What If?
Authors Note: Basically, it's a story of What If's?. What if Xena made better choices, i.e. she didn't side with Ares, she wasn't overcome with bloodlust, she didn't become a warlord, she accepted Lao Ma's teachings, she chose Cyane's offer rather than Alti's, etc. Hope you like it!
I am currently rewriting this story. I've just added a prologue and I'll be rewritting Chapter 1 in the coming weeks. The basic plotline of the story won't change, just be better written - hopefully. Thanks for your patience - please review!
Prologue:
As she picked herself up off the ground, Xena swore to herself that she would always be there to help those less fortunate than herself, despite the consequences. Slowly, she dusted herself off before running over to the little boy she had tried to help.
"Are you alright, Talemon?" she asked, as she picked the little boy up off the ground, "They didn't hurt you too bad, did they?"
The little boy shook his head, before burying his face in the relative comfort of her shoulder, "They hurt Ares," the boy sobbed out, gesturing to his ripped teddy bear. Xena looked closely at the teddy, seeing the large rip that stretched from the neck of the bear til the bottom of its belly.
"It'll be alright," Xena said with confidence, "Mother will be able to fix that. She can fix anything."
The little boy looked up from her shoulder with a hopeful smile plastered across his face.
"Really?"
Xena nodded and she and the little boy made their way towards Cyrene's Tavern at the end of the village.
"Mother," she called out as they entered the Tavern. Not seeing her Mother immediately, she called out again, "Mother, where are you?"
"Hush, Xena. I'm right here," Cyrene answered as she walked out from the kitchen, "Hello Talemon, what are you doing here?"
"Petrodes and the others were picking on him again for living in the orphanage. His teddy got ripped, but I told him you could fix it."
"Xena," the woman said sternly, "you shouldn't promise something you may not be able to deliver."
"But you can fix him, right?" Talemon broke into the conversation for the first time.
"Of course she can. Mother can mend anything, I told you that already," Xena spoke with all the impatience of a seven year old.
"Xena," the older woman said reproachfully, "Alright, let me see this bear." She held her hand out for the ripped toy and looked carefully over the damaged area, "I should be able to fix this."
Talemon thanked the older woman profusely before leaving for the orphanage. Cyrene looked patiently at her daughter, "What really happened?"
"Petrodes and his gang really were picking on him," Xena answered, adopting an innocent expression.
"And..."
"Torres and his friends were laughing at him. They were throwing rocks at him and he was crying. So I tripped Torres and fought Petrodes and told them they were mean."
"Xena," her mother started.
"I know you said no fighting but they were hurting Talemon. That's not right Mother," Xena stated stubbornly.
"I'm proud of you," Cyrene continued, as if her daughter hadn't interrupted.
"You are?"
"Yes. You stood up for someone who was in trouble. You have a noble heart, little one." Cyrene hugged her daughter close for a moment before she looked down again at the ripped bear. "Do you want to help me fix him?"
Xena nodded her head enthusiastically.
Xena and Lyceus ran across the field behind their Mother's Tavern, their hair flying loose and wild in the wind.
"Come on, Lyceus," called Xena as she overtook him in the impromptu race, "You can do better."
Xena reached the shade of the large tree and bend over, hands on her knees as she caught her breath. Lyceus arrived a few seconds later, panting and struggling for breath as he collapsed on the ground in front of his sister.
Seeing Lyceus collapse, Xena glanced over at him, concern plastered across her face.
"Are you alright?" she asked her brother, taking note of his flushed and sweaty face. Lyceus nodded tiredly, his breathing beginning to slow and his heart no longer racing.
When she was certain her brother was okay, Xena looked cautiously around the base of the tree. She had thought that there was someone there when they had approached the tree during their race. However, now she didn't see anybody, so she shrugged and turned to look back at her brother.
"Xena," called a young voice, "is that you?"
Xena whirled in the opposite direction while Lyceus started, he hadn't realised anyone was there. Looking around the other side of the base of the tree, Xena found Talemon and Flora holding sticks and had previously been engaged in what appeared to be a sword fight.
"What're you doing?" she asked amusedly.
"We're fighting," Talemon said enthusiastically, "So next time Petrodes tries to pick on us, we can beat him."
"You shouldn't be fighting," Lyceus broke into the conversation for the first time having regained his breath, "You could really hurt yourself."
"Come on Lyceus," Xena said to her brother, "Shouldn't they at least know how to defend themselves?"
"We can defend them."
"What if we're not there? You know Petrodes, he never plays fair."
"Oh, alright," Lyceus shrugged, "We'll teach them defence, that's it!"
"Thank you, thank you," the two younger children exclaimed as they wrapped their arms around both Xena and Lyceus.
Less than an hour later, the sticks lay forgotten on the ground as the children chased each other round in circles. The yells and screams of laughter travelled on the wind to the back window of the Tavern and Cyrene smiled as she watched and heard the children playing.
As Xena finished the last stitch on the garment she was making, she heaved a powerful sigh of relief. Gathering up the large pile of garments, she slowly made her way from her room, careful not to drop anything. Reaching the dining area of the Tavern, Xena looked around for her family, spotting her Mother organising the food.
"This is everything," Xena said as she lowered the large pile into a wicker basket on the counter, "Do you need me to do anything else?"
Cyrene shook her head. "Thanks Xena. We've just got to finish the cooking, but I know better than to ask you to help with that."
Xena laughed, "Yeah, I'd be more likely to ruin it than help. I'll check on Lyceus, see if he needs any help."
Xena kissed her Mother on the cheek before heading towards the back of the Tavern. Cyrene smiled, while Xena was possibly the most wild and challenging of her children, she had a pure heart and was always trying to help everyone.
This drive for the orphanage had been Xena's idea. When she had learned that the orphanage didn't have enough money to suitably sustain the children through the winter, she had organised a huge charity drive. Food, clothes, shoes, linen and anything else anyone could think of had been brought together for a massive donation to the orphanage.
Finishing what she was doing, Cyrene left the main room and headed toward the kitchen. Stopping to look out the window, she spotted Xena, Lyceus, Torres & Flora engaged in what appeared to be a fight. Xena had her hands on her hips and she spoke harshly to Torres, who appeared to be being thoroughly berated. Lyceus seemed to be attempting to hide a smile, while Flora looked anxiously between Xena and Torres.
Before Cyrene could even leave the boundaries of the kitchen, the argument was over. Lyceus and Torres were getting back to work, Lyceus with a huge smile on his face, while Xena took Flora by the hand and was headed back toward the Tavern.
Before Xena and Flora had even entered the kitchen, Cyrene was pelting them with questions.
"What was that all about? Why were you yelling at Torres? Why..." Cyrene was interrupted before she could go any further.
"Flora, would you check on Talemon for me? I want to make sure he's not having any trouble." Flora nodded and after adopting a proud look went on the mission that her 'big sister' Xena had given her.
"Torres wasn't helping. He was just lounging about watching Lyceus work. I told him that unless he was injured there was no excuse for why he wasn't helping Lyceus. He said that since it wasn't his idea, he shouldn't have to work for it. I said he was being selfish and if he didn't help I'd be cooking him dinner for the next month. He decided to help."
"Oh Xena," Cyrene chuckled, "You are a wonder."
Both Mother and daughter shared a laugh before heading back into the Tavern to help organise everything else.
Please let me know what you think. I know I'm not a good writer, so take it easy on me please. Thanks!