"Wow Lizzie you look great today. N-not that you don't look great every day, but-"
"Hmm? What were you saying?" Lizzie barely paid attention to the guy who was stumbling over his words to compliment her. Milton Greasley, better known as MG around school, was one of Lizzie's classmates who everyone knew had a big crush on her, but she hardly noticed him. The young vampire was charming, polite, charismatic, and very knowledgeable. He didn't have to use his powers for most of the student body and faculty to like him, but he couldn't even get the attention of the only one who mattered to him. "What's going on…"
"I was just saying that you look especially pretty today" MG started over. "Is there some special occasion?"
"Dammit! Now is not the time for this!" Lizzie yelled looking at the time on her phone. Her sudden outburst of anger startled the students walking by, MG even took a step back.
"My bad if I'm bothering you, I can hit you up later…"
"MG? Oh sorry I wasn't paying attention, what's up?" She finally noticed he was trying to talk to her.
"It's nothing. I just happened to see you on my way to the office, but it looks like you're busy at the moment. I'll umm, see you later."
"Ok sure. (He seems kinda mopey today)" she thought watching him walk away. "I'm going to kill Gil! What the hell is he doing! We were supposed to leave over an our ago!"
"People will think you're crazy if you just stand there yelling to yourself" Hope said as she saw Lizzie at the school's entrance.
"Hope! Please tell me you've seen Gil? He's been missing all morning."
"I can't say I've seen him either. He might be training the baby dragon. That's really all he's been doing these last couple of days."
"Could he pick a less stressful time to go AWOL?"
"Well I just text him, let's get going. He'll pop up soon."
"He'd better, or I'm going to strangle him with the dragon."
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Anyways what's up with MG? I saw him coming from this way and he looked pretty down."
"Beats me, maybe his favorite character died in a comic again."
The rest of the group had all been ready and gathered together in the parking lot around Noraa's limousine, having all failed to find Gil too. He offered to be the chauffeur since he could accommodate the large group and even though Alaric had a lot to say about Noraa's overall judgement, anyone under his protection was safe as can be. Everyone went shopping (with Gil's money), so they all were in tailor-made suits and dresses with lots of jewelry, and saw pro stylists. Everyone had to be on point for them to meet the president of the United States, or be seen in public with a movie star for that matter. Ilpyo and Raphael still decided to join them on the trip even though they weren't invited but no one cared. The more the merrier right? After waiting a bit longer and still no sign of Gil they gave him another call. That was when they heard the ring from inside the car. They were all shocked to see Gil was sleeping peacefully inside waiting on everyone else. His new pet dragon slept wrapped around his neck as the phone in his lap rang unanswered.
"No fucking way…" Lizzie was stupefied. "I'm going to kill him."
"Lizzie!" Hope went to stop her but she was too late, Lizzie blasted Gil with a fireball.
"OUCH! What's going on!?" Gil had no clue why he was woken up so violently.
"Lizzie stop!"
"Chill Lizzie!"
"HEY! No magic in my limo!"
Finally, being on their way the group made the drive upstate to the nation's capital. Fortunately for Gil he had a backup mask and coat ready. Everyone had a good time taking turns playing their favorite songs, trading funny stories, and sightseeing. Noraa even brought out some cider for the group while he sipped something stronger. A few short hours later they reached their destination.
"So this is the royal castle? This architecture reminds me of home a little." Hercules admired the building and landscaping as they were escorted inside by men in black suits.
"White house Herc, and yeah there are plenty of buildings that utilized building techniques from different eras. Greek architecture was one of the more prominent styles." Josie explained. The building itself was full of many mementoes of presidents passed, an extensive collection of fine arts pieces, and many rooms for various uses most of which Josie had an explanation for. Some of it was available to look at, but there were many private sectors locked away for important meetings. "Did you know-"
"Jojo I love you to death, but no more history lessons right now" Noraa cut her off.
"Why stop her Mr. Black? Without knowing our history we're doomed to repeat it, are we not?" In the oval office a stunning woman sat behind the president's desk. She wore her long dark hair in side braid, that hung over her shoulder. Her black dress revealed long smooth legs and did little to hide her curves. She looked over the group with brilliant golden eyes. "The groups a little bigger than I anticipated, but nonetheless welcome to the White house children."
"And Noraa." Noraa snapped.
"I count a man child as a child." She said nonchalantly. "As I was saying I am Minerva, president of the United States. Not typically someone you'd want to keep waiting." She glared at Gil who she had already known was prone to disregarding orders.
"It wasn't my fault. I was ready first" Gil said. "Anyways what do you want?"
"Gil! You can't talk to the president like that!" Josie exclaimed.
"It's fine Ms. Saltzman," Minerva said as she waved a hand and all guards left except for six. "I am familiar with Mr. Uchiha's 'crude' demeanor. He was never good with his words. To be blunt, we want to use your powers to help combat the entity known as Tartarus."
"The underworld in the underworld?" Landon asked. "We're fighting a place?"
"Yes and no. Like you know the deepest reaches of the underworld where the damned are judged and tormented is the place known as Tartarus, however the deity that personifies the realm shares the name. He intends to consume everything and become the supreme deity, making his domain the entirety of the universe."
"Wait what? You want us to fight a whole realm? That's asking a lot of a few high school students, don't you think?" Gil wanted to slap her, but he knew that was a terrible idea. "Count us out." The others weren't too keen on Minerva's pitch either.
"Are these new enemies strong?" Hercules interest had been piqued conversely to everyone else.
"Very strong indeed. Stronger than all of you are at your current levels." Minerva answered.
"HAHAHAHA good! It's better if there's someone I can't beat, I was starting to get bored!"
"(If only you knew Herc)" Hope thought as her eyes shifted to Gil.
"Your enthusiasm is well placed, but you have a lot to learn to live up to your full potential." Minerva was glad to see someone excited but one unpolished gem wasn't enough. "I chose you lot specifically because you all are special, even among your peers you go to school with. A set of Gemini twin witches, the one and only tri-bred, a phoenix, and a few demigods. I understand you have other capable friends too." She nodded to Ilpyo and Raf.
"A few demigods? Herc is the only one, right?" Lizzie cut in. "Who else is a demigod?"
"Me." Kelly looked like she didn't want to answer. Everyone thought she was just a strong werewolf, one who could easily compete with an alpha even with no pack. Being a demigod had a whole other weight to it.
"Lupa is your mother correct?" Minerva stated more than she asked.
"She is."
"Have you been able to contact her?"
"No, she hasn't been answering me lately…does this has something to do with Tartarus?"
"Yes, it's likely she's already been devoured. In fact much, of our pantheon has disappeared, though some may be in hiding. That includes your side too Greek."
"Then was it Tartarus who destroyed my home?" Hercules asked.
"That I can't say for sure. We'll have to investigate that more."
"(What is this? They're talking about needing strong people and they just act like they barely see me.) Hey! What's the big idea acting like I'm some third rate extra?!" Ilpyo exploded with a fiery burst as fox ears appeared on his head of now white hair and nine blazing tails flowed freely behind him.
"WOAH! Now that's cool!" Landon exclaimed.
"That's what Gil meant by fox" Hope said.
"So handsome…" Kelly covered her mouth and hoped no one heard that slip out.
"(Wow, so I'm the normal one?)" Raphael thought.
A malicious aura spread through the room giving everyone the feeling of a predator preparing to devour its prey as Ilpyo stared the president down. The six guards all moved around Ilpyo, prepared for him to do anything. Only they and Minerva noticed Gil whose mask was up and Noraa, both had only shifted their stances slightly but were ready for action at a moments notice. The others were unsure how such an intense situation erupted so suddenly, extreme killing intent filled the room from both sides.
"(This tension is suffocating. I can barely breathe.)" Josie was trying to stop trembling.
Minerva called the guards off. "Stand down everyone, he has a right to free speech. Mr…"
"Inari. Ilpyo Inari."
"I owe you an apology, Mr. Inari. I failed to recognize one of the most important players right before my eyes. One of the keys."
"Damn straight you did." Ilpyo said arrogantly.
"(You failed to recognize both of them actually)" Gil thought to himself. "(Some goddess of wisdom)."
"I thought the keys had been lost long ago…But if you really are 'that' key then, that means you could-"
"Don't wanna." Ilpyo powered down. Gil poorly stifled a laugh.
"What! I don't understand!? With your power, do you know the advantage you could afford humanity!?" Minerva lost her cool for the first time.
"I didn't get an invite. Next time put me on the list, and I might be more motivated."
"He's the key to what?" Lizzie whispered to her sister.
"I don't know, this is new to me too."
"Are even the tiger's cubs as petty as they are arrogant?" Minerva rubbed her temples fighting a headache. "(They're going to be a bigger pain to deal with than I thought.)"
"And you, big oaf!" Pointing to Hercules "quit going around school like some muscle brained bully! Just because you can beat a few werewolves doesn't actually make you tough! You don't even know what real strength looks like."
"Would beating down a fox prove a better test of my strength?" Hercules heard the challenge loud and clear. Ilpyo's display just then had definitely moved him up on Hercules's 'to fight' list.
"Heh, you'd die trying…and I'm not even the strongest at that school."
"There is one you consider stronger than yourself? Who is it? I must face them too!" Hercules grew more excited.
"(Is he really that clueless?)" All of his classmates thought.
"Alright children behave." Minerva was getting increasingly irritated. "You will not act like my office is an arena. Is there need for any more outbursts? No? Then, let's get back to the matter at hand. Like I said before you kids possess the potential to battle against the coming denizens of Tartarus, while one of you may even be the arrow that pierces the deity himself. I want to help you realize those potentials."
"You have soldiers for this stuff, don't you? You are the president," Gil questioned.
"We need elites Mr. Uchiha, sending those regular humans off to battle these creatures would just be wasting lives. And the time and resources it would take to groom them would be far greater than what could be done with people of your caliber. I will ask you once more. Can this world count on you?"
"Hmmmmm…what do you guys think?" Gil turned to the team.
"We're not about to sit by and let the world get taken over" Hope answered without a second thought.
"I agree with Hope! We can't just wait for them to show up at our doorstep." Hercules added.
"If that bastard got my mom, I'm going to make him pay for sure!" Kelly was in.
"I wasn't expecting anything this big, but I'll do what I can too." Landon agreed.
"Meh, sure." Ilpyo was still irritated but he was going to help anyways.
"Sisters? Raf?" Gil looked over to the silent trio.
"I didn't know my opinion mattered here, but yeah I'm down." Raphael said.
Josie looked like she was really debating this, it all seemed like a bit much even for her. Lizzie looked at her and sighed, truth be told she didn't want to be battling ancient deities either. They already had their hands full around Mystic Falls. Still, they both steeled their nerves and got on board. "We're in this too."
"So, it's unanimous!" Noraa liked to see their fighting spirits. "But I'm gonna say this now, Minnie."
"Minerva."
"Don't think this means you run us. We'll work with you, not for you. I don't play about my family, so don't cross them."
"I would be a fool to expect anything less."