Heart Pierced - Kayla Knowles (1)

XXXV. All Hades Breaks Loose

Alternative Chapter Titles: The Grand Warden (+ 2 other Wardens) Rampages Through Manhattan, Part One; The Return Of Rachel Elizabeth Dare

(A/N: Yes, the alternative title isn't lying. Grand Warden time.. just to show you how much of a threat these guys are to almost anything weaker than a primordial, if the Wardens' first appearance hadn't made that clear enough. Some things in this remain the same, while others change, especially when it comes to a certain future Oracle, as you will see below.

As per usual, shout-outs to TsarinaTorment, TheTimeTraveler24, for their stories and OCs that I include in this. Also this chapter will contain probably the only Scooby Doo reference that you will ever encounter in this series, unless I decide to add another one. Also references to TMNT 2003 Season 5 Episode 5 "Beginning Of The End", plus Demon (Tengu) Shredder's demon horse, as well as a reference to TMNT Season 4 Episode 20 "Return Of Savanti, Part One" here too.

I will be compressing the 17th of August (for the most part) into a single chapter - 37 - just to give you a heads-up as much of this and the next chapter, despite the storm, is taking place mostly in the daytime. This will be because of the Monster King arc and the nightmares that both sides ( - those at Camp Half Blood) are having.

So, with that out of the way, let's get on with the next two - parter, shall we?)

August 16th, 2009
Just after the events of last chapter

Asterios had slipped away in the darkness of last night out of the Hunters' grasp somehow from what Thalia had told us after Prometheus had left, but compared to the information Prometheus had given us, there was no time to rest. Another assault was coming and soon. Kronos definitely wasn't going to let this new host of forces stop him from completing his revenge against the Gods, even if he knew exactly how powerful these forces really were. In the middle of this was us demigods, the ones defending Olympus and Manhattan from Kronos' army. Still, comparatively to what we might have been if not for these unknown new allies, we were doing pretty good so far. Still, I wasn't getting cocky at all.

Things could just as easily change in a moment's notice.

I mean, this is war for gods' sake. Nothing is ever guaranteed to be set in stone when it comes to war, especially war in the world of the Gods for that matter. I mean.. some things might, but fate is never one of those things. Even so, we had to hold out until this army that the heralds of the Monster King - me - could bring to bare on Kronos' army.

Speaking of old time-head, did I mention that he's planning to launch another assault? Have I? Good, then. I can keep going.

A lot of us milled about out by the playground for now. A lot of conversations occurred in the group, but the main one that kept repeating - and the one that chilled me and Kayla's blood cold - was the one about a nightmare literally everyone who had even gotten sleep last night had. It was the exact same vision me and Kayla had on Olympus, only slightly different.. and it only left me even more confused about exactly what would happen on Fifth Avenue. Everyone still looked a bit scared today because of it, because it had shaken up many of those still trying to grip on themselves after what happened yesterday. Even the Hunters and Kelli were talking about the terrifying vision. Since Percy had gone to Olympus, I had no idea if he had it too, but I sure knew that Kayla hadn't had it last night. That's for sure.

Speaking of that seaweed brain, Percy returned about 45 minutes later, without the jar in his hands. However, he brought with him a very familiar redhead. One who I've heard of from Percy, Annabeth, and Grover over the months between the Battle Of The Labyrinth and now, but never gotten the chance to actually meet until now. Rachel Elizabeth Dare.