ACT II

Author's note: If you have not yet read The Last Destroyer Act I, you really should read it first before taking on this tale. Why? First of all, because TLD Act I is awesome. ;) Secondly, this story chiefly revolves around an original character and she is much more thoroughly introduced in TLD Act I. If you start here, it's unlikely that things will make much sense. And lastly, although this is a Xena fanfic, Xena and Gabrielle do not actually appear in this story, but they do in the previous one, so if you need your Xena and Gabrielle fix you should start there. As noted in TLD Act I, this story follows Season 4 continuity. This tale takes place roughly in the middle of Season 4, while Xena and Gabrielle are in India.
All the standard warnings from TLD Act I apply. There may be graphic violence in this story, and this ain't a kiddie Xenaverse. Issues of sexuality will also be explored much more directly in this installment. This story features both MF and FF pairings and I don't want to hear any crap about either one (you wouldn't think a het pairing could make people mad, but I've seen in happen in this fandom!). There are many more important things in this world to get worked up over than a fictional character's preferences. Lastly, if you like this story, or even if you don't, review it! Thanks and enjoy.

The Queen Regent of the tribe put her head in her hands and rubbed her eyes. She knew this meeting was going to be difficult, but she had not been prepared for the strain it actually put on her when the time came. She could only assume it was the sight of the desperately injured warrior in front of her and her council.

"Eponin," Ephiny began, raising her head to look at her weapons master. "We all appreciate that you came to us today despite your condition. I'm sure you're eager to get back to the infirmary and rest…"

"My Queen, I am available as long as the War Council has need of me," the proud Amazon warrior replied hoarsely. She leaned heavily on a staff, trying not to sway on her feet. Next to her, steadying her, was Ephiny's second in command and her best friend. Eponin hid as best she could the fact that if Solari's hand was not resting stealthily on her low back, she probably would not be able to stand.

"Your dedication is without peer, Eponin. We all know this. Please tell the council what it is that you saw, and we will release you back into the healer's care." Ephiny shot a meaningful glance at Solari not to let Eponin go on any longer than necessary. Solari had already offered to take Eponin's testimony at the infirmary, but the weapons master had insisted on delivering it in person. She was concerned that she would not be believed, as it was.

Eponin cleared her throat. She found it difficult to talk, considering that she had inhaled a good deal of smoke and heat. "As you know, I was present in the squad led by Solari to dispose of the traitor shamaness, Iphianassa. We were escorting her to the border of the Amazon lands…"

A thin, blonde woman hit the ground hard with a dull thud. She was nude and sported several bruises about her face and neck. Although her body was beautiful, her cold green-gray eyes reflected only ugliness as she looked up defiantly at her captors. She pulled herself up into a kneeling position only to be kicked roughly in the chin, sending her sprawling onto her hands again. She was much more delicately built than the Amazon warriors who stretched in front of her like a barrier. A tall, severe looking brunette stepped forward from the line, hands on her hips, and peered down at the blonde with revulsion in her eyes.

"Iphianassa, you are hereby banished forever from our lands for your crimes against the Amazon nation, which include but are not limited to sowing dissent both within and among the tribes, practicing forbidden sorcery, corrupting the young Amazon girls, and most seriously of all, causing injury to Amazon warriors during your 'experiments'. You are offensive to our sight and to the sight of the goddess, Artemis. You are hereby ordered to leave this place and never come back, on pain of death." Solari spat on the ground next to the disrobed shamaness. "Before we part you should know that I recommended you be executed for your crimes. You can thank the Queen Regent for your sorry life."

"I always knew Ephiny was weak," Iphianassa drawled as she once again rose onto her knees. "I'll see her corpse soon enough, I'm sure."

At this insult Solari made ready to charge at Iphianassa and pummel her again, but Eponin and three other warriors held her back by the arms. "She's not worth it," Eponin chided. "You know what Ephiny said. Your honor is too important to let this scum goad you into blackening your name with vengeance."

"Get out," Solari growled as she pulled free from her captors. "Now." The patrol watched as the nude shamaness forced herself to her feet and began to stalk away down the path. When she was out of sight, the Amazon guard began to return to their village, save for one who stayed behind.

"This is when you decided to follow Iphianassa, despite the fact that under the law she was no longer our concern?" an elder Amazon questioned, interrupting Eponin's tale.

"I accept full responsibility for my actions," Eponin responded. "I know that once the banished has left our lands they are no longer subject to our laws, but I saw treachery in the bitch's eyes. I had to see what she would do next."

"I clear you of any wrongdoing for following Iphianassa, considering that she still was, and is, a threat to the safety of our sisters," Ephiny interjected quickly. "Continue."

Eponin followed Iphianassa in silence. The shamaness, who had never learned the ways of a warrior in her time with the Amazons, could not detect the experienced weapons master in the trees. In time they came to the remains of an old bridge which ran over a river of lava. The lava had cooled since the last eruption and was now solid, if porous, rock. Eponin kept watch from her high perch as Iphianassa, still naked, approached the cliff's edge, next to the bridge supports, and began to murmur an incantation. Eponin, who had no knowledge of such things, narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Whatever was happening, she knew it was nothing good. Iphianassa would not have been expelled had her powers not been judged dangerous. Although it took most of the afternoon, Eponin remained where she was, still as a statue. Finally the ground shook with such violence that Eponin was nearly dislodged from her branch, and Iphianassa collapsed in a heap on the ground as if she had been struck.

Any hopes that Eponin had of Iphianassa having inadvertently killed herself were dashed as the blonde began to stir. The Amazon's blood suddenly ran cold as the Styx when she saw a familiar face emerge from the gorge, seeming to float up over the cliff's edge. Iphianassa quickly struggled to her knees and lowered her head to the dirt. "Goddess, you have returned! You have heard my calls and answered me at last."

"You made it possible for me to return. You've done very well for yourself, Iphianassa. I will reward you handsomely when the time comes."

"The ultimate reward will be seeing you return to the head of the Amazon tribes, where you belong. Artemis has abandoned us and we are led by spineless weaklings. Too long has the Queen Regent been under the influence of the false and undeserving Gabrielle."

"Gabrielle." The goddess Velasca snarled at the mention of her old enemy. "Don't you worry about Gabrielle. When I am through with rebuilding the Amazon Nation she will find no friends here should she be foolish enough to return." The goddess, freed from her rocky prison after over two years, began to pace around her rescuer. "Yes. There is so much to do. And yet…" Velasca's cold blue eyes narrowed viciously. "We are not alone here."

"My goddess?" Iphianassa asked fearfully.

"Don't worry. I would not have expected you to be able to detect an Amazon tracker. I can handle the problem myself." Without warning Velasca hurled a devastating fireball at the tree where Eponin was perched, tossing the weapons master high into the air. She landed only a few paces from Velasca's feet, scorched and bruised but still conscious.

"I did my best to kill her. I swear on my honor as a warrior I fought her as hard as I had fought any enemy in my life!"

"Take it easy," Solari whispered in Eponin's ear, feeling her friend's lack of balance. "No one expected you to kill a goddess."

"How did you survive the encounter, if this resurrected foe was truly the goddess Velasca?" the same Amazon elder asked Eponin, some doubt evident in her voice.

Velasca laughed triumphantly as she stood over a badly burned and beaten Eponin. Eponin lay still on the ground, forcing her eyes to stay open. "Such a fool. Did you really think that you could injure me? But then again, I remember you, Eponin. I had to throw you in jail once before. You always were loyal to the weaklings. I suppose you can take solace in the fact that you'll die having tried to defend your worthless friends. They might be able to identify your body, but I'm not sure."

Velasca began to form a massive fireball between her hands when suddenly the fire evaporated. The goddess swayed and dropped to her knees.

"My mistress, you're using too much power! You'll exhaust yourself!" Iphianassa cried, rushing over to Velasca and catching her. "We need to get to a safe location while you rediscover your strength."

"I suppose you're right," Velasca agreed. "Can you finish the spy off with my knife?"

Eponin knew her life depended on getting to her feet. With the last of her strength she forced herself up and into a ready stance. Even holding Velasca's weapon, Iphianassa balked. She knew she could not physically overpower Eponin even as wounded as she was. Iphianassa was weak as a kitten herself after freeing Velasca.

"I guess not," Velasca sighed. "Well, I don't keep you around for your fighting skills. With our combined power we should be able to – " In that moment, Velasca and Iphianassa vanished, and Eponin lost consciousness.

"I found her this morning when I realized she never came back to the village yesterday," Solari testified. "She was barely alive."

"It is with sincerest regret that I inform the council that the traitor Iphianassa has freed the goddess Velasca," Eponin coughed out before she passed out in Solari's arms.

"Get her back to her cot and don't let her leave it again. I want her fully recovered before she tries anything," Ephiny ordered, rising from her seat. Solari nodded and gingerly carried her friend out of the council's tent. When they were gone Ephiny rested her head in her hands yet again. In her short tenure as Queen Regent her responsibilities had weighed heavily on her, noticeably aging the young woman. Realizing that her war council was staring at her, Ephiny returned to her seat.

"Are we to believe it? Could Iphianassa really free Velasca from a river of solid rock?" one of the other council members, visiting from a neighboring village, asked. "I had heard she was indeed powerful, but it seems incredible."

"I have no reason to doubt Eponin," Ephiny replied. "She is one of my most trusted warriors."

"Did you trust Iphianassa as well?" the suspicious Amazon elder asked.

Ephiny shot her a withering glance. "When we took her in and offered her sanctuary we thought she was merely the victim of an abusive master. It is the mission of the Amazon Nation to assist such women and take them in if they so desire. After she revealed her powers to us I thought she might be of use, but she quickly showed her true nature. I had thought – hoped – that we had cast her out before it was too late." The elder appeared as if she would reply, but thought better of it and kept still.

"What are we to do?" another member of the council asked. "How can we possibly stand against the goddess Velasca?"

"Isn't it obvious?" a third woman answered. "We may not be as strong as she is, but our patron goddess is far stronger. We must call on Artemis for aid."

An uncomfortable silence followed. Many on the council agreed with Iphianassa's sentiment that Artemis had turned from them, but none dared say it. Ephiny rose with all the majesty she could muster and looked on the face of each and every member of the war council. "Agreed. I will go through the purification ritual at once and attempt to contact Artemis myself."

Eyes widened in shock. "My Queen, isn't it dangerous? We cannot afford to lose you in such a manner," the visiting village leader questioned. The purification ritual involved rigorous physical efforts under the influence of powerful herbs. It had been known to kill Amazon sisters on occasion.

"What choice do we have? We are without a shamaness, and I would not ask any of the apprentices to take this on without having completed their training. I must contact the goddess myself and hope that she hears our plea."