(Olympus)
When Odin, Thrúd and Gunilla arrived on Olympus with remaining Greek Demi Gods and Satyr of Zoe's quest.
"Where is Heracles?!" Zeus roared out as he demanded to know his son's whereabouts.
"Is this how Olympus treats it's guests?" The All-Father asked as his single eye glared up towards Zeus.
But before the King of Olympus could respond his wife, Hera placed a hand on his shoulder. "He is right Husband. He is an honoured Guest right now.
"Why I can show you Master Jackson." Odin smiled at Percy before two crows appeared from Odin's sleeves. They circled around the Council chamber before resting on either side of Zeus' throne.
Zeus was about to blast them but when their eyes began to glow, an image appeared in front of the Council. And what was shown before them shocked them to their core. For Apollo and Athena it was the beaten and battered state of Artemis. For the rest it was Atlas free from underneath the sky. But for Zeus it was the sight of his beloved son.
"My Son..." Zeus softly exclaimed in shock and horror.
"You think I ever really cared about the Gods in Olympus. During my mortal life, I was made to suffer under them, only to stand tall each time."
"And my eternal reward of Godhood quickly soured and turned into a curse. To simply use me as a glorified guard dog, well I shall be their lapdog no longer! At first when Atlas and Kronos came to me I wasn't sure... But when they offered me Hera's head for my services. Well... Only a fool would refuse such an enticing offer."
"They offered him my head?" Hera softly spoke in shock as she nervously rubbed her throat.
"How dare they!" Zeus exclaimed out in anger before both Aaron and Heracles engage in combat.
The back and forth verbal war between the Gods of Olympus continued as Odin and the gathered Demi-gods would switch between the arguing Gods and the events being broadcast by Odin's Ravens. But when they witnessed Heracles' arm being dismembered Ares roared out in approval before cursing a he watched his half brother enter his divine state.
Thankfully as they were watching through a portal created by Odin they were able to witness Heracles' divine form and could see it's effect it had over Aaron transformation as he protected Zoe.
Odin soon had to hold onto both Gunilla and Thrúd as they could only helplessly watch Aaron being beaten to death before watching his body feel limp.
"I still can't believe my son would betray us like this." Zeus sighed as he rubbed he forehead in shame.
"He should have never have become a God." Hera growled out in anger before she heard Odin scoff.
"This betrayal is of your own making. Between your favouritism and your hatred, this was the only path he could walk down." Odin stated as he narrowed his lone eye at the King and Queen of Olympus. "If you don't believe me then ask your son Apollo. He can tell if someone speaks lies in your Court."
But when Apollo felt the gaze of his Father look over at him, he looked away, confirming Odin's words. They remained silent until they seen Aaron's Axe freeze mid swing. "In the end I suppose that your son's betrayal will But I suppose that no longer matters. He will be dead soon."
"Surely you jest?" Zeus asked with a growl in his voice.
"Lord All-Father is not jesting! Do not look down at my Brother!" Gunilla exclaimed out in anger her Valkyrie wings extending out as a show of power. But her anger was quickly quelled as Thrúd held onto her shoulders.
"While Aaron is technically our Nephew, our Father views him as a Son and we are proud to call him our younger Brother." Thrúd evenly stated as she glared at Zeus.
"Is Aaron really going to win?" Thalia asked with worry in her voice.
"Yes child... He is not fated to die in combat. And now he will show us his full power." Odin replied as they continued watching the events within Mount Othrys.
"I call out to all the Nine Realms! To all those to hear my voice! I am Aaron Davidson. I am the proud Son of Skaði, Goddess of the Mountains and Winter! But I am also the proud Legacy and Grandson of the Thunderer, THE PRINCE OF ASGARD, THE ALL-MIGHTY THOR!"
(Mount Othrys)
"I highly doubt this little light show you've put on will make any difference in our battle. You're still going to die by my hands." Heracles growled as he summoned his club.
"I don't know about that now. But you are right about how short this fight is going to be. It won't be much of a fight since you still seem to be underestimating me." Aaron replied before he pointed his Hammer/Axe at the Greek God. "This will be my only warning over this power I wield now... The Power held within my Aesir Blood is far more powerful than of the Jötunn Blood within my viens."
Aaron smirked before he pivoted backwards on his left foot. As he body swung around he released his grip over his weapon as it b-lined directly towards Heracles. Expecting nothing from it, The Greek God prepared to catch the weapon but was unable to stop it as it crashed into him, send him flying backwards. Much to the shock of everyone watching.
"RRRAGGGGHHH!" Aaron roared as he ran towards the stunned Heracles, calling his weapon back as he done so. When it returned he threw it behind his body as it boomeranged around and back towards Heracles.
The Axe half of his weapon stuck Heracles' chest, leaving a burning scar over his exposed flesh. The Greek God's eyes widened when the scar refused to heal itself.
While he was distracted, Aaron had jumped and caught his returning weapon mid-air before striking Heracles' exposed jaw with the Hammer end of his weapon. The impact sent a shockwave throughout the cave as it had shattered the left side of the Greek's jaw.
With his jaw now hanging down, Heracles brought up his club to strike down at Aaron. But the blow was evenly matched by Aaron.
Three more times they clashed evenly wither neither Heracles' Club nor Aaron's Axe/Hammer giving an inch to the other.
As they struggled against one another, Aaron gained the upper hand as he eyes began to spark arcs of lightning. Soon a Bolt of Lightning crashed down from the sky above and struck both men.
While the impact had cause no damage to Aaron himself up had instead increased his strength. Heracles on the other hand had felt the full force of the Lightning strike and was brought down to his knees, unable to defend himself.
As the now smouldering Heracles struggled to breath through his broken jaw, he could barely move his head up enough to see Aaron standing tall above him. "It's time we end this." Aaron stated as he raised his weapon.
Slamming it into Heracles' left leg, a crunch echo'd through indicating that the Greek God's leg was now broken. Heracles let out a muffled roar of pain with his still broken jaw causing him even more breathing issues now.
But as Aaron noticed that Heracles was about to enter his divine form once more he quickly continued his assault. Breaking his other leg and both arms. And when he lined up his killing blow to Heracles head Zoe called out to him.
"BEHIND YOU!" Zoe's warning reached Aaron in time as Atlas was about to strike him down. He noticed that there were several arrows impaling the Titan's back as he struck the Titan's rib cage. Knowing this might not be enough time bought to finish Heracles, Aaron unleash a torrent of lightning strikes upon Atlas.
To make sure he would stay down, Aaron also threw his weapon sending the Titan deep into his cave's walls. As he turned to face the Greek God he could hear him chuckling. "You fool, you just threw away the only weapon that could actually kill me."
"I have another." Aaron evenly replied as he picked Heracles up by his hair.
"You killed the Nemean Lion by choking it to death." Aaron stated as he re-summoned his revolver to his hand. "Let me show you how I killed the same Beast."
Placing the gun's barrel into Heracles' mouth, the Greek god attempted to let out a muffled plea of mercy. But it was too late as Aaron squeezed the trigger.
The deafening bang from the gun echo'd throughout the cave as Heracles' body became limp and still. When Aaron released his grip, the Greek God's body fell backwards and revealed to both Zoe and Artemis a large fist sized hole that was once the back of Heracles' head. They could see that Aaron's revolver was covered in golden Ichor before he wiped it clean and fired three more rounds into Heracles' head.
With each shot came no response from the once Demi-God son of Zeus who they now knew was dead.
With his battle won, Aaron gingerly made his way over towards a wide eyed Zoe. The adrenaline was leaving his body faster than he was expecting as he was now starting to feel the pain of his earlier struggle. "Are you okay?" Zoe asked with concern as she helped Aaron keep on his two feet.
"I should be the one asking you that." Aaron replied with a chuckle before lightly kissing Zoe's forehead. "We have to finish this now."
"Agreed." Zoe nodded in agreement as she helped Aaron over towards Lady Artemis. But Aaron attempted to take the Sky, he brought out his right hand before his weapon settled within it.
"Þangað til þú heyrir rödd mína. Verndaðu hana." Aaron whispered onto the head of his weapon as a pair of Runes appeared over it's handle.
"Here." Aaron softly spoke as he offered her his weapon. "This'll give you my strength for your battle ahead."
"I can't." Zoe attempted to refuse but Aaron kept his hand outright.
"I told you that I would give you my heart Zoe Nightshade... This is it." Aaron quietly informed Zoe whose eyes widened before she accepted the weapon.
When she firmly held the weapon she could feel a surge of power rush over her body. "Wow." Zoe softly exclaimed before her attention was brought towards Atlas who had made his way finally out of the cave's walls.
"You'll fucking suffer for that!" Atlas roared out as he rushed towards the pair.
However Zoe rushed out to meet him as the Father and Daughter pair began to clash with one another.
With Zoe engaging with Atlas, Aaron made his way over to Artemis but the Goddess refused to move from the Sky. "No, you have to help her!"
"This is her battle not mine. My role is now here, freeing you." Aaron replied as he pushed Artemis off the sky and took the burden on to his shoulders.
"What do you mean?" Artemis asked in confusion as Aaron grunted out his reply.
"The trick which captured the moon was something close to her chest,
To free her four must leave camp and journey out west.
Two friends shall arrive to aid you along your trail,
Only when the Campers and Hunters are combined will you prevail.
A Mountain's strength you shall also need,
As to withstand the Titan's curse he'll be the only one who'll succeed.
However this will come at a great cost,
Between his own Curse and the bridge he'll have to cross."
"This was the prophesy given to Zoe back in the Greek Daycare. I still have this task to complete. You have to help and finish this with Zoe." Aaron grunted out as he tried to find the right position to held the sky above his head.
"NOW, GO!" Aaron roared out as he struggled to keep standing upright.
Soon his vision began to fade into darkness but his will to keep going kept him going.
Quicker than he was expecting the weight of the sky began take a toll on his body. As he could feel his muscles tear themselves apart. The could feel his bones ache and slowly break and cracks were formed.
In an attempt to keep going he had even entered his Berserk form. But it wasn't nearly enough. He wasn't Greek and no Norse God could even hold the sky. It was an impossible task. 'So this is it then?' Aaron asked himself as he was now unable to view the world around him.
As his body continued to crack and breakdown, he was unsure how much time had even passed. Was it a few minutes, an hour, Seconds. 'I'll have to freeze my body solid.' He thought to himself as he prepared freeze his body solid, even if that means he'll die standing on his own two feet.
But as he was about to begin, Aaron heard his Mother's voice call out to him. "Let us go home my little Mountain."
As light slowly began to return to his eyes he loosened his hold over the Sky. Aaron soon felt his body being laid down along the ground. To his right was Zoe while to his left was a familiar white haired woman. "M... M... Mom?" Aaron weakly called out.
"I'm here... Mother's here." Skaði smiled as she looked down at her dying son. AS Aaron looked behind her, he could see a beaten and bloodied Atlas back under the Sky.
Turning to face Zoe, Aaron could see tears in her eyes. "You... Okay?" Aaron weak voice asked with concern.
Wiping her tears from her eyes, Zoe sadly smiled at Aaron before kissing his forehead. "I should be the one asking you that, idiot."
"I don't say this often to men but... Thank you." Artemis stated from behind Zoe as she put her hand over her shoulder for support. "For both saving me and taking care of my dearest friend. You'll have my eternal gratitude."
Nodding his head towards the Greek Goddess, Aaron looked back at his mother. "I'm... Sorry... I wasn't the greatest Son to you."
Skaði brushed Aaron's hair with the back of her left hand, like she had done when he was a child. "You'll always be my little Mountain. My little boy who promised to protect me from all the big bad Giants. I wouldn't change the time I had with you for even a single second."
"So sleep for me... Rest your body. And I know I love you." Skaði softly kissed her son's cheek as she held onto his hand.
With the last of his strength, Aaron wiped a tear of Zoe's cheek. "You're free now... Free from him."
"Thank you." Zoe replied through her tears as she heard Aaron's final words.
"Love... You." Aaron weakly smiled before the light in his eyes dull before fading away.
With this change, Zoe checked his wrist for a pulse but couldn't feel a response. "Please don't go... Please." Zoe softly begged and she held onto Aaron's hand.
Artemis, unsure about Zoe's feelings for this boy, could only offer her long time friend her support as she hugged her tightly.
But as Skaði watched the girl in front of her cry her eyes out over the death of her son, she sadly smiled as she wiped away a tear of her own. Brushing her left hand over Aaron's face, she closed his eyes, giving him a more peaceful resting pose.
"Is your Master watching this?" Skaði softly asked as her right hand still held onto her dead son's still warm hand.
Atlas was silent for only a brief moment, as Skaði's question echo'd around the room. "Yes."
"Then I will make you all suffer for what you have done to me." Skaði replied back as she stood up. The temperature in the room dropping dramatically.
"There will be nothing in the Nine Realms that will be able to stop me. I will tear your world apart if I could get my revenge... You have taken my only child from me. And for that I shall take everything from you!" Skaði exclaimed before she touched Atlas' cheek. "Falla í algjört núll."
Atlas let out a brief roar of pain before becoming silent and still. His face would be forever frozen in pain and horror as his body was frozen from the inside out.
With her dead done, Skaði turned and faced both Zoe and Artemis. "While your task might be complete, I'm afraid that your Journey isn't young one."
"What do you mean?" Both Artemis and Zoe asked.
"It is our tradition that is a child were to fall while on a quest and his or her soul does not enter Valhalla. Then his final party members must assist in sending him into the afterlife." Skaði answered with a sad smile upon her face.
"It's nothing what you would expect... But I must prepare for my Son's Funeral in Jötunheimr. To which I would like to invite you both along with others who you would wish to join."