~The Children of Fate, Wisdom, and Mischief~

Chapter 12: The Time is Now

~24 hours before the Battle of the Dove~

I walked down a hallway in the science building of Willow until I reached an empty classroom. I stood at the door and knock one, then waited ten seconds then knocked three times. The door opened and I saw the familiar face of the goddess of poison. "Morning Percy."

"Morning Akie." I said walking into the classroom that we had converted into a laboratory. "How's it going?"

"Quite well actually. I think we'll have a final product by noon." She said, walking back over to the table of potions and chemicals. I nodded and went over to the table.

The room around us was covered in burn marks and the walls were dented beyond repair from all of the failed experiments. "Let's get to work, shall we?"

---

~20 hours beforethe Battle of the Dove~

"I think this is the best we're going to get." Akhlys told Persephone, as they finished stirring the final antidote. Percy stopped her hand before her friend corked the bottle.

"Let's add some fox hair. If we want to kill a dove..." She trailed off and Akhlys agreed.

They corked the bottle and Akhlys handed another purple vial to Percy and she pocketed the light blue vial they had just made.

Two vials, two potions, two purposes, one chance.

"I'll convince Dite to attack Avengers Tower tomorrow." Akie told the ravenette.

"The time is now."

---

~16 hours before the Battle of the Dove~

Two mortals were sleeping soundly in bed, though their dreams would soon be interrupted by a warning.

"...You should go to Avengers Tower tomorrow..."

The two of them bolted upright when they heard the voice in their heads. "Did you...?"

"Yeah."

"Paul?"

"I know Sally."

---

~2 hours before The Battle of the Dove~

"The time is now to end this once and for all." Percy told the room of her family, friends, and coworkers. "Everyone get ready. Avengers, you'll block off the streets and make sure we aren't interrupted. Anthony you'll be with us on the ground. Once Akie switches she'll wait here while Tony, Loki, and I go up to Olympus and free the Gods."

Everyone nodded and went off to do their separate tasks.

---

~1 hour before The Battle of the Dove~

Zoë was fixing her jacket in a mirror as she heard someone walking down the hall towards her. She turned and saw that it was her old cellmate, Ace.

"Hey, Scotts."

"Rainy." They both laughed at their two nicknames. They had shared a cell for almost three weeks, there wasn't much to do. She called him Scotts, since his accent, and he called her Rainy, after her faded rainbow of hair, which was cut short after their time on Asgard.

"Are you ready for this?" He asked. Zoë pursed her lips.

"I honestly don't know." She responded after thinking deeply about how to respond. "What about you?"

"I've faced Giants... and my own father. I think I'll be fine." He responded, with a cheesy smile on his freckled face. Zoë giggled at Ace as she pulled her hair out from the back of her jacket. She turned to the redhead.

"Good luck Scotts."

"You too Rainy."

---

~30 minutes before the Battle of the Dove~

"You'll be okay, right?" Nate asked Ethan as he was creating some of his armor out of ice. Ethan laughed.

"For the millionth time, yes." The blond smiled. "And you'll stay here, right? Being safe?"

"Uh... sure?"

"Nate."

"Ethan! I can help." Nate got up from his spot on the guest bed and walked over to Ethan.

"...Can you fight?" Ethan asked, sighing.

Nate smiled and walked over to the dresser where a black case was. The brunet popped it open and started to assemble the rifle inside, finishing in less than thirty seconds. Ethan's jaw was to the ground.

"You realize that there's only one class we don't have together. You have PE. I have Junior ROTC, the best shooter on the rifle team." Nate looked smug.

"How did I not know this?" Ethan shook his head. Nate turned back to the dresser to do some modifications to the rifle, while Ethan stared at the floor. "You know... I could- you could... we could die out there."

"We won't."

"But we could... there's always a possibility." Ethan looked up at Nate with tears welling in his eyes. Nate looked completely oblivious, yet still confused. "If that happens I want to get something off my chest first."

Nate tilted his head in a way that made Ethan's heart flutter. "I... I-" He took a deep breath. "Just in case something happens-"

"Which nothing will."

"If something happens. I want you to know... I love you." Ethan looked down as he felt tears running down his face.

"E..." Nate walked over and hugged him. "Nothing is going to happen. But... if you need motivation, to survive. When this is all over, let's go out. Because... Ethan Jackson... I love you too."