Title: The Olympian Gods Series 1: Ares Flame
Author: Princess Destiny
Email: In Profile
URL: destinysgateway DOT com
Couple: Ares And Xena
Rating: M 15+
Summary: Xena and Gabrielle come across an unconscious girl on the road, who is not exactly what she appears to be. Ares is up to his old games it seems, but the destruction of the world is at stake this time. The darkness is rising, a nameless person who will bring chaos to the world...but who is it? Who is the Messiah that is the only one to save the God's and Mortals alike, to claim the flame sword Caeralon. Xena and Gabrielle are joined by Hercules, Iolaus, Joxer, Salmoneous, Athena, Zeus, Cupid, Aphrodite and even Ares as time runs out for them all...
Chapters: 7/19
Status: Completed
Year Completed: 1999

Comments: Hi everyone! Here is Chapter Seven. I'm just going to post up the rest of the Chapters. I figured no one was reading it, but I hate leaving it up here unfinished.

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Princess Destiny

The Olympian Gods Series 1

ARES FLAME

By Princess Destiny

Chapter Seven

Xena walked down a few meters, then ducked into an alley, she saw a few men in there and reached over to smoothly pull out her sword.

"Out!" she ordered, glaring so threateningly that they took off running with a word. She kept the sword out and turned around slowly.

"Show yourself! I know you're here!" she said grimly. A shower of gold appeared and Cupid stepped out, bow in hand. Xena tried not to let surprise show on her face, but knew she had failed when she found herself gasping his name.

"Cupid!" she said in astonishment, he was the last person she had expected!

"Xena" he said, bowing his head slightly. Xena put her sword away and walked closer.

"What are you doing here and why are you spying on Gabrielle and me?" Cupid hooked the bow over his shoulder and crossed his arms, an amused expression on his face.

"What makes you think I'm spying on you?" he said, curious and yet at the same time, arrogant.

"Just a feeling" Xena said smoothly, completely calm and rational now that the surprise had worn off. Cupid watched her for a moment, admiring the way she was so calm around him and the other God's...as if she were talking to just another mortal.

"Well, this time you're right, I have been watching you" he admitted, leaning again the stone wall of the alley, she turned her head to watch him, eyes wary.

"Why?" she asked simply, tensing for his answer. When a God watched you, it couldn't be for a good reason.

"I need answers" he said, a frown forming and she wondered what he could possible want from HER.

"Oh?" she said, noncommittally.

"You've been staying with Ares, at his Temple"

"How did you know that?" Xena said, her eyes narrowing. Where was this leading? Did they think she'd joined him again?

"Mom was talking with Athena, she ALWAYS knows what's going on" Cupid rolled his eyes skywards, in an exasperated manner. "Anyway, we're curious about this peasant girl that was staying with him also"

Ah, Xena sighed internally, so that was what it was about. But why would the Gods be curious about a mortal girl? "What about her?" Xena said calmly, crossing her own arms and Cupid stepped away from the wall.

"Do you know her, where did she come from and how does Ares know her?" he asked, eyes now longer amused, but deadly serious and Xena sobered abruptly. Something strange was going on here.

"Gabrielle and I found her on the road, sick and she came with us to Ares Temple. She'd from a small village called, Eryme and she'd never met Ares before that" Xena said, watching as Cupid absorbed her words, a frown again on his forehead. He looked up and met her eyes, a curious mixture of suspicion and caution in them.

"Has anything seemed...strange about her?" he asked carefully. She was the one to frown this time, but relaxed smile hovered around her lips.

"How do you mean strange?" she asked casually, trying to find out what exactly, he meant. But Cupid had taken her words as an answer and looked satisfied.

"Never mind" he said, looking very distracted and for a moment his eyes went blank, Xena recognizing the signs of him talking mentally to someone else. "Do you know where she is now?" he asked her finally, eyes focusing.

"She's still at his Temple. She was going to catch up in a few days"

"No, she's not" Cupid interrupted her, his eyes looking into hers searching. "I've already looked there"

Xena was suddenly worried, Meryll could have left early, which would mean she was traveling alone. "I have to go" she told him abruptly, but he held up a hand.

"I'll look for her" he smiled slightly, "I have to for mom anyway, she'd nagged me day and night" he rolled his eyes again, hinting subtly that he was not doing it for Xena. She acknowledged that with a faint amused twinkle in her eyes and watched with interest as he left in a shower of gold, the same way he had come.

"That makes four, Ares, Aphrodite and Cupid...even Athena is watching her" Xena stood there for a long moment, thinking.

"What's so strange about Meryll, that the Gods are curious?"

Ares watched the mirror, pleased that his war was going so well. His warlord was vicious and took orders from no one but his God, plus the fact that he was intelligent.

"Zargus, take send out your soldiers now. It's time to strike Akathon's army" Ares ordered, the man kneeling in the mirror's vision nodded and bowed his head. A moment later he sprang to his feet and rushed out of the tent, eager for blood-shed.

"So pitiful...in a way. These mortals have no back-bone, but they do know how to wage a good war, so...bloody" Discord purred, leaning again the table and sipping out of a goblet. Ares spared her a glance, eyes burning with anticipation.

"Yes, they do" he sipped at his own goblet and fixed his eyes on the mirror again, which had shifted according to where Zargus had moved. They could see him giving orders, almost frothing at the mouth and Discord's mouth turned down.

"He's so disgusting, I don't know how you stand him" Discord said, distaste evident in her tone. Ares gave her a tolerant look, from his dark eyes.

"You're young yet. You'll learn my dear Discord, that in War...it's what's on the inside!" Discord appreciated his joke and laughed in delight.

"Oh, baby. You sure know how to show a girl a good time!" she said silkily, walking over to him and sliding a finger up his smoothly muscled chest. Ares ignored her, watching as the troops were deployed and his Warlord mounted his horse. He lowered his head and Ares felt a faint still in the back of his mind as the man's prayer reached him.

["We are ready, War God"

"Then march" Ares said, faintly mocking that he had to tell the man what to do. The insult went right over Zagred's head and Ares mentally sighed, he swore these mortals got more stupid by the day! All but one. XENA. He never had to tell her anything, not even right from the start, before he had even made himself known to her. She had been brilliant, methodical and blood-thirsty. A fire had burnt in her veins, the like with which he had never again found in another mortal.

"It's beginning-hey!" Discord's gloating voice rose in protest as Ares changed the vision in the mirror to accord with his thoughts. There she was, his Xena, riding with that little blonde as usual. What did he seein her?

"Ares! The battle was starting!" Discord almost yelled, then fell silent as Ares shot her a dark glare.

"Then go there yourself, I'm busy"

He dismissed her and went back to the mirror, Discord snorted in rage. It was that MORTAL again, Xena. Once she had been a mighty warrior, worthy of Ares...but not ANYMORE! And she was sick of it!

"XENA, again!" she hissed viciously, accidentally speaking her thoughts aloud and a steely hand shot out, grasping one of her hands cruelly.

"Don't...mess with her" Ares warned, his eyes burning red and Discord was suddenly, desperately afraid. It excited her, naturally, to see him so...dark...but she was no fool and an enraged God of War was nothing to trifle with.

"Sure baby, whatever you say" she lied, her gaze seductive and leaned into him. He thrust her away, impatience on his face and she pouted.

"Don't you have anything else to do?" he demanded as she remained at his side and he missed the sly look she gave the vision of Xena, her eyes malicious as she looked in the mirror.

"Oh, yes" she purred. "Definitely"

She disappeared a moment later and Ares looked up, eyes indefinable. He knew quite well that Discord hated Xena and would try something, but Xena could take care of herself. And just loved thwarting Discord, it had been so amusing when that mortal Iolaus turned her into a chicken! He looked back to the mirror and his breath hissed out as he saw she was talking with Cupid. A gesture and their voices came through as clear as day.

["-talking with Athena, she ALWAYS knows what's going on" Cupid rolled his eyes skywards, in an exasperated manner. "Anyway, we're curious about this peasant girl that was staying with him also"

Ares eyes narrowed, what did Aphrodite want with Meryll? What did she know and why was Athena and Cupid involved? Xena too wondered, he could see it in her eyes. Then he saw her sigh almost imperceptibly, Ah, now she knew where it was all leading. "What about her?" Xena said coolly, not willing to give anything away.

["Do you know her, where did she come from and how does Ares know her?" Cupid asked in deadly serious voice and Ares leaned forward, waiting for Xena's answer. What would she tell him?

["Gabrielle and I found her on the road, sick and she came with us to Ares Temple. She'd from a small village called, Eryme and she'd never met Ares before that" Xena watched Cupid closely, her eyes calculating. Ares was satisfied and at the same time, curious. Xena had given no reason for being at his Temple and she had to know that the other Gods thought she had come back to him. It had been his plan all along.

["Has anything seemed...strange about her?" he asked carefully. She was the one to frown this time, but relaxed smile hovered around her lips.

["How do you mean strange?" she asked casually, but Cupid had taken her words as a confirmation of some sort.

["Never mind" Cupid's eyes went blank and Ares knew that Xena recognized the signs of Cupid talking mentally to someone else, as well as he did.

Xena waited, but Ares was curious and broke one of the many rules...he'd done it many time before anyway. He reached out with his mind and eavesdropped on Cupid's and Aphrodite's conversation.

["Cupid! What's the gos?" Aphrodite said, her voice eager.

["A dead end mom, Xena doesn't know much. She met the girl on the road somewhere and took her with her to Ares Temple when she went"

["That's it? What good are mortals then if they don't know anything?" she demanded peevishly and Ares smiled. Good, then they knew nothing. But the question was...how did they of Meryll in the first place, had something happened that he had missed?

["Oh, well keep me informed and I'll relay to Athena. She's dying to know all about this mortal! I don't know WHY though, those clothes she was wearing, ugh! No fashion sense at all" Ares could practically see the look of disgust on her beautiful face and smiled. Cupid and Ares simultaneously drew their mind's back from Aphrodite's and Ares watched Xena again as she waited patiently. He could see the impatience in his Warrior Princess though, where no one else could have. He knew her very well, no matter how much she disliked that fact.

["Do you know where she is now?" Cupid asked Xena after a long silence and she nodded, clearly wondering what was going on.

["She's still at his Temple. She was going to catch up in a few days" Xena told him, stiffening ever-so-slightly at his answer.

["No, she's not" Cupid interrupted her, his eyes intent and Ares stiffened slightly at the look in them. ["I've already looked there"

["I have to go" Ares could see that Xena was worried about Meryll and was going to go back for her, but Cupid held up a hand.

["I'll look for her" Cupid smiled slightly, "I have to for mom anyway, she'd nagged me day and night"

["That makes four, Ares, Aphrodite and Cupid...even Athena is watching her" Xena stood there for a long moment, thinking.

["What's so strange about Meryll, that the Gods are curious?" he heard her say and a smile crossed his face.

"Wouldn't you like to know, Xena. I'm rather disappointed in you really, she was right under your nose and you never noticed how...talented she is" he murmured, taking a long drink from the goblet and then throwing it into the fire. He raised a hand and gestured, changing the mirror back to the battle. It would go for days and already hundred had fallen, bloody and brutally slain by his Warlord's men. He switched the vision around, going from group to bloody ground until he noticed that Zagred was missing.

"What?" he roared, searching with his mind, but the mortal was no where to be seen.

"Discord!!!"

The object of his wrath was at the moment watching something in a black bowl, the water as clear and as smooth as glass. Ares had been a fool, to easy swayed by that stupid mortal Xena and it had just be a matter of taking the Warlord from right under his nose. She had appeared on the battle-field, right in front of Zagred as he loped off a soldier's head, it had sheared right through her's also and he had gaped as it made no mark but rather slid through her like water.

"Oooh! I like the feeling of cold steel in the afternoon" she shivered in delight and then fixed her eyes on the stunned Warlord.

"Who are you?" he stammered, almost like a peasant, confronted with a lord and she was pleased with his response.

"I'm Discord...and I have a small job for you" she purred, leaning close to the man and his eyes fixed hungrily on her.

"What about the War God, he'll be angry-" Discord waved her hand negligently around, ignoring his words.

"You can leave your God to me, handsome" she cooed, blatantly disregarding the fact that the man was as ugly as they came.

"What did you have in mind, my beautiful Goddess?" he asked, absently cutting 5 soldiers down, hardly taking his eyes off of her chest, which exposed a large amount of flesh. His viciousness thrilled her and she looked him up and down with new eyes, leaning forward to lick a patch of blood from his cheek.

"It involves someone I sure you'd just LOVE to kill, ensuring your place as the God of War's favorite Warlord" his eyes widened as he took in her words, knowing immediately to whom she referred and his eyes narrowed eagerly, hungrily.

"Xena"

Then it had just been a matter of translocating the mortal to Abdera...and waiting. He knew what he was doing and he was good at it, Xena had grown soft, but this man was hard as rock. She hoped that it would be over before Ares knew what had happened and then...no more Xena.

Celeste looked up at the sun, trying to guess the time. It was later afternoon by her calculations and she was dead tired, Lorelei was drooping in the saddle of the horse beside her.

"Is it much farther, do you think? The directions that merchant gave us were a little vague" Lorelei almost whispered, the words dropping tiredly from her mouth. Celeste looked at her friend and called a halt, helping her down from her horse so that they could rest.

"It's hard to say, but if he was even vaguely right, we ought to reach Abdera before night fall" Celeste soothed, she went to her horse and took the water skin down, taking a quick drink and then handing it over to Lorelei. The poor girl was pale as a sheet and Celeste felt remorse, Lorelei had just been a new hand-maiden when the visions of the Messiah began. The Oracle had ordered them all out and Lorelei had been one of the few to remain behind, she was rather delicate in nature and this ride had exhausted her.

They'd stopped in the markets in Mylithia and by purest chance, had met Xanthe. The Priestess had been happy to see Celeste again, but had reluctantly informed her that Meryll had left the day before. Celeste's heart had sunk even further when she discovered that Meryll had been heading towards Abdera, the very place both she and Lorelei had just ridden from! Somehow, curse the fates, Meryll had taken a different rode and they had completely missed her.

Now, they were headed back and hoped to catch up with her, because they were headed on a different route. The route that Meryll had most probably taken to get to their city, but now that they were so close...perhaps it was too late and Meryll had been lost in the city. How could they find her now?

"It's not hopeless, we're almost there" Lorelie's exhausted voice said and Celeste turned back to her friend, a gentle smile on her face.

"I know, soon we will reach the Temple and can tell the Oracle that the girl Meryll is in the City. Now that she is far from Ares influence, we can watch her and find the Messiah" Celeste sighed, sinking back into the shade of a tree. Soon perhaps, they would find the Messiah and then Caeralon would be taken up by it's rightful owner...

"HERCULES!" Meryll yelled, for the third time, trying to catch up. He stopped abruptly, he and Iolaus falling silent as they noticed how far behind she was...and limping too.

"Meryll, what happened?" he said in concern, running back and offering his arm. She flashed him a look of gratitude, exasperation and anger.

"I tripped over a root a mile back and you were both so far ahead-and talking loudly-that you didn't hear me calling!" she almost shouted and he winced, then helped her over to a tree. She sat down and he looked at her ankle, fingers probing gently. Meryll tried not to yell out, the pain firey. And to make matters worse, she could heal herself anytime...but something was practically screaming at her to slow them down. Someone was coming, she was sure and it irked her that she didn't know who was giving he these warnings!

"I don't think it's broken, but you can't be too sure. Iolaus, do you have an old shirt in that pack?" he asked the blonde man, who thoughtfully gave Meryll the water-skin before taking his bag off and rummaging around inside.

"Yes, here's an old one...a favorite, but an old one still" he sighed mournfully as he watched Hercules rip it to shreds and Hercules shot him a warning glance.

"It's out fault she tripped in the first place, we didn't wait for her" he said, trying to be the gentleman, it would have made any woman's heart melt...but not Meryll's.

"You got it! So slow down, huh?" she said, rather gracelessly and was secretly amused at the disgruntled look the two men exchanged.

"I'm going to have to carry you, but it's okay, we aren't that far from Abdera" Hercules said, trying to pick her up. She whacked his hands away, face incredulous.

"You can't carry me!" she protested, somehow horrified at the prospect. She could make her own way, her father had taught her to always stand on your own two feet, no matter what.

"Look, it's too far!" Iolaus snapped but Hercules put up a hand.

"Fine, Meryll. If you can walk, then we won't stop you" he said in a reasonable tone, but Meryll glared darkly when he wasn't looking. Damn him, it was VERY painful, but she would do this!

"She won't be able to walk on that foot!" Iolaus protested.

Meryll ignored them both and struggled to her feet and placed the weight on the injured left foot. Pain streaked up her leg and she almost cried out, but gritted her teeth. She took a tentative steps and found that it was too hard...so she cheated. Meryll drew in her power and concentrated, she stared down at her foot and partly healed it so that the swelling went down to a bearable level.

"I can walk" she said more calmly, now that a lot of the pain was gone and to their astonishment, she walked a few meters then turned.

"I don't believe it, you must have nerves of steel to be ignoring that pain" Iolaus muttered and Hercules muttered something back that she couldn't quite catch.

"Are you coming?" she demanded, hands on hips and they soon caught up. They cast her frequent glances to see how she was holding up and SHE gave them exasperated looks when they weren't looking. "This is SO stupid"

"What is?" Hercules said, curiosity in his voice. Her head shot up and noticed that he was now walking right beside her in case she needed someone to lean on.

"This foot, I wasn't really watching where I was going" she said in an apologetic tone, though inside she was cursing all the fates. Someone had done this on purpose, she was sure of it! Her movements had been controlled from the moment she had come to this time and she STILL had no idea what she was doing here or who had sent her. It was almost sunset when they entered the city and Meryll was suitably impressed by it's size and the bright colours...though it was rather crowded, even this close to dark.

"Well, we're here. You never did tell us where you were going once you came here" Hercules said, trying not to pry and Meryll sighed.

"You're right of course, I should have thought of it earlier. I'm meeting a friend...Xena"

"XENA?!!" two male voices chorused and she looked back at them, surprised.

"You know her?" she said dryly, taking in their stunned faces. She should have known, NOTHING should surprise her by now.

"Yes, we're...old friends" Hercules said awkwardly, but Meryll was feeling in a devilish mood.

"Oh, you and she had a thing a long time ago, huh?" she teased, smiling wickedly and he actually flushed in embarrassment, Iolaus laughing at his friend's expense.

"You could say that" he murmured, then looked around studiously, acting as if nothing had happened.

"Wait here and Iolaus and I will look around for her" he said finally, calming. Iolaus grinned at her.

"Don't move" he said, as if it were in doubt and she gritted her teeth.

"I'll try not to get lost" she said sweetly, waiting till they were out of earshot to make her way slowly into the closest alley. When she was alone she swore loudly, cursing that she'd been hooked up with someone as NICE as Hercules. A tingling sensation went down her spine-very familiar by now-and seconds later, Ares appeared before her in a flash of silver light. She absently wondered if they all appeared that way.

"That sort of language shouldn't be on any lady's lips" he scolded mockingly, crossing his arms. Then he looked over her head thoughtfully. "Although, considering it was my half-brother you were with..." he looked down at her wickedly, "It's quite understandable"

Meryll gritted her teeth, longing to hit something. "He's so...GOOD!" she struggled for a word and could only spit out the one that seemed to fit him so well.

Ares eyes lightened with interest, maybe the mortal had more potential than he thought. "You're so right, however did you fall in to his company in the first place?" he looked down at her bandaged foot and raised an eyebrow.

"Don't ask, I'm feeling rather..." she took a deep breath and swallowed the swear words that threatened to rise again. "Angry about the whole thing"

Ares lowered his brows and looked at her from dark eyes, making her aware of him more than ever. He must have been aware of what affect he was having on her, for he moved closer, eyes unreadable. Then someone called her name and she groaned, recognizing Iolaus.

"Ignore him" Ares suggested, but Meryll shook her head, turning to go. Ares stopped her, a hand tight on her arm. She glared at him but he merely pointed downwards and a second later, she felt her foot heal. Meryll's mouth fell open at his unexpected kindness and he met her gaze with an unreadable one of his own.

"Meryll! Where are-ARES!" Iolaus' voice turned to horror and she could hear his calling for Hercules, but neither she nor Ares looked away. Their gazes locked and then her eyes narrowed, he was using his powers on her! She felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach and his eyes were so dark, like pools of smooth water that you could sink into forever...

["Let me in" his voice was smooth and dark as silk and her lips parted involuntarily, the shield in her mind that was always there to protect her, wavered...then a hand wrenched her away from Ares grasp and protective arms wrapped around her. She watched as Xena, Hercules and Iolaus faces Ares, while Gabrielle murmured to her soothingly. Meryll was stunned, she had underestimated him, been totally arrogant about her own powers when his were infinitely superior! He was a GOD! Have could she have even thought to match wits with him?

"Leave now Ares, you aren't wanted here" Hercules said, warning in his voice and he flexed his muscles. Ares raised an eyebrow and look at Xena, who's face was calm, yet determined.

"You aren't welcome on this planet, yet here you are" Ares retorted, a little distracted. His eyes slid to Meryll, noticing the way her shoulders were hunched protectively. Her eyes were closed and she was leaning into Gabrielle, breathing shallowly. He should have been more careful! he'd taken it too fast and now she was afraid of him, maybe broken forever. He might have taken her fire and dampened it with that act, trying to invade her mind like that. But he had to know where her powers came from, how vast or small they were and who she really was!

"Oh, come on Ares this isn't your style" Iolaus said scornfully, as Ares stared at them one at a time and he crossed his arms.

"Do not test me mortal...and do not presume to know me" Ares said softly, the potential for violence filling the air abruptly and all the mortals felt it. Ares had not moved, but something about him seemed infinitely more menacing than a moment ago.

"No, the Warrior you sent earlier wasn't your style either" Xena said suddenly and Ares head spun around to face her again.

"What Warlord?" he demanded, taking a step towards her but Hercules moved slightly between them, making it clear that Ares wasn't to go any closer. But the God entirely ignored him, eyes locked on Xena's.

"Zagred? Ring any bells?" she said, strangely un-accusing, she knew Ares better than anyone there and he look...furious, but not at THEM. He was about to boil over too and Xena braced herself for the explosion, his hand went to his hilt, the light of battle in his eyes. Then-

"Can I join, or is this a private get together?" a voice said cheerfully and Celeste appeared, Meryll looked up when she recognized the voice and she smiled waveringly.

"Who cares, we're going to crash anyway!" another girl said, this one unfamiliar, but still as cheerful as the first.

"Celeste!" she said, her voice cracking half-way-though and she coughed weakly, doubling over. Ares had taken more out of her than she thought and she spared him a glance as she straightened up from her convulsions. He was watching her, as she knew he would be...and Xena was watching THEM. Meryll's eyes flickered to her friend and Ares followed her glance, something warming in it as he looked at his ex-Warlord. Meryll's lips parted as she saw something, in his gaze. Passion, fury, hate...and more passed between both of their gazes.

"I'm here! Joxer the Mighty to save all you lovely creatures, Hercules good! We can fight together and...whatever your name is, my fine fellow-" there was a collective groan and Ares gave a disgusted glance around, still furious.

"Mortals!" he said to no one in particular, though Meryll thought the comment might be directed towards her. She had to agree with him though and watched expressionless as he vanished abruptly in a shower of silver.

"Haha! The foe ran, I knew my prowess would scare him away!" Joxer crowed, dancing a little and waving his sword around.

"Excuse me" Gabrielle said, solemnly walking towards Joxer, then whipping her staff out. Her cowered as she brandished it menacingly, grimacing.

"Be QUIET! Just be quiet, okay? 'Cause I'm having a REAL bad day-" Gabrielle yelled, waving the staff around and gesturing wildly with the other. Meryll stared at her, she did look a little stressed, more than usual perhaps.

"Er, Gabrielle" Iolaus started to say, but Xena held up a warning hand, calmly assessing her friend's mood.

"We've been robbed and attacked by a mad Warlord, Salmoneous, then Joxer turned up...and now ARES! Arrgggggh!" the blonde yelled, clenching her eyes shut and trying to breath calmly. "I'm okay. Breath, Gabrielle" she urged herself, her eyes opened and she sighed peacefully, not noticing the weird looks she was getting from all present at her antics.

"Gabrielle, calm down" Xena said, coming over to her friend and for the first time, Meryll noticed a long cut on the Warrior's arm.

"What happened?" she, Hercules and Celeste asked simultaneously. Xena shot them all an amused look and touched her shoulder lightly.

"Just a stray warlord that Ares seemed to have misplaced" she grinned viciously. "I cut off his sword arm and he decided he had more pressing appointment"

The person in question was glaring darkly at the mirror, watching them all. He'd been quite overwhelmed, he had to admit, but their numbers. And their goodness! It was revolting, the only person he had been able to stand being anywhere near was Xena...and Meryll? He was confused when it came to her, at first she was just another mortal, then he had discovered her powers and she had become much more. He DID respect and need power in his chosen, there would never be another Xena...but this girl, she had a dark streak that he could use. She was very good with the sword and with some more training, perhaps she could lead an army under his command one day...

His thought's halted their as Xena showed her arms and her comment came through loud and clear.

["Just a stray warlord that Ares seemed to have misplaced" she grinned viciously. ["I cut off his sword arm and he decided he had more pressing appointment"

Ares pulled in his power and blasted it at the wall, demolishing it to dust in seconds and leaving several startled-looking Priestess' looking in at him from the war room. They watched him for a moment before going back to their sword practice and he negligently repaired the wall with a thought. Well, at least Xena had not killed Zagred...but how much use would be without his sword arm? He'd need to find someone else to lead that army...

DISCORD.

The name set his blood racing, fire in his veins and he could almost taste her blood. And that was exactly what he would get if he even got his hands on that Goddess. She had deliberately gone against him, almost got one of his best Warlords killed...and had TRIED to kill his favorite. Xena. The first two perhaps, he could have forgiven, but NOT the third. Good or not, Xena still had the potential and constantly tipped back and forth between the darkness in her soul and the light she was trying so hard to belong to.

"Oh, Xena. Why do you fight your nature?" it seemed to him-after the echoes of his words had died-that far away, there had been a response, faint...yet, equal in passion.

To Be Continued...

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