Moving at such speed, Natsu thought he'd be crushed. When he crushed the pearl he'd received from a girl after fighting a monster at the Parthenon, he felt, for the first time, what it was like to move at the speed of light.
When he regained consciousness, it was night, and he was in the open sea. Looking around, he saw nothing but his friends floating in the water.
Natsu – *Gray... Lucy...* – he swam to them, holding them to keep them from sinking – *I'll get you out of this.*
With a determination he didn't know he had, Natsu swam toward a beach he somehow knew was in that direction. He felt the bag tied to Lucy's hand, which she gripped tightly.
Minutes later, after pulling his friends from the water, Natsu's strength drained. He collapsed on the sand, exhausted. As he lay there, he saw his friends regain consciousness, coughing up water.
Gray – *Are we... alive?* – he asked, confused, looking around.
Natsu – *Yeah, Gray... We're still alive.*
Gray celebrated, boasting he'd tell everyone he survived the god of the dead. Natsu and Lucy laughed at his antics, but as if the world hated them, they saw a motorcycle pull up and instantly recognized the rider.
Natsu – *Ares...* – he growled, glaring at the war god's smug smile.
Ares – *Well, Natsu! Still alive?* – he laughed heartily – *Looks like you're as tough as your mom.*
Natsu – *Don't talk about my mom, you jerk* – he growled, standing – *This all started because of you, didn't it?*
Ares – *Well... I'll admit* – he removed his sunglasses – *It was my fault. I'm the true Thief of the Legendary Weapons! I stole the gods' weapons! So what're you gonna do, Natsume Dragneel? Fight me?* – he laughed mockingly – *You're weak! You'd never beat me!*
Natsu gritted his teeth, wanting to charge the god, but Lucy stepped in front of him.
Lucy – *Don't be stupid, Natsu! It's his game* – she held his face – *He wants to rile you up so you lose control and force your powers to awaken.*
Natsu calmed slightly but was confused – *Awaken what?*
Lucy – *Ugh... Damn it...* – she muttered, confusing him more – *That's not the point now! We just need to get out of here. We have the divine weapons, so we can go to Olympus and return them to the gods.*
Ares – *I wouldn't be so sure...* – he sang, catching their attention – *Know what day it is?* – he smiled coldly.
Lucy – *Huh? Today? June 21, obviously* – she was puzzled.
Ares' laugh echoed, drawing not just the trio's attention but also nearby mortals.
Ares – *How funny... How funny...* – his eyes sparked like embers – *Actually, Lucy-chan, it's June 24.*
Lucy's heart skipped a beat.
Ares – *In the Underworld, time moves differently. You thought you were there for three mortal hours, but it was two and a half days. And when you used those weird pearls to escape and ended up at sea, hours passed.*
Lucy – *No way...* – her eyes widened – *No way... After all that effort...*
Natsu – *Hey, Lucy! What's wrong?*
Lucy – *The time... ran out...*
Natsu – *Huh?* – he didn't understand.
Lucy – *We had until the summer solstice, which ends on June 24* – she gritted her teeth – *But now, time's up. We can't deliver the divine weapons to the gods. They'll go to war...*
Ares – *...Or you can try to stop it* – he smirked, catching their attention.
Lucy – *What? You said it's June 24, the solstice is over.*
Ares – *Oh, did I say June 24?* – he laughed – *My bad. Sometimes I mess up. It's actually June 23, 11:25 PM.*
Lucy's eyes widened – *So...*
Gray – *We have time* – he grinned – *Not much! We need to get to Olympus ASAP!*
Ares – *Hold up! I said you could *try* to stop a war, not that you'd succeed* – he pointed at Lucy's bag, making a cube fly to his hand – *Time for our game! Let's have fun* – he laughed, squeezing the cube, turning it into his divine weapon.
Gray – *A baseball bat? Seriously?* – he found it odd.
Ares – *Oops, wrong weapon* – he laughed, shaking the bat, transforming it into a twisted club with iron spikes – *This is my real weapon* – he grinned wickedly.
Natsu gulped. This would be his first, and maybe last, time facing an Olympian god. He reached into his pocket, feeling his mom's pen and coin, ready to use.
In a flash, Natsu drew his sword and lunged at Ares, who blocked with his club. Natsu spun 180 degrees, striking again, but was blocked by the club's handle.
Ares – *Kid, I'm the god of war for a reason* – he smirked, swinging his club.
Natsu was thrown back but stood, ready to strike again, then remembered Lucy had the other divine weapons.
Natsu – *Lucy! Throw me one of the weapons!* – he shouted.
Lucy, realizing what he meant, grabbed a sky-blue and white cube and tossed it to Natsu, who caught it mid-air.
Ares – *Oh, oh. Planning to use a divine weapon against me, a god?!* – he shouted, laughing heartily – *Alright, Natsume Dragneel! Entertain me more!* – he charged.
Natsu took a deep breath. His eyes glowed intense blue, and he charged at the god, holding only the cube.
Natsu – *Come on! Master Bolt!*
A thunderclap roared, striking Natsu and the Olympian god.
Lucy – *Natsu!* – she tried to run to him but was stopped by Gray.
As the mist from the thunder cleared, Lucy saw Natsu and Ares unscathed, only smoke rising from their bodies.
Ares – *Kid, I'll admit, you're Virgo's son* – he laughed – *Now that I've confirmed it, I'll let you pass.*
Natsu – *Huh?* – he was confused – *What're you talking about?*
Ares – *Don't make me repeat myself, kid. Go before I change my mind and end this fight for good* – he smiled wickedly.
Natsu – *Hmm?* – he narrowed his eyes but complied, joining his friends, confused – *What just happened?* – he whispered, annoyed – *He made me fight him, then gives up? What the hell's he thinking!* – he grumbled as Ares walked away.
Lucy – *Shut up! Be glad he stopped fighting, you idiot. If he got serious, you wouldn't have come out so well.*
Gray – *But why'd he stop? Ares isn't one to back down from a fight* – he didn't get it.
Ares glanced back – *If I were you three, I'd find a way to Olympus, fast! The summer solstice meeting's about to end! Ten minutes left! Bye!*
The trio's eyes widened.
Natsu – *Now what?!* – he shouted, panicked.
Lucy – *I don't know! I've got no ideas!* – she panicked.
Natsu – *Aren't you Athena's daughter? Think of something!*
Lucy – *Shut up! What about you? Weren't you the genius who planned against Erza's group? Think of something!*
The two demigods kept arguing, ignoring Gray's departure.
Minutes later, a car pulled up, honking at the arguing demigods. When they looked, their jaws dropped, stunned by the car.
Gray stepped out – *Come on, you idiots!*
Natsu and Lucy grabbed their things and ran to him.
Gray – *Hurry! I'll get you to Olympus!* – he got in the driver's seat.
The demigods climbed into the back, still shocked by the car.
Natsu – *Hey, Gray, does this Beetle hit at least 30 km/h?* – he asked innocently, eyeing the old junker.
Gray – *How rude! This is Mob, a 1600 Beetle, and it's fast and reliable* – he defended it.
Lucy – *Gray, this Beetle's old, ugly, and falling apart* – she growled – *You think we'll reach Olympus in under five minutes?*
Gray – *Doubting Mob? Watch this!* – he revved the engine, making it creak – *Here we go!* – he floored it, and the car shot off.
Incredibly, it didn't just hit 30 km/h but 400 km/h, breaking the sound barrier. The world blurred around Natsu; he couldn't see people's faces. His teeth chattered as Gray hit potholes.
When the car stopped in front of a massive building, Natsu recognized it: the Empire State Building.
Natsu – *What're we doing here?* – he didn't get it.
Lucy – *Because we're at Olympus?* – she replied as if it was obvious.
The trio got out, standing before the building.
Natsu – *Uh... This is Olympus?* – he found it odd.
Gray – *Hurry! We've got two minutes!* – he exclaimed, checking a huge clock.
They ran inside, abandoning the car, and headed to the reception desk.
Lucy – *Please, the key to the 600th floor* – she smiled coldly.
The receptionist, flipping through a magazine, replied boredly – *Sorry, dear, that floor doesn't exist* – she kept reading.
Lucy leaned forward, grabbing the receptionist's collar – *Listen. If you don't give me the key, I swear I'll show every nymph and naiad how many legs you have* – she growled.
Receptionist – *What? H-How do you know?*
Lucy – *That's not the point! Just give us the key.*
Receptionist – *Fine. Here* – she handed Lucy the key.
Lucy – *Thanks* – she growled, walking to her friends – *Let's go?* – she smiled kindly.
The boys nodded, following her to the elevator.
Gray – *She's scary...*
Natsu – *Yeah, very...* – he agreed.
Lucy – *Hurry!* – she shouted, her eyes predatory.
Natsu/Gray – *C-Coming!* – they rushed after her.
Inside the elevator, Natsu was awed by its beauty. Lucy went to the panel, removed a button since no one was around, inserted the key into a small hole, turned her wrist, and a red button appeared. She pressed it.
Lucy – *Hold on!* – she warned, grabbing the rail.
The boys were confused but understood as the elevator shot up at incredible speed. Natsu felt his face might peel off and his body weighed fifty tons.
Lucy – *We're here...* – she said, collapsing as they arrived.
All three were breathless. Lucy stood first, helping Natsu and Gray up. When the elevator door opened, Natsu's jaw dropped. He saw a massive mountain with three levels: the lowest had stalls like ancient Greece; the middle had stunning temples; and the top had a colossal monument. Natsu was speechless.
Gray – *Let's go! We need to reach Olympus!* – he snapped Natsu out of his daze.
Natsu – *C-Right!* – he followed Gray.
The trio ran frantically through the crowd, Natsu not stopping to look at anyone, just racing toward Olympus.
When they stopped before the massive temple, they stared at the gates in awe. They pushed with all their strength, barely opening them. Inside the hall, not just Natsu but Gray and Lucy were stunned.
– *Who dares enter Olympus without permission?! State your names so you may be vaporized!* – a voice echoed, chilling the trio.
Natsu faced twelve beings around a huge clock, each on a throne, capable of destroying everything if they wished.
Natsu – *The gods...* – he whispered, gulping. He approached, recognizing two – *Damn it! So Mr. Drunk and that jerk Ares are already here?!* – he gritted his teeth at Ares' smirk and Dionysus' scowl.
Ares – *Looks like you made it in time, Natsume Dragneel* – he laughed, drawing the other gods' attention.
– *Natsume? Virgo's son?* – a goddess showed surprise – *How he's grown!*
– *Yes, yes! Look! His hair's like his mom's, just spikier!* – another goddess giggled – *He's kinda cute.*
Natsu blushed at their comments.
Lucy – *Mom...* – she whispered.
Natsu followed her gaze – *Wow! You two look alike, Lucy!* – he pointed at a goddess – *If that's Lucy's mom, she must be Athena.*
Athena – *Hello, Lucy...* – she gave a small smile.
Natsu's attention shifted to a man with spiky dark blue, almost black hair, dressed in beach clothes. What stood out was his scent: the sea.
Natsu – *Dad...* – he recognized him by the smell.
Poseidon smiled – *Hello, son...* – he sighed – *Look, brother, my son brought back all the stolen weapons!*
Zeus – *Stolen? You stole them! You only returned them out of fear!* – he laughed mockingly, irking the sea god.
The two gods argued. Natsu watched, sweat-dropping, confused. It felt like a "normal" family.
Athena – *ENOUGH!* – she snapped at the argument – *Let our young heroes explain what happened!*
Lucy – *Thank you, Mom...* – she smiled, embarrassed.
Zeus – *Fine, explain!* – he commanded.
Lucy stepped forward, bowed, and recounted everything from Natsu's arrival at Camp Half-Blood to their presence in the Olympic hall.
Zeus, stroking his beard, nodded – *I see... So it's Ares' fault?* – he growled, glaring at the war god – *Why'd you do it, Ares?*
Ares smirked – *Just wanted some fun, duh! You know how boring it is being the war god with no wars to entertain me?*
Athena – *That doesn't explain why you stole six divine weapons* – she glared fiercely.
Ares – *I wanted to confirm Virgo's son was the prophecy child, so I tested him* – he laughed – *He's the last child of the Big Three. Plus, he's Virgo Dragneel's son.*
Natsu – *Big Three? What's that got to do with the prophecy?*
Poseidon – *But that doesn't justify stealing other gods' weapons, especially risking my son's life.*
Natsu blushed slightly at his father's words.
Ares – *But he's fine, right?* – his eyes dulled – *You should thank me for not killing him, seaweed brain.*
The gods glared coldly at each other.
Hera – *Enough, boys* – she smiled kindly – *What matters is our weapons are back* – she reached toward Lucy, making a cube fly to her hand and turn into a dagger – *There we go!*
Zeus, Poseidon, and Demeter did the same. As the gods reclaimed their weapons, Olympus quaked.
Demeter – *Thank you, child...* – she smiled coldly – *Thanks to you, spring was a disaster. I'll see if I can salvage it...*
She vanished in a whirlwind of petals.
Natsu – *She blamed me?*
Gray – *Yup...*
Natsu – *Figures...* – he growled.
Zeus – *The meeting is over!*
One by one, the gods vanished, leaving only Athena and Poseidon. They shrank, standing before the kids.
Lucy – *Mom!* – she ran to Athena, hugging her tightly – *I was so scared...*
Athena gently rubbed her daughter's back, comforting her.
Athena kissed Lucy's head – *You were strong, my daughter... Despite knowing what the future holds...* – she growled, glaring coldly at Natsu, chilling him.
Poseidon – *Stop scaring my son, Athena* – he grumbled, pouting – *You're freaking him out.*
Natsu – *And worse, she's so much like Lucy, which makes it scarier...*
Athena – *Not my fault this kid has your blood, Poseidon* – she sniffed haughtily – *Just his blood reeks of rotten fish.*
Natsu – *F-Fish? Do I smell like fish?*
The gods bickered, trading insults that embarrassed Natsu and Lucy. As they argued, Natsu heard a growl nearby. Before he could turn, he was thrown away from the gods and his friends.
Lucy – *Natsu!*
She gasped, seeing a Fury pinning Natsu by his face, with two others flanking her.
Fury 1 – *Hee... Heehee... That was easy...* – she laughed mockingly, gripping his face harder.
Poseidon – *Damn you. Let my son go* – he growled, his Trident materializing.
Fury 2 – *Calm down. Attack us, and we'll carve this pretty boy's face...* – she crouched, her face near Natsu's heart – *Or rip his heart out...*
Poseidon lowered his weapon. Even as a god, he wouldn't risk Natsu's life, especially with the Furies.
Fury 3 – *Good, good... Now we don't have to kill him yet* – she laughed, baring her fangs.
As a Fury prepared to sink her fangs into Natsu's chest, a lightning-like blast severed her head, turning her to ash instantly.
Fury 1 – *Who did that? I'll kill the kid if you attack!* – she threatened, fearfully tightening her grip.
But as if her words meant nothing, another blast hit the second Fury, disintegrating her. The last Fury, terrified, took flight to escape.
– *Not so fast!* – a female voice teased.
Another blast vaporized the third Fury to dust. Even Athena and Poseidon were shocked at who defeated them. Gray and Lucy were equally stunned.
The person who saved Natsu approached, sitting beside him, resting his head in her lap. Natsu, dazed and with blurred vision, saw pink hair and, before passing out from the Fury's blow, whispered:
Natsu – *Mom...*