Not sure I did this chapters justice, but I hope you guys enjoy it anyway.
Echo Five: You're welcome.
Guest 2.0: Yeah, I was really disappointed in how Heroes of Olympus handled the curse. Well, you'll have to wait for a bit. Oliver and Artemis won't meet in person for quite some time.
Oliver had only meant to rest his eyes for a few moments, but he must have been more tired than he thought, because he nodded off.
He dreamt of a cave. A fire was going in the middle of it, a red haired woman with silver eyes poking at it with a stick. With a start, Oliver realized it was the woman who had watched him sleep and who he had seen on Lian Yu, watching him and Shado.
Oliver heard a groan and the woman looked towards the source. It was the man who had tried to fight off the Hellhound. His arm was wrapped in some kind of cloth where the Hellhound had bitten him.
"You should not push yourself," the woman said, her voice having a calm, wise feel to it as the man tried to push himself into a sitting position.
"Where am I? Who are you? What was that thing?" the man rattled off questions, his confusion evident.
"You were attacked by a Hellhound. You were lucky I happened to be in the area, another second and you would have lost that arm, perhaps your life as well," the woman said matter of factly and the man had paled.
"Hellhound?" the man said as the woman's words seemed to register in his mind. "As in Greek mythology?"
"So you know of them, good," the woman said, sounding impressed. "Yes, they are very real. I was hunting a pack that had somehow escaped The Underworld when I came across you. What is your name?"
"Robert. Robert Queen."
Oliver nearly started. This man was his father, back when he was even younger than Oliver. Now that he looked, he could see the resemblance to his father as he knew him. He hadn't grown his goatee yet, but he could see his father in his younger self. It was an odd experience.
"I need to go; I need to get back to my wife. I told her I'd be back by tomorrow morning," Robert said guiltily.
"That may be a problem," the woman said, looking towards the entrance to the cave.
Oliver followed his father's gaze. Outside the cave, it poured rain and thunder could be heard in the distance. Oliver was surprised that he hadn't heard it before.
"The forecast said that there wouldn't be rain for another week!" his father exclaimed in shock.
"Zeus must be angry about something," the woman said with a long suffering sigh as Robert looked at her oddly.
"You talk about him as though he's real," Robert said wearily and she smiled.
Her smile made her beauty become apparent. In some ways, she reminded Oliver of the Lance sisters. Someone who didn't try to look beautiful, it just came naturally to them.
"He is as real as I am," the woman said matter of factly as Robert looked at her, comprehending, as Oliver was, that she was no ordinary woman.
"Who are you?" Robert asked softly, like he was really asking 'what are you'.
Oliver had already figured it out, but it didn't lessen the impact of the woman's words.
"I am Artemis, goddess of the hunt."
Oliver felt someone shaking him and his eyes snapped open. He was lying in the first bed, Barry standing over him, looking alarmed.
"Ollie, we need to leave, now," Barry said urgently.
Oliver sat up; looking around in confusion as he tried to figure out was going on. On the other bed, Annabeth had obviously just shaken Percy awake as well as he stared at the TV in dread. There was a news report on and Oliver paled as he saw the diner they had eaten that earlier.
"Oliver Queen is to be considered armed and extremely dangerous; he has assaulted three people and is not traveling alone. Witnesses say he is traveling with two accomplices, a man and a woman in their early twenties. Here are two police sketches of them," the news reporter said before the screen showed two police sketches of Percy and Annabeth.
"Great, another manhunt, just what we need," Percy grumbled.
"We need to leave," Oliver ordered. "Now."
As Oliver and Percy gathered the few items they hadn't been forced to leave behind when Barry grabbed them, Barry and Annabeth went to secure a ride. Oliver grabbed his bow, his quiver on his back. Normally, Oliver would have tried to smuggle it out, but he had been assured the Mist would hide it from mortals.
He and Percy were about to head out when they heard voices outside the door. It certainly wasn't Annabeth or Barry. He and Percy exchanged a grim look. Percy clutched his pen tightly as Oliver gripped his bow. The door suddenly burst open as it was kicked in, several police officers rushing in, aiming their guns at the pair.
"Put down your weapon and put your hands on your head!" one of the officers barked at Oliver.
Apparently, they could see his bow. And from what Annabeth said, his silver arrows would not work on mortals. He exchanged a glance with Percy before they nodded.
"Don't do it!" the officer warned but it was too late.
Oliver rushed in, whirling bow and striking some of them across the face as Percy pocketed his pen, grabbing one of the officers and throwing them into the wall. An officer fired at Percy but, to his shock, the bullet just bounced off his skin, hitting the wall. Percy elbowed him in the face, knocking him down as Oliver grabbed another office, throwing him down to the floor, hard enough to knock him out. Sooner enough, the pair stood in a room of unconscious police officers.
"Come on, let's go," Oliver ordered.
The pair emerged from the room and walked into a trap of four police officers aiming their guns at them. Before they could do anything, a mini cyclone suddenly knocks the officers into the next wall, knocking them out. The pair looked over as the Flash emerged from around the corner.
"Come on, let's go," Barry said before he grabbed them and sped away.
They emerged in an alley; Barry somehow managed to change into civilian clothes on the way. Annabeth then pulled up in a silver SUV.
"Come on, we don't have time. The police have the hotel surrounded," Annabeth said urgently.
They didn't need to be told twice, Percy getting in the passenger's side while Oliver and Barry took up the back.
"How'd you get a car?" Percy asked as Annabeth took off.
"You'd be surprised what someone is willing to give up when a superhero asks for their help," Barry said, his lips twitching in amusement. "So how far are we from the woods?"
"About five miles out. We should be there in about ten minutes," Annabeth said.
Silence descended on the car as Oliver turned to stare out the window. As Percy and Annabeth began bickering over the radio station, Oliver's thoughts turned to his dream. But, if Chiron was to be believed, it was a vision of the past. His past, as he just saw the first time his parents met.
The red haired woman was his mother. Some part of Oliver felt like he should have expected it. Had she been watching him from a distance all these years, he wondered. Oliver wasn't sure he wanted an answer to that question. His feelings on Artemis were complicated, at best.
"You okay?" Barry asked quietly, breaking Oliver out of his thoughts.
"Yeah," Oliver lied, not wanting to get into it. "Just had a strange dream."
Barry nodded with an odd look in his eyes. He was silent for a few moments before he spoke.
"Do these dreams…happen to involve red skies?" Barry asked lowly.
Oliver stared at Barry, remembering the dream he'd had the night he arrived at Camp Half-Blood.
"Have you been having dreams with red skies?" Oliver asked ice running through his veins as Barry nodded.
"For a few weeks now," Barry said lowly and the car was silent as Annabeth and Percy stopped bickering, obviously listening but Oliver and Barry paid them no mind. "It's always the same. Central City is peaceful until the sky turns red. People panic as these demon…things come out of nowhere. There's this voice, telling me that I can't fight my fate. Then there's this machine, I can never make it out though. I just now I have to stop it. And then...then I die, every time."
Barry looked away as the car was silent save for the radio, stuck on some rock station. The parallels between Barry's dream and his own were not lost on Oliver. He just wish he knew what they meant, because he refused to believe that they meant Barry was destined to die, he would not accept that.
"We're here," Annabeth called out, breaking Oliver out of his thoughts.
They must have been in the car longer than he thought, as he could see the woods that Tina had directed them to in the distance. Annabeth parked a little away from the woods and the four of them got out of the car. They gathered together and stared at the entrance of the woods, knowing the Nemean Lion was somewhere in there.
"So what's the plan exactly?" Percy asked.
"Best chance we have is if I can get it in the eye or the mouth with one of my arrows," Oliver said, reaching back into his quiver and pulling out a silver arrow. "If you guys want to turn back, now's the chance."
"We can't fight a prophecy, even if we want to," Annabeth said grimly.
"Wise Girl's right. You're stuck with us," Percy added.
"I came all this way to help you, I'm not leaving you now," Barry said and Oliver sighed, accepting defeat.
"No turning back now," Oliver said as he notched his bow with the silver arrow.
Annabeth pulled out her knife as Percy pulled out his pen. Barry activated his Flash Ring; his suit deploying as Percy clicked his pen. Barry changed into his suit as the pen turned into the bronze sword.
"Cool suit," Percy said as he saw Barry in his suit.
"Cool sword," Barry said back.
Percy and Barry entered the woods together, Annabeth and Oliver following slowly behind them, more cautious.
"Barry, he's not a mortal," Annabeth said lowly and Oliver raised an eyebrow.
"Because of the dreams?" Oliver asked.
"Because he can see through the Mist. Even a mortal who knows about it can't see through it. That and the dreams…" Annabeth trailed off.
"So what, you think he's one of us?" Oliver asked as he eyed his friend, who was talking quietly with Percy.
"I don't know what he is; it's very unusual for a demigod to live into adulthood without knowing what they are. We give us a scent that attracts monsters. But It's not unheard of," Annabeth said as she glanced over at Oliver pointedly.
Oliver frowned thoughtfully as he looked at Barry. Barry was a man of science; he always tried to find a scientific explanation for things, even things that seemed impossible. It was very difficult to wrap his head around Barry being a demigod. Oliver wasn't sure he believed it. But he was still having trouble wrapping his head around the concept that gods were real himself.
Oliver was broken out of his thoughts when a low growl echoed through the woods. Everyone froze, stopping to look at each other.
"Here we go," Percy muttered, gripping his sword hilt tightly.
There was the sound of large footsteps as a shadow moved forward. But it wasn't a shadow, it was the Nemean Lion.
It was easily the size of two or three bears standing on top of each other. Its golden fur shined in the sunlight, it was as beautiful as it was terrifying. Its beady eyes stared at the four of them like it was considering whether they would be a better desert or lunch.
"That is one big lion," Barry muttered and only Oliver, who knew Barry so well, was able to detect the slight quiver in his friend's voice.
Not that he could blame the speedster. Oliver fought the tremble in his hands. He had faced every threat known to man, even magic and aliens, but this creature filled him with dread. Oliver gripped his bow tightly, he feared this creature. Feared it would stop him before he could complete this quest. But he would not let that fear stop him from trying.
"You guys ready?" Oliver asked as he aimed at the lion.
"No, but when has that ever stopped me before?" Percy joked.
The Lion let out a loud growl as it lunged for them. Only Barry's super speed prevented them from being lunchmeat. He sped them away until they stood directly behind where the lion had stood. It turned around, smelling them, and lunged for them once more. Oliver fired a single arrow, aiming for its eye, but it turned its head and the arrow bounced off the top of its head harmlessly.
Percy rushed forward, whirling his bronze sword. The lion clawed at his chest, a move that would have killed most, but the claws cut his shirt but not his body. To the shock of the others, Percy jumped, grabbing onto the Lion's left front paw and trying to climb up. Angrily, the lion tried to shake him off but the determined son of Poseidon held on tight.
"Your boyfriend is insane," Barry told Annabeth in disbelief.
"This is crazy even by his standards," Annabeth said before rushing in to help her boyfriend.
The Lion finally managed to shake Percy off and he crashed into Annabeth, the two crashing onto the ground. Oliver fired another arrow but the lion whipped around, the arrow bouncing off its side. The lion made a move towards Percy and Annabeth, but Barry sped over and got them to safety.
"What in the name of Athena were you thinking?" Annabeth asked Percy angrily as Barry dropped them several feet from the lion, slapping his shoulder.
"I was trying to get to its head. If I could get close enough, I could stab its eye," Percy explained.
As another arrow was deflected of the lion's fur, Barry looked at Percy, thinking on the young demigod's strategy. And he got an idea.
It was a horrible idea really. But, if they all worked together, it might just work.
His shoulders set in determination; Barry raced over to Oliver and grabbed him. Speeding over to Annabeth and Percy, he placed a hand on Percy's shoulder. As he and Annabeth were touching when he did this, Barry's Speed Force energy ran through all three of them. Time seemed to freeze around them as the three looked around in confusion.
"Barry, what's happening? What are you doing?" Oliver asked in confusion.
"It's called Flash Time, as long as we're in contact, you can move at Super Speed with me," Barry explained before getting down to business. "Listen, I have a plan, but we need to work together."
"What do you have in mind?" Percy asked as they gave him their full attention.
"You can't get up there…but I can," Barry said as he looked at the lion, frozen in regular time. "Ollie, I need one of your arrows. You three distract him and I can get to its head and stab it in the eye."
"Barry, that's insane," Oliver said in disbelief.
"Maybe," Barry acknowledged. "But if you have any other ideas, I'm open to suggestions."
"He's right, we don't have any other choice," Annabeth said in agreement.
"His plan is crazy. So crazy it just might work. I like that," Percy said with a grin.
"Oliver, do you trust me?" Barry asked seriously as he looked over at Oliver.
"You know I do," Oliver said without hesitation.
"Then trust me now," Barry said simply.
Oliver hated it. This was his quest, his mission. He had taken this on to save Barry, not put him in even more danger. But Annabeth was right, there wasn't any other choice. So, reluctantly, he reached into his quiver and pulled out a silver arrow.
"Don't miss," he said as he held the arrow out to Barry.
"I won't," Barry promised as he let them all go.
Normal time resumed and the lion roared in might. Barry took the arrow from Oliver, facing the lion grimly.
"We got your back," Percy said, pulling his pen out from where it had returned to his pocket and turning it back into a sword.
Oliver reached into his quiver and pulled out one of his trick arrows.
"Barry, get it done and do it fast," Oliver said as he notched his arrow.
"Only way I know how," Barry quipped.
The lion roared once more before Oliver fired. The arrow let out a flash of light, blinding the lion for a moment as Barry raced up its leg and onto its back. Sensing him, the lion began to violently trying to shake him off. Barry was forced to hand on with one hand to the lion's fur, refusing to let go of the silver arrow with his other hand.
"Any day now guys!" Barry cried out.
Percy raised a hand and Oliver watched in astonishment as all the moisture in the air gathered together. It was small at first, a ball the size of a baseball. Then it grew until it was the size of a basketball, a globe, and bigger.
"Hang on Barry, this won't be pretty!" Percy cried out.
Percy moved with his hand and the ball of water raced towards the lion, hitting it straight in the head. It was blinded by the water, hissing as Barry was able to move towards the front of its head. With a roar, Barry managed to stab the lion in its left eye with the arrow, which Barry made sure went more than surface deep.
The lion howled in pain, knocking Barry off with a violent twist of its head. Barry crashed through a branch and landed painfully on his back. He stared, dazed, along with Oliver, Percy and Annabeth as the lion howled in pain. It fell on all fours and then began shrinking. Barry managed to pick himself up and the four heroes watched in disbelief as the lion faded into a full length, golden furred leather jacket.
"So…is it over?" Barry asked wearily.
"No, it has only just begun."
The four of them jumped, startled as Mar Novu appeared where the Nemean Lion had stood moments earlier.
"Well done, all of you," Novu said as he looked around at the four heroes. "You worked together to defeat what Hercules nearly died from. It's an impressive feat."
"You again," Barry muttered as he glared and Novu turned to him.
"Barry Allen. Your help in this matter was invaluable. But you have a different path than your friend Oliver Queen," Novu told him.
Novu then waved his hand and, to Oliver's shock and horror, Barry vanished in a flash of blue light.
"Hey, where did you send him?!" Oliver snarled.
"You may relax Oliver Queen, Barry Allen is in no danger," Novu assured him. "As I told you, he has a different path to walk than you. He will be part of this quest no longer; he must walk his own path now. And time is of the essence, you have a quest to continue."
"We killed the lion, isn't that enough?" Percy asked annoyed.
"No Percy Jackson, slaying the Nemean Lion was only the beginning. There is still much work to be done," Novu told him ominously.
"'Beasts and monsters, they will seek'," Annabeth remembered. "We'll have to face another monster before this is over, won't we?"
"Yes. You must now journey to the Garden of the Hesperides," Novu said and Percy and Annabeth paled.
"Are you kidding me? Why would we go there?! Ladon will kill us! Just like…" Percy gulped, as though swallowing a painful memory.
"You must. You will need a scale from the dragon, just a scale," Novu told them.
"I'm sorry, dragon? For those of us who are a little new to this?" Oliver asked, not liking the sound of this.
"The Garden of the Hesperides is home to Hera's tree of golden apples. It's guarded by Ladon, a hundred headed dragon. Its bite is poisonous. Its poison is lethal," Annabeth trailed off, looking like she was fighting back a painful memory as she glared at Novu. "How do you expect us to get a scale? We've lost someone to that monster already."
"Journey to San Francisco. You will find a son of Ares there, he will help you," Novu said, looking at Oliver pointedly. "You know why you must do this."
Oliver glared angrily at Novu but knew he didn't have another choice. If he wanted to save everyone, he needed to follow Novu's orders.
"Brace yourselves," Nov said before vanishing in a blue light along with the furred leather jacket.
"I'm really starting to hate that guy," Percy grumbled.
"Join the club," Oliver said with a sigh.
"So what do we do now?" Percy asked as he and Annabeth looked at Oliver for answers.
"For now, we do what he says. We head to San Francisco," Oliver said with a sigh.
Camp Half-Blood
Same time
The campers and Chiron were staring at the center of the pavilion, their lunch forgotten as they stared at the unexpected guest.
"Hey," Barry said awkwardly, thankful that, somehow, his suit had been returned to his ring when Novu had transported him here. "I'm Barry, Barry Allen. Not exactly sure how I got here."
"Barry Allen," Chiron muttered as he approached, causing Barry to look in shock at his lower half.
"Hey, you're a…" Barry trailed off as Chiron smiled.
"Yes. I have waited a very long time to meet you," Chiron said and Barry looked at him oddly.
"You know me?" Barry asked confused.
"I know of you. I wanted to meet you during the last war, but you had other priorities at the time," Chiron told him.
Then, there were mutters, one group of girls at one of the tables looking disappointed as they all looked at something above Barry's head. Barry looked up, having trouble comprehending what he was seeing.
A holographic, red glowing dove was hovering above his head. Barry stared at it, confused as it faded. He was so confused by what was going on, he almost didn't hear Chiron's words.
"Hail Barry Allen, son of Aphrodite, goddess of love."
Yes, the man from Oliver's dreams a few chapters ago was a younger Robert Queen, early in his marriage to Moira. He would be played by Justin Hartley. Aside from the fact that I can see him as a young Robert, I just couldn't resist making one Green Arrow the father of another. Thank you to my friend Aragorn II Elessar for his help with that.
It's been fun having Barry as part of the quest, but if I kept him as part of the quest, it would be too easily for the heroes. And now we're going to take a break from the quest to set up Barry's character Arc as he deals with having his entire life turned on its head.
Having Barry be a demigod was not something I originally intended, but it did allow me to set up his character Arc when I was planning this out. For Aphrodite being his mother, being the son of the love goddess just seemed to fit Barry more than any of the other gods and its actually going to be a major plot point for Barry's Arc in this story.