Chapter Three. Reminiscing

Aunty Xena towed Americe and I towards her hut, my parents directly behind. As we walked passed al my Amazon Brothers and Sisters, we earned a few stares. They all wanted to know what was happening, but nor my aunt or my mother would stop to tell them. My aunt was determined, and naturally my mother was as well.

Once we reached her hut, she sat Americe down on the couch, taking me further in. She took my hand and stopped in front of a giant portrait.

The portrait had all 12 Olympian Gods facing us. They all were glowing with their designated colors, their weapons by their side. Below them on Earth stood my mother, Xena, Eve, and what I could only place as myself. My mother and Xena had very determined, set faces. They had their weapons out, Eve on Xena's back. I stood beside my mother, my hand in hers.

With a gasp I whipped my head to face Xena. She was studying the picture herself, her eyes wide with memories. Once she caught me looking, she glanced in my direction.

"That was taken three days after you were born." She paused to study it once more. Slowly I heard my mother come up behind me, placing her hand on my shoulder. "We knew once we saw how fast you progressed before you were born that you would be like Hope. We just hoped that you didn't have her spirit." Xena glanced to my mother, her eyes having a private meaning to her.

"When you were born, we knew you wouldn't be anything close to Hope. The God Zeus created you, shortly before he died. He wanted to carry on the line, and saw me as his only chance." My mother stroked my shoulder reassuringly.

My face had contorted beyond that of horror. I couldn't comprehend what was happening, what they were telling me. I didn't believe a word of what they said, not a word. They were telling me that I was the deceased Gods' child?

I whipped around to face my mom, my eyes furious.

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner? I should know who my father is!" My tone came out more accusingly than intended, causing my mother to flinch back slightly. I realized this but I didn't stop, I couldn't stop.

"Why would you keep this secret from me? I'm the one who should've been told first, seeing as am the one who he created!" I felt Xena place a hand on my shoulder, felt her try to pull me back, but I wouldn't let her. I had my eyes set on my mothers' dace, had my rant going perfectly.

"Solan, we aren't finished yet." Xena said this in a very clipped tone, trying to get me to understand. I clenched my hands into fists, Xena pulling me to face the portrait. My eyes rested unwillingly on the faces of my family; onto the faces of those who wished them harm. My eyes immediately rested on Ares, The one who probably had done the most harm so far.

"We kept this from you because if you knew, then so did the Gods. They knew that Zeus had performed this deed, but they also knew that if the child developed their full potential, she would take the rightful place on Mt. Olympus." Xena paused, watching my face carefully. My emotions would no doubt show through, my face going into a state of shock.

I couldn't believe what they were saying, what they were showing me. I didn't want to believe any of this! Why did the Gods always have to pick my family to screw with? What was it with them and Xena the Warrior Princess? Or Gabrielle the Battling Bard Queen Of the Amazons? I just wanted a normal life, a normal family. I thought my dad was strange, but seeing this, I was beginning to think he was the only one I could call normal.

"I didn't want to have to kill you like I did Hope. I never wanted you to be harmed; I just wanted the best for you. We decided that settling down was best for you and Eve." My mother spoke from behind me, her voice even and caring. I could see that she really meant it, no matter how betrayed I felt right now. She slowly moved around me to place a hand on Xena's shoulder, her smile growing. Father moved from the back of the hut, bringing Americe to come with him. They stopped behind me, Americe sliding his arm around my waist.

"There's also something you should know about me Sol," Americe spoke low, his voice strained. I could tell he didn't want to share this with me, but he also knew that it was time. His arm tightened around my waist slightly. "I am your guardian sentenced by the Gods. I am to protect you no matter what." He rested his chin on my shoulder, giving me the chance to see his face. Instead of looking at him for long, I stared directly ahead.

My eyes always came back to the portrait; they always rested on Ares. I couldn't quite place the feeling I had, but I knew something was off. Ares was at the head of the Gods, Zeus nowhere to be seen. I thought that he would at least be portrayed as a last memory or something, but he wasn't even there.

Robotically, I stuttered out something; I wasn't sure if they understood or not.

"Wh-Where is Zeus? Why isn't he here? I mean, he… he is Zeus." I twisted in Americe's arms, not seeing anything but his face. I focused on him, my eyes never leaving his eyes. I blocked out the others, not wanting to see or hear them right now.

"He...He's dead. I thought they told you that already." He shot an accusing glance to Xena. I could tell, however, that she responded with a look of more meaning. My eyes however did not leave his.

I didn't need this; I just wanted to be normal. All my life I had thought I had been, I had thought I had had a normal life. It was filled with love and caring parents, friends and warriors. I couldn't have been happier, but suddenly, now, my life came crashing down.

Without much thought, I tore myself from Americe's arms and was running out of the hut. I barely made it to my hut without the tears showing. Once I entered my hut, I felt the tears spill over. They soaked my pillow and my shirt before I even bothered to gain control of myself.

A/N: This chapter was a bit harder to write, just because I am not great with background stories. :-) I also had a bit of trouble with the whole "Solan is just like Hope" thing. Please comment if you see anything wrong with this or if you see something I can improve.