A/N: --- always means end of flasback.

Jay

A Savior Born In Darkest Times

Those were the first words I ever heard. Mortals can't remember their birth. Gods can. It's only fitting that I can remember some of it.

It was a sunny day, quite ironic given the supposed "darkest times". I could hear birds chirping outside, actually, they were more singing than chirping. I remeber seeing Apollo, he's the one who said It. Artemis and Ares were also there, as well as Dad and Mom. I should probably explain that. Obviously my mortal mother was there, but when I say Mom I'm usually talking about Hera. Unlike most children of Zeus, she actually liked me. Maybe it's because my Mother died giving birth and she had to raise me from day one, maybe it's just because, at the time, Zeus was still rather loyal to her. Either way she loved me like a son and I loved her like I would've loved my real mother. I remember Hermes flashing into the room with a nervous expression. He whispered something in my fathers ear. Zeus made a grim face and nodded, I think they all flashed out. Everything is blurry after that.

---

I woke up to the sound of birds. Birds seemed to be the only constant in my otherwise tragic and confusing life. Wherever I go, they're already there and when I leave they're still there. I stood up from the bunch of leaves I'd been sleeping on. I was wearing my usual white hooded bomber jacket with my grey cloth trousers. I picked my black backpack, which I had been using as a pillow, up from the ground, checked if my bottle was still there and put it on. I knew my bottle would always appear in the holder on the side, but I always checked just to be safe. I pulled up my hood and put my scarf over my mouth, like I always did. I was ready to go.

I looked around taking in all my surroundings. I hadn't got a good look at them last night after my fight with the Crocotta. I was in a forest. The trees were covered in snow and I could see the lights of a city in the distance.

I started my trek towards it but it was cut short when I heard a distant female voice yell "Get down!" I instinctively ducked but quickly realized she probably wasn't talking to me. I looked around to find the origin of her voice but couldn't find anything. Moments later I heard another voice: "Yield!" It was more of a roar, probably a monster. Then I saw them. There was a boy with boy with raven black hair and an orange Camp Half-Blood t-shirt, a punk looking girl with spiky black hair and a blonde girl with a New York Yankees cap in her left hand, definitely demigods. They were apparently protecting two confused looking young children, probably also demigods, from a Manticore. There was also a Satyr who was trying to trap the monster in plant vines but to no avail. "Never!" the punk girl yelled from across the field. She charged the monster, and for a second, I thought she would run him through. But then there was a thunderous noise and a blaze of light from behind them. A helicopter appeared out of the mist, hovering just beyond the cliffs. It was a sleek black military-style gunship, with attachments on the sides. The helicopter had to be manned by mortals.

The searchlights blinded her, and the Manticore swatted her away with its tail. Her shield flew off into the snow. Her spear flew in the other direction."No!" the boy ran out to help her. he parried away a spike just before it would've hit her chest. He raised my shield over them, but I could see it wouldn't be enough. The monster laughed. "Now do you see how hopeless it is? Yield, little heroes."

I could definitely see how hopeless it was. If I didn't interfere they were surely going to die. A hero would have saved them without a second thought, but I had left that life behind long ago. Why should I care if they died, they're demigods, their life isn't going to end well anyway. I haven't stayed in hiding for so long just to blow my cover now. And even if I did save them, the consequences of that action would kill them anyway. Then I remebered the little kids. They were so young, so innocent, they didn't deserve to die like this. Maybe I could swoop in, take out the monster and leave before anyone recognizes me. I decided that was the best option.

I took out my bottle and opened it. It quickly grew into my sword, σχίζω-ἀστεροπή. I started running faster and faster until I felt my body turn into lightning. I was there in a matter of seconds and ran straight through the Manticore hitting him with about one billion mythovolt, which would have killed most normal monsters. He screamed out in pain, but shook it off rather quickly and started shooting his thorns at me. I was standing at the edge of the cliff, right before the children, slicing through all the thorns before they could reach us. I shouted at the children "Run!" but they seemed to be frozen in place. I sighed, threw my Katana at the monster, grabbed the two children and zapped us away. I hid them behind a tree and wanted to turn back to the monster when I heard a hunting horn being blown.

The Manticore froze. For a moment, no one moved. There was only the swirl of snow and wind and the chopping of the helicopter blades. I cursed silently, "There goes my chance for swooping in without being seen" I thought. I watched as the Hunters took care of the monster splitting his thorns midair, like I had done seconds before with my sword. One of the older archers stepped forward with her bow drawn. She was tall and graceful with coppery colored skin. Unlike the other girls, she had a silver circlet braided into the top of her long dark hair, the lieutenant obviously.

"Permission to..." was as far as she got before the Manticore went charging at her. The Hunters shot their Arrows at him but the helicopter started shooting them forcing them to dodge and spread out. Artemis thrust out her hand, and the helicopter exploded into a flock of ravens, which scattered into the night. But it was too late, the monster had already grabbed the girl, turned on his heel and started running to the edge of the cliff. The blonde girl tried to stop him but he snatched her up with his tail and pulled her off the cliff with them.

Unlike last time I didn't hesitate and went charging off the cliff right after them. They were falling fast but I knew I could reach them if I used the wind to propel me downwards. I focused on the air, spun σχίζω-ἀστεροπή around and shot down at immense speed. I went right past the Manticore, slicing off his arm in the process. Since I was now below him, the huntress fell right into my arms, I just had to drop my sword to catch her. I looked around for the other girl but she was nowhere to be seen. With a heavy heart I floated up the cliff carrying the huntress bridal style, much to her annoyance.

When we reached the top off the cliff everyone had turned away from the cliff, probably mourning the loss of their friend or lieuteneant. Only the little boy who was jsut coming out of hiding noticed me and shouted "Look, it's Superman!" Everyone turned around and looked at me with shock and disbelief written on their faces. I landed carefully and the huntress jumped out of my arms before I could set her down.

Artemis, who had watched the whole thing with a bitter look was slowly walking towards me with an Arrow notched. I quickly bowed down

"My apologies, Lady Artemis, for touching your lieutenant but I saw no other way"

She seemed suprised but quickly regained her composure

"It is alright, by coming here and kneeling before me you have proven your pure intentions. Rise, young hero, tell me your name"

I knew there was no going back now. I slowly rose up and pulled down my hood and scarf. I saw Artemis eyes widen.

"My name is Jay, son of Zeus, wielder of σχίζω-ἀστεροπή, and heir and savior of Olympus, but my return puts this world in great danger."