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Innocence
Still by the Might Lu Bu
The Disclaimer has been deleted for lack of "Originality"
In the rolling hills and quant valleys of Thrace, there was a small but strong village known as Amphipolis. It was well known for being sheep country and benefited from being close to the Aegean. For those of a military mind, it would have been an important location to occupy. Its roads will take you west to Thessaloniki or east to Byzantium, both important cities in and around the region of Thrace.
For seventeen years Xena had lived there with her mother and two brothers, she did not know that Cyrene had killed Xena's father to protect her from him. She was merely told that he abandoned them when they were little. That was the knowledge of their father that they lived with.
Things had been peaceful, and for Xena, it didn't seem like anything was really going to change. This was serene village world was and would be her life, and her destiny.
The swords clanged as Xena deflected a blow, and then twisted backwards dodging another shot from the blond man. She then stabbed inwards, but the he blocked her sword. However, Xena felt she had the advantage as she pressed forth at him.
Xena said with a laugh, "C'mon Lyceus, you can do better than that."
Lyceus replied with a grin of his own, "Just because you're older doesn't make you better."
Xena lunged with her sword but neglected to account for the slipperiness of the sandy surface. She slipped and fell to her hands and knees. Lyceus held the sword to her neck and taunted, "Lyceus wins again." Xena groaned.
Xena then said, "Ok, you can let me up now."
Lyceus teased, "I don't think so, I like you like this, at my feet. C'mon… kiss em."
"Hey, let her up. She's just a girl you know," Interrupted Toris.
Lyceus sighed, "Alright Xena, your BIG brother just saved you."
Xena got up, looking at Toris with a raised eyebrow as she asked, "What's wrong with being a girl?"
Toris replied, "Isn't it obvious? They weaker, so they need be treated carefully so they don't get hurt."
Xena replied with a mocking tone, "Do you remember what I did to you when you tossed my centaur doll in the river?"
Toris put his hand behind his neck nervously as he answered, "Uh, not really."
Lyceus replied smiling, "Oh, sure you do."
Toris lied, "Nope."
Xena turned her head slightly towards Lyceus and let out a subtle smile. Lyceus returned it and said, "Get em!" Xena made her war cry as the two of them tackled Toris to the ground.
After a short resistance from Toris, he was face down on the ground as he tried to keep the dirt from out of his mouth. Lyceus held him down as Xena asked, "What happened when you threw my centaur doll in the river?" Toris closed his mouth defiantly. Xena started flicking his nose which began to irritate him because he couldn't do anything about it.
She flicked it again, and again, until Toris said, "Ok, Ok, you beat me up, ok. Let me go…please."
Lyceus looked at Xena with a smile, "Hey, should we let him up?"
Xena replied, "Just a second" she flicked his nose a couple more times, "Now we can."
Lyceus got off of Toris as he got to his feet. Toris walked off irritated as Xena said, "Aw, don't take it so personally."
Lyceus just shook his head, "Our brother."
Xena replied, "Yea, he's alright though, for someone who needs a life. Hey, let's go see what mother fixed for lunch."
Lyceus replied as he rubbed his stomach, "Yea, I'm starving."
Xena replied, "Race ya!" Xena took off without giving Lyceus a chance to get ready. He rolled his eyes and then took off to try to catch her.
8
Toris entered the tavern doors as he sat down at a table. Cyrene replied, "Hey honey. Did you talk to Melitus?"
Toris stated, "He won't give in. I tried to convince him that his price was too steep for a stable repair job. But he just looked at me with that shit eating grin of his."
Cyrene replied with an eyebrow raise, "No matter, we'll just cut off his discount and then will be even."
"Or, I could just do it myself," Replied Toris.
Xena made it to the door but Lyceus grabbed her dress and pulled her back, allowing him to make it in first. Lyceus stated triumphantly, "I win! I win!"
Xena ran him and punched him in the arm, "No fair!"
Lyceus replied, "C'mon Xena, life's not fair, that's what you're always saying right?"
Xena replied with a smile, "Hey, it's only true when I'm the one who gets to cheat."
Lyceus raised an eyebrow, "Uh sure. Whatever you say."
Cyrene was cleaning a glass as she said, "If the two of are done you can help me set up the tables for the lunch crowd, then you can eat. You too Toris." Toris got up and started positioning chairs as Xena and Lyceus started making faces at him behind his back.
They both stopped as Toris asked, "Hey, the two of you going to help or not?"
Xena replied, "Uh, sure." They joined in as Cyrene shook her head with a smile at her now nearly fully grown children.
8
Cortese was overseeing the training of his men. He looked at them in disdain, they were less than human. Just fodder to his own ambitions. Then suddenly a voice said, "C'mon, tell them how you really feel?"
Cortese bowed respectfully at the appearance of the God of War. He said, "Ares, I am blessed to be in your presence."
Ares replied with a groan, "Enough of that. Why haven't you occupied Amphipolis yet?"
Cortese shrugged his shoulders as he said, "My campaign is planned for central Thrace, Amphipolis is in southern Thrace."
Ares replied, "I asked you do to do something, now if you can't do that, I'll just have to find someone else to bestow my wisdom to."
Cortese's lip quivered as he said, "Okay Lord Ares, it will be done."
Ares smiled, "Good."
He disappeared as Cortese shouted, "Men! Let's go. We have a village to take."
8
Ares reappeared near Amphipolis as he thought about the child he had been watching for years and how she had blossomed into womanhood. Ares could feel it; soon Cortese would come here and provide that spark that will kick off the greatest burning path of glory the world has ever seen, the day when finally the world would bow before the might of Ares and his chosen. Xena would be that chosen.