Authors Note: Some changes were made in this story that differ from that of the Hercules and Xena TV series.
He was dying the healer told him so and he had no reason to doubt that. He was Ares the God of War now mortal he goes by the name Kane. The healer gave him two summers at the most.
It had been a month since Xena and the bard had left him alone on the farm and he was bored. He missed the thrill of battle, that rush of war. He missed the stealth of a scouting mission, the power of a cavalry charge, the thrill of pitched hand-to-hand combat. But most of all he missed his dogs, most of his family can go to Tartarus but he missed Legion and Cull. The dog he had whilst Xena was at the farm reminded him of his loyal hounds.
To get his mind off this, he grabbed his sword and began training. He implanted the razor sharp blade in the ground next to him and began his work out. Since he was no longer immortal he needed to practice to keep his skills sharp and deadly.
He began with a very slow katas of a fighting style taught to him in his youth by a chin monk. It was called Tai Chi.
Not many beings knew Ares had been mortal at one time other than his mother and sister. His mother took him through time to train him in every form of battle and strategy there was or ever will be. But thanks to an advantage he was borne with, he was a fast learner. Ares had photographic reflexes.
This hidden advantage made him perfect to be God of War. Not that he had any say in the matter, because as soon as he left Hera's womb, Zeus declared him the God of War. He was never to know love, compassion, or companionship. He would be a cold calculating and cunning warrior. Borne for battle, bred to kill, and totally alone.
Until he met Xena. She was strong, cunning, agile, and deadly. Her beauty surpassed all he had seen and all he had ever known. And for the first time war was silenced.
She became his chosen general. She brought devastation, destruction, pain suffering, and order, his order. But then she changed, and he lost her. He hated that he searched for and found her but it was too late she was lost to him forever. And in the halls of war silence, hid the cold fury of Ares.
In Olympus the gods cowered at the rage of Ares. Even Zeus feared his son. Hera and Aphrodite both calmed him down as he began to try to get Xena back much to the displeasure of Zeus among several others, but now he is mortal. Mortal, alone, and dying.
Once he was done, he began to do a general work out. After several hundred sit-ups and press-ups. He began to practice with his sword. Zooming through styles like the ex war god he is. When he finished he was sweaty and tired but he didn't care as he turned to enter the house when he had another weakening spell. He heard a familiar voice from behind.
"So this is where you've been hiding Ares," said a deep voice from behind him. Ares griped the nearest object for support his vision blurred and his body weakening
"Hercules, come to rub mortality in my face or perhaps your here for revenge," more a statement than a question he turned and met his half brothers fist.
He was launched through the air, hitting a large tree, breaking the meatier part of the bark. With the impact the tree broke in two. The larger part fell down behind Ares. He then forced himself to his feet knowing he probably had broken ribs.
Ares looked up at his brother and smiled at him as a trickle of blood came down his mouth. Ares wiped it away and stood as best he could as his brother came at him with all his mighty strength. He didn't move to block, fight back, or run as he just took his brothers onslaught head on like a rock on the shore.
"Fight back dame you Ares fight back," Hercules roared as his fist impacted Ares face again. Ares eyes were swollen shut as his nose was broken. and he had lost of his three teeth.
"Why?" he gurgled out, spiting out a mouthful of blood, "what's the point if your going to kill me just do it" he said in a tone just above a whisper.
Hercules stopped still holding his brother's tunic with his fist still balled. Ares was limp, barely conscious.
"Giving up isn't your style," Hercules replied harshly.
"Why do you care? finish it, let now be the end brother," Ares said.
Hercules stopped astonished as Ares said again, "come on finish it." Ares then shouted, "Finish it!"
Hercules looked at his now sobbing brother, "please, please finish it." Hercules dropped Ares and looked at his bloody hands
"What have I become?" he thought out loud he picked up his brother and took him into the farmhouse. Ares passed out in his brother's arms.