Chapter 16:
A Coast Guard boat picked the group up, but they were too busy to keep them for long, or to wonder how four kids in street clothes had gotten to the middle of the bay. Sure, Markus could've used the Mist, but his mind was somewhere else at the moment. Besides, there was a disaster to mop up. Their radios were jammed with distress calls.
They dropped the questers off at the Santa Monica pier with towels around their shoulders and water bottles that said: I'M A JUNIOR COAST GUARD!
They then sped off to save more people.
Their clothes were sopping wet, even Percy's and Markus's. Percy convinced Markus to do so as to not raise suspicion.
Percy was also barefoot, because he'd given his shoes to Grover. Better the Coast Guard wonder why one of them was barefoot than wonder why one of them had hooves.
After reaching dry land, they stumbled down the beach, watching the city burn against a beautiful sunrise. It was as if they'd just come back from the dead - which they had. Percy's backpack was heavy with Zeus's master bolt. His heart was even heavier from seeing his mother.
"I don't believe it," Annabeth said. "We went all this way -"
"It was a trick," Percy said. "A strategy worthy of Athena."
"Hey," she warned.
"He didn't mean it like that," Markus said, his voice low on volume. Seeing his mother in her previous state spooked him quite a bit.
She dropped her eyes, her anger fading. "Yeah. Sorry."
"I'm still confused!" Grover complained. "Would somebody -"
"Percy, Markus," Annabeth said. "I'm sorry about your mothers. I'm so sorry…"
Percy pretended not to hear her. If he thought back to it, he might start crying like some little kid. Markus didn't want to think the same thing. He might just break down, which was something that he definitely didn't want do.
"The prophecy was right," Percy said. "'You shall go west and face the god who has turned.' But it wasn't Hades. Hades didn't want war among the Big Three. Somebody else pulled off the theft. Someone stole Zeus's master bolt, and Hades's helm, and framed me and Markus because we're Poseidon's children. Poseidon will get blamed by both sides. By sundown today, there will be a three-way war. And we'll have caused it."
Grover shook his head, mystified. "But who would be that sneaky? Who would want war that bad?"
Markus glared down towards the end of the beach. "I can think of a few people."
There he was, waiting for them, in his black leather duster and his sunglasses, an aluminum baseball bat propped on his shoulder. His motorcycle rumbled beside him, its headlights turning the sand red.
"Hey, kids," Ares said, looking genuinely pleased to see them. "You were supposed to die."
"You lying, filthy piece of shit," Markus growled out, furious. "You stole the helm and the master bolt?"
Ares grinned. "Oh, someone's got a filthy mouth on them. Well, I didn't steal them personally. Gods taking each others symbol of power - that's a big no-no. But you're not the only heroes in the world who can run errands."
"Who did you use? Clarisse? She was there at the winter solstice," Percy said to the god of war.
The idea seemed to amuse him.
"Doesn't matter. The point is, kiddies, you're impeding on the war effort. See, you've got to die in the Underworld. The Old Seaweed will be mad at Hades for killing you. Corpse Breath will have Zeus's master bolt, so Zeus'll get even angrier with him. And Hades is still looking for this…"
From his pocket he took out a ski cap - the kind bank robbers wear - and placed it between the handlebars of his bike. Immediately, the cap transformed into an elaborate 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, we got a nice little three-way slugfest going."
"But they're your family!" Annabeth protested.
Ares shrugged. "Best kind of war. Always the bloodiest. Nothing like watching your relatives fight, I always say."
"You really are a disgusting piece of shit," Markus retorted.
"Oh, yeah? And what are you going to do about it, brat? You can't beat me. To challenge me is foolish, and you know it."
"True, I don't fight pussies," Markus stated, smirking.
"You're really starting to piss me off, brat. You should be lucky I don't strike you down where you stand."
"What, afraid of challenging a twelve-year-old kid? That's so sad. God of war my ass."
Ares growled, a hazy blood-red aura dancing around his figure. The fire in his eyes was intense. "Big talk from a pathetic little mortal."
"Big words for a guy with little to no wit at all," Markus fired back.
"You gave me the backpack in Denver," Percy said, taking over the conversation. "The master bolt was in there the whole time."
"Yes and no," Ares said, who was still glaring at Markus. Markus just glared back. "It's probably too complicated for your little mortal brain to follow, but the backpack is the master bolt's sheath, just morphed a bit. The bolt is connected to it, sort of like that sword you got, kid. It always returns to your pocket, right?"
Percy wasn't sure how he knew that, but since he's seen Riptide in action, it was safe to say Ares probably knew anything about a weapon due to being the war god.
"Anyway," Ares continued, "I tinkered with the magic a bit, so the bolt would only return to the sheath once you reached the Underworld. You get close to Hades… Bingo, you got mail. If you died along the way - no loss. I still had the weapon."
"But why not just keep the master bolt for yourself?" Percy asked questioningly. "Why send it to Hades?"
Ares got a twitch in his jaw. For a moment, it was almost as if he were listening to another voice, deep inside his head. "Why didn't I… yeah… with that kind of firepower…"
He held the trance for one second… two seconds…
Percy exchanged a nervous look with his brother.
Ares's face cleared. "I didn't want the trouble. Better to have you caught red-handed, holding the thing."
"You're lying," Percy argued, a smirk coming to his face. "Sending the bolt to the Underworld wasn't your idea, was it?"
"Of course it was!" Smoke drifted up from his sunglasses, as if they were about to catch fire.
"You didn't order the theft," Percy guessed. "Someone else sent a hero to steal the two items. Then, when Zeus sent you to hunt him down, you caught the thief. But you didn't turn him him. Something convinced you to let him go. You kept the items until another hero could come along and complete the delivery. That thing in the pit is ordering you around."
"I am the god of war! I take orders from no one! I don't have dreams!"
Percy hesitated and Markus's eyes widened. "Who said anything about dreams?" the boy asked.
Ares looked agitated, but he tried to cover it with a smirk.
"Let's get back to the problem at hand, kids. You're alive. I can't have you taking that bolt to Olympus. Either of you just might get those hardheaded idiots to listen. So I've got to kill you. Nothing personal."
He snapped his fingers. The sand exploded at his feet and out charged a wild boar, even larger and uglier than the one whose head hung above the door of cabin five at Camp Half-Blood. The beast pawed the sand, glaring at them with beady eyes as it lowered its razor-sharp tusks and waited for the command to kill.
Percy slowly stepped into the surf. "Fight me yourself, Ares."
"Oh fuck no," Markus muttered, dropping his bag and kicking it towards Grover's hooves. "I got some beef to settle with this douchebag." He joined his brother into stepping into the surf.
Ares laughed, but you could hear a little edge to his laughter ... an uneasiness. "You've only got one talent, kid, getting your brother to do everything. Face it, he's the muscle, you're the damsel in distress, simple as that. But even with him, you don't have what it takes to fight me."
"Scared?" Percy taunted.
"Oh, he knows he's scared," Markus scoffed. "All that talk about the war effort and manipulating us, whereas, in the end, he's a pawn himself. Guess he's really all talk."
"In your adolescent dreams." But his sunglasses were starting to melt from the heat of his eyes. "No direct involvement. Sorry, kids. You're not at my level."
"Annabeth said, "Guys, run!"
The giant boar charged at Percy as Markus smirked.
As the boar rushed him, Percy uncapped his pen and sidestepped. Riptide appeared and he slashed upward. The boar's severed right tusk fell at his feet, while the disoriented animal charged into the sea.
Percy shouted with authority, "Wave!"
Immediately, a wave surged up from nowhere and engulfed the boar, wrapping around it like a blanket. The beast squealed once in terror. Then it was gone, swallowed by the sea.
"Hmm," Markus hummed. "Six out of ten."
"Wait, what?" Percy exclaimed in shock. Was he seriously rating him? Right now?
"I said six out of ten, for performance," Markus explained.
"I cut the boar's tusk off. And summoned a giant wave! How is that a six?!"
Markus shrugged, smiling cheekily. "Well, that's cool and all, but I could do the same thing. Just better. And, while impressive, isn't outstanding. Hence, six out of ten."
Percy grumbled to himself. "Everyone's a critic these days."
He then broke the byplay between the two, and turn towards Ares. "Are you going to fight us now?" he asked. "Or are you going to hide behind another pet?"
Ares's face was purple with rage. "Watch it, kid. I could turn you into -"
"A cockroach," The boy said in a bored tone. "Or a tapeworm. Yeah, I'm sure. That'd save you from getting your godly hide whipped, wouldn't it?"
Flames danced along the top of his glasses. "Oh, man, you are really asking to be smashed into a grease spot."
"If we lose, turn me into anything you want. Take the bolt. If we win, the helm and the bolt are ours and you have to go away."
"Interesting terms," Markus said, grinning. "Let's go with a water combo."
"You read my mind," Percy responded, grinning back in return.
He swung the baseball bat off his shoulder. "How would you like to get smashed: classic or modern?"
Percy showed his sword as Markus pulled out Wavebreaker, following the same action as his brother.
"That's cool, you little brats," he said. "Classic it is." The baseball bat changed into a huge, two-handed sword. The hilt was a large silver skull with a ruby in its mouth.
"Well, someone's compensating," Markus remarked.
"I'm going to enjoy shutting you up, brat."
"Guys," Annabeth said in clear worry. "Don't do this. He's a god."
"He's a coward," Percy told her sternly, handing the backpack to Grover.
"And he's going down," Markus added tersely.
The blonde swallowed. "Wear this, at least. For luck."
She took off her necklace, with her five years' worth of camp beads and the ring from her father, and tied it around Percy's neck.
"Reconciliation," she said. "Athena and Poseidon together."
Percy's face felt a little warm, but he still smiled. "Thanks."
"Feeling the love, Annie," Markus muttered sarcastically, making Annabeth flush in embarrassment.
"Oh, shut up," she retorted. Then she smiled, giving him a small hug. "Good luck."
Markus returned it slightly, before she retracted it and backed away.
"And take this," Grover said. He handed Markus a flattened tin can that he'd probably been saving in his pocket for a thousand miles. He gave Percy his reed pipes. "The satyrs stand behind you."
Both boys smiled. "Thanks, Grover," Markus replied. Percy nodded in thanks also.
"You all done saying good-bye?" Ares came towards the raven-haired demigods, his black leather duster trailing behind him, his sword glinting in the sunrise.
"I've been fighting for eternity, kids. My strength is unlimited and I cannot die. What have you got?"
"More IQ points." Markus nodded wittedly.
"Smaller ego." Percy added helpfully.
He kept his feet in the surf, Markus slowly drifting away from him, giving the god two separate targets. The son of the sea thought back what Annabeth had said at the Denver diner, so long ago: Ares has strength. That's all he has. Even strength has to bow to wisdom sometimes.
As if an imaginary bell was rung, the fight started. Ares dashed towards Percy as Markus formed several water spikes and sent them hurtling towards the god. They zoomed pass him as he moved quickly, cleaving down at Percy to cut him in half.
Percy moved out of the way as the water catapulted him over the god. He then made a stab on his way down, but the god twisted his sword and blocked with the hilt for the attack meant for his spine.
He grinned as Percy landed on the ground. "Not bad, not bad."
He slashed at Percy once more, forcing son of the sea to jump to dry land. Markus leaped forward, slashing at Ares to give Percy room. The god deflected the strike, then parried the follow-up. "Guess you have some moves, brat," Ares responded, grinning.
Ares grunted and another sword appeared in his free hand, this one looking like a large, claymore-style sword. Striking fast, he cleaved towards Markus's head. The boy rolled, narrowly avoiding the strike.
Markus cursed. Looking towards Percy, both boys nodded to each other. Charging together, they attacked the dual-wielding god, fighting in tandem with each other. Both boys concentrated on attacking and not getting sliced into pieces.
Both boys tried to find an opening, but found none sadly. Ares's sword had far more reach. They needed to get in close.
Markus disengaged from the struggle against the god, trying to play to his strengths. He roared, mentally summoning a small wave, trying to buffet the god of war. Unfortunately, that didn't work out so well. Ares disarmed Percy and knocked him away, sending him flying about thirty feet into the air and right into a sand dune. Focusing on the wave, the god waved his hand in the air, firing a large fireball of deep red towards the wave.
The two elemental attacks collided, cancelling each other out. Steam produced from the contact, obscuring the fighters' vision. Markus was already moving, knowing that the lack of vision wouldn't affect the god of war. But it didn't do any good. Ares appeared through the mist, striking at Markus's head and succeeding in attacking him. But the god's sword gave way, and 'Markus' disappeared into mist.
The boy reappeared, trying to take him by surprise. But Ares blocked his attack without even looking. "I admit, that was pretty clever, brat," Ares said, now turning towards the boy. "But using the Mist on me is useless."
Now Markus was on the defensive, their blades meeting. He was struggling to handle the sword combat Ares followed with two swords. He ducked under a swing, then weaved his way around the other one. He lunged forward to stab his thigh, but Ares dodged and kicked the boy in the ribs, breaking some and getting him to roll across the sand.
Markus had just a second the dodge the stab aimed for his head. He quickly got up, going for another slash, but Ares disarmed him and struck, leaving a slash on his chest, cutting through his shirt.
Disorientated, Markus stumbled, trying to move, but Ares reached out, leaving one sword out of his grasp, and grabbing the boy by the neck, lifting him up.
Markus gasped, trying to breath, but the god cut his air supply short as he squeezed. Thinking quickly, Markus reached into his pocket, retrieving his Chimera horn that he left there. Knowing that attacking wouldn't help, he also quickly reached into his jacket pocket, getting a bottle of water. Slashing it, he used the water to strike Ares's face. The god was about to attack, but was too slow, too eager to kill the boy in his grasp.
Distracted by the attack, the god was left disorientated and open to the kick Markus gave him, breaking his sunglasses. "Argh! You damn brat!"
Unfortunately, he didn't break his hold. He slammed the boy onto the ground, almost breaking his spine. Thank the gods it was sand and not solid ground.
Trying to struggle out of his hold was pointless. Futilely, he tried kicking his leg to break his grip, but no such luck. Thinking quickly, he suddenly came across the thought of his manga that he stored in his bag. Not knowing why, but wanting any solution needed, he recalled the part of the One Piece manga he read. And grinned.
Not knowing how to go about this, but desperate anyway, Markus concentrated on the ground beneath him. He mentally sent his energy - the tug in his gut that he always got when summoning water - towards the ground beneath him. He felt a buzzing feeling on his back. Redirecting that buzzing feeling to his right arm, Markus struck, attacking the god's left arm. (A.N. - If it sounds confusing, I'm sorry. I kind of made it up as I went. Made much more sense in my head).
There was a crack, and Ares roared, releasing Markus from his hold. He cradled his left arm, which showed a giant bruise, along with the arm being slightly bent.
The boy coughed and hacked. "Damn, I wasn't sure that was going to work." He grinned at the successful ability he achieved. Earthquake control. He used the power of earthquakes that came with his heritage, and compressed it into his arm. He wasn't even sure that was going to work. He got the attack from Whitebeard from One Piece.
Ares looked livid and held his arm, snapping it back in place.
Markus grinned, coughing out the question. "Oh, sorry. Did that hurt?"
"You little shi-!" The god turned, hearing the sound of a swinging sword, and blocked Percy's sneak attack.
Markus cursed, running back inside the surf and healing his injuries.
"Guys!" Annabeth yelled. "Cops!"
As the boys regrouped in the shore, they saw red lights flashing on the shoreline boulevard. Car doors were slamming.
"There, officer!" somebody yelled. "See?"
A gruff cop voice: "Looks like those kids on TV ... what the heck ..."
"That guy's armed," another cop said. "Call for backup."
A second cop car pulling up, siren wailing. Spectators, people who had been wandering the streets because of the earthquake, were starting to gather. Among the crowd, seemed to be disguised satyrs, others shimmering spirits, as if the dead rose to see the battle. There was flapping of leathery wings circling above.
Seconds later, more sirens.
A police voice on a megaphone said, "Drop the guns. Set them on the ground. Now!"
Guns?
Percy looked at Ares's weapon, and it seemed to be flickering; sometimes it looked like a shotgun, sometimes a two-handed sword. Who knew what the mortals were seeing, but Percy bet it didn't make himself seem friendly.
Ares turned to glare at their spectators, which gave the kids a moment to breathe. There were five police cars now, and a line of officers crouching behind them, pistols trained on them.
"This is a private matter!" Ares bellowed. "Be gone."
He swept his hand, and a wall of red flame rolled across the patrol cars. It collided with the cars, blowing them up as the officers jumped out of the way. The crowd behind them scattered, screaming.
The god turned back to the demigods, both of whom still exhausted. "Now, little demigods. Let's add you to the barbecue."
Then he attacked, forcing both boys to defend. Their only advantage was that Ares seemed to forget about his other sword. Markus tried channelling his earthquake powers again, but found that he couldn't this time. It took too much concentration, something that he didn't have.
Ares continued to defend and attack at the same time. It was like he could read their movements before they could even act. So what they needed right now was something unpredictable.
The thing was, the god seemed to force both boys away from the surf, knowing that it would give them strength. Both boys were out of options, and were struggling to keep up with the god.
Forgoing his water powers at the moment, Markus focused on his Mist powers instead. "Percy, keep him busy! Go near the shore! I'll give you cover!"
Disengaging from the battle, Markus left Percy to fend for himself. Ares laughed when he noticed this. "So, running away like a coward?" he mocked. "That won't do you any good!"
He made to go after him, but Percy somehow found the strength to keep him at bay, despite his struggle.
Markus backed away a couple of steps. Focusing on drawing the Mist, instead of making clones of himself, he did something different. He shaped it to form several weapons - weapons from different eras. Axes, swords, spears, and a whole lot more.
Markus struggled, having never gone this far with using the Mist. He could feel his reserves dipping even more, exhausting him. But he pushed through. He wasn't going to leave his brother hanging.
Soon, over twenty weapons formed, forged out of Mist and floating in the air behind him (A.N. - Think Gilgamesh's ability from Fate/Stay Night, only instead of gates, the weapons appear from Mist).
He roared, bringing his hand towards the direction of Ares. Following his command, the weapons darted over to him, propelling themselves faster than Markus could blink.
Ares saw this, and tried to dodge. But Percy waved his hand, summoning a wave and buffeting him. Percy seemed to draw strength from the surf, making it possible to attack him.
Disorientated from the wave, the god was left vulnerable to the hail of weapons that pierced him. He roared in pain, blasting the sand and waves around him. But both boys weren't done yet.
Percy didn't respond, the sea did that for him as a wave was pushed back. Percy didn't know what he was doing, just going on his instincts. The wave twisted and shot forward, right into Percy's back, propelling him forward in a speedy rush.
Ares, in this lapse of pain, was left wide open.
He pushed forward, disarming Ares and striking downwards, stabbing the god in the ankle.
Markus quickly followed after him. Using the remaining of his reserves, he called upon his earthquake abilities. His sword arm vibrating with power, Markus leaped up and hacked, slicing the god upon the chest and breaking his sternum, the combined force of his momentum and his earthquake powers giving him the strength.
The roar that followed made Hades' earthquake look like a minor event. The very sea was blasted back from Ares again, leaving a wet circle of sand fifty feet wide.
Ichor, the blood of the gods, flowed heavily from a wound on the war god's chest and heel. The fury from before faded for but a moment, before it came back, doubled. Sheer shock and disbelief was on his face, as if he couldn't believe that he had been bested.
He hobbled toward the demigods, holding his bleeding chest with one hand, muttering ancient Greek curses.
Something stopped him.
It was as if a cloud covered the sun, but worse. Light faded. Sound and colour drained away. A cold, heavy presence passed over the beach, slowing time, dropping the temperature to freezing, and making Markus and Percy feel like life was hopeless, fighting was useless.
The darkness lifted.
Ares looked stunned.
Police cars were burning behind them. The crowd of spectators had fled. Annabeth and Grover stood on the beach, in shock, watching the water flood back around Ares' feet, his glowing golden ichor dripping and dissipating in the tide.
Ares lowered his sword.
"You have made an enemy, godlings," he told both boys. "You have sealed your fate. Every time you raise your blades in battle, every time you hope for success, you will feel my curse. Beware, Perseus Jackson, Markus Henderson. Beware."
His body began to glow.
"Guys!" Annabeth shouted. "Don't watch!"
They turned away as the god Ares revealed his true immortal form. Markus somehow knew that if either had looked, they'd disintegrate into ashes.
The light died.
Looking back, Ares was gone. The tide rolled out to reveal Hades's bronze helm of darkness. Percy picked it up as their friends came running to them.
But before they could, they all heard the flapping of leathery wings. Three evil-looking grandmothers with lace hats and fiery whips drifted down from the sky and landed in front of the two combatants.
The middle Fury, the one who had been Mrs. Dodds, stepped forward. Her fangs were bared, but for once she didn't look threatening. She looked more disappointed, as if she'd been planning to have them for supper, but had decided the children might give her indigestion.
"We saw the whole thing," she hissed. "So ... it truly was not you two?"
Percy tossed her the helmet, which she caught in surprise.
"Return that to Lord Hades," Percy said, his voice annoyed. "Tell him the truth. Tell him to call off the war."
She hesitated, then ran a forked tongue over her green, leathery lips. "Live well, Percy Jackson, Markus Henderson. Become a true heroes. Because if you do not, if you ever come into my clutches again ..."
She cackled, as if the idea appealed to her. Then she, along with the other Furies, flew upwards, disappearing from view.
The both of them joined Grover and Annabeth, who were staring at them in amazement.
"Percy… Markus..." Grover said. "That was so incredibly ..."
"Terrifying," said Annabeth.
"Cool!" Grover corrected.
Both boys didn't feel cool, or even terrified, they were more tired than anything if they were honest. Markus moreso.
He collapsed, breathing in sharply. He wasn't wounded, but more exhausted. Wasting his reserves did that to him.
Immediately, the others were at his side, checking up on him, but he waved them away. "I'm fine," he responded to the group. "Just tired."
Percy nodded, joining him on the ground, spent also. "Yeah, me too."
A pause filled the air and Percy broke it by asking, "Did you guys feel that... whatever it was?"
They all nodded uneasily.
"Must've been the Furies overhead," Grover said.
But that wasn't it. Something had stopped Ares from killing the children of the big three, and whatever could do that was a lot stronger than the Furies.
Immediately, Markus knew who it was. But he didn't voice his opinion. The group were weary already. He didn't want to add more tension to them by saying it was his evil grandfather.
Percy reclaimed his backpack from Grover and looked inside. The master bolt was still there. Such a small thing to almost cause World War III.
"We have to get back to New York," Percy said. "By tonight."
"That's impossnabeth said, "unless we -"
"Fly," Percy agreed.
"Uhh, let's not," Markus decided tiredly. "I'd rather not get zapped by Mr. Zap-Happy himself."
The sky rumbled but Markus ignored it.
Annabeth stared at Percy. "Fly, like, in an airplane, which you were warned never to do lest Zeus strike you out of the sky, and carrying a weapon that has more destructive power than a nuclear bomb?"
"Yeah," Percy said with a nod. "Pretty much exactly like that. Come on."
Hello to you all, readers! I'm back! Sorry it took so long. Exams were a bitch and a half to deal with. But I finished them! Yesss! As a celebration, you can go read, review, follow or favourite the story. Please? It would help a lot.
So, the fight with Ares. I know how much you guys wanted a tag team. So here it is. I hope you enjoyed it. I wanted to make the fight more spectacular, with hurricanes and storms and magic, but I decided it would be a bit OP, so I kept it at a minimum.
Hope you liked my little additions. For the earthquake ability, I based it off of Whitebeard from One Piece. It's not a blatant copy, and I did like the idea, so I gave it a shot. Hope you liked it, as well as the usage of Mist.
Nearly finished the first book. Woohoo! The second book will take a while to update, but it'll be done. Also, I still would like suggestions for the magic usage in the story. Any suggestions made, I will read and ponder on.
Thank you! Read and Review!