Gods and Men

A New Day Dawns

The smell of fire and brimstone hung in the air. Cries of the wounded and the fighting could be heard from a mile away. The final battle between Gods and Demigods was at hand. The bitter struggle, a long time brewing, was sparked by Luke. Luke was the martyr who's death began the Revolution. The Romans and Greeks had settled their differences almost instantly, forming a bond of trust and brotherhood. All past violence and grievances forgotten, the combined armies fought against the Gods. But they were not alone. Minor Gods and Goddesses, Nature Spirits, Primordials and even sentient Monsters joined their causes. The Cyclops of Hephaestus' forges threw down their hammers to aid his son, Leo Valdez. The Hekatonchieres, Zeus' personal guard, became that of his son Jason Grace. Al the Ocean Primordials and nymphs and creatures pledged eternal loyalty to Percy, their true king. Even the spirits of the underworld, Nyx and Tartarus themselves, held Nico di Angelo as their respected ruler.
Nico di Angelo ran into the forges, holding his ruined shield. Leo, the head blacksmith, smiled as he handed Nico a new one. "I swear you blow through those faster than I do through Fonzies." The shield he gave was a simple one. A different one. Stygian Iron. "Lady Styx offered it to me. She said you needed true armor of the Underworld." He then pulled up a helmet and a breastplate. "I hope you like them, they should go with your sword." Nico put it all on and drew his sword, looking in the mirror on the wall. He surprised himself, he was a warrior, battle hardened and deadly. He'd even gone through Tartarus alone to close the Doors of Death, thereby guaranteeing the enemies stayed dead. He'd nearly lost his mind down their but one thought kept him going. Mother and Bianca, killed by the Gods actions. Their blood was on the Gods hands. The Gods had ruled long enough! A new world order was needed. New rulers who'd help humanity rebuild after the struggle. He looked at the man in the mirror, only 16 and already a man. He was going to help people, he was going to do things in this world. He wouldn't die that day. He'd die old and happy, settle in the new world. Then he saw the small person behind him.
Leo. Small, Cheerful, Energetic Leo. Leo, the only person who could rival his anger against the Gods. But while Nico's was evident and hard-pressed him to act, Leo's was deep and resounding, the unforgiving glance that'd make the offender beg forgiveness like a sinner in church. He thought about the small Latino. He'd saved Leo, 3 years before. Rescued him from a Cyclops and brought him to Camp Half-Blood. He'd been knocked out for his rescuing efforts but was awoken by calloused but soft fingers brushing his hair and deep brown eyes laced with concern. He'd stayed with him for 4 days. But to Nico, seeing someone look at him like that. Like if he died, life wouldn't be worth living to them. It made him forget his crush on Percy, his eyes set only on Leo. And here they were, a general and a blacksmith in the final battle of the greatest war the world would ever know. He noticed those eyes held that same concern now, even in the reflection of the mirror. Nico turned, surprised as Leo hugged him tightly. "Please don't get yourself killed out there. I'll march straight to your father's throne and pull an Orpheus with you!" Nico chuckled, holding his friend close.
They were friends, everyone saw that. But as much as Nico wanted more, needed more, people relied on him. People neededhim to lead them and fight with them. A war was no place for romance. "I'll always return to you. Someone has to keep you out of trouble and Piper gave me that baton a while ago. Not that I mind." Leo looked up at him, smiling slightly. Nico noticed a blush on his cheeks, what was going on? Leo surprised him again by pulling him downward and kissing him. Nico gasped before allowing himself to relax. He even brought his arms up to Leo's waist, hands resting on the perfect bow of his apron. Leo pulled away, reluctantly. "It's a tradition. Annabeth told me. Gives you one more thing to come back to." One of his siblings called and Leo turned, stopping to give Nico one last hug. "No matter what anyone may say, you're my hero. And I pray you'll return." Nico found his voice, "I will. I do have something to come back to. You. Count on it." He gently kissed his Latinos nose before going to rally the armies.
Piper and Nico were an amazing team in rallying a crowd. Nico used his personal story and anger to inspire the spark of Rebellion. Piper showing the people they desired the same through light charmspeak turned that spark to a roaring flame. Jason, Commander of the Hekatonchieres and the wind spirits and the entire Roman Legion, rallied his own. Percy, General of the Cyclops, Merpeople and Demigod army, did the same with his troops. And Nico assembled the Primordials as well as his army of the undead. Combining the 3 forces was a lot of work, but for a common cause, anyone could become allies with anyone. Nico stood at the stage, all the assembled armies before him. "Demigods, Spirits and Monsters. For too long have we suffered under the oppressive reign of those miserable dogs who call themselves the Gods! Their reign has led to war, famine, chaos and ruin! What good have they done for humanity, for their own kind, for their very children? They spit at us and say we're below them, that they have power. But we, we the assembled masses from all walks of creation, we have true power! Today we shall prove that to them, and we will WIN!" The crowd applauded, Nico making way for Piper. "We've all been wronged by the Gods. If you ever falter in battle remember this: We are strong! We are brave! And we are fighting for a better tomorrow, a better WORLD! Think of the future that you are creating, a future where all are truly free! Free of the oppressive rule of the Gods! Viva la Revolution!" The crowds responded in kind, Nico chuckling at his friends last input.
The men encouraged, the final battle began. The field of battle was the streets of Manhattan. Camp was the Rebels stronghold. Olympus was the Gods. The two armies met and fought. Each Cabin took on their own parent. Aphrodite Cabin kids were assaulting their mother with makeup mirror shields and comb knives. Apollo's kids shot their father down. Annabeth fought against her mother. "You fight well, for a traitorous child who doesn't know respect." "I know respect, which I will not give to you Athena. You don't deserve any for ignoring your own child. As the Goddess of Wisdom, I'm surprised you didn't see this coming. You should've known your actions had consequences. You reap what you sow!" Percy and Poseidon fought nearby. Percy commanding the seas and slashing Riptide in a relentless attack on his father. "You're bitter Percy. These people aren't your friends. This is madness, all of it! The Gods aren't meant to be replaced!" "I don't want to replace you, I want you to be gone so no one will have to suffer the touch of the Gods again! And I know where my loyalties lie, with my true family, the people who fight beside me and care for me more than you ever did!" But the worst fight was raged on Black Mountain, miles away from the rest of the battle.
"Insolent boy! Do you really think you can win?" Hades asked, aura darkening as he saw his son conjure up more skeletal warriors. His powers weren't waning, summoning so many undead should've killed him. Hades saw armies rise in the distance fighting in the main battle, and him calling them up at the very ground beneath them. It was impossible. "I know I can win! You know I'm strong, I went through Tartarus, the Eternal Pit that you cowardice Gods put the Titans in and I survived! Perhaps when you're punished, you might get to see them again." Hades melded into the shadows cast by the darkened sky, only to find Nico there, sword drawn. "Cowardice, pure cowardice. If you Gods are all powerful, what have you to fear from mortals? That's what demigods are right? Mortals? Or perhaps we're more than you thought we were." Nico slashed, the cold blade of his sword biting Hades as it slashed across his front. He gasped one word. "Effeminate." Nico's eyes darkened, "What did you say?" "Effeminate! You are an effeminate!" "Such striking words from a father to a son." Nico feigned pain. Hades but his lip before remembering one thing to break the insolent boy before him. "You're no son of mine, you disgusting effeminate! Where's your little plaything? That son of Hephaestus? Well, I'll let him live so he can watch you die."
Nico's blood boiled and all he saw was red. Hades watched as his sons eyes darkened, the ground shaking from all the dark magic he was calling forth. The wind stood still and it was as if time itself stopped. Nico took a step, the resulting impact of foot to dirt sending a resonating tremor through Hades very bones. No, he thought, it can't be. He tried to move but was held to the ground by the shadows he once controlled. Nico placed his hands on Hades head and heart, murmuring the ancient magic. A magic so old, it belonged to Cronus, who Hades stole it from and Nico had apparently inherited. "I discovered this a year ago. Completely by accident. But I always knew it'd come in handy." He finished the spell and Hades felt his very life being sucked out of him. His spirit, soul and essence all fading. He looked to his hands, now pale and wrinkled, covered in liver spots and clinging to his bones. "Now you know old age." Nico said. "I could kill you now. But I won't. I'm not your son, you said so yourself. And your right, I'm not. I value life and don't kill someone without reason. You will live, barely. And it will be in the Eternal Abyss you've put others in. Goodbye Hades."
Nico shadow travelled to find the battlefield still, all enemies dead. All the Gods imprisoned in adamantine chains. All except one. Jason stood over his father, "Your reign has ended Father. Any last words?" The Former King of the Gods spoke. "Jason. I've lived with the fear of my imminent deposition. I've hurt, I've killed even, in my mad attempts to persuade Fate. My grandfather did the same, and his son dethroned him. As did my father, who I dethroned. You, Jason, have dethroned me." He looked to the others. "This is the final act of judgement. The world is at peace. The cycle of Son dethroning Father is broken. However, I am not the last King of the Gods." The crowd gasped in surprise, had they failed in their mission? "Jason, my noblest child. Perhaps my only good son. Jason, I bestow upon you the blessing of Immortality. You are the new King of the Gods. The New Gods who you will choose to help rebuild the world. Jason, be the king I could only wish I was able to be. You already are the man I could only aspire to be. The man who I'm proud to leave the world to." The assembled armies all looked at Jason as a golden aura surrounded him. Turning to his friends, he was surprised to see them bowing on one knee. He quickly grabbed Percy and Nico, "I choose Percy Jackson and Nico di Angelo to be 2 of the new Olympian Council. While I will be King, power itself will be divided among all the Gods." Percy and Nico both glowed for a second before realizing they could make others immortal too. Percy spoke, "I give Annabeth Chase the gift of Immortality." Nico joined in, "I give Frank Zhang, Hazel Levesque and Leo Valdez the gift of Immortality."
They set to work, changing those who deserves Immortality into Gods. All began to work to rebuild the world after the final battle and there was so much to do. A new Golden Age for humanity had begun, and the New Gods would rule fairly and wisely for many years to come.