“You don’t have a soul Ares.  You never did.”

 

“You know that’s not true.  When you say such things it hurts me Xena.”

 

She knew Ares well enough now to know when he was being sincere.  The first time he’d told her he loved her in Tartarus just before Eve had been born, she’d saw he was being sincere.  Yet she’d given him an opportunity to back out of what he’d said and he’d taken it.  That had been his biggest mistake and now he knew that.

 

“I can help you avenge Gabrielle’s death.  Xena, you’re the type of person who needs direction in her life.”

 

“Everyone needs that-“

 

“-But you need goals!  You hate to admit it Xena but you’re a natural born leader.  The Fates granted you an ability to take charge and change the world for the better.  Use that now Xena.  Stop feeling sorry for yourself and break free from this place!  Avenge Gabrielle, Varia and your mother’s honor.  Avenge yourself.  Follow me Xena and conquer the world and rule it with honor.  You can make earth paradise.  Do it.”

 

With each word he spoke her desire to follow him grew until she felt it would smother her.  She was torn between doing what was right, and doing what felt right.  All she had to do was accept and she could indeed rule the world. She could either be the Destroyer of Nations or she could save the Nations of the world by taking over and bringing about a peace that she and Gabrielle could never had accomplished on the path they had been taking together.

 

“Xena?”

 

Cyane appeared in the doorway just as Ares faded away.

 

“Its time.”

 

******************************

 

Varia’s body had been completely covered from head to toe in a fashion very similar to the Mummies Xena had seen in Egypt.  Only her face was left bare as Xena was led past her.  Chiniah jerked Xena around to face Varia.

 

“Look at our Queen.  Look how young she is.  Now she’s dead.  Murdered at your hand.”

 

Cyane stepped forward and gently eased Chiniah away from Xena.  “Xena has accepted her punishment Chiniah.  Let it go now.  Justice-“

 

“Justice can never be done for her crime against our Nation.”

 

“I’m sorry you feel that way Chiniah,” Xena said.  “I killed her and I regret that.  I loved Varia more than you realize.”

 

Cyane led Xena up to the stake and tied her there, as was her duty as Queen.  Once that was finished she came down and took the two cross bows that had been loaded with flaming arrows. Cyanes sisters stepped back and the new Queen raised each crossbow.

 

“As is the custom of days of old.  I commit our murdered Queen to the flames and set her soul free to join our Amazon ancestors in the afterlife.  Eternity will be sweet for Varia, for she died to protect the innocent from evil. As for Xena, the Queen’s murderer, we commit her soul to eternal damnation.  She will walk the earth, aware of humanity but never allowed contact with it.  Your punishment Xena, will be eternal lonliness.”

 

Cyane fired the crossbows and the flaming arrows planted themselves in the logs that had been doused with Greek Fire.  They caught quickly and began to burn bright and hot. 

 

However, the flames hadn’t even reached Xena’s feet before they began to recede.  The sisters looked at one another in confusion until Ares appeared before Cyane and wrapped a hand around her throat.  She did her best to free herself but it was useless. His strength was unnatural and his body impervious to the moral wounds she tried to inflict on him.

 

“Ares!  What are you doing?”  Xena almost sounded angry that he was saving her life.

 

“Protecting what is mine.”  He turned to face her and looked deeply into her eyes.  “You heart.  You might not want to admit it Xena, but you gave it to me the moment we lay eyes on one another.  I’m reclaiming it.”

 

“Let our Queen go!” Chiniah screamed, rushing up to him.  “This is justice for our murdered Queen-“

 

“Ah shut up!” Ares moved to kill her but Xena called out to him.

 

“Ares wait.  Let Cyane go.”

 

“You know the deal Xena.”

 

Xena looked at the angry faces of the Amazon’s around her.  She knew they would all die to see her burn at the stake, but the truth was she didn’t care.  A partnership with Ares would allow her the revenge she had been wanting since the moment Gabrielle had been raped by Apollo.  This rescue attempt of his would give her an honorable reason to escape their justice though she knew her real reason for leaving was purely selfish.

 

“I agree. Let them live and I will be your Warrior Queen.”

 

Ares shoved Cyane aside and she collapsed to the ground gasping for air.  His handprint would leave bruises but she would live.  The other Amazons howled with fury as Xena took Ares hand and faded away, robbing them of their vengeance.

 

“I won’t rest,” Chiniah said, staring at the stake that had begun to burn again the moment Xena had faded away with Ares, “until Xena’s stains my hands the way our Queens blood stained hers.”

 

******************************

 

Callisto rubbed sleep from her eyes as the older Gabrielle shook her awake, somewhat roughly. “What? Gods, its not even daylight out yet.  Let me sleep.”

 

“We have to go,” Gabrielle said.  Callisto didn’t know the woman very well but she could tell she was agitated about something. 

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“Nothing.  Let’s move.”

 

“I don’t think that’s going to be necessary.”

 

Gabrielle’s blood ran cold in her veins and her younger counterpart screamed in unison with Callisto.  Gabrielle turned slowly and faced down the goddess that had been trying to kill her almost from the day she arrived on this world.

 

“Athena,” Gabrielle said coolly.  For now Athena chose to ignore her.

 

“Callisto,” Athena said, her eyes roamed over Callisto.  “Gutsy move in the temple.  Stupid, but gutsy.” 

 

Gabrielle yanked Callisto out of the bed and pushed her behind her own body. “Gabrielle.  Come here.”

 

“Shielding them with your own body? Unless you’re made of Hephaestus’ metal you make a pitiful shield against my powers.”

 

“Let them go.  Its me you have a problem with.”

 

“No its not.  Its her pride.” Xena said from the doorway behind Athena.  “How did you find us Athena?”

 

“The Innkeeper called on me to save him from a thief. In your name.”

 

Xena moved in front of Athena, her larger body blocking the goddess’ view of the other three women.  “Could you three give us a minute?”

 

Athena looked up at Xena, incredulous.  “Do actually think me a fool Xena?  Like I’m going to allow her to waltz out of here while you try to sweet talk me?”

 

It was all Xena could do not to roll her eyes at Athena’s petty behavior.  “You’ve found us once, you can find us again.”

 

“Therein lies the problem Xena. I don’t have time to hunt you down again.  I have to send Gabrielle back to her universe.”

 

Everyone in the room perked up, especially the younger Gabrielle, though Xena didn’t look too happy about it and couldn’t hide it in her voice.  “You’re sending her back?”

 

“Yes.  If you’ve noticed we’ve been having storms lately.  That’s because of her presence.  She’s not just ruining our relationship, she’s destroying our universe.”

 

Gabrielle couldn’t hold her tongue another second.  She’d never been the quiet type and that had been the cause of almost as much trouble in her life as it was an instrument to get her out of trouble.

 

“Whose fault is that Athena?  I tried to leave but you just wouldn’t let me.  Now look what’s happening. It’s not my fault, it’s yours!”

 

“Would you people listen to yourselves?”  Callisto said, moving from behind Gabrielle.  The younger version of the Bard tried to hold her back but Callisto pulled free anyway.  Every woman in the room was looking at her and she doubted she would have their attention like this again.  She would make the best of it.

 

“You’re the goddess of wisdom, you’re her champion-“

 

Both Athena and Xena spoke in unison.  “Former Champion.”

 

“Well.  At least you can agree on something.  Former champion then.  Gabrielle and I are just farm girls and she’s an irritating loud mouth who shouldn’t even be here.  Why do we have to make such a big deal about this?  Athena, I know your pride is wounded but come on.  Is this really worth killing over?  Why don’t you just send Gabrielle home and move on? We’ll be dead in a matter of years but you’ll live on forever.  Why bother?”

 

They were quiet for once, and it began to look as if Callisto had saved their lives once again.  However Athena just couldn’t let go of her pride.  “If I allow her to live I’ll lose face.  No.  Gabrielle you’re going home, but you won’t get to see it.”

 

Xena moved back in the way.  “Athena-“

 

“Move Xena or you die with her.”

 

“I’m not going to allow you to do this.”

 

Athena’s mouth dropped open in shock.  “Not allow me?  Not allow me?  Just who the hell do you think you are?”

 

“I’m the one woman on earth that can handle you.”

 

Xena threw the first punch and the fight was on.  Knowing that Xena would only be able to buy them so much time, Gabrielle pushed the girls toward the door. 

 

“Run!” Gabrielle urged.  She pushed the girls out the door and into the hallway.

 

“But what about Xena?”  Her younger counterpart asked, resisting Gabrielle’s efforts to push her along to the steps.

 

“She can handle herself,” I hope, she added silently.

 

They made it down the stairs but before they could exit the lodge the doors burst open and Amaranda entered with her guards.  Gabrielle made eye contact with Athena’s new champion, Amaranda.

 

“Upstairs.  Find Xena,” Amaranda ordered.  Her entourage hesitated, looking between Amaranda and Gabrielle.  “Now!”

 

The remaining five women, not a full compliment by any means, snapped to attention and rushed up the steps.  When they were gone, Amaranda drew her blade.

 

“You young ones, go outside and take one of the horses.  They’re fresh.”

 

“I’m not leaving Xena,” the younger Gabrielle vowed, but Amaranda would hear none of it.

 

“You can’t do her any good dead.  Besides, there is a messenger waiting for you about your sister on the road outside of town.  Now go.”

 

News of Lila spurred Callisto and young Gabrielle out the door, but Amaranda blocked Gabrielle’s path.  “As for you…”

 

“Let me guess:  I have to die?”

 

“Yes, you do.  I just want you to know that it’s nothing personal.  I have no grudge against you but I am loyal to Athena.  Xena too.”

 

Gabrielle nodded, hoping Amaranda understood her position as well.  “You do understand that I have to fight to survive as well.”

 

“I would be sorely disappointed if you didn’t.”

 

Gabrielle drew her Sai’s, and as Xena was fighting her former god upstairs, so Gabrielle fought that god’s champion in dining hall three floors below her.  All the while Gabrielle was under the watchful gaze Poseidon’s Champion.

 

******************************

 

Athena’s superior strength was more than even Xena could handle and her knees buckled beneath her. Xena collapsed onto the bed with Athena straddling her as five of the Elite Guard rushed in the room.

 

“What are you doing in here?”

 

“Amaranda sent us to find Xena.”

 

Athena rolled her eyes.  She loved her dolls but sometimes they could be incredibly stupid and naïve.  “I have Xena under control.  I want Gabrielle chained and bound for me when I’m finished here.”

 

The guards shared nervous glances.  “But Amaranda is fighting her downstairs.”

 

Athena turned to Xena with a wicked smile.  “I would prefer the kill her myself, but if Number One does it for me then so be it. I’ll get over it.  Now go.”

 

Once the guards were gone Athena relaxed her grip but she remained straddled over Xena. 

 

“Number One huh?  Amaranda always did resent that I had that role over her.”

 

“Actually I think she’s just as loyal to you as she is to me.”

 

“Then why is she trying to kill Gabrielle?”

 

“I’ve left her no choice.”

 

They stared at one another and though Xena tried she was unable to dislodge Athena from her dominant position above her.  Athena used the tip of her blade to cut open a slit in the leather below the chest armor.

 

“So you’re back to the leather huh?  Looks good on you.  It would look even better off of you.”

 

“Your touch disgusts me now Athena, so get your hands off me.”

 

Athena’s hand snaked out, slapping Xena hard across the face but the Warrior Princess’ pain was nothing compared to the anguish she saw in Athena’s eyes.  Xena, however, couldn’t have cared if she wanted to.

 

“I gave you purpose!” Athena began, barely holding back tears.  “You were nothing but a thug when I found you.  The whore of that worthless bum Boreas.  I took you from that life and gave you a reason to fight for good and honor.  l-“

 

Xena gently moved the tip of the blade from her chest as it began to dig into her flesh.  “-You loved me, I know.  I’m grateful for that Athena, and I loved you too but…you know how I have always felt there was another half to my soul somewhere in this world.  I tried to make you my soul mate but you’re not. Gabrielle is.”

 

Athena looked away from her former lovers beautiful blue eyes.  Xena meant the world to her.  For Athena this was much more than an issue of pride.  For the goddess of Wisdom it was an issue of love. She felt incomplete without Xena.  There was a void that only this woman could fill for her.  Neither Amaranda nor any other woman would ever be able to make her feel as whole as Xena did.

 

“I love you Xena.”

 

“Prove it.”

 

“How?”

“Let Gabrielle live.”

 

“No.”  Athena stood from her chair and rushed over to the door.  She stopped, however long enough to turn to Xena.  “If I allow her to live, you’ll go after her again.  If I kill her-“

“You kill her and I’ll never come back to you.”

 

Athena searched Amaranda’s eyes to see if this was indeed the truth.  She knew Xena well enough to know that it was.  “So be it.  I have my pride.”

 

“Yes,” Xena said, her voice dripping with bitterness, “And in the end that’s all you’re going to have.”

 

Athena decided to let Xena have the last word of this verbal battle, turned and walked out of the room.  No sooner had the door shut than did Xena vault out of the window.  She would save Gabrielle from Athena, or she would die trying.

 

************************************************************************************

Xena/Ares

 

Xena and Ares re-appeared in a place she hadn’t seen in over thirty years:  Her old tent.  It was a perfect replica of her tent from when she’d been on a mission to conquer the world under the name “The Conquer.”  Weapons of every sort adorned the walls and a bed in the corner was made up in the finest silk and satin. 

 

A table stood in one corner with a map of the immediate area laid out before her on its rough surface.  It had no markings of conquered territories on it yet, but soon it would be stained red with the blood of her defeated as she took one village after another.

 

“Do you remember the first time I tried to convince you to come back to me?”

 

A small smile curled the corners of Xena’s lips.  “Of course I do.  What about it?”

 

“I offered you a chance to call up any warrior you want from history to work under you in order to help you conquer the world.  I’m willing to do that again.”

 

“You can’t be serious.”

 

“I’m dead serious.  Anyone.  You name him or her and they are yours.”

 

“Alright.”  Xena ran a hand over the map.  “I want Livia.”