Disclaimers: Xena, Ares and related characters are property of Renaissance Pictures and Universal Studios. Please R & R.
Author's Note:
Greek mythology is an interest of mine, but I'm not using it to point out whether or not I know more about it than others. The twins and the other myth characters all fit in.
Lethe's Saga II:
Phoenix Rising
By Eugena
Rated: T
Summary: After Xena killed some of the gods, she receives the wrath of a survivor from the Underworld. Ares alone can help her. Focuses on the family ties within historical Greek Mythology and not necessarily as portrayed in the show.
Timeline: After Motherhood. Slight AU since this does not follow the events of the series finale.
Chapter One: Family Ties
The fatigued god of war made his way effortlessly to the temple of his sister. In the center of the holy shrine stood a marble likeness of her. Clearly, the artist didn't mind seeing her posing for hours as he created his masterpiece.
He chuckled to himself, remembering a time when, in this very spot, young Xena fans wished to replicate her instead of Aphrodite.
A slight breeze alerted him to the fact he was not alone. A large, shadowy figure loomed behind the statue, as if waiting for him. As Ares cautiously danced around the statue, a wing tip soon betrayed the identity of the mysterious one.
"Son," he greeted the fully-grown man beside him.
"Father," his tone betrayed no emotion.
"Why isn't your mother here?" he asked cautiously.
"She is comforting my wife," he answered with disdain, "see for yourself." Ares and Cupid melted into the ether, soon finding them at the new Palace of Aphrodite. Father and son soon were inside a master bedroom that connected to a smaller one. However, the closed door repelled any conformation of this venture.
With out a word, Cupid knocked on the ominous door and Aphrodite left as he entered in.
Ares looked to the mother of three of his sons with bewilderment.
"You came looking for me?" she asked plainly.
"I felt like we have much to talk about."
"Try explaining that to Psyche. She blames you for the death of Zeus."
"I didn't realize that she favored our father. I always viewed him as a womanizer, never able to keep his loins to himself, so to speak. Why should she worry about his passing?"
"She is worried for her son," the goddess spat, "our grandchild!"
"Bliss?" he was taken back, "Why?"
"Without stability in Olympus, who will rule? Regardless of who does, surviving gods will come after you and your family."
"Aphrodite," he said firmly to calm her, "we will defeat them. I won't let anyone harm my family."
"How many gods are still alive, Ares?"
"Lesser gods," he passed them off, "how many of The Twelve still reign?"
"Apollo. You killed his sister."
"Most unfortunate," he sighed compassionless.
"Hermes," she paused, "perhaps."
"What do you mean 'perhaps'?"
Xena slid the honing stone easily down her blade. Her thoughts were occupied by the letter she had received from her only surviving child. Eve promised to meet up with her and Gabrielle on their way to Thrace.
Xena questioned her true motives as to why she was visiting that city. It was somewhat out of their way, and she had told Gabrielle they were going there to gather fresh supplies. Yet she knew the significance of that city and wondered if Gabrielle had caught on, too. Surely in all her years of reading, writing and telling stories, she had heard the tale of Thrace?
Thrace was the city closes to Ares' heart. When he could no longer bear living on Olympus (and this was often), he lived in his palace at Thrace. The gods of Olympus too often did not appreciate him there; they believed that his carnal acts of war were too uncivilized for them. They preferred Athena, with her 'civilized' war. She was, of course, the patron daughter of Zeus, nonchalant over the fact that he ate her mother. Yet they were also both dead. The old rein of Olympus was behind them. Only a few other gods remained, and beyond them, only a few older gods. Gods, she shivered, that had been locked away in the Underworld.