As they made their way over, the group spotted them and hurried to meet them.
"You guys made it!" exclaimed Leo, relief coating his face. Piper ran over and threw her arms round Jason who returned her embrace. "I'm so glad you guys are okay," she breathed, smiling at them both as she pulled away.
"Same to you guys," said Jason, nodding to the others.
"You two have come at either a really bad or really good time," said Connor, looking past them down the hill. "Those mortals aren't going to hold them off for long," he continued, eyes narrowing in on the Avengers.
"That's what we were thinking. There are so many," Percy said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Is there anyone else who's not infected?"
"Maybe a couple. Some may be hiding throughout Camp, but the majority is down there," explained Will, gesturing to the fight below. "We couldn't hold them any longer. Earlier today, they broke out of the infirmary and started destroying Camp," said Nico, turning back to the grounds that now looked just as they had during the battle with Gaia. "We had to hide and barricade ourselves in the Big House."
"He's just mad because I wouldn't let him shadow travel us out," explained Will, given Nico's annoyed tone in his last statement. "We could have died by staying there!" complained Nico, turning to him with a scowl. "You could have died by not only shadow travelling again so soon after your trek across America, but also trying to transport all of us along with you!" argued Will, gesturing to the group.
"Guys, enough," interrupted Percy, shooting them both a look. "This isn't helping."
As Percy tried to diffuse the situation, Jason walked over so he could have a clear view of Camp, and his heart sank.
There were fires everywhere, which must have been why they were so bright as they flew in. The cabins had walls broken through, collapsing with the lack of support. The stables were in ruins, empty luckily, but that only meant all the Pegasi were running or flying around now and would have to be brought back.
The entire place was a wreck, and even though Camp Jupiter had been Jason's home, seeing Camp Half-Blood like this hurt him. The pain at seeing it destroyed mixed with the anger towards Gaia for putting him and his friends through this was not a good combination.
He must have zoned out, because the next thing he knew, he had flinched at a hand landing on his shoulder.
He looked over to see Piper looking at him in concern. "Hey, you okay? It started getting pretty windy there," she asked, her brow knitted. "Oh, sorry about that. But yeah, yeah. I'm fine," he assured, turning back to face back down the hill again.
"Just the thought of what Gaia has done," he gritted out, clenching his fists. "I know. She's pure evil," agreed Piper, squeezing his shoulder.
Jason sighed. "Thinking about Camp in this state, all of you running for your lives..."
He stopped talking and frowned. He squinted down and really took a good look at what lay before him, and realised the familiarity of the scene.
It was his dream, the one he had days ago of Camp in flames as people screamed in fear. It had come true, just as demigod dreams always did.
He was so caught up in his shock he didn't hear someone calling his name until they near yelled it and he jerked back to reality.
"Yeah, sorry. Got distracted. What were you saying?" he asked, looking to them all.
They eyed him warily, but Percy answered him without drawing attention to his daze. "I was just explaining to the others."
Jason looked at him to go on.
Percy smirked. "I have a plan."
...
"Okay, everyone clear on what we're doing?" checked Percy. They all nodded affirmatively. "Great. You guys get down there and help the others."
Will, Nico, Piper, Clarisse and Connor then dashed down the hill to join the fight, not worrying about getting infected anymore thanks to the imminent presence of the cure.
Percy turned to Leo. "You still got it?" he asked. Leo responded by tossing him the small vial with a grin. "See? I'm not as irresponsible as you guys think," he said, raising an eyebrow at them.
Percy smirked. "Never said you were."
Leo then nodded and headed to join the others, Jason thumping him in the back as he passed. He then turned to Percy. "You really think this is going to work?"
"Honestly? I have no idea. But it's better than nothing, and we need to do something now," replied Percy. Jason nodded in agreement. "Well, guess we better give it a shot."
Jason then jumped upwards and soared into the night sky. Percy turned back to face Camp, watching for a moment as the first rays of dawn peeped over the horizon. Then, he moved his hand to his mouth and whistled, loud and shrill.
For a moment, nothing happened, and Percy worried that something terrible had occurred. But then, from the distance rose a dark shape, soaring high into the sky before turning and heading in Percy's direction.
Percy grinned as his trusted companion flew to him and landed right next to him, galloping over excitedly.
"Boss! You're alive!" Blackjack exclaimed, almost crashing into him. "Course I am. Wasn't going to let something like this be the end of me," said Percy, smiling at him and patted his neck.
"I'm so glad you're back. Things were getting real weird round here, and I had no idea what was going on, and-"
"Buddy," interrupted Percy, giving Blackjack a look. "Chill. It's okay. I'll explain everything, but right now I need your help."
Blackjack straightened up, looking comically at attention. Percy laughed. "Perfect. Okay, I need you to fly me into the clouds. Think you can do that?" asked Percy.
"Sure can, Boss!" replied Blackjack. He then knelt down to allow Percy to climb on before taking a running start and lifting off into the air.
Percy relished the wind racing trough his hair, but didn't allow himself to get distracted and stayed focused.
Once they had made it up to the clouds, Percy saw Jason waiting for him. Blackjack soared closer to him before slowing to halt.
"You still got the cure?" asked Jason, hovering majestically in the air. Percy stuffed his hand into his pocket and pulled out the vial. "Right here," he said, waving it at him.
"Good," nodded Jason before turning to look at the clouds and the battle below. "I hope this works."
"I think it will. Clouds are just made up of water and air, which we both can control. You can generate thunderstorms and I'll produce the rain. By mixing the rain and the cure together, it will be able to cover everyone in this area," explained Percy, looking in the same direction as Jason.
"But the only reason we were cured because it was injected right into our blood. How do we know it will work this way?" questioned Jason, looking back at his friend, brow furrowed.
"When we explained to Will how we think the cure was created and used, he said it should work as long as it enters the body in some form, whether it be trough eye sockets, orally or injected. It's just that by putting it directly into the bloodstream would probably have a faster effect and would be the preferred method, but we don't exactly have time for that," elaborated Percy. He leaned over the side of Blackjack. "Plus, from the looks of it, there seem to be quite a few deep wounds down there, so it will probably get into their bloodstream quickly anyway."
Jason continued to look down for a moment, seemingly thinking Percy's words over. Finally, having considered what he had said and not being able to watch the fighting any longer, he straightened back up and looked Percy in the eye.
"Alright. Let's do this."
...
They began to soar around in the air as though they were two opponents facing off in a boxing ring.
Jason held his hands out from his body, swirling them slowly around so that the clouds began to be dragged in closer to them. He closed his eyes and scrunched up his face in concentration, tensing his hands as he stopped them and held them sprawled out.
The clouds began to darken, and thunder could be heard around them. Percy raised his own hands and pulled at the moisture in the air and clouds, feeling drops beginning to fall around him.
He lowered his hand while keeping his concentration on the oncoming rain, moving to unfasten to lid on the vial.
He unscrewed it and motioned with his hand, pulling the liquid out. It felt different to regular water, but still had some in it and was still liquid so he was able to move with ease.
He stretched it out, then jerked his hand and the small stream changed it into multiple little droplets. Percy then pushed them away from him into the clouds.
He looked over to Jason, both of them dawning a serious expression and nodding firmly at each other.
"Get ready, buddy," Percy called to Blackjack over the noise of the wind and storm. "I don't like the sound of that," replied Blackjack, nervously.
Percy and Jason then gripped onto their own elements as the wind and rain swirled them around, increasing the power of the storm and effectively mixing and merging the rain and cure together.
Percy closed his eyes and visualised them, blocking out the bursts of lightning and crashes of thunder until they were only a distant rumble.
He reached out, feeling them moving together, faster and faster in the wind. Percy moved his hand at an increasing rate to keep up, holding on to the water and cure as best he could in the surrounding chaos, and eventually, they became one.
His eyes sprang open, finding Jason's locked on his. He jerked his head in an aggressive nod, and the two of them summoned all their power.
The noise was excruciating, lighting flashing all around them, thunder beating at every corner.
They yelled out, controlling and holding onto so much combined power, before they each released it and it plummeted to the Earth.
The rain lashed down to the ground, soaking everyone below and catching them completely off guard. People screamed and roared out in surprise and disliking of this sudden change.
Jason was panting, trying to not feel exhausted. Percy felt the same, his body drained from the exertion.
This should work, but they had to make sure every itch of the battle ground had been covered by some form of their power.
So, after a moment, Jason summoned more winds, and together, he and Percy merged their powers once more and sent a mist down as well, not letting anyone or any trace of land be untouched by the cure.
...
The two hurriedly flew to the ground, Percy basically throwing himself off of Blackjack as soon as he landed, Jason touching the ground at the same time.
They both dashed forward but skidded to a halt before the mist, watching as it creeped closer to them. They stared at it, a million thoughts racing through their minds.
What if it didn't work? We won't be able to see in there and could be attacked!
Or what if it did something bad? We barely tested it!
What if the mortals were affected? What if they've been killed?
Jason sucked in a breath and looked to Percy. They held each others gaze for a moment, then turned back to the fog and stepped in.
As they wandered through, trying not to step on any fallen bodies, they listened to the eerie silence around them.
They couldn't hear a single sound, not even a twig breaking. Just as they were beginning to worry their worst fears had come true...
"Percy? Jason? Is that you?"
They whipped their heads in the direction of the voice, seeing Clint emerge from the mist. Natasha, Steve, Tony and Bruce followed behind him, Bruce wearing the coat and trousers he had brought earlier for after his transformation.
"You guys are okay," Jason said, relieved. "That was quite a show," pointed out Steve, raising an eyebrow as he observed their surroundings and looking up to the sky.
"Did it work?" Percy asked, nervously. "Let's find out," said Jason, stepping away from the group and readying his arms. He spread his hands apart and pushed forward. The fog immediately retreated, and they had a full view of the battle ground.
What remained of Shields troops were swinging their guns around in search of danger, probably put even more on edge from the sudden rain and fog, which then disappeared in a breeze. Demigods stood around the area, staring at each other, blinking in confusion, and looking around at all the strange people, but no one was fighting.
Piper, Clarisse, Connor, Will, Nico and Leo still remained on guard, but it was slowly deteriorating at the continued lack of violence.
Jason's eyes landed on Travis, who had pinned Fury down and was staring at him. He jerked as he seemingly realised what he was doing and scrambled off the man. He stumbled to his feet and looked around himself, almost in a daze.
Then he seemed to focus as he caught sight of Percy and Jason. Then even more so as he saw the others, looking at him in concern.
His skin had returned to normal, his eyes were no longer bloodshot, his breathing had evened out, and his hands remained still by his side.
"What...what happened?" he finally asked, tilting his head at them. "What's going on?"
At this moment, Connor ran towards him and flung his arms around him. Travis stumbled back, surprised, but returned the gesture. "You okay there?" he asked, laughing nervously at the sudden display of affection.
Connor pulled back and grinned at him. "You're okay, man!" he smiled. Travis smiled back but frowned. "Um, yes?"
He looked up at everyone around him, becoming more and more lost at their relieved expressions. "Did I miss something?" he asked.
Jason turned his head as Connor continued to relent his relief to a still very confused Travis so he could observe the other demigods around them, some slowly getting off the ground who had previously been unconscious. They all shared similar expressions to Travis: confused, dazed, scared.
They were like Percy had been when he was cured. They had no idea what had happened.
"They're...alright?" questioned Tony, startling Jason who had forgotten the groups presence until now. "I... I think so," he replied, and for once, he actually felt sure.
"Your plan worked," admitted Clint, eyebrows raised and looking at the two of them. Percy looked over to them and grinned. "Of course it did. When have my plans ever failed."
"Well..." started Jason but Percy swatted him. "They have never failed," he said, looking at him seriously. "They have never failed," Jason agreed, mocking Percy's expression, though Percy didn't seem to mind.
They all turned back to their spectators, who were watching them intently. Percy stepped forward.
"I'm sure you all have many questions," called out Percy, surveying them all as they looked up at him. He braced himself before speaking again. "Some of you might remember, some of you may not, but a few days ago, Gaia created and released a deadly plague upon Camp."
Whispers and mutters broke out in the crowd but they were quickly silenced as Percy continued.
"She created this to destroy all demigods and in turn bring down our entire world." He could see Fury narrowing his eyes at him while his agents exchanged looks with each other, but he ignored them all.
"She didn't want to stop at Camp though; she wanted to infect the entire world, but because this was made specifically for demigods, to attack the most powerful part of them, it didn't work on mortals. She had a plan, though. The plague turned us against each other; made us become animals, savages. This way, we would eventually break out of Camp and be released into the world, attacking innocent civilians, and infecting any demigods who had managed to get away; killing our own to ensure there were no survivors."
He paused, letting them take everything in before he continued. "She didn't win though, because despite her efforts, we were able to create a cure."
Voices broke out once more, though they sounded more excited than they had before.
"We would not have been able to do this," continued Percy, hushing them. "Without a true friend of ours," he said, gesturing to himself and Jason, who stood a step behind him. Percy then turned to their larger group of friends. "A friend who persevered even when faced with death. Leo Valdez."
Everyone's eyes widened as they turned to look where Percy was pointing, pushing each other out of the way to get a glimpse of the boy who they had been told had perished saving Camp, and who now had apparently come back and done it again.
The others parted so he could be seen, and Leo was left standing in the middle, stunned at the title and sudden attention. He took it in stride though and soon dawned his signature smirk.
"All in a days work. Seriously you guys would not be able to do anything without me," he said, folding his arms and shrugging. He looked at Percy and Jason though, giving them a sincere look and nodding. They smiled and nodded back before Percy turned back to the crowd.
"This also would not have been possible without some truly extraordinary heroes, who are also now some truly extraordinary friends. I am pleased to introduce to you Earth's Greatest Heroes, The Avengers," announced Percy, turning to the group who stood a few steps away from them.
They looked at him in surprise before their expressions morphed to thankful ones and they smiled.
The crowd of demigods looked at them, confused, not knowing who they were, but still seeming impressed by them and what they had done for their people.
Percy once more faced the large array of people, standing tall and focused.
"Gaia tried again and again to destroy us, even resorting to getting us to destroy each other; but no more. We have defeated her once again, and have come out even stronger than before. We have lost the lives of good people because of her wrath," admitted Percy, his face taking on a more solemn expression. "But they will never be forgotten, and will be remembered as the heroes they were. We will rise up from this, with the new ally's we have made, and the friends we already have. With them, Gaia can never defeat us, and we will show her what demigods are really made of!"
His speech was met with cheers and yells, demigods screaming in approval as more and more of them came back to their senses. Percy looked over to Jason, who nodded and smiled at him.
"Not bad, Jackson," he admitted, smirking at him. "Thanks Grace," replied Percy, grinning.
Jason looked back towards Camp, remembering all the damage that had been done. "We should probably get to cleaning all this up," he voiced, hearing Percy sigh in response. "Yeah," he agreed. Percy then looked over to the Avengers, who were talking amongst themselves while looking out over the crowd of screaming children.
"We should also probably talk to them about talking to Fury about all this," continued Percy. "Don't want him launching another attack on us."
Jason snorted. "Yeah, that would be an inconvenience. Maybe after hearing what you said, he'll be more open-minded."
Percy gave him a look, raising an eyebrow at him. "Okay yeah, fair enough," shrugged Jason, laughing as Percy thumped him in the shoulder.
As they watched everyone and everything around them, taking in the peace they had so worried they had lost, an unpleasant thought came to Jason.
"How do you think the Gods are going to react to all this?" asked Jason, still looking out at all the demigods and confused Shield agents.
Percy thought for a moment. "I'm gonna say they're going to find some way to get mad about it and blame it on us," he decided.
"Sounds about right," agreed Jason. They said nothing for a moment before looking at each other and bursting out laughing, feeling truly at ease for the first time in a long time.
"Oh, this is going to be so fun," said Jason, grinning at his friend as pulled himself together.
Percy shook his head, grinning as well. "Bro, you have no idea."
