A/N: After months of sitting around, writing crap and figuring out what I'm doing with my life, I finally managed to spew out another chapter for this story. I will admit, I'm still not seeing how I'll be able to finish this, but I'm so surprised that people are still reading, reviewing and liking this. So...without further ado, here's the sixth chapter. I hope you enjoy the surprise. (If it is one, at least)

Also, I made a minor edit on Chapter 5 when I finally figured out who I wanted for my villain.

Enjoy.

Chapter 6: The Unexpected Return

Mount Olympus, one week after Kratos' family's ascension…

Kratos was silent as he observed the other gods converse amongst themselves. He noticed Calliope and Lysandra were both talking with Artemis and Athena, probably discussing things he'd not care for.

"Good tidings, Lord Kratos." A cheerful voice greeted the God of War as a form made its way to his side, seating itself beside him.

"Good tidings, Lord Dionysus." Kratos sighed, almost disappointed. While he respected the other god, and held little hatred as the god hadn't been present during the downfall of Olympus or the events that led up to it, he disliked the Wine God's demeanour and carefree attitude, being fixated on his strict military lifestyle. "What brings you to my side? Have you not others to speak with?"

"What?" Dionysus chortled, taking a gulp from his infinite goblet. "And leave a good friend in cold solitude? Nay, War God." He moved his cup around, motioning to the rest of the pantheon present. "They all converse with company, yet the greatest among our ranks sits and broods as if he'd been taught on his bottom and locked away with a sour taste in his mouth."

"Perhaps you use your metaphors incorrectly, Wine God." Kratos growled. "I am no mere child, nor am I a good friend." He glared at the older god. "While I can accept you as an ally, I am not one to converse with others. I prefer the silence to plan and devise, as a commander must do."

"Ah!" Dionysus grinned. "You are no commander, Kratos. You are a god!" he raised his arms appraisingly. "So you must feast and celebrate as we gods do!"

The Spartan sighed. "I do not expect one such as yourself to understand, Dionysus. It would be best for you to leave me be." He told him, his voice becoming quiet. "…For your sake, and your health."

Before the other god could comment, Zeus finally appeared in the chamber.

"My fellow gods," the King of Olympus began, holding up his right hand as an image appeared in the viewing pool in the centre of the room. "There has been a great insult to Mount Olympus." The image showed the burning ruins of a village.

"Seven days ago, this city was destroyed and its people killed." Zeus said. "Those responsible have not attacked any cities since then." He looked around. "We do not know the motive behind the attack, nor do we know those responsible."

The image shifted to show a dummy dressed in makeshift Spartan armour being burned on a pyre.

"We believe whoever is leading this party is seeking to either destroy the city of Sparta or its god."

Everyone looked at the God of War.

Kratos frowned and stood up. "If he wishes to challenge me, I will face him as a Spartan. I will not tolerate any harm to Sparta or any of her territories." He said sternly. "I shall not allow some mortal to destroy all I have managed to build, no matter his reasons."

Artemis smirked. "You show the strength and honour of a warrior, Lord Kratos." She said as she stood up. "I will offer my aid in this conflict, should you wish to accept it."

Dionysus grinned. "As will I. You may dislike me, God of War, but I find interest in one who can bring about significant change to Olympus, and I respect you as a warrior and a drinker."

Athena also stood up. "You have aided me for years, Kratos. If this is my way to return the favour, then I shall offer my aid as well."

Zeus nodded. "You will have my allegiance as well, Kratos. See it as a show of good faith between us." he said.

"Should I find this enemy truly superior, I will gladly accept your aid, my fellow Gods." Kratos bowed his head. "However, I see it fit to seek out this threat's strength before I do so."

The King of the Gods nodded acceptingly. "That is fair, Kratos. We will be prepared for your request."

Zeus raised his hands again. "Now, I shall call this meeting to a close."

Later, Olympus, Chamber of Records…

Athena entered the chamber to find the Goddess of Victory teaching the Goddess of Joy from one of the tomes. The Goddess of Wisdom remained silent as she observed the interaction between mother and daughter.

Lysandra noticed Athena and nodded to her before turning back to her daughter. "Calliope, that is all for today." She told the girl. "You may be excused." Calliope nodded and skipped out of the chamber happily, briefly greeting Athena as she passed her.

"Greetings, Lady Athena." The Goddess of Victory said.

"You know you can address me as Athena now, Lysandra." Athena said as she sat across from the other woman. "You are a goddess now as well."

Lysandra smiled softly. "It will take time getting accustomed to."

"That it will." Athena agreed. "Have you heard from Kratos?"

The former mortal sighed. "He has gone to the Underworld. He did not tell me why, but he had all his weapons on him before he left." She replied. Athena smiled comfortingly. "Then that is just Kratos dealing with his current emotions." She explained. "He has gone to go fight in Lord Hades' Arena. I am certain he will return once he has calmed himself."

"Very well, Athena." Lysandra nodded. "I shall await him then."

Athena sighed and looked at the stacks of scrolls filled with knowledge of the world, enchanted to never be destroyed, as to preserve the path that the gods forged and have had their heralds forge for them.

"He truly is a unique man." She said softly.

Lysandra nodded mutely before the Goddess of Wisdom continued.

"Kratos overcame every obstacle in his path, ever since he was a child." Athena smiled softly, her eyes revealing nothing but reminiscence of a past she had clearly observed. "His attempt to defend his younger brother from the Gods, his praises to Ares in the name of Sparta, his Blood Oath to Ares in the name of strength."

Athena looked at the woman and smiled again. "His ten years of servitude in the hopes of freeing himself of the horrific memories that haunted him." She watched as the woman's expression turned confused before she remembered the visions Athena had shown her nights ago.

"Kratos is the one man in this world that ought to have praises sung, legends told, temples erected and armies sworn under him for all he has accomplished in the name of those he followed." Athena stated. "And yet, given the title of God of War, a position he would most definitely excel at, he was left unsatisfied, and I felt it still not enough."

Lysandra frowned in curiosity. "And his family has also been returned to him, this time permanently." She raised her eyebrows at the goddess' words.

Athena nodded. "He finally shows contempt, having his family by his side." She smiled and nodded to the woman. "For what it is worth, Lysandra, I thank you for giving my half-brother that kind of blessing when all else in his world sought nothing but his destruction."

Meanwhile, Earth, Greece, the City of Sparta…

Kratos appeared in the centre of the city, only to be horrified at the sight that greeted his return to his home.

The city was ablaze as warriors attacked from all sides, numbering even more than the Barbarian hordes he faced so long ago.

"Lord Kratos!"

The God of War looked around before spotting a man standing in front of the Eastern Gates.

He was dressed in blackened Spartan armour with intricate wolves designed into the shoulder guards and chestplate. His helm was one of a Spartan Hoplite, and his eyes seemed to glow with the same fires of Tartarus.

In his hands, he held a large Halberd, forged with what Kratos could only assume was Celestial Bronze, empowered with an energy he could not recognise, though it did appear familiar to him.

Despite his overall strange appearance, there was but one key feature of the man that gave away his identity to the God of War.

The identical swirled marking that adorned Kratos' own body, was burned into the man, and glowed like molten rock and dripped onto the ground where he stood.

Eyes widening in horror, the God of War muttered but a single word.

"Deimos."

The warrior raised his hands to remove his helm, his bearded and scarred face breaking into a slight, maniacal grin as he acknowledged the god standing before him. "Greetings, Lord Kratos." He smiled, his voice sounding hoarse and shaky.

"I was hoping to find you again, Brother."