What if someone warned Ares that he would one day lose Xena back when they first met, and they made him realise his feelings for her? This is an AU story kind of set during Young Hercules…. Ares and Xena Forever
What Could Have BeenChapter 2
Ares and Aleanna went into the main serving area of the temple as the Goddess began her story of the future.
"When Xena awoke you ask her to be your chosen, you offered her training, power, and knowledge. She accepted and you made good on the first two vows you made. Xena of the future is a master of all weapons, and has an abnormal skill for coming up with battle plans."
Ares smiled at Xena description. She sounded like everything he had been searching for. Aleanna saw the smile come across the War God's face and was almost sad that she would have to tell him how bleak the future is party due to his own arrogance.
"The last promise, knowledge, you fall a bit short on. You see, when you announce your chosen many of your fellow Gods don't react well, fearing the chosen of War. You shelter her from the Gods, telling her about them, their chosen's and their weaknesses, but the only one she meets is Aphrodite. You do not teach her the art of mutilation, thinking she may trying to use it on you, which leaves her open to being mutilated"
Ares smile was wiped away by the goddess's accusing tone. She was only at the beginning of Xena's and his relationship and already she was pointing out problems, and it was clear who Aleanna thought was at fault.
Ares could see why he would keep her away from the other gods. He was not a favourite among the Gods on Olympus, the only ones that would even have a civil conversation with him are Discord, Strife, (because their power hungry and scared of him), Hera, (because she was his mother), and Dite, (for some reason). The others could have tried to use Xena against him or killed her despite of the law forbidding them from harming another's chosen. As for the art of mutilation, his future self may not of know what the connection he felt with the warrior was but he would have been aware of it. These feelings would of left him open to any tricks she tried to pull. He was protecting himself.
While Ares was musing over his thoughts Aleanna continued speaking " For the next two years you train her, mould her into a perfect warrior, but you were caging a wild spirit. In order to get her freedom and learn more about the world she went to sea. And don't ask why you didn't stop her. Xena is one of the most stubborn mortals to ever live and does not take kindly being told what to do."
Aleanna pauses to see if Ares was going to make a sarcastic remark, but she saw that he was lost in his own world, analysing every word she said. " During her times at see she attacks a ships and saves some prisoners that were on it by accident. One of these prisoners was a Roman by the name of Julius Caesar."
The God of War's head snapped up at the name. He had been very interested in him at one time, he was smart, talented with a blade and able to bend anyone to his will through… mutilation. The only reasons Caesar did not become one of his is because Athena saw his interest and offered Caesar to become her chosen just to piss him off.
"He knows who Xena is when he first meets her, but hides it well. He talks her into taking him back to Rome, offering money and power. And just when she thinks the world is gonna be hers, Ceaser betrays. He has her crucified and her legs broken. When you go to save her Athena stops you since you would have been technically interfering with her chosen."
The God of War was raging. He would do a lot more than just interfere with her chosen, even if he never lays a finger on Xena in this time, he now knew that he was a threat. Athena must have had Zeus's help in restraining him, she was always daddy's little angel while he was the black sheep.
"Xena survives. Barely. Two people from the land of Chin saved her. They heal her and through them she learns medicine and pressure points. This knowledge added to the hurt she felt at Caesar's betrayal made her an even fiercer warrior. After she was… healed enough… she met a man named Borias.
"What do you mean by healed enough. Her legs were broken how could she travel?" Ares asked confused with a hint of worry in his voice.
Aleanna gave him a twisted smile. "Pressure points can block off feeling to the limbs. She had the feeling in her legs cut off and learned to walk on broken legs." She paused for a moment to let him process this information before continuing on. Ares was coming to understand what the goddess meant by the most stubborn mortal to ever live.
"Borias became her second in command and…. love slave. They than went to the land of Chin. There she learned from Lao Ma, a powerful sorceress. She taught Xena what the power of the mind can do, healed her legs and tried to heal her soul. Unfortanlly the darkness within Xena had grown to powerful, destroying the peace, and the friendship that she and Lao Ma had created. After Xena found she was pregnant and returned to Greece. You were a little less than pleased with your chosen for being away for so long and for her condition upon arrival so you ignore her while she was there."
Ares was displeased with the choices his Xena was making. Yes he was happy that she was getting stronger, but all the horrors were creating a darker warrior. He remembered back to the battle field while she was fighting Cortese's soldiers. Ares could see a light within her, this light combined with her darkness made her perfect to become the one that would bring peace to the world through force. He could already foresee that the darkness was going to swallow her whole.
"When Xena's arrived in Greece Xena becomes involved with the Amazons. Among them was a Shaman names Alti. Alti took an interest in Xena's darkness. She placed a spell on Xena so that the child she carried would never know either of his parents. This curse held true. Xena, eventually betrayed and destroyed the amazons that she was with. When she was done with them she moved on to centaur lands. With Xena in command of an army they went after the Centaur's Ixion stone. It was a close battle until Borias turned on Xena no longer able to stand the evil that was taking over her. While Xena was giving birth to their son…Solan… a member of her army killed him. She knew she could never raise a child so she gave him to the centaurs to raise and left Greece once more. This was the last horror she could take before her heart locked up and shut down."
Ares could not believe that so many things could happen to a mortal and survive. He could tell that Aleanna thought these events were completely avoidable if his future self had accepted the connection he felt to Xena but its not that easy. Even now, knowing what the feelings were inside him, some part of him doubted that any of this was true. He was war, Zeus made sure he never understood or knew what love was. In the King of the God's eyes love is not needed for war.
"This time Xena ended up with the Norse Gods as a Valkyire. She learned all the tricks they had than manipulated their king into giving the location of once of their sacred treasures that can grant one that has forsaken love great power. Unfortunately the commander of the Valkyires did not trust Xena and was able to get the object back, but not before she ended up an ugly beast because of it. No longer able to do anything else there she once again returned to Greece. This time though you came to her."
"Xena had made a mark on most of the known world, except her homeland and it was time for Greece to tremble before the God of War's chosen. And for the next four year that was her mission with only two things guiding her. Her lust for power and her code."
"Her code?" Ares asked curious about what kind of code his dark warrior honored.
"The code of the warrior. There were a few instants in her life she almost broke the code compared to many warlords. As long as she believes that you are on the same side as her she will be loyal. She gives a warning and a chance to surrender before attacking a village and not does kill the woman and children when she does. It's a code that nearly gets her killed."
Ares could hear the hint in the Goddess's voice. As long as he showed Xena that she was his focus and that he will help her in her destiny she will remain by his side and will not betray him.
"Xena goes after Hercules. She knows that she is not allowed to kill him herself because she is your chosen, but that doesn't mean she can't seduce and manipulate his best friend into doing it for her."
Ares had to smile at that. He may have not taught this future Xena how to manipulate people but she sure did think like him. 'By the Gods why is that every time Aleanna speaks Xena sounds even more perfect.' he thought back to the note that his future self sent him. She is gonna be taken from him, could it be his pathetic half brother that ends her. White-hot rage ran through the War God. 'If he is Zeus protection order won't last much longer.'
"She fails, Hercules' friend, Iolaus, was able to see through her lies at the last moment. After this her army realizes she was not as great as they were though she was. Her second on command, Darphus who is more of a barbarian than a warrior, uses this to turn her men from her. It takes time, but eventually he has enough influence to initiate an attack on a village that Xena has given a time warning to while she was out scouting. He burnt it to the ground. Every man, woman and child slaughtered."
Ares took note of the names. He was mentally making a list of those that were to interfere with his warrior's destiny. She was going to be his chosen, have the world surrender to her all in his name. She was going to by his side and nothing would taker her from him.
" When Xena returns she was beyond anger, about to teach the idiot a few things when a baby cried. She saved it but at a price. That was a moment of weakness that Darphus needed to take complete control of the army and make Xena leave the only way a true warrior could"
"The Gauntlet" Ares whispered. The God of War had seen the ritual done more times than he cared to remember. It always ended the same way. Who ever was leaving died a painful and brutal death.
Aleanna give him a sharp nod " She survived. She left confused where to go from there, she even went after your brother who was following her at the time thinking if she killed him she could get her army back. Hercules almost kills her but he spared her life making her more confused. During all this you never went to her, mad that she showed weakness in front of her men. So she did the only thing she could think of, Xena had played the villain everywhere she has ever been and thanks to your brother's kindness and your hissy fit temper she finally got the chance to play the hero."
'So this is what the letter meant by separate her from me' Ares thought angrily. He was beyond anger but he wasn't sure what his anger was directed at. Xena for leaving him, his brother for putting the idea in her head or his past self for fucking everything up because he did not know how to control his bloody temper. As his chosen it was his duty to protect her, but it seems that he was always leaving her when she needed him most.
"After she defeats Darphus and her army you finally decide to pay her some attention. You bring Darphus back to life, give him Granger, and tell him that if he kills Hercules you will allow him to kill Xena."
Ares eyes widen at this. He knew from listening to this that there was no way Darphus was gonna win. He could tell by the way that he had set things up, that this was a ploy to show Xena that she was disposable to him. Ares closed his eyes to feel the connection he had with the sleeping warrior just a few rooms away. She was not disposable, she his first and only chosen and he was not gonna let this future come to pass.
"After Darphus is killed once again Xena and Hercules separate and she tried to find her own path. She soon runs into a village being attack and meets a girl named Gabrielle. From that moment Xena's fate as a hero is sealed. You try many underhanded tricks, even try the truth once or twice but nothing separate the bond that Xena and Gabrielle share. If she ever meats that girl you risk losing her."
"Than I'll just kill her as soon as you leave. Is she the last threat to Xena leaving me," The God of War asked. The list in his head of people to kill was getting long, but he didn't mind. He knew he was gonna have fun with some of them. No one messed with his Xena whether if it was in the future or the present.
"Yes, those are the ones that interfere with her destiny." Aleanna answered. "Ares do you understand that you also held a great part in her leaving"
Ares stayed quite for a moment than slowly nodded his head. He hated taking responsibility for anything, but in this he knew he had to for the deeds he had yet to do or else there was no point in Aleanna coming here.
"Good. Now here is my advice" Aleanna spoke as if this was less of advice and more do it or else " Xena has just suffered a great lost, her brother is dead and her family and village rejected her. Allow her to mourn that loss some how. This will help keep her heart open to you as you train her to become a warrior. Show her how special she is both as a woman and as your chosen. Let her meat the other Gods and the chosen. She might surprise you how she handles them`` Aleanna gave a light laugh as if remembering something.
Ares gives her nod showing the goddess that he had heard her but said nothing lost in though on how to do this. He knew Aleanna was saying was to trust Xena, but he had never trusted anymore other than himself since the moment he was born.
Aleanna looks at the War God with sad eyes. She didn't want to tell him how it ended but she knew she had to if she was going to create a sold impression on the War God `` The rest of Xena story is just that. Her saving people with Gabrielle, you trying to get her back, even after you finally realised you loved her, the hero Xena could not be with you. You only get 6 years with her like this before she dies in a distant land and you never get to see her again. I hope you will heed my words and get it right this time`` with that Aleanna entered the aether leaving the God of to his thoughts.
I'm so sorry it took me so long to update. I tried my best with getting my Xena history right, but she has a lot of it .lol. I'm hoping to update faster for now on. Keep the Reviews coming
Thanks for the reviews
Sam08- I know I always wanted them to get together and kinda wonder what them
come apart, which is what gave me the idea for this story.
Lena2244- I needed Ares to listen to Aleanna and him believing what she was saying
was the only way I could think off. Most of the time when people tell him
things he doesn't want to hear he just throws fireballs at them lol
silent- hope you like this chapter as much as the last
nette0602 – thanks I hope I can keep things interesting