@Xenite Country
Dark Revelations
By Skkye Blue
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Shipper Fan Fiction @Xenite Country Dark Revelations |
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Webmaster Note: To make this story load a little easier in your browser, it has been split into several web pages. You will find the link for the part of the story below at the end of each page. Dark Revelations (Chapters 74 thru 77 & Epilogue) CHAPTER 74 Gabrielle stared intently at the parchment in her hands, lips moving almost imperceptibly as she reviewed the phrases in question. "I’ve got to change it," she muttered, a dissatisfied frown crossing her forehead as she obliterated the offending words with a few broad strokes of her quill. Her brow was furrowed with deep thought as she lightly smacked the side of her face with the quill’s large white feather. A few moments later her face lit up as a smile appeared. "Ooh, that’s perfect!" The quill was busy again as she quickly scribbled some words onto the parchment. "How’s it going with my speech?" Cecrops asked as he entered the room. "It’s almost done, I just had to make a few changes." Gabrielle continued to scribble. "I already memorized the first one." Cecrops had a worried frown on his face. He now stood before the desk where Gabrielle was seated. "I only changed the last paragraph. It’s a short one and should be easy to memorize." She handed the parchment to Cecrops. His brown eyes wandered over the last paragraph. His face brightened with approval. "Oh yeah, I like the changes...this is really good!" "Thanks." Gabrielle had a big smile on her face. After spending some time with her family in Potidaea, then visiting Xena and the twins in Macedon, Gabrielle had joined up with Cecrops in Athens. The immortal mariner had been put in charge of the city’s massive reconstruction project. Repairs to Athens’ council hall had been completed so that very night, a party was being thrown to celebrate the reopening of the building. Cecrops had been asked to give a speech at the celebration and knowing that Gabrielle was a talented bard, he had asked her to write one for him. "Others have been asked to give speeches too but I know this one will be the best. Athens will be talking about it for days." "Cecrops you flatter me too much. It’s really not my best work," Gabrielle insisted. "It looks great to me. Why, if you wanted, I bet you could get a job as a professional speech writer." Gabrielle pondered the idea. Suddenly, the pair heard the sound of hurried footsteps heading towards them right before the twins burst through the door. Excited smiles were on their faces as they made their way over to the desk where the two adults were. "From the looks on your faces, I would say you two passed your science test?" Gabrielle asked. "See for yourselves." Lycus whipped out a sheet of parchment and laid it on the desk. "Yeah." Still smiling Lysia laid her sheet on the desk too. "You both got alphas!" Gabrielle exclaimed. "That’s great!" Cecrops declared. "Yup." Lycus said. "And on mine, I beat Lycus by four points," Lysia proudly boasted. "I’ll beat ya the next time," Lycus assured. "Eh, we’ll see," Lysia said. "It looks like studying with Cecrops really paid off," Gabrielle said. "Uh huh." Lycus nodded his head in agreement. "Thanks Cecrops," Lysia said. "Yeah thanks," Lycus added. "Anytime kids," Cecrops said with a smile. "Where’s Mommy? We have to show her our tests." Lysia said. "Xena went out for a little bit. She should be back soon," Gabrielle replied. "In the meantime why don’t you guys go play? After doing so well on your tests, you’ve earned it." Cecrops suggested. "Okay," the children said in unison as they ran from the room. "So, where did Xena go?" Cecrops asked when they were alone. "Actually I don’t know. All she said before she left was that she was going out and that she wouldn’t be long." "Xena does know about the party tonight, doesn’t she?" Cecrops asked. "Yes, she knows and she will be there." Gabrielle assured. "Good. It’s been a few centuries since I’ve spoken in front of such a large crowd and I want as many friendly faces there as possible." "Oh would you stop worrying. You are going to do just fine." Gabrielle placed a hand over his that rested on the desk. ********** It was a beautiful late spring day. Fluffy white clouds slowly rolled across the blue sky as the golden rays of the afternoon sun rained down, providing nourishment for the new life that had sprung up over the landscape. A choir of birds could be heard throughout the forest on the outskirts of Athens as they sat on branches of trees shrouded by dark green newly grown leaves. Blooming wildflowers provided a colorful contrast to the surrounding greenery. A doe with her fawn nibbled on the leaves of a nearby bush before both took off in a run, disappearing into the forest. In a nearby field, Argo nibbled on some lush green grass. Still chewing, the mare raised her golden head letting her large brown eyes fall on her mistress who stood in the middle of the field. With a multitude of parries and thrusts, Xena wielded her sword, moving about the field fighting an imaginary opponent. She did a somersault in the air, landed noiselessly on the lush green grass and slashed at the air. As Xena continued her workout, her thoughts drifted to Ares. Neither she nor the children had seen him since that week in Macedon and that was a month ago. All three were really starting to miss him. Xena knew the importance of keeping an eye on the Roman civil war and making sure it did not spread to a weakened Greece. But Ares was a god---he didn’t participate in the actual fighting so why did he have to be gone for such long periods of time? Xena had to see Ares. Tonight, after the party, she would call to him and insist that he come to Athens. Some changes had to be made. With one final parry, Xena sheathed the sword in the scabbard on her back then whistled for Argo. When the golden mare trotted up to her, she mounted and the pair headed back into Athens. They entered the city down by the seaport. Xena was very surprised to sea Roman naval ships anchored at the docks. She figured they were probably just there to restock their ships. She didn’t think much of it and headed towards the city’s main street. As Argo trotted down the crowded dirt road, Xena brought the animal to a sudden stop. Her crystal blue eyes stared with concern at Athena’s main temple. At the base of the steps, leading up to the large white stone structure stood a regiment of the Roman army. "Something is definitely not right." Xena murmured to herself. She immediately dismounted Argo and headed for the temple. Athena was scheduled to be at the festivities that night and would probably be in her temple so Xena had to see her at once. The warrior princess brushed past the Roman soldiers, made her way up the many stone steps and into the temple. When she entered the great hall, she found the goddess of wisdom and to her surprise, the god of war. Both were embroiled in an intense conversation with two Roman soldiers as all four stood around a table, intently gazing at a map. "Would someone care to tell me what is going on?" Xena asked in a loud voice. Somewhat started, the four ceased their conversation and turned to look in her direction. The warrior princess stood by a large stone column with her arms folded across her chest and a hard look in her crystal blue eyes. "Ah Xena, I heard you were in Athens. It really is good to see you again," Athena said with a sickening sweet smile. Ares looked at the two Romans. "We’ll have to finish this later." The soldiers bowed to the gods then made their exit. With a glare filled with contempt, Xena watched them leave before focusing her attention on the two gods. "All right, will somebody tell me what a contingent of the Roman army is doing in Athens?" Xena came over to where the gods stood. "So, you don’t know what’s going on? That doesn’t surprise me." Athena glared at Ares before gazing at Xena once again. "I would be happy to explain but since my *dear* brother is the architect of this plan I will let him have the honors." With a mocking smile on her face, Athena vanished in shards of golden light. Ares stared at the spot where his sister stood a moment ago and smirked. "Eh, she’s just jealous because I came up with a solution to a problem she couldn’t handle." Xena moved closer to the war god. "What is this problem? And how exactly do the Romans fit into it?" "It’s the Persians, Xena. It’s been more than a season since Dahak’s defeat yet they still occupy the cities along our border with them." "And you think it could be permanent and maybe lead to a full-blown invasion somewhere down the line?" She asked. "Yes, I do and so does most of Olympus. But Zeus didn’t want me handling both the Roman Civil war and the Persian threat so he let Athena deal with the Persians. But as I have already said, months later they are still here so I decided to step in and handle it myself." "And Rome fits in this where?" Xena asked, fearing the worst. Ares knew they would eventually get to the Roman angle and proceeded with hesitation. "The Romans have agreed to provide Greece with protection against Persia." This news displeased Xena greatly but she remained calm. "But aren’t they spreading themselves a bit thin? After all, they have a civil war of their own to fight." "True. But Greece has certain resources that the Romans greatly need and will ensure that the man I want to be Emperor of Rome will win." Ares turned his gaze from Xena and looked at the map spread out on the table. This move filled Xena with dread but she went ahead and asked the question that had popped into her mind. "Who do you want to be Emperor of Rome?" "Octavian," Ares softly replied while turning to face Xena once again. "Octavian?" Xena repeated. "Caesar’s nephew? Why in Tartarus would you side with him?!" Her features started to darken with anger. "Because he is the best man to lead Rome forward. The other vying for control is Mark Antony. He was very loyal to Caesar. So much so that he has even taken the same lover---the Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra," Ares smirked. "You shouldn’t hold Octavian being Caesar’s nephew against him. He is nothing like his uncle, Xena. You will like him." "I don’t give a frig about Octavian! I don’t want Romans occupying Greece!" "This was our only option." "No it wasn’t." She glared at him. "You should have left it alone. Zeus gave the job to Athena!" "Oh yeah, and what progress she was making," Ares sarcastically replied. "Persian soldiers occupying Greek cities…just waiting for the order from Persepolis to attack. This would have given more power to Ahura Mazda and the Persian gods---weakening Olympus even more." "Ah, now we get down to the real motivation---not protecting the people of Greece but maintaining a power base for Olympus!" Xena shook her head with disgust. "I won’t deny that and I also don’t see anything wrong with it," Ares smugly replied. "Olympus is nothing without worshippers. The Romans recognize us as their gods too and with them in Greece our power base will remain intact." "And after the Persian threat has been eliminated, the Romans will remain, won’t they, Ares?" Xena’s hard stare bore into him as she waited for a response. "Yes. The Romans will be claiming Greece as part of their empire." Xena let out an exacerbated sigh upon hearing him. "Under the Roman Empire, the lives of Greeks will vastly improve. I won’t deny there will be some changes but the only downside I can see is Greek Kings having to pay tribute to Rome." "If that’s what you truly believe Ares, then you are a fool!" Ares knew Xena would not take the news about Rome very well but such an insult was raising anger in him. "The only one being foolish here is you!" He roughly grabbed Xena by the arms and stared hard into her face. "Your hatred of Rome has always been wrapped around one person. Let it go. Caesar is DEAD!" Xena struggled to free herself but Ares only tightened his grip. "You are letting your personal feelings stand in the way of what is best for Greece!" Ares finally loosened his grip on her arms. Xena wrenched herself free and backed away from him. "For the best---my ass! You just gave up our sovereignty for security and now the people of Greece will have neither. But hey, what do you care, so long as you have worshippers and power!" Ares let the anger he was feeling leave him and softened his features. "Power wasn’t the only reason I did this Xena. I want to make sure that Lycus and Lysia grow up in a peaceful, orderly world and this will ensure that. Athena tried diplomacy to get the Persians to leave Greek cities, which fell on deaf ears, now this will be settled on the battlefield." Ares’ eyes gleamed with anticipation of the impending confrontation between the two powerful armies." This look did not go unnoticed by Xena. "Ah yes, peace through force…that always was your motto," she said with disgust. "All you will be doing is removing the threat of one oppressor and replacing it with another." She raised her head towards the heavens and sadly shook it before looking at Ares again. "You were right when you said I was acting foolish. I was a fool to let myself ever trust you. I let you into my heart once before and you betrayed me with Rome and here you are doing it again." "Xena, you are being unreasonable…" "NO---I am being smart. I’m not going to let you get the chance to betray me again---this relationship is OVER---for good this time! You stay away from me and the children." Xena turned her back on Ares and headed for the hall’s large archway. She didn’t get far when he appeared in front of her, bringing her to an immediate stop. "You can’t keep me from seeing the children, Xena. So DON’T even try!" There was a threatening gleam in Ares’ eyes. Considering what Ares had just done, she could not take such a look lightly. "Fine, you can continue to see the children. Just give me ample warning before you arrive so I don’t have to be there!" With a huff, Xena shoved right past him and quickly made her way out of the temple. Ares knew that Xena would not be happy about Rome occupying Greece but he didn’t think it would lead to break-up. "DAMN IT!!!" He growled while letting a hand release a fireball that viciously hit a wall, leaving a smoldering hole. In a blinding burst of silver light, Ares vanished from Athena’s main temple. His form materialized in front of the marble pedestal in the small room of his temple in Abydos. Ares angrily tossed aside the black silk cloth then picked up the Holy Saber and twirled it with a hand. Ares thought that claiming the power stored in the magnificent weapon and using it to protect Greece would surely destroy his relationship with Xena. So he chose what he considered the more acceptable solution and ended up losing her anyway. The woman had behaved with such pigheadedness---so stubborn and unwilling to see the whole picture from every angle. Once again, she had broken it off for a silly reason and Ares was tired of it. He stopped twirling the saber and pulled from his vest, the slip of parchment that held the Greek translation for the word’s on the hilt. Since Xena had broken it off for no good reason at all, Ares decided to give her a reason. ********** When Xena reached Cecrops’ residence, she got Argo settled in the stables, then made her way into the house. She was in no mood to see anyone and sought solitude in the quiet of her room. Once there, she proceeded to take a bath. Methodically, she went through the motions of washing her hair and scrubbing her body. She successfully removed the sweat from her sword workout but not the shame she felt. When the bath was complete, she stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around her body. She seated herself on the edge of her bed and proceeded to run another towel through her wet hair. Tears of anger and sadness began to well up in her eyes. "Oh gods, how could I have been so stupid!" The tears now rolled down Xena’s cheeks. She let the towel slip from her hands as she buried her face in them. Lost in feelings of shame and despair, Xena didn’t hear Gabrielle open the bedroom door. When the bard saw her friend sitting on the side of the bed, with her head buried in her hands---crying, she immediately went to her side. "Oh Xena, tell me what’s wrong." Gabrielle’s face was filled with concern as she wrapped an arm around her friend’s bare shoulders. Xena lifted her face from her hands and took the towel that Gabrielle offered her. "I just broke up with Ares." Using the towel, she began wiping away the tears. The bard’s eyes widened in shock upon hearing this. "But why? Everything was going so well between you two. What happened?" "Ares had us all fooled Gabrielle…you, me… the children. He hasn’t changed…not one iota." Xena went on to recount for Gabrielle everything that had transpired between her and the war god at Athena’s main temple. "This is all my fault," Gabrielle said after Xena had informed her. A frown of guilt was on her face as she sadly shook her head. "I was so sure that the changes I saw in Ares were genuine. This wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t encouraged you to pursue a relationship with him." "Don’t blame yourself Gabrielle." Xena took one of her friend’s hands in hers and gently squeezed it with affection. "The final decision to have a relationship with Ares was mine. I took a chance on love…and I lost. It wouldn’t be so bad if it was just me but there’s the twins…this is going to mess up their lives too and that’s what I desperately wanted to avoid." Gabrielle pulled her friend closer. "The children will be just fine Xena. We will all get them through this." She raised a hand up to her friend’s face and caressed it in a comforting gesture. "I know I speak for Cecrops when I say you and the kids can stay here with us." "Thanks, Gabrielle. I haven’t even thought that far ahead but staying here with you would definitely be better than staying with my mother. I really don’t need to hear her say *I told you so.*" "Oh Xena, Cyrene wouldn’t do that…she loves you and would just be happy to have her daughter and grandchildren living with her." Xena glanced at the window. "It’s getting late. I better get dressed for the party." She jumped up from the bed. "You’re still going?!" Gabrielle stared at her incredulously. "Yes." Xena went over to a closet. "I just thought that after everything that happened with Ares, that you wouldn’t be up to attending the party." Gabrielle watched Xena rifle through the clothes in the closet, trying to decide what to wear. "I promised Cecrops that I would attend so I must be there." Holding up a lemon colored chiton, Xena decided this is what she would wear and laid it across a chair. "But I could explain the situation to Cecrops and he would certainly understand why you can’t be there." "No Gabrielle. I want to go. I need to take my mind off Ares for awhile and this party will do just that." "Okay Xena, if you say so," Gabrielle said. "I better go get dressed myself." The bard quietly left the bedroom. ********** Torches flickered in the night, brightening the large square outside the Athenian council hall. The city’s residents moved about decorated tables helping themselves to fine food and wines as the music of minstrels and boisterous chatter filled the air. Dressed in fine silks, Gabrielle and Cecrops made their way through the crowd. "Hey, great speech Cecrops," one man said while holding up a goblet up in a toasting gesture before bringing it to his lips. "Yeah, that was front page stuff," a reporter with the Athens Chronicle added. "Thanks fellas," Cecrops said while making his way through the crowd. He looked down at the woman walking beside him; her arm locked in his. "See, I told you that speech of yours would be a smash hit at the party. You really should think about adding professional speech writer to your bard credentials." "I’ve been thinking about it," Gabrielle confessed as she smiled up at him. The pair spotted Xena sitting on a marble bench and headed over to her. She was finishing up the last morsels of food on her plate. "The speech was great Cecrops," Xena said when the pair stood before her. "I can’t take the credit for it being great. I only read it. Gabrielle’s writing made it great." Gabrielle smiled as she bowed her head in a modest way. "Yes, Gabrielle truly is a gifted bard," Xena gazed up at her friend with a big smile on her face. "Thanks to her stories, I don’t think there is a person in Greece who doesn’t know about our travels together. Have you read them?" She asked, putting the last morsel of food in her mouth. "I just started and they are great. I find it hard to put them down," Cecrops replied. "If you two keep this up, my head will grow to ten times its normal size," Gabrielle warned. "You? Never," Xena said. Her plate now empty, she rose from the marble bench. "I hope you two don’t mind but it’s been a long day for me so I am going to head back to the house and turn in for the evening." Knowing what her friend had been through earlier that day, Gabrielle understood completely. "No, you go on home." "Here, I’ll take your plate for you," Cecrops offered. "Thanks." Xena handed Cecrops the empty plate then proceeded to depart the festivities. She was making her way through the crowd when she heard a familiar voice call out to her. "Xena! Xena wait!" She turned around and a smile instantly appeared on her face when she saw Hercules approaching her. When the demigod stood before her, she greeted him with a big hug. "What are you doing here?" She asked when the hug was broken. "Serena’s brother-in-law lives in Athens. Her husband wanted him to have some of his things if he ever died and I came along to be company for her." Xena had heard about Hercules’ reunion with the woman who had been his wife in a pre-altered time. "So, is it serious between you and Serena?" "We are just friends, Xena. She is still grieving over her husband and I am just here to offer support," Hercules replied. "But do you want it to stay that way?" "No," he confessed with a chuckle that made Xena laugh too, then he got serious again. "I am not going to push her. Right now, I am just happy being a part of her life again. It’s something I never thought would ever happen." "I know…knew the feeling," Xena commiserated. "Is everything okay with you?" Hercules’ face now showed concern as he laid his hands on Xena’s arms. "Athena told me that you showed up at her temple while Ares was there. She left so you two could talk in private but when she came back you both were gone and a big hole was burned into a temple wall." Xena’s face twisted with discomfort. "Ares and I had a fight. We broke up---for good this time." "Wow!" Hercules breathed with true surprise. He was just coming to terms with Xena’s relationship with Ares and certainly wasn’t expecting this turn of events. "What happened?" "I’m surprised Athena didn’t fill you in…she’s got to know most of it," Xena sighed wearily. She recounted the events in Athena’s temple. "I knew this would happen," Hercules murmured. "Ares was wrong for you…I just wished you had listened to me." Xena wrenched her arms from his grasp and glared at him. "I have been beating up on myself for half the day over my stupidity and I am certainly not going to stand here and listen to you do it!" She turned her back to him and started walking away. "Xena wait!" Hercules caught up to her and laid a hand on a shoulder, halting her departure. "Hey, I’m sorry. Your day must have been horrible and I had no right to add to your pain. It’s just that we were so close once. I even thought that one day we would be together. I know that’s not going to happen now but it doesn’t mean that I don’t care for you or I won’t worry about you." Xena let her anger dissipate as her features softened. "I understand Hercules. I will always care about you too." She raised a hand and let it caress his cheek. "But I don’t want you to worry about me. I won’t deny that Ares has hurt me terribly but with time I will get over it." "I know that Xena but just in case you do need some help, I just want you to know that I am here for you." "I know you are and I thank you for it." Xena leaned in and softly planted a kiss on his cheek. She gazed into his eyes a few moments before she turned from him and resumed her walk to Cecrop’s home. Hercules just stood there, watching her departure. "I know you are a strong woman, Xena but love can weaken the mightiest of us. That’s why I’m going to pay Ares a visit and make sure he leaves you alone." CHAPTER 75 After accompanying Serena to Athens, Hercules came back with her to Epidauros. It had been a few weeks since their return and he still couldn’t get Xena’s break-up with Ares off his mind. When Hercules was called away to lend some help to the people of Tegea he decided to do something to help Xena. He made a stop at Aphrodite’s temple located just outside of the city. When he entered the main hall, he saw worshippers placing gifts for the love goddess on a salmon colored altar. Thinking that the newcomer was just another worshipper of the goddess they really didn’t pay much attention to him. With his head turned upward, he walked around the hall and bellowed for his sister. "Aphrodite, get down here! I need to talk to you!" The worshippers at the altar once again looked at Hercules but this time with disdain and horror. Who was this man who would call to the goddess of love in such a disrespectful way?! A priest entered the hall and with a nervous expression on his face, immediately made his way over to him. "Sir, it is not proper to call for the goddess in such a manner. If you want something from her, please go to the altar and pray." Hercules lowered his head and looked at the priest. "It’s okay, I’m her brother." Once again he turned his head upward. "Aphrodite, get down here! I need..." "Hey, quit yelling. I heard you the first time," a familiar disembodied feminine voice ordered. In a burst of pink orbs and rose petals, Aphrodite’s scantily clad form appeared standing before Hercules. "My goddess!" The priest quickly fell to his knees. Those at the altar stood with their mouths agape in awe before they all quickly made their way over to the goddess, dropping at her feet. "Yeah, I know it’s like major cool for you mortals to be in my presence but my bro Herc needs to talk to me, so you all have to like scram." The priest and the worshippers rose to their feet and stood with their eyes still staring at the goddess in awe. "Now go on...shoo...shoo." Aphrodite waved both hands in a get lost gesture. The priest and the worshippers finally got the message and left the hall. Now just the two of them, Aphrodite turned towards her brother. "You gotta make it quick Herc ‘cause I was in the middle of performing a wedding ceremony. Y’see I got this King and Princess together and they were so happy that they asked me to marry them and the ceremony is on hold until I come back, so talk to me." "You’ve got to send me to wherever Ares is," Hercules said. Aphrodite stared at him in utter disbelief. "Have you gone loco?! That would be suicide…especially for you." Hercules had a confused look on his face. "What are you talking about?" "I’m talking about Ar…he would wipe the floor with you!" Considering all of the fights Hercules had with Ares, in which he always came out the victor, he couldn’t help but chuckle at his sister’s remark. "So you’re worried about me and Ares getting into a fight---that’s understandable but we have fought before and I can hold my own against him," Hercules assured. "Oh, by the gods, you don’t know do you?" Aphrodite curiously stared at him. "Know what?" Hercules asked. "Ar is now top god Herc. He has more power than everybody…including Daddy." "What?! How?!" Hercules asked. "The Holy Saber…Ar has had it all this time. Somehow the sword contained Dahak’s power from when he was top Watcher and Ar was able to tap into it by reciting the words etched in the hilt." Hercules shook his head in shock. "When did all this happen?" "According to ‘thena this all happened after Ar and the warrior babe had a major fight at her temple," Aphrodite replied. "I always knew Ares was up to something---that power hungry bastard! Well, I hope he and that sword will be happy," Hercules said with contempt. "Yeah, the stud muffin really screwed up this time. Even I don’t see a way for him to make things right with the warrior babe now." "Good. Then you shouldn’t have a problem sending me to him so I can make sure he stays away from Xena." "But didn’t you hear what I already told you?! That would be SUICIDE. You and Ar have never gotten along and with the power he has now…he will kill you for sure." "I’m still willing to take the risk," Hercules said. "But I’m not." "I’m a big boy Aphrodite…" "Sorry Herc…I gotta get back to that wedding…tootles." In a shimmer of pink light, Aphrodite’s form quickly vanished. "Damn it!" Hercules swore under his breath after his sister’s departure. He wanted to get to Ares as soon as possible and he was so sure that Aphrodite would be the one god that would take him there. Hercules was turning to leave the temple when a flash of light appeared before him. When it dispersed, there stood his nephew, Cupid. He was very wobbly on his feet and about to fall over when Hercules caught him in his muscular arms. "Hey, thanks Hercules," Cupid said in a hoarse whisper. He looked up at his uncle, his face creasing with confusion. "What are you doing on Olympus?" Hercules released the godling from his grasp and let him stand on his own two feet. "This is not Olympus." "Ow, not so loud my head is killing me." Cupid held his blond head between his hands. "You have a hang over don’t you?" Hercules asked in a soft voice. "Yeah," Cupid chuckled causing his head to ache even more. "Ooh, even laughing hurts," he groaned, letting his fingers gently rub his temples. "Last night I went to this awesome bachelor party for a guy I hooked up with a hot babe from Delphi. Mortal wine just doesn’t pack the punch I need to have a good time, so I brought some of Dionysus’ special brew with me and had waaay too much. So, where am I anyway?" "You are in your mom’s temple outside of Tegea." "Man are my directions way off. This is no where near Olympus." Cupid staggered over to his mother’s pink throne and plopped down in it. With a heavy lidded gaze he looked at his uncle. "So what are you doing here?" "I wanted Aphrodite to send me somewhere…the way you gods travel but since she’s not here, maybe you can help me." "Sure, where do you want to go?" Once again, Cupid was rubbing his temples with his index fingers. "To wherever Ares is." "Done." Cupid waved a hand and Hercules’ muscular form was engulfed in shards of light. "Thanks." The demigod replied with a smile before he faded into nothingness. "Anytime," Cupid said. Now alone, he snapped his fingers and a cold compress appeared in a hand. He laid his head against the back of his mother’s throne, closed his eyes and then covered them with the compress. ********** Hercules’ form materialized inside the main hall of the temple of Ares located in the Roman city of Sybaris. The demigod quickly took in his new surroundings. Ares’ black marble unoccupied throne sat atop a dais. The hall was completely empty. "Cupid must have sent me to the wrong place," Hercules cursed under his breath. That’s what he deserved for depending on his hung over nephew. He was about to leave the temple when shards of blue light appeared and quickly dispersed, leaving Ares’ leather clad form. As soon as he saw him, Hercules could feel the increased power emanating from his being. But that would not deter the demigod from what he had come to do. Ares was quite surprised to see Hercules standing in his temple but it soon vanished and was replaced by a not too pleased smirk. "What are you doing here?" "I need to talk to you." Hercules replied. Ares’ look turned to curiosity. "Talk to me about what?" "About Xena and the children." "Xena and our children are none of your business," Ares firmly said. "So, unless you have a death wish, I suggest you leave my temple NOW!" He proceeded to walk past him. Hercules grabbed a hold of an arm but the war god immediately wrenched himself free and now glared at his half-brother. "Now that you have this power that you have always wanted Ares, it would be best if you left Xena and the children alone!" "And I guess if I don’t…you will see that I do?" Ares asked with an amused grin. "Yeah, I will," Hercules firmly replied. "Then you are dumber than I thought. With the power I have now, Zeus’ rule protecting your life is null and void. I could kill you in an instant." "Your new found power doesn’t scare me, Ares. I’ve beaten you before and I can do it again," Hercules replied with unwavering confidence. "I know what this is…it’s jealousy. You are jealous because Xena fell in love with me and not you, the boring do-gooder." Ares boasted while folding his muscular arms across his broad chest. A taunting smile appeared on his handsome face. Hercules shook his head with contempt. He was beginning to think that he should have just stayed in Greece because he was really finding it hard to restrain himself from pulverizing the war god. "I’ll never understand how Xena could have chosen to be with someone like you. But you showed your true colors and now she doesn’t want to have anything to do with you and I’m here to make sure you respect her wishes." "Xena may not want to be with me but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t still love me. Feelings like that are not like a candle…she can’t just blow them out. They will continue to burn inside her and eventually I will get her back." "Not if I can help it," Hercules growled. "Y’know brother, instead of butting in Xena’s personal affairs, you should be watching your own house," Ares said. "I heard all about your chance run in with Serena. She’s a widow now and that paves a way for you to get back into her life. But what if there was some kind of mistake and her husband wasn’t dead?" Hercules narrowed his gaze. "What are you getting at?" "From what I understand, Serena never got her husband’s body back. She only saw his name on a list of casualties. His name may have been listed in error and all of this time he’s been convalescing in a hospice and is now ready to return to his wife and daughter." "That is wishful thinking on your part. Serena’s husband is dead, Ares." "You’re right, it is wishful thinking on my part but it can easily become reality. With these new powers I have, I don’t need Hades to bring a person back to life…I can do it myself. I could restore the life of Serena’s husband. I was always fond of her and I know that would not only make her happy but her little girl too. Of course, that means you would lose Serena yet AGAIN, but hey that’s the breaks." Hercules was fuming now. Ares always knew the right buttons to push to make him angry. "I wouldn’t have lost Serena at all if you had just kept your promise!!!" The demigod bellowed as he swung a fist. It connected with Ares’ jaw, sending him flying through the air and into a temple wall. With a thud, he fell to the temple floor. Surprisingly dazed, he rose to his feet, shaking off the effects of the blow. His brown eyes were filled with murderous rage when he gazed at his half-brother. "So, you wanna fight huh? Then a fight is what you’re gonna get!" ********** Out of pink orbs and a burst of rose petals, Aphrodite’s scantily clad form once again appeared in her temple outside of Tegea. "Wow, what a beautiful wedding," the love goddess sighed with delight. Aphrodite looked towards her throne and frowned with confusion. Cupid appeared to be asleep sitting on it. When she stood before him, she grabbed an arm and started shaking. Slowly, he began to stir. "Okay, okay, I’m awake," he groaned a few moments later. He removed the cold compress from his face. His eyes repeatedly blinked before finally focusing on Aphrodite. "Hey Mom, what’s up?" "I just came back from one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever seen." Aphrodite smiled with remembrance and a faraway look in her blue eyes before focusing on her son again. "What are you doing here?" "Massive hangover…it messed up my sense of direction," Cupid smirked. "But it’s a good thing I was here. Hercules needed your help but since you weren’t here, I came to the rescue." "You what?!" Aphrodite raised her voice, her eyes widening in horror. "Yo Mom, chill…the head’s still aching here." Cupid placed the compress back over his eyes. But Aphrodite quickly whipped it off his face. "What did you do?" She asked in a much softer voice. Cupid wearily sighed. "Hercules needed to go to wherever Ares was so I sent him there." "Oh Cupid, how could you?!" The love goddess wailed in a loud voice, her blue eyes glaring at her son. When he drank too much, he really became a ditz. "Mom…lower the decibels…my head can’t take it," Cupid whined, frowning with pain. "Your head should hurt considering the pain you have just caused Hercules." She swatted at her son’s blond head. "Hey watch it," He dodged her hand as he looked at her with confusion. "I don’t understand, why are you getting so upset and what pain did I cause Hercules? I only did what you would have if you had been here." "I am upset because you have sent your Uncle to his death!" In a blinding burst of pink light, Aphrodite’s form disappeared from sight. The love goddess materialized in Ares’ temple in Sybaris just as the war god rammed Hercules headfirst into a large stone column. The demigod fell to the floor in a semi-conscious state. "Oh, I knew this would happen," Aphrodite groaned. "Ares, stop it right now!" The war god was surprised by his sister’s unexpected presence but he was not about to stop what he had yearned to do for so long---beat the living shit out of Hercules. And boy was he doing a good job of it! When Ares only had his powers as a war god, the two had been evenly matched in their fighting skills but with the power from the Holy Saber; Hercules didn’t stand a chance against him. The demigod had an eye swollen shut, a busted lip and some cracked ribs. And after that collision with a temple column he probably had a cracked skull too. Ares was so glad he had opted to use his fist to fight his half-brother instead of instantly reducing him to an ash heap. It delighted him to no end to hear Hercules’ ribs snap from the impact of his fists and feel his demigod blood coat his hands. Like a predator stalking prey, Ares circled Hercules’ fallen form. His full lips twisted in a snarl as he suddenly delivered a round of vicious kicks to the demigod’s midsection and head. Hercules was teetering close to unconsciousness when Ares abruptly ceased his assault. The war god stood over his half-brother, unsheathed his sword, held the hilt in both hands, and raised it above his head. Aphrodite’s form instantly appeared beside the war god. She placed a hand on a shoulder. "Please Ar don’t do it!" she pleaded. Ares flinched away from her touch. "Stay out of this Aph!" He prepared to bring the sword down upon Hercules. "If you do this, Xena will NEVER forgive you," Aphrodite warned. Ares rolled his broad shoulders. So what if Xena never forgave him, he had already lost her anyway and unleashing the power in the saber had probably made it permanent…but was it? Issuing a loud roar, he brought the sword down upon Hercules but brought it to a stop just a hair’s width away from his neck. Ares sheathed his sword and stepped away from his brother. Aphrodite sighed with relief. "Thanks Ar." "Just get him out of here," Ares growled, as he turned his back to both. Aphrodite grabbed one of Hercules’ arms and helped him to his feet. To keep him upright, she draped an arm around one of her shoulders. The demigod incoherently mumbled. "Don’t you worry Herc, I’ll fix you up as soon as I get you back to my temple." In a flash of pink light, the love goddess and the son of Zeus vanished into nothingness. CHAPTER 76 "Ares has been terrorizing us all for over a month. Something has got to be done about him." The god of the underworld pounded the table with every syllable of each word of the last sentence for emphasis. "Hades is right Father," Athena said. "Ares almost killed Hercules. The next time it could be one of us and we may not be so fortunate." Several of the gods seated around the table mumbled in agreement with the words of the goddess of wisdom. "But how can we even be sure that we can stop Ares? He now has so much more power than the rest of us…he could be invincible," Demeter said. Worried murmurs sharing the same sentiment filled the room. "Dahak once had this power and it didn’t make him indestructible and Ares should be the same," Zeus said. "Good point brother, so our plan against him does have a chance," Poseidon said. Smiles of confidence replaced the looks of worry. At that moment, bright pink orbs took shape in the great hall, followed by rose petals that signaled the arrival of the goddess of love. When Aphrodite’s form finally appeared her blue eyes curiously gazed at her fellow gods seated around the large table. "Hey, why wasn’t I told about this council meeting?" Her hands rested on her hips and her lips were poked out in a hurt pout. "Because this isn’t a council meeting!" Demeter snapped. She stared with surprise at Hephaestus who was seated in her chair at the council of twelve table. Cupid stood behind him. "Hey, what are you two doing here?" Neither was a member of the council of twelve so they never attended meetings. Both gods remained silent as nervous frowns appeared on their faces. Aphrodite stared at them a few moments more before turning to gaze at her fellow gods seated around the table. Besides Hera, who was still trapped in the abyss of Tartarus---she and Ares were the only two council members who had not been informed about this gathering. Suddenly, realization of what was really taking place finally set into her blond head. "Oh, I know what’s going on. You guys are having a pow-wow to plot against Ar." "Gee, you figured that out all by yourself?" Athena sarcastically asked. Aphrodite just crinkled her nose at her sister’s comments as she seated herself in her chair that Hephaestus had vacated. "Oh great, now Ares will find out what we doing," Apollo groaned. "No he won’t," Poseidon said. "If Aphrodite knows what’s good for her, she will keep her mouth SHUT!" The sea god glared at his niece in a threatening manner, causing her to move slightly away from the table. "Oh, would you all stop it. I hate this talk of killing family members," Hestia complained, with a distasteful frown. "Hestia is right," Artemis said. "Here, here," Hermes added. Both Artemis and Hermes had always gotten along with Ares and didn’t relish the thought of hurting him. "No one is going to get killed Hestia," Zeus assured. "We are just going to put Ares in a place where he can not hurt us." "Father, you really shouldn’t say another word with Aphrodite present." Athena quickly glanced at Aphrodite with distrust before looking towards the Olympian King once again. "She will tell Ares everything." "I won’t say a word," Aphrodite assured. "Yeah right!" Hades snorted. "You and Ares have always been close. How can we trust you not to tell him about this meeting when it ends?" Others around the table murmured the same sentiments and fixed distrustful stares on the goddess of love. "Okay yeah, Ar and I are pretty close but ever since he gained all this power we aren’t as tight. He’s not the same bro anymore. Ar has always been on the scary side but when I think of how he almost killed Herc…" Aphrodite hugged herself while her body trembled. "I don’t like saying this…but Ar has to be stopped." "So, what your saying is that you will support our plan to stop Ares?" Poseidon stared at her expectantly. "Only if you promise not to kill him." Aphrodite quickly glanced around at her fellow Olympians. "Yes. We promise," Zeus assured. "Okay, then you can count me in." Aphrodite’s pink lips twisted into a sad frown. ********** The atmosphere inside the Halls of War began to swirl as the ether began to open. A few moments later the forms of Ares and the twins appeared out of blue and silver shards of light. "Wow that was awesome!" Lycus declared. "The best ever!" Lysia said. "So, I take it you both enjoyed our outing at the circus in Rome?" Ares asked. "Ooh yeah Daddy that was whole lotta fun!" Lysia replied. "Yup," Lycus added. "Can we go back tomorrow and see more chariot races?" "Yeah Daddy, can we?" Lysia gazed up at him with a pleadingly look in her brown eyes. Lycus had the same look on his face. Not even the god of war could ignore such gazes. "I did have something else planned but if you two want to go back to the circus then that’s where we will go." "YAY!" The children shouted in unison. Ares couldn’t help but chuckle over their excitement. "It’s late so you two should get ready for bed. I’ll be up to check on you in a few moments." "Can we hear a story before we go to bed?" Lycus asked. "You didn’t finish the one about the Trojan War," Lysia reminded her father. "You’re right," Ares admitted. "I’ll tell you what…you guys go change then meet me in the throne room and I’ll finish the story." "Okay!" With beaming smiles on their faces, the twins headed off to their bedchambers. Ares had a smile of his own as he made his way to the throne room. His relationship with the twins was the only bright spot left in his immortal life. After claiming Dahak’s power that had been trapped within the Holy Saber, all of his other relationships had crumbled. The rift with Xena had only grown wider after he claimed the power in the saber. She kept good on her threat and made sure she was never around when he came to collect the twins for his weekly visits with them. Ares only saw Xena when he would use a portal to check on her. But lately, he was doing this less and less because it only brought him pain. Ares’ relationship with Aphrodite was also damaged by his actions. Whenever he saw her, he couldn’t help but notice the fear in her blue eyes when she looked at him. Ares really couldn’t blame his sister for feeling that way. She had seen him nearly beat to death a brother that she loved dearly. That fear kept her from popping in to see him and Ares couldn’t deny that he missed those impromptu sibling visits. Aphrodite was ditzy and got on his nerves but she had been one of the few in his family who had ever really cared about him and with whom he could talk. Ares let a low chuckle escape his lips as his thoughts drifted to his family. His interactions with his fellow Olympians had always been for the most part, adversarial which had only increased since his claiming of the power in the Holy Saber. Just like Aphrodite, they feared him too but they would be driven to act on it. The other gods had never liked him and now would attempt to achieve what he knew they had desired for centuries --- his very destruction. But with the power he had now, success was unlikely. Ares’ smile widened with confidence as he entered the throne room and made his way over to the dais where a large black marble chair was set. Suddenly a blinding bright light filled the throne room. Ares instantly stopped dead in his tracks and covered his eyes. He heard a loud boom as something hit hard the stone floor surrounding him. After a moment, the light faded and Ares uncovered his eyes. They widened in surprise as he took in the metal cage that now surrounded him. Some of Hephaestus’ finest work, from the looks of it. The atmosphere of the throne room began to swirl, opening up the ether and signaling the arrival of other gods. When the ether closed, Zeus, Hades, Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hephaestus and Hermes stood in the throne room, staring at the imprisoned war god. Ares looked with disinterest at the other gods. "You people are SO predictable. I’ve been waiting for you to try something." He stared at the love goddess. "The only thing I hadn’t predicted was your part in this Aph." Ares shook his head as sadness filled his brown eyes. Things were strained between him and his favorite sister but he never expected her to turn on him. Feeling like a traitor, Aphrodite bowed her head to avoid his gaze, while holding onto Hephaestus, who stood next to her. "You went too far this time Ares. Even Aphrodite could see that you had to be stopped," Athena said. Ares let his eyes wander over the cage imprisoning him. "Is this the best you can do?" He smirked with disappointment. "No. This is only the beginning." Zeus said. A whizzing sound filled the room. Ares let out a gasp as his muscular body was thrown hard against the bars of the steel cage. He looked downward and stared as an arrow materialized --- piercing his abdomen. "Oh, you have got to be kidding," he chuckled. Feeling no pain, he proceeded to remove it when his body was once again thrown back against the bars of the cage. "Ooh, I can’t watch this anymore," Aphrodite wailed, burying her face in Hephaestus’ broad shoulder. Ares’ body slumped against the bars, uncontrollably jerking as invisible arrows that materialized upon impact pierced his body. When the attack finally ceased, Ares’ body resembled a pincushion---arrows piercing his arms, legs and chest. Once again the ether opened up and out stepped the forms of Artemis and Cupid, each brandishing bows with arrows perched against them, ready to resume the assault. The attack had left Ares’ slumped on the floor. He gazed up at the new arrivals, Cupid in particular. "So, you traded in your love arrows for ones more deadly, huh? Something else I hadn’t predicted." Ares started to feel lightheaded and moving his body was becoming a great effort. "Whoa…something was on the arrows." "That’s right brother. What you are feeling is the effects of a potion I concocted just for you." Apollo smiled with pride. "Gee I’m flattered." Ares’ vision was beginning to blur. "You made a poison just for me." "No Ar, it’s not a poison." Aphrodite quickly said. "It’s just a tranquilizer---something to make you sleep." "It will wear off after we place you somewhere you won’t be a threat to us," Hephaestus added. "And that place is a volcano on the isle of Thera. The lava will keep you imprisoned for eternity." Hades smiled with delight. Athena and Apollo also had triumphant smiles on their faces. "A volcano? Nobody said anything about a volcano." Aphrodite looked at the others with surprise. "I thought we agreed to place him in the abyss of Tartarus." "Yes, that is what we all agreed to do but some of us got together and decided a change was in order," Athena said nonchalantly. "But the lava will destroy him!" Aphrodite angrily glared at her sister and some of the others she was sure had a hand in making this change. "No it won’t…only his body. His essence will be trapped in the lava forever with no way to escape and no threat to us," Zeus said. "I must say, your plan is wicked but I’m gonna have to skip it." In a lightening quick motion, Ares pulled four arrows from his body, hurling them at Artemis and Cupid, hitting each square in the chest. The others stared in horror as the two gods instantly fell to the floor, rendered unconscious from the tranquilizer on the arrow tips. "Cupid!!!" Aphrodite screamed while running to aid her fallen son. Hephaestus joined her. Apollo stared in shocked disbelief at his unconscious twin sister then stared at Ares. "Just one of those arrows was potent enough to knock out the meanest Titan. You should be sleeping like a baby!" "You fool, I am far more powerful than any Titan." Ares grabbed hold of the Hephaestus forged bars imprisoning him, easily pulling them apart and stepped out of the cage. Hades and Athena immediately hurled energy balls at the newly freed war god. Ares unsheathed the Holy Saber hanging at his side and deftly warded off the balls, sending them towards the throwers, in lightening quick speed. "AAAHHH!!!" Both screamed when the energy balls made impact with their bodies. Each was lifted off their feet and slammed into a wall after which both slumped to the floor unconscious. Hermes, who kneeled over Artemis quickly, rose to his feet, as did Hephaestus. Both along with Apollo had energy balls forming in their hands as they contemplated joining the attack. Ares’ brown eyes darted over his three brothers and Zeus. The Holy Saber was poised in his hands, ready to ward off an attack. "If any of you have brains, you won’t follow in Hades’ and Athena’s footsteps." The glow of the energy balls forming in the hands of the three gods faded into nothingness as each decided an attack was pointless. But not Zeus, he instantly formed a thunderbolt and with lightening speed, hurled it at Ares. The war god met the bolt with a block from the saber but the force behind it was too strong, lifting him off his feet and slamming his body hard into a stone wall and knocking the saber from his grasp. The sound of the impact echoed throughout the throne room. After colliding with the wall, Ares slumped to the floor. Somewhat dazed, he slowly rose to his feet. The other gods stared at him, their mouths agape in awe, for no one had ever survived, mortal or immortal, after being struck by one of Zeus’ powerful thunderbolts. "I always knew you hated me but I never thought you would try to kill me!" Ares glared at Zeus with a mixture of anger and hurt. "I have never hated you," Zeus said, fear clearly showing in his eyes. "Oh please, do you really expect me to believe that?!" Ares snorted. "You’re only saying that because you are afraid of what I’m going to do to you…and you should be." Ares swiftly raised an arm, using his powers to lift Zeus high into the air, viciously slamming his body into the stone ceiling, knocking the wind out of the older god. "Ar, STOP IT!!!" Aphrodite screamed--her blue eyes filled with tears and horror as she looked at first her father’s suspended form then towards her brother. Apollo, Hephaestus and Hermes, looked on in horror too and somewhat thankful that Zeus was the only one being attacked. "I’ve always wanted to do this." The war god evilly chuckled, totally ignoring his sister’s plea. He looked up at the ceiling. At top speed, the Olympian King descended, hitting the stone floor hard. He was left spread eagle, severely dazed and gasping for air. He groaned with discomfort while slowly raising himself into a sitting position. "I was going to reacquaint you with dear ol’ Mom and let you spend eternity in the Abyss of Tartarus. But now I think oblivion would be better for you." Ares started walking towards the fallen god as an orange glowing ball took form in his right hand. Zeus looked haggard after his violent collision with the ceiling and the floor. He was too weak to defend himself and could only stare as Ares got closer. "NO!" Aphrodite yelled while racing over to stand blocking Ares’ path. "Please Bro, think about what you are going to do…this is your father!" "And that’s suppose to mean something to me?" Ares asked. "I am only following tradition, Sis. Zeus whacked his ol’ man to become King and now I’m doing the same." "I won’t let you do this Ar." Aphrodite held him under a hard unwavering stare as she stood her ground. Ares sighed with indifference. "Get out of the way, Aph." He easily shoved her aside and proceeded towards Zeus. He raised his right hand, now holding a bright orange energy ball. "Dad!" "Daddy!" "NO!" Lycus and Lysia yelled in unison as both raced into the throne room and threw their pajama-clad bodies on top of the Olympian King. Ares had almost forgotten about the twins. But he wasn’t about to cancel the plans he had for Zeus. His father had this coming for too long. "Lycus…Lysia, go back to your rooms---NOW!" He ordered in a loud voice. This caused both children to jump. They had never seen their father act this way or use that tone of voice before. It frightened them but they were not about to let him carry out the horror they had interrupted. "No," Lycus said firmly as he gazed up at his father with crystal blue eyes filled with determination. Ares’ eyes widened in disbelief that his own son would defy a command. "Please Daddy…don’t hurt Granddaddy." Lysia had her arms wrapped around Zeus’ neck as she gazed at her father with pleading misty brown eyes. Seeing the fear on the faces of both children, that was clearly directed at him, Ares could not kill Zeus. With a sigh of defeat, he lowered his hand and the bright orange ball faded into nothingness. Not being able to stand how his own children were looking at him, Ares turned his back to them. "Aphrodite, I suggest you and the others get the injured and leave," he said in a low voice. A faint smile of relief formed on the face of the love goddess. Before Ares had a chance to change his mind, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Hermes and Apollo quickly gathered up Zeus and the unconscious gods and vanished into the ether, headed for Olympus. ********** "Boy, what a day it’s been," Cyrene yawned while wiping down the bar. "Why don’t you go on up to bed Mother? Toris and I can finish cleaning up the tavern." Xena put away a tray full of clean mugs she had just finished drying. "But I still have to go over today’s receipts," Cyrene said. "I’ll do that for you Mom. Xena is right, you go on up to bed," Toris said. "Oh all right. But first I want to soak my feet. I have been on them all day." Cyrene laid the rag she held on the bar and proceeded towards the stairs. At that moment a flash of silver blue light appeared and quickly dispersed, leaving behind the forms of Ares and the twins. This was the first time Xena had seen Ares since he had claimed the power within the Holy Saber. She had always felt a charge whenever he was around but now it was much more intense. His new stature emanated from his being. The children’s week long visit with Ares had only begun that very morning so their return was unexpected. Both were dressed for bed. They immediately ran over to Xena, wrapping their arms tightly about her waist. "Hey, what are you two doing back so soon? I wasn’t expecting you for another week." Xena ran her hands over the children’s heads as they remained silent and continued to hold her tightly. She noticed that both were trembling. Xena looked to Ares for answers. A hesitant look appeared on the war god’s face before he finally spoke. "Something has come up and I’m afraid I have to cut short the children’s visit with me." From the way the children and Ares were acting, Xena knew something was terribly wrong. "Mother…Toris, would you take Lycus and Lysia upstairs, I need to talk to Ares." Feeling the tension in the air, Cyrene and Toris knew that was a good idea and quickly left with the children. "All right Ares, what is going on?" Xena asked once they were alone. "I already told you…something has come up…war god duties that I can’t put off, so I had to bring the children back," he replied with much agitation. "Oh come on Ares, I know it is more than that." Xena moved closer to him, her eyes searching his face. "The children were trembling…something frightened them and you are going to tell me what it was." She fixed him under the hard stare of her blue eyes as she waited for an explanation. "You want to know what happened? FINE! I’ll tell you," Ares huffed. "You were right…the children would be better off if I stayed away from them." Xena was stunned to hear such an admission. And from the pained look on Ares’ face, she could see those words had not been easy for him to say. "But I don’t understand, what happened to make you think this now?!" "Let’s just say I did something that they will probably never forgive me for…I can’t really say I blame them and me staying away would be for the best." With a defeated frown, Ares’ form was engulfed in the ether, leaving Xena still wondering what had happened to make him give up the children he so loved. ********** Ares removed a leg from the armrest of his throne while draining the last of the ambrosia wine from the golden goblet he held in a hand. When it was empty, he tossed it aside, letting it vanish into nothingness. He waved a hand and a portal instantly appeared. It displayed an image of the sea, dotted with naval ships embroiled in a great battle. Some ships carried the flag of Egypt and some the Imperial flag of Rome. Many of the Egyptian ships were on fire and sinking so the battle wouldn’t last much longer. This would be a great defeat for Mark Antony and Cleopatra but a victory for Octavian. Ares always knew he had made the right choice when he backed Caesar’s nephew. But assured victory just didn’t hold his interest right now, so that vanished and was replaced with another. This one was of the beach in Amphipolis. Foamy white waves of the Aegean rolled up onto the golden sand as Xena and the twins stood ankle deep in the waters edge, each with a fishing pole in their hands. An excited smile appeared on Lysia’s face as the little girl declared she had a bite. Xena and Lycus helped her pull out a fish that was almost two feet in length. All three were laughing and smiling. Not being able to watch this happy scene anymore, the war god instantly waved the portal from sight, rose from his throne and stepped off the dais. It had been almost a month since Ares returned the children to Xena in Amphipolis and made the decision to remove himself from their lives. Maybe with time, such scenes wouldn’t bother him but right now, all they did was remind Ares of what he was missing and that he would never be with the people he loved most. And why…why had this happened? --- because of Ares’ insatiable appetite for power. That desire had driven him for centuries---had been his top motivation but now it had cost him Xena and the twins. Ares unsheathed the Holy Saber that hung at his side. He held it up and let his brown eyes wander over it with disgust. This divine weapon had given him power that put him second only to the Creator but it couldn’t fill the hollowness he felt inside. Ares tried to shake off this feeling ---- he was the most powerful being on earth for Elysia’s sake! He could do whatever he wanted but he couldn’t have whatever he wanted and what he wanted most more than anything was to have Xena and the twins back in his life. The Holy Saber was nothing but a curse! Ares stared at the weapon with sheer contempt and prepared to hurl it at a stone wall. "I wouldn’t do that if I were you," a familiar baritone voice said. Surprised by the unexpected presence of another, Ares quickly whirled around. His mouth hung open in shock. "Dahak?!" "That’s right." The evil god smiled revealing perfect white teeth. He was dressed in his usual black leather and cape while sitting on Ares’ throne. "But you’re dead. I saw Hope reduce you to an ash heap. You should be in oblivion," Ares said. "True, I no longer exist but hey, your mind brought me back." Ares shook his head. He didn’t feel drunk---he had only had three goblets of ambrosia wine but he had to be since he was seeing Dahak who had never been one of his favorite people. "And looks like you conjured me up just in time to stop you from making a terrible mistake." Dahak rose from the throne and approached the war god. "What are you talking about?" Ares looked at him with confusion. "The Holy Saber…it would be a mistake for you to get rid of it." "You want me to keep your old sword? Now I know I must be drunk." Ares shook his head again. "The sword suits you Ares and you have only scratched the surface of what you can accomplish with it." Dahak’s crystal blue eyes gleamed with delight. Staring into those blue orbs reminded Ares of Xena and what the saber had cost him. "No, I don’t want the saber anymore…it’s been nothing but a curse to me." He prepared to hurl it at the wall again. Dahak grabbed a hold of his arm and stopped him. "What happened with Xena and the twins is for the best." "It is?" Ares stared at the evil god curiously. "Yes. I hate to admit this Ares but you are smarter than I am. In my desire for ultimate power, I tried to drag along my two moralistic daughters and it led to my downfall. But you cut all ties to such people and are now on your way to achieving what I couldn’t." Dahak frowned with regret as he placed his hands on Ares’ shoulders. "I wasted all my energies on Hope and Xena when I should have focused on you---you and I were always so much alike---you are my true heir. Make me proud." "I am not your heir!" Ares roughly shrugged Dahak’s hands off his shoulders. "I am nothing like you." With a snarl, he viciously plunged the saber into the chest of the god. Dahak threw back his head, letting wicked laughter escape his lips as his dark form vanished from sight. Ares’ eyes widened with surprise as he lowered the saber, all the while Dahak’s evil laughter continued to fill the room. "I am nothing like you, Dahak!" Ares shouted. "Oh but you are Ares---that’s why you couldn’t resist claiming the saber…HA-HA-HA…" Dahak cackled as his evil laughter faded out of earshot and then ceased. Ares quickly sheathed the saber as a worried frown appeared on his face. He was not like Dahak was he? He had to get rid of the Holy Saber and release himself from its cursed power but how? His brow wrinkled with deep thought a few moments before an idea came to him. A pleased grin appeared on his face just as his form was engulfed in blue and silver shards of light. Ares’ form materialized in front of the mountain temple in the Bazman Mountains of Persia. He grabbed a hold of the gold handle before him and effortlessly pulled open the large stone door and stepped inside. Except for the sun streaming through the open door, the inside of the temple was pitch black. The two torches that stood beside the altar at the far side of the hall had blown out. With the snap of his fingers, Ares had the torches lit again, bright orange flames now flickered in a soft breeze and provided light throughout the hall. Ares proceeded towards the corridor that led out of the main hall. When he stood at its threshold he gazed at the other end, to the room where the final piece of the Holy Saber had been found. It was pitch black just like the rest of the temple had been before he arrived. Ares frowned with displeasure. He really didn’t need to be in that room to get what he had come for. He could get it just as well right there. Ares raised his head towards the ceiling and with a loud voice said, "Adrian…Adrian show yourself…I need to talk to you." A bright light filled the hall, from which Ares had to shield his eyes. When it dispersed, he uncovered his eyes and looked at Adrian who now stood before him. The Watcher looked as he did the last time Ares had seen him, a snowy white robe with grayish-white feathers cascading down his back. "I was wondering when you would finally seek me out," Adrian said. "You knew I would come here?" Ares stared at him curiously. "Yes I did. I have been watching everything since you claimed the Holy Saber under the very noses of Cyrus, Xena and the others." The Watcher folded his arms across his chest as he glared at Ares with a look of chastisement. The war god avoided Adrian’s stare as he looked down at the Holy Saber hanging at his side. He unsheathed it then looked at Adrian once again. "Then you know why I need to see you." A hesitant look appeared on Ares’ face. "So, can you…help me?" Adrian remained silent and let a broad smile appear on his face. CHAPTER 77 Like the waves of an ocean in a turbulent storm, black silk sheets shifted up and down as two forms moved wildly beneath them. "Ooh...ooh yeah, that’s it baby," the woman moaned. Masculine grunts were heard as the bed rocked. "Aahh...aahh...I’m cumming...I’m cumming!" The woman declared in ragged breaths, which were followed by a loud shriek of ecstasy. A satisfied male groan was heard. When the sheets ceased their movements, a pair of dainty feminine hands followed by Discord’s face popped out from beneath them. Her porcelain skin was flushed from passion. She let a hand brush wild raven tresses back off of her face. Her blood red lips twisted into a wicked smile as she gazed at her lover who had also come out from under the sheets. "Kal, you are an animal!" Discord ran blood red fingernails up and down his bare chest. "You were pretty wild there, yourself, Discord." The handsome dark god laughed with a guttural tone as he grabbed her hand scraping his chest, brought it to his lips and kissed the fingers. "Well, it’s been awhile for me and I had all this pent-up energy." Discord poked out her lips in a playful pout. "Oh, did you ever!" Kal growled appreciatively, roughly pulling her to him and hungrily claiming her lips. Their tongues parried a bit before Discord pulled back. "Did you hear any news about the Olympians? Are they looking for me?" "No Discord, they are not looking for you," Kal wearily sighed, somewhat disappointed that their fun was interrupted. "They are too busy rebuilding Greece and their power base." "That doesn’t mean they won’t eventually come after me," she said. "True but with me and the resources I have at my disposal you have nothing to fear," Kal assured with a confident smile. Seeing his confidence brought a smile to Discord’s face. "Now where were we?" Kal huskily growled as he grabbed Discord and the pair once again disappeared under the black silk sheets for more wild lovemaking. During theses several months following the death of Dahak and the defeat of his minions, Discord had taken up residence with the war god Kal. The two gods had been lovers for some time now but it didn’t really start to heat up until after Dahak turned cold towards Discord. And after the death of the evil god, Kal was the only one to whom Discord could turn in order to escape the wrath of Olympus. The war god still believed that Discord’s relationship with Dahak had been strictly business and it was imperative that he continued to believe so---now more than ever. After a few more hours of wild romping through silk sheets, Kal bid her farewell as he disappeared to take care of his duties as a war god. After his departure, Discord rose from the large bed and stretched her nude form like a cat before she put on the robe lying at the foot of the bed. The goddess left the bedchamber she shared with Kal and walked across the hall, entering another bedchamber. Instantly, her face brightened and her lips curled into a soft smile as she approached a crib sitting in the center of the room. A mobile consisting of tiny dragons and griffins moved on the soft breezes of summer winds blowing through a window. Discord’s smile brightened when she gazed down at the infant lying in the crib. The child gazed up at her with wide eyes as he sucked on a tiny finger and kicked up a tiny leg. "I see my little guy is awake," Discord cooed as she lifted the baby out of the crib. She planted a soft kiss on his tiny forehead as she seated herself in a rocking chair nearby. "You probably thought I had forgotten about you, didn’t you, Draken?" The baby boy cooed a response. "But your Mamma could never do that." Discord loosened the robe she wore, exposing a breast. "Daddy and I just got carried away and it ran over into my time with you. But that will never happen again." She offered Draken a rosy nipple, which the baby accepted and began to suckle. Little Draken had been born a half season ago. None was more surprised than Discord when she discovered she was pregnant. In all these centuries she had been careful to make sure she never ended up with a baby but she had made a slip up somewhere. She could have easily terminated the pregnancy but decided that a baby was just what she needed. Her only dilemma after deciding to have the baby was that she wasn’t quite sure who the father was---Dahak or Kal. Up until the day of the birth, her child’s paternity gnawed away at Discord’s conscience. What if the baby turned out to be Dahak’s and was the spitting image of the evil god?! Kal would be so angry and toss her out---she would have to fend off Olympus alone! But that worry vanished when Draken was born and she finally got to see him. The baby boy had fair skin, dark hair and dark eyes. It didn’t matter who Draken’s father was because thank Elysia he took after his mother. And after the passing of a half season, he still looked like her. Discord couldn’t deny that deep within the recesses of her mind she was curious to know who indeed was her baby’s father. But she wasn’t going to let such thoughts get in the way of what she had built with Kal. The war god had a fifty percent chance of being little Draken’s father so there was nothing wrong with letting him believe that the baby could be only his. A contented sigh escaped Discord’s lips as her dark eyes gazed down at her infant son. "You, Draken are very special." She gently ran a long blood red fingernail over the baby’s rosy cheek. "Whichever god is your father…you will make him very proud. Your Mama’s going to see to it." Continuing to suckle, the baby gurgled. Discord just smiled as she once again planted a gentle kiss atop his little head. ********** There was not a cloud in the deep blue sky on this warm summer day. The Aegean Sea sparkled under the golden rays of the sun as its foamy waves crashed against the light brown sands of the beach. High above, on the grassy cliffs above the beach, Xena, Gabrielle and Cyrene moved about the wooden tables that had been placed in the area for a very special occasion. Lycus and Lysia turned seven years old that day, so Xena had decided to give them a birthday party. It was the first one she would get to spend with the children and she wanted to make it a day neither would ever forget. Toris and Cecrops approached, each carrying two large jugs under their arms. "I brought two more jugs of apple cider for the kids." Toris set the jugs underneath one of the tables. "And for the adults, I brought one more jug of mead and one more of Ale." Cecrops set the jugs he carried under another table. "Thanks fellas. I think we now have enough for everyone to drink," Cyrene said. "And if we do run out, Cecrops and I can always get more from the tavern cellar," Toris said. The former mariner nodded in agreement. "Cecrops, could you help me hang the banner I made?" Gabrielle asked. "Sure," he replied. Smiling, Gabrielle retrieved the rolled up parchment lying on a table and then the pair headed over to some nearby trees. "Mother, you really outdid yourself," Xena declared as she stuffed a tiny sandwich into her mouth. "The food is delicious...everyone is going to love it...especially the cake." She glanced at the large cake covered with chocolate icing and yellow letters scrolled across it saying, ‘HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY---LYCUS AND LYSIA’ "Thank you dear," Cyrene said smiling proudly. "I wanted to make sure my grandchildren had an unforgettable birthday." "Oh, it will be that," Xena assured, putting another tiny sandwich in her mouth. From her position by the trees, Gabrielle gazed at her best friend. "Hey don’t eat all of those. Leave some for the guests." "I am. They just look so good that I just wanted to try some." Xena shoved the last bit of a tiny sandwich into her mouth. "Okay Cyrus…Gabrielle, have you got that banner hung yet?" Toris asked. "Yeah, it’s finally up," Gabrielle replied. "So, how does it look?" Cecrops asked. The others looked towards two trees where a long golden strip of parchment hung horizontally between them with bright red letters written upon it... FOR LYCUS AND LYSIA...HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY! "It looks great you two," Xena replied. Cyrene and Toris echoed her assessment. Lycus’ and Lysia’s young forms along with Mei-Jin, stepped out of a patch of trees and began running towards the grassy cliff. Both knew about the party and were dressed for the occasion. Accentuating her beautiful olive complexion, Lysia wore a lavender dress. A wreath of Lilacs adorned her crown of long curly raven locks. Lycus was dressed in a royal blue shirt and pants that brought out the color of his crystal blue eyes even more and complimented the boy’s dark coloring. When the twins reached the decorated area, their eyes widened in awe. "Wow!" Lysia breathed as her brown eyes took in all the festive decorations. "This place looks cool!" Lycus said. "We’re glad you both approve," Cyrene said with a smile. The children headed over to the table piled high with wrapped presents. Some were from the grown-ups already there but most were from people who would not be attending the party. Their eyes wandered over the cards attached to wrapping as they read who had sent them. There were presents from their Olympian relatives with cards that said from Granddad Zeus, from Grand Aunt Hestia, from Grand Uncle Hades, from Aunt Artemis, from Uncle Hermes and many more from a host of other deities. There were presents from mortals too. Even though they had embarked on a trip sailing the seas, Iolaus and Nebula had managed to send a gift. There were gifts from Autolycus and Chen Jie, Salmoneus, Draco, Meleager, Darnelle and Glaphyra. From Persia had come gifts from Uncle Cyrus, Bithia and one from Vashti and Joxer who had accepted that he and Gabrielle would forever be just friends and had started up a romance with the mid-eastern beauty. Each carrying a gift in their hands, the twins approached Xena. "Hey Mom, can we open these?" Lycus asked, holding a wrapped package. "Yeah, I gotta know what this one is." Lysia curiously gazed at the wrapped package held between her small hands. "No way, you have to wait until the guests arrive and everyone can see what you got," Xena said. "Okay," the twins sighed with disappointment. They both put the wrapped packages they carried back on the table. As if they were spoken up, guests started walking over a hill, headed for the grassy cliff. Most were the children of the village that had become friends of the twins during their stay in Amphipolis. Along with the children were their parents. Among those headed for the grassy cliff were Hercules, Serena and her daughter Taren. With bright smiles, the twins went over to greet their many guests, particularly the other kids. ********** It was a few hours later and the birthday party was well underway. Games had been played, the food eaten including the large chocolate birthday cake. Now everyone had gathered around the table piled high with presents as Lycus and Lysia started to unwrap them. Now and then, oohs and ahhs were heard as the guests admired the many gifts. The twins were in the middle of displaying to their guests, the gift that each got from their Grand Uncle Hades, when Aphrodite’s form appeared out of pink orbs and rose petals. "Aunt Dite!" The twins immediately put down the gifts they held and ran over to their favorite aunt and embraced her waist. "Happy birthday sweeties." Aphrodite beamed with a smile as she gazed down at her niece and nephew. She couldn’t hug them back because her arms were loaded with presents. "Here’ let me relieve you of those." Gabrielle came over and began taking some of the presents. "Just take these...they are from Hephaestus and Cupid. These other two are mine that I want to give to the kids right now." Aphrodite handed Lysia and Lycus each a wrapped gift. With excited grins, the twins quickly tore away the wrapping and opened the boxes. "Oh Aunt Dite, it’s so pretty!" Lysia held up a foot long coral statue of a bottlenose dolphin leaping from the waters of the sea. "It looks just like the one ya showed me at your temple...thanks a bunch." "You’re welcome, sweetie." "Wow!" Lycus declared. "A seashell surfboard! Thanks Aunt Dite!" "I told you it’s the coolest way to check out the seas and before the summer is over I will teach you how to use it," Aphrodite promised. Gabrielle approached Xena who stood nearby. "Do you think Ares will show up? "Ares hasn’t seen the children since he cut short their visit with him and that was more than a month ago. If he knows what’s good for him, he had better come to this party," Xena replied. "If he doesn’t, the children will be heartbroken." As if on cue, shards of blue and silver light appeared then dispersed, leaving in their wake Ares’ tall, dark, leather-clad form. "Dad!" "Daddy!" The twins immediately ran over to him and he lifted them both up in his muscular arms. "Yay! Ya came to the party," Lysia said with excitement. "We didn’t think ya would come," Lycus said with a big smile. "Miss your seventh birthday party? No way!" Ares said with a smile. He was relieved that the children were happy to see him. Considering what had happened the last time they were together, he was not expecting such a joyous welcome. "We were openin’ presents, you can help us," Lysia suggested. "Okay," Still smiling, Ares lowered the twins to the ground and followed them over to a table. From the sidelines, Xena had watched Ares’ arrival. "So, it looks like Ares does know what’s good for him," Gabrielle commented as she took a sip from the mug she held in a hand. "It appears that way," Xena said. Her eyes were still fixed on Ares as he now stood with the children at a table covered with birthday presents. There was something different about him. She couldn’t feel that added power like she did the last time she had seen him. All she felt were the normal power levels when he was just the god of war…could he be his old self again? "While you two have been away, Cyrus had the rest of your things from India sent to the fortress in Macedon," Ares said to the twins. "I brought one item along with me that I know will be of interest to you Lycus." The war god snapped his fingers and a flash appeared then vanished, leaving in its place Lycus’ pet tiger, which immediately let out a loud roar. "Jai!" With a beaming smile on his face, Lycus embraced the large cat in a big hug. Many of the party guests had frightened looks on their faces. "Hey, it’s okay folks. As a god I can assure you that the tiger won’t harm anyone," Ares said. "I really missed ya boy, did ya miss me?" Lycus asked as he knelt in front of Jai. In response, the tiger rubbed his large furry face against the young boy. "Now on to your birthday presents," Ares began. "Midnight finally foaled last month as did Rae." Rae was another mare kept at the stables in Macedon. "Wow, two baby horses?" Lysia asked with delight. "That’s right sweetheart, two foals were born to my stables last month." Ares once again waved a hand and a flash of light appeared then dispersed leaving two young winged horses in its aftermath. One was golden in color and the other was snowy white. "Awesome!" The twins declared in unison as they approached the young horses. "Ooh, they both have wings!" Lysia said with surprise, while running a small hand over the wings of one of the foals. "But how?" She looked to her father for answers. "It appears that Zethus was wrong about one of the stallions in my stables siring Rae’s foal. It’s father is Pegasus too." "Cool! That means we can each have our own winged horse." Lycus ran a hand down the golden face of the foal standing before him. The animal in turn nuzzled its head against him. "The white one looks just like Pegasus." Lysia ran a hand over the foal’s back. "Thanks Daddy." "Yeah, thanks Dad," Lycus added. Both children were grinning from ear to ear as they bonded with their new pets. "You’re welcome, kids" Seeing the twins happy made Ares beam with a smile. ********** After Ares’ dazzling arrival, the twins went back to opening more gifts from the table. Xena got Lysia the Valkyrie doll she had been dying to have and Lycus a red dragon kite with a long streaming tail from Chin, he had been admiring for weeks in a merchant’s store. While everyone watched the twins open the rest of their gifts, Aphrodite pulled Ares aside to talk to him. "You haven’t talked to Xena yet, have you?" She asked. "No, I haven’t." "Why not?" "Because if you notice, she has been very busy with the party and I haven’t had the chance to get her aside and talk," Ares replied. A frustrated sigh escaped the lips of the love goddess. "Maybe I should arrange something so you two could be alone…" Aphrodite raised an arm prepared to do some magic. "Don’t you dare." Ares grabbed her hand before she could release a spell. "Xena and I will get the chance to talk without help from anyone." "Oh all right," Aphrodite groaned with disappointment. "You just make sure that you do and don’t forget to tell me everything that happens." "I promise you will be the first to know," Ares assured. ********** The party was beginning to wind down when Xena decided to take some of the empty food trays back up to the tavern. On the way back to the grassy cliff, she met Ares who was headed in the opposite direction. "I was just on my way to the tavern to see you. We really need to talk." His eyes wandered over her form. She was wearing a blue-green dress that moved in the breeze like the waves of the Aegean and brought out the color of her eyes. "You’re right, we do need to talk." Xena couldn’t help but notice the way Ares was looking at her. It warmed her heart to know that despite everything that had happened, she could still captivate him. She let her own eyes wander over him curiously. "I don’t feel that extra energy coming from you. Do you not have the power from the Holy Saber anymore?" "As a matter of fact I don’t," Ares replied with a grin. Xena’s eyes widened in surprise upon hearing this as a grin appeared on her face too. Before the two could speak further, a familiar voice called her name. "Xena...Xena are you still up here?" Cyrene yelled from a tavern window. "Yes, I’m here Mother, and I’ll be right there," Xena yelled to the older woman. She looked towards Ares once again. "As we have already agreed, we need to talk but unfortunately, it will have to be later." Xena turned her back to him and headed towards the tavern once again. At least Xena was willing to give them a chance to talk. This brought a pleased smile to Ares’ face as he watched her walk away. ********** A few more hours had passed and the party guests had all gone home. Now the task of cleaning up was underway. Most of the clean up had been done when the party was just winding down so there really wasn’t much left to do. Cyrene, Toris, Gabrielle and Cecrops had volunteered to finish the job. Xena had helped put stuff away at the tavern and was now headed towards the beach. As she got closer, she could see Lycus, Lysia and Serena’s daughter Taren all in bathing suits and frolicking in the warm turquoise waters of the Aegean along with Aphrodite. The goddess had snapped up three more seashell surfboards to go along with the present she gave Lycus and was now trying to teach all three kids how to surf on the seashells. Hercules and Serena stood arm and arm at the shoreline watching them. When Xena reached the beach, she removed the sandals she wore and let the warm sand slide between her toes. She was about to proceed down to the water when she felt a familiar tingle run through her body. A smile formed on her face as she said, "Show yourself, Ares." Instantly, Xena felt a pair of strong hands resting on her shoulders that immediately began to knead them. "I see you haven’t lost your touch. By the gods does that feel good and it’s just what I needed," she sighed. "I’m happy to oblige." Ares continued to knead her shoulders. "So, what is it you wanted to talk with me about?" Xena asked. Ares stopped massaging her shoulders and moved to face her. "Your senses already filled you in on some of it. I got rid of the Holy Saber and its power." "How were you able to do that?" Xena asked. "I made a little trip to the Creator’s old temple. I gave the Holy Saber to Cyrus’ Watcher pal, Adrian and he in turn reduced my powers to what they were when I was just a war god." Xena stared at him truly stunned and somewhat confused. "But I don’t understand Ares. I thought the power you got from the Holy Saber was something you had wanted for centuries so why would you just give it up?" "Because I finally realized that ultimate power is not all that it is cracked up to be. You may not believe this but I was actually miserable when I was ‘top god’. Everything I wanted was right at my fingertips except for what was most important to me." "And what was that?" Xena asked. "You and the children," Ares immediately replied. He took Xena’s hands in his own and stared deeply into her eyes. "Lycus and Lysia have made it clear that they are willing to give me another chance and now I am asking the same of you…give me another chance Xena." Xena removed her hands from his grasp. "Ares I…I just don’t know." She turned her back to him. Once again, Ares placed his hands on her shoulders. "I won’t push you Xena. I know I screwed up bad and it’s going to take some time for you to trust me again but I just wanted to let you know how much I love you and the twins. You are what is most important to me now…not power…not even my godhood and I will do whatever it takes to make things right between us." Xena’s face was riddled with conflicting emotions. Part of her wanted to take a cue from the twins, shrug off Ares’ recent transgressions and take him back with open loving arms but this was not the first time they had been down this road, too much had happened. But she couldn’t just walk away either. She turned to face the war god once again. "All right Ares, I will give you…us another chance." Ares let out the breath he didn’t even realize he had been holding as a relieved smile appeared on his handsome face. "You won’t regret this Xena…you are making the right choice…you’ll see," he said with childlike excitement, as he placed a quick kiss on her cheek. "Whoa…wait," Xena held up her hands in a halting gesture and moved away from him "We are taking this slow okay…you said you wouldn’t push me," she reminded him. "And I won’t," Ares assured. "Good," Xena said smiling. "Because the children and I will continue to live here with Mom and Toris. I don’t want us moving back into the fortress in Macedon until I am confident this relationship is solid." "That’s fine." Ares was disappointed when he first heard this but he understood Xena’s reasoning and would go along with what she wanted. "I can always pop in Amphipolis and whisk you and the kids somewhere." "And some of those times it can be just the two of us…and you can do some courting," Xena said with a wistful look on her face. So Xena wanted to be courted---she was no different than every other woman. Well, if that’s what she wanted, he’d be happy to oblige. "Courting hmm, that’s something we’ve never tried before…I’m game." Smiling, Xena leaned in a claimed his lips with a soft kiss and pulled back. "I’m glad to here you are all for it because it’s really the only way I see of getting this relationship off to the right start." She took him by the arm and proceeded to lead the pair down to the shore. "I guess now we have to tell the others?" Ares asked. "Yup." "You know certain people aren’t going to be happy." Ares looked in Hercules’ direction as he and Serena stood by the shoreline. "And you can probably add my mother and Toris to the not so happy bunch," Xena said. "But does what they think really matter? So long as you are happy about it, I am happy about it and the kids are happy about it…" "And don’t leave out Aph, she’ll be happy about it too," Ares reminded her. "Good ol’ Aphrodite…we could always count on her to be on our side," Xena said. "So long as the relevant parties are happy we shouldn’t let the misgivings of Hercules, my mother or brother get to us." "I am so glad you said that because that is exactly how I feel." Ares wrapped an arm around Xena’s waist, pulled her close and planted a kiss on her cheek. EPILOGUE Lysia raised an arm and instantly the four dolls setting atop the highest shelf in her bedroom were levitated into the air and slowly floated downward. With a pink tongue dangling from her mouth, Mei-Jin watched in fascination, her large brown eyes fixed on the floating dolls as they came to rest beside her while she laid atop her young mistress’ bed. Lysia hummed an old Thracian ballad that her Grand Mom Cyrene had taught her while she put the stuffed animals that had laid on the bed into a large wooden chest set on the floor. The little girl was grinning from ear to ear as she went about her task. She was very happy. After living in Amphipolis for almost three seasons, she, her brother and her mother were finally moving back into her father’s fortress in the mountains of Macedon. Lysia had loved living with Grand Mom Cyrene and Uncle Toris but moving back to Macedon meant she would get to see her father everyday. Lysia grabbed the dolls lying on the bed to put them in the chest too when she realized it was full. A frustrated sigh escaped the child’s lips. There was a knock at the door. "Come in," Lysia said. "Are you done packing?" Toris stepped into the bedroom along with the backup barkeep. "Yeah, I’m done. I just don’t have anymore room for my dolls." Lysia frowned with disappointment. Toris suppressed a chuckle. His little niece was already the typical female with too much stuff to pack. "Lycus is all packed and has plenty of room left over. You should see if your dolls can fit in his chest." "Okay." With a relieved smile on her face, Lysia left her bedroom, headed for her brother’s. ********** "Well, I’ve got my stuff and Argo all ready to go," Xena declared after stepping into the tavern. "I can’t believe you were able to get three seasons worth of possessions into just two saddlebags." Cyrene shook her head with amazement while coming from behind the bar. "I learned to travel light a long time ago so there wasn’t much stuff to pack, unlike Lycus and Lysia." "Yes, the children certainly have accumulated many possessions during their stay here." A sad frown appeared on Cyrene’s face as her blue eyes got misty. "Now Mother, I hope there won’t be any tears when the children and I leave with Ares today." Xena put an arm around the shoulders of the older woman. "I can’t help it…I got so use to you and the kids being here…I’m really going to miss you three." Cyrene pulled a handkerchief from her apron and began to dab away the tears forming at the rims of her eyes. "You won’t be alone. Toris will still be here. And the children and I will come and visit," Xena assured, pulling her mother closer. "You just make sure those visits are often." "I will," Xena promised, then kissed her mother’s cheek. The two women looked towards the stairs when they heard the sounds of people descending its lengths. Lycus, Lysia and Mei-Jin made their way down the stairs followed by Toris and the backup barkeep who were hauling one of the large chests from the children’s rooms. "You guys didn’t have to carry that heavy chest down the stairs," Xena said. "Ares could have zapped it to Macedon from up in the bedroom." "That’s okay Xena, it gave us the chance to flex our muscles." Toris along with the barkeep deposited the large chest on the floor by the bar. "Thanks for the help." He patted the barkeep on the shoulder. "Anytime," the man smiled and went off to carry out some inventory duties in the cellar. In that instant, the chest that had just been brought from upstairs vanished from sight just as silver-blue shards of light appeared then quickly dispersed, leaving Ares’ smiling leather-clad form standing before them. "I’ve already sent Argo and your belongings to Macedon. Now I just hope you are all ready to go," he said. "You’re timing is impeccable, the children just finished packing." Xena came over to him and claimed his lips with a quick kiss. "Mommy, don’t forget what you promised," Lysia reminded Xena. "Yeah, you have to talk to Dad," Lycus added. "I will," Xena assured with an uneasy look on her face. "Talk to me about what?" Ares curiously looked at Xena who remained silent, then the children. "We want a baby," Lysia blurted out while looking towards her brother. Ares was rather surprised to hear this as was Cyrene and Toris. "But Mom said we couldn’t have a baby until after we moved back into the fortress in Macedon," Lycus added. "Yeah, then she would talk to ya about having one," Lysia said. "Oh really?" Ares pulled Xena close and gazed into her face with a sly smile plastered across his own. "I was going to bring it up tonight." Xena’s fingers, absentmindedly outlined the silver studs adorning his black vest. "I figured it was best if we discussed this…alone." "We still can and afterward we could get to work on that baby," Ares said. "If there’s going to be another child, you two should really consider that ceremony we talked about Xena," Cyrene chimed in, "…the one where your family and friends attend and there’s an exchanging of vows…" "Mother, not now," Xena wearily groaned. "But now is the perfect time with talk of a baby," Cyrene insisted. "Cyrene if you must know, Xena and I in recent weeks have discussed *that* ceremony," Ares confessed. "You have?" Cyrene stared at the couple with curiosity and surprise. "Yes we have Mother, and you’ll be happy to know that we both have finally come around to your way of think," Xena said. "Now we just have to set a date," Ares said with a grin. "Oh, this is wonderful news!" Beaming with joy, Cyrene grabbed hold of her daughter’s face and planted a kiss on a cheek and then did the same with Ares, surprising the war god. "I now have to start thinking about decorations, color schemes, invitations, and the menu," Cyrene excitedly babbled. "I knew there was a reason why I had to buy a copy of Thrace’s Greek Bride…now there is a drawing of a gown in there Xena that would look perfect on you..." "Mom, let Xena, Ares and the children leave…you can talk about all that stuff later," Toris suggested. "Thank you Toris," Xena said. "Oh all right," Cyrene said with a pout. "For now I’ll do my planning alone and get your input later. You just let me know when you set a date." "We will," Ares assured. "Then I guess all that’s left are the good-byes," Cyrene softly said. She and Toris took their turns embracing Xena and the children with hugs. "Ares, you better take good care of my daughter and grandchildren," Cyrene said, fighting back tears. "Yeah," Toris added. "They will always be loved and want for nothing…I promise on the river Styx," Ares vowed. Knowing the significance of Ares swearing on the river Styx, both Cyrene and Toris had newfound looks of respect for the war god on their faces as they watched the four along with Lysia’s little dog be engulfed in silver-blue orbs then fade into nothingness. "So Mom, do you think Xena and Ares making it official and getting married will keep those two together?" Toris asked, with now just the two of them in the tavern. "Marriage is one of the most serious commitments two people can make but with those two…eh they are so much alike…it’s hard to predict the future." "Yeah, they both can be controlling, quick-tempered and stubborn," Toris said. "Yup, that’s all true," Cyrene nodded her head in agreement. "But we can’t deny the love we have seen between them…it’s very strong and could very well last the eternity they have together." "Well, they have certainly made me a believer that there is someone out there for everybody," Toris said. Cyrene smiled adoringly at Toris. "My dear son, you don’t know how happy I am to hear you say that." She wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Uh oh." Toris eyed her warily, not liking the look on her face. "Jeron, the fish merchant, was telling me about his sister’s daughter…" "No way Mom, don’t try to play matchmaker," Toris removed his mother’s arm from around his shoulders and quickly made a beeline for the kitchen. "But dear, she sounds like such a nice girl…" Not one to give up so easily, Cyrene followed Toris into the kitchen, her voice drifting as the door closed behind her. "Her name is Nicholette…"
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