warriors, soldiers of Olympus and the Gods! Not children playing games...
A branch snapped beneath Naruto's foot as he paused at the sound of a larger, more threatening crash of a tree being toppled. That wasn't too far from where he was, and eager to stretch his limbs, Naruto turned towards the source of the sound. He bounded through the woods, swift as Hermes and as cautious as Helios, before he stumbled across what he deemed his target.
A dragon. It was the same brown as the earth beneath his sandals, with a length Naruto estimated to be equal to at least five or six horses, weighing twice as many as it was long. The scales looked like armor, it would be hard to pierce with even celestial bronze. Those wings had attached claws at the tips, and by the smoke in its nostrils, there was a fire in its belly. The teeth and claws were a threat only to a novice.
Naruto smirked and with a thought, brought Asteria around his body slowly from where it was holstered on his hip to his right hand. He flipped the handle to grip it as he preferred, in reverse, and willed the blade to life.
"I need a new satchel," Naruto said to himself as he rushed at the giant reptile. The dragon notice him and roared, its breath foul and deadly in its own right. Naruto held his left hand out, the palm outstretched towards the dragon, and sent a hard push at the beast's head.
The dragon was forced back several meters, but it did not fall. The folded wings acted as anchors to keep it upright and a stream of fire left its mouth. Naruto cut through the flames with Asteria and continued his assault. At the last moment he jumped up and cleared the dragon's reach with it's jaws. He targeted the back, between the wings, and drove the tip of his emissive sword into the creature.
The dragon roared in agony and reared back onto its hind legs. Naruto kept his balance with a strong pull through his feet to cling to the monster's back. He removed Asteria from the dragon's spine and swung it at the right wing. The heat of his blade seared the wing off and the dragon let out another bellow of pain.
"Foul beast!" Naruto claimed with a grin as he did off with the other wing and then jumped from the drake's back. He landed a good distance away and held Asteria behind him, his left hand brought up and held out towards the furious monster. "Come hither!"
The dragon roared defiantly at him, but Naruto's grin only widened. He braced himself as the dragon charged him this time. Fire tickled at its mouth and the soulless eyes that lie in the sockets glared with an intense hate, one that soared beyond the innate dislike of half-breeds the monster was created with. Naruto waited until the fire left the dragon's mouth before he moved.
Naruto rolled under the flame to his right and sliced off the dragon's left front leg. As the beast toppled to the side, Naruto jumped and brought Asteria up to remove the hind right leg. All mobility was stopped. All that the dragon could do now was breathe fire or bite him.
Foolishly, it tried to do the latter.
Naruto merely held his left hand up and pushed the head back. Then he reared around, twisted his body, and threw Asteria at the dragon. The Aether crafted sword flew through the air like a discus. It passed through one half of the dragon's neck, and with proper manipulation on Naruto's part, went through the rest on the return.
Naruto caught Asteria effortlessly by the grip of the handle thanks to years of practice and watched in awe as the dragon's corpse did not lie permanently before him, but dissolve into golden dust that smelt of sulfur. Naruto let out an interested noise as a dark brown robe rested where the dragon's body once lay.
"So many things have changed." Naruto mumbled to himself as he walked forward to retrieve his reward. He lifted the robe in his hand and hummed. "This looks like Hestia's robe...only more masculine."
With a shrug, Naruto pulled the brown cloak over his arms and holstered Asteria. He walked back to the camp of demigods with a calm and relaxed smile on his face. That was certainly the most entertaining thing he'd done since he had returned from his slumber.
He could hardly await his next challenge.
AN: Wow, this one was a LOT of fun to write...It might take precedence over any other story that may emerge from this collection.
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