The Frost Giant gazed down at Loki, his red eyes glowing emotionlessly. "Very well, Laufeyson. If that is your wish." The giant plunged his hand forward, directly at Loki's heart. Nico yelled for his friend, and the muffled sound of Thor's roar could be heard through his own prison of ice. But their voices died away as they were both shocked into silence. The Frost Giant's fist was hovering over Loki's heart, but the spear of ice had been banished, leaving the giant's fist bare. Loki opened his eyes in surprise, and gazed up at the giant before him.
"Wait, what are you doing? I thought you came here to kill me?"
"We came to this world to kill an evil traitor, Loki Laufeyson. A traitor you may be, but evil? No. You would sacrifice yourself for these puny humans. That is not evil. It is honourable. Noble. The way of a Prince." The giant withdrew his hand from Loki's chest. "Although you were raised by the Asgardians, you are still Jotun, even if you hate us, your own people, as they do. We have suffered greatly at the hands of the Asgardians, and we will no doubt suffer more in the future. Now, we are without a king, the last murdered by his own son, when he had no intention of claiming the throne for himself. Whatever you think of us, Laufeyson, we are not evil. Yes, we hate Odin, and most of us hate you, but we do not take lives unless it is necessary. You are perhaps mad, but I do not think you seek to harm us. It seems we have been given false information."
Loki, still kneeling before the army of blue giants, scrunched up his face in confusion. "What information could possibly cause you to travel so far just to kill me?"
The giant laughed humourlessly, "So I am correct in guessing you do not plan on building an army of human warriors in order to invade Jotunheim and massacre the remaining Jotun that still live?"
"WHAT?!"
"I thought as much. The earth goddess has a tongue more silver than even yours, Trickster."
Suddenly, beautiful laughter filled the air, causing all the Earthborn and monsters to fall to their knees, bowing, and the mortals and demigods to ready themselves for the arrival of a larger threat.
"The Jotun have arrived, yet they do not fight. Are you cowards?" Gaea's voice whispered through the air, but the goddess was nowhere to be found. The giants bristled at the insult, but otherwise did not acknowledge the comment
"You lied to us, Earth Mother," the lead Jotun growled, once again allowing ice to encase his fists. Loki rose from his position on the ground and readied his staff after waving a hand to release Nico and Thor from their icy prisons, "The Prince was not planning an attack. You manipulated us into leaving our home."
Gaea's laughter echoed again, "Me? How do you know the Asgardian speaks the truth? He betrayed your kind once before. What is to stop him doing so again? You agreed to fight for me, Frost Giant," her voice lowered dangerously, "Do you not honour your promises?"
The Frost Giant growled, anger flashing in his eyes, "This time, no. It appears we and the Prince are more similar than we thought." He held up a blue arm, and slashed it downwards through the air. "Jotun! Kill the Earthborn!"
With terrifying battle cries, the giants attack, using their weapons of ice to butcher enemy after enemy, and freezing them solid if they came into contact with the giant's blue skin. Nico sprinted over to Loki, who was staring after his kinsmen with a look of shock on his face. Nico watched Thor as he studied Loki from where he stood, before Thor turned away, rejoining the battle. The Asgardian knew Loki wouldn't react well if he tried to hug him.
"Well," Loki said when he felt Nico arrive beside him, "That went better than expected. Look! My head is still attached to my neck."
"Loki?" Nico asked.
"Yes?" Loki answered, as he turned to face the son of Hades. He was knocked to the ground, however, when Nico's fist collided with his face. "What was that for?!" Loki yelped, jumping to his feet and advancing on Nico.
Nico stood his ground. "You suicidal bastard! What the fuck is wrong with you?"
"What indeed," Loki murmured, rubbing his bruised cheek, "But we will have to finish this talk later. I feel like killing a few hundred more dirt minions. What say you, Emo Ninja?"
"Don't you dare try something like that again, Goat Hat," Nico snarled, before turning away to rejoin the chaos, "Or I'll kill you."
"But I would already be dead," Loki called after Nico's retreating back.
"I'm the Prince of the Underworld," Nico said in a dark voice, "I have my ways," before disappearing back into the sea of Earthborn and monsters. Loki shook his head, and pointed his staff at a few Earthborn, using his magic to blow them to smithereens.
"That child really needs to work on expressing his feelings," Loki muttered to himself as dust came raining down, "Threatening to kill people when he's worried isn't very nice."
Gaea's laughter echoed through the battlefield, as she created new Earthborn for every one they destroyed.
"This is getting tedious!" Nico roared as he ripped off an Earthborn's head with his bare hands. "Hey! Jotun!" he yelled at a passing giant. The blue giant paused in his path, and whirled to face Nico, ready for an attack. "Could you guys freeze the ground or something? We can't stop this bitch if every time we kill something, it gets replaced!"
The Jotun grunted in understanding, before bending its head back, and bellowing into the sky. All the surrounding Jotun looked to the sound, and watched as he slammed his fists into the ground, causing ice to explode outwards, freezing the soil. Where the ice touched, no more Earthborn rose, and Nico grinned as he watched the other Jotun do the same. Hmmm, Gaea was right to want these guys as her allies.
Time passed, and eventually the defenders of New York had surrounded the remaining invasion force. With the frozen ground crunching under their feet, they advanced.
"What were we so worried about?" Tony scoffed, and he patted Bruce on his large, green arm, "That wasn't too hard, now was it?"
Nico frowned to himself. It hadn't been too difficult, and that alone worried him to no end. He and Percy were extremely powerful demigods, and along with the other demigods, Hunters, Jotun and mortals, they would have been able to defend New York, but Nico could not help but feel that Gaea had more tricks up her sleeve.
Nico slapped the back of Tony's armoured head before he could say anything else. "Gaea hasn't made an appearance yet, this could be some sort of diversion. Be on your guard."
Gaea's laughter sounded once again, followed by words, "Well done, my dearest Nico, so intelligent. You see right through me, I'm flattered."
"Shut up, and show yourself," Nico snarled, holding his sword out in front of him, summoning Hellfire to his free hand, "Enough with the games."
"But playing with your friends is so much fun, Nico," her voice whispered.
"Enough," Steve announced, "We've destroyed your army, and those Greek gods will be arriving soon. You can't win this battle, dirt lady."
"Dude, shut up!" Percy hissed, "You're just gonna piss her off!"
"Can't win?" Gaea asked in a soft, dangerous voice. "You underestimate me, foolish mortal. I cannot be defeated. I am the most powerful being in this Universe. You think my creations were the attack force?" She laughed evilly, "No, they were just created so my Chosen would have an easier time massacring you pathetic creatures. Now you will all die by his hand..."
"Where is this 'Chosen'" Clint asked, "He can't be that powerful if he needs his mommy to defeat his enemies for him."
'Nico', Gaea's voice echoed in his mind, 'Destroy these mortals. See how they doubt your strength? You must show them your true powers, my Chosen. Destroy them! NOW!'
"Get out of my mind!" Nico snarled, gripping his head with his armoured hands. In his mind he slashed at the faint presence he knew to be Gaea, as she whispered dark words into his thoughts.
"Nico, what's wrong?" Natasha asked anxiously, "Is she messing with your head?"
Nico didn't answer her, just gritted his teeth. He could feel a stabbing sensation as Gaea clawed her way through his mind, searching through his memories, all the while whispering. If he was anyone else, he would undoubtedly be on the ground, howling from the pain, but he was stronger than that. Her attack on his mind had only succeeded in causing him to hunch over, and for him to screw up his eyes, which had begun to turn fully black, only this time with streaks of gold flecked throughout.
'Serve me, and I will make you a god!' She was trying to tempt him into becoming her servant, while also needling at his mind, searching for a weakness to exploit. But Nico was a son of Hades. Never show weakness.
With an almighty roar, his power exploded outwards, ripping Gaea out of his mind with a huge wave of darkness. Nico finally fell to knees, holding himself up with shaking arms. He breathed in deeply, and he could feel blood pooling beneath his mask from his nose. He coughed, and pushed himself to his feet. Loki grabbed his arm when he was almost there, and helped him up the rest of the way. Nico pushed his concerned friend away, annoyed, and ripped off the mask obscuring his face. As soon as it was removed, he mopped at the blood dripping from his nose.
"Nico!" Percy said anxiously, "Remember what Fury said! Gaea needs you for her plans, you can't let her win!"
"You're a little late, Kelp Head," Nico said with irritation, "I already kicked the bitch out of my head."
"Oh," Percy replied, frowning, "It's just, you still have gold in your eyes." Nico's gold flecked eyes widened, but before he could answer, Gaea's furious voice filled the air.
"So, son of Hades. You refuse to serve me even when I offer you Godhood. If you will not serve me willingly, then I'm afraid I will have to force you."
"What?" Nico replied incredulously, "Turning my mind to mush wasn't forcing me?"
"Far from it," She whispered menacingly, "It seems I must become more involved than I had previously planned. Remember, this is your fault, Ghost King."
Immediately, the ground began to shake with incredible tremors, knocking the Avengers and the rest of their army flying in different directions, and causing the remaining monsters and Earthborn to disintegrate. Nico hit the ground hard, and was immediately captured by the dreaded earth tendrils. He managed to slash at them, and got to his feet, unsteadily because of the localised earthquake Gaea was creating. Before he could take another step, however, the ground wrapped around his ankles, causing him to fall backwards. Instead of hitting the ground again, like he was expecting, a pair of glowing golden arms wrapped around him, and he was jerked back against someone's body.
"Gaea," he growled, and tried to stab at her behind him with his sword. Before it could harm her, the earth rose, and wrapped around his wrist. Nico tried to pull his hand free until he heard a sickening snap. He snarled in pain as his sword fell from nerveless fingers, his wrist now broken.
Gaea tutted in his ear, "Now Nico, is that any way to treat your beloved Goddess?" she said maliciously. Nico responded by tugging a dagger from within his armour with his still functioning hand, and stabbing the blade into what he guessed was her stomach.
Gaea howled in pain, and Nico smiled in triumph until her hand snaked around his neck, and began to squeeze, preventing him from taking a breath. Nico choked, and tried to break her hold with his free hand. As his vision began to darken, she loosened her hold slightly, and Nico inhaled shallowly, the air painful to his bruise throat. He summoned shadows, his mind now a bit clearer, and sent them hurtling towards them. They would stab him as well, but Gaea would be hurt, and she wouldn't be able to use him for her plans. Before they were impaled, Gaea created a shield of stone, and the shadows disintegrated. The shield lowered itself back into the ground. Then, she materialised a glowing golden blade in the hand that wasn't wrapped around Nico's throat. His eyes widened in alarm as she lowered it to rest over his frantically beating heart. She said nothing as she held the blade before him, the only sound the incredible noise of the earthquake that was still ravaging the ground, except for where they were standing, making it impossible for his friends to gain the feet.
"Remember," Gaea whispered, the dagger glinting in the sun, "You brought this upon yourself," and plunged the dagger into Nico's heart. His vision plunged into blackness.
Percy watched as Gaea grabbed his cousin, and when he tried to escape, subsequently broke his wrist. Percy felt anger like never before, and renewed his efforts in trying to stop the earthquake. This was his father's domain, so this was right up his alley. Unfortunately, Percy was finding it difficult to control them, as they were created by Gaea. Just as he managed to calm the earth long enough to stand up, he looked up again at Nico. What he saw made him scream with fury.
Gaea had just stabbed his cousin in the chest with a glowing dagger. She released Nico, and he dropped to his knees, his body limp as he fell forward.
"NICO!" screamed Percy. The earthquake stopped as soon as it started, and Percy was on his feet in an instant, at Nico's side, and turning his body over, tears pricking his eyes. Not Nico...
Percy slapped Nico's cheeks, trying to wake him up, but knowing it was no use. He had been stabbed in the heart. He had to be dead. He heard Gaea's laughter, and looked up in time to see her golden form sink back into the ground. He cursed, and returned his attention back to Nico, and gasped as the glistening golden dagger, stained with Nico's blood, melted into his cousin's wound, healing it.
"Nico!" Percy yelled at his body, convinced that Nico had somehow managed to heal himself. Tears fell from his eyes, and he smiled hopefully as he watched Nico start to breath once again. "Guys! He's still alive!" Percy was overcome with relief as Nico began to slowly open his eyes. "It's okay, man, your fine. I don't know what she did to you, but-" he froze mid sentence as he met Nico's gaze.
His eyes were pure gold, the whole eye, fixed in a blank expression.
"Nico?" Percy questioned weakly. Nico didn't answer, just punched Percy in the chest, sending him flying backwards. As he landed on the ground, Percy knew that if he wasn't invincible, Nico would most likely have broken all of his ribs. "No!" Percy yelled, "Nico, stop!" He watched in horror as Nico got to his feet, and summoned his sword to his hand, his face expressionless. His possessed golden eyes were glowing with Gaea's control. "Snap out of it! Fight her, Nico!"
Nico just gazed at him emotionlessly, and using his arm with the broken wrist, gestured dismissively at Percy. A wave of darkness flew from his hand, striking Percy, and sending him flying backwards again.
"Nico! What are you doing!?" Steve yelled, as he got to his feet along with the other Avengers in time to see Nico attack Percy. Nico's head swivelled towards them, and they gazed at his emotionless face in horror. "Nico?" Another wave of darkness later, and the Avengers were sent flying through the air, where they landed beside Percy.
"What happened?" Clint demanded, aiming an arrow at his supposed team mate.
"Gaea's controlling him somehow," Percy exclaimed in horror.
"Well done, my warrior," Gaea's voice echoed through the air once again, "You possess the power to destroy gods. Destroy these mortals quickly so you can continue your task."
With a bright flash, the godly reinforcements finally arrived. Hades, Poseidon, Artemis, Athena and Ares looked around, seeing the enemy dead, and that they're side had suffered fewer casualties. They also saw a lack of Gaea. Hades stepped forward, seeing his son in the middle of the carnage, and began to walk forward. "Nico? Are you alright?"
Athena searched the area, warily, "I definitely sense Gaea's presence. Be careful, Hades."
Hades ignored her, growing worried as his son refused to answer him, still facing his mortal team.
"Lord Hades!" Percy yelled, "Don't get any closer!"
Hades ignored the demigod, and walked until he was directly behind his son. "Nico," he said, grasping his son's shoulder, and turning him around to face him, "What-" he broke off, eyes widening with horror.
His son's once beautiful dark eyes, were now gold.
"Kill the gods, Nico," Gaea's evil, yet beautiful voice, whispered.
"Yes, my Lady," Nico replied in monotone, and attacked.
Haha, another cliffhanger. I feel evil. This makes you wanna read more though. Me and my dastardly schemes. Review if you want.