Resistance of the Gods

I don't own Xena but I just bought a TV, and guess what. It's color.

This chapter has been reedited to bring the reader a better story.

Hera was looking down on the world below her. Chaos came to her side. He put his arm lovingly around her. Chaos asked smoothly, "How do you like my kingdom?"

Hera replied thankfully as she continued to embrace him, "It's wonderful."

Chaos having a bit of doubt, asked, "Not having thoughts about your time with Zeus are you? After all I did to Hercules what your husband never would. I did it for you."

Hera replied "I know, and I love you for it." She kissed him on the lips. Hera asked "What of the rest?"

Chaos replied "Hades is free. Ares will join up with them soon. Athena is down there but she don't know who she is. Artemis is proving to be a difficult find. The amazons are hiding her well. I have Persephone carefully locked away. I don't think the rest of your family will come here after our last battle. A shame, I liked Apollo and Demeter." Hera and Chaos shared an intimate kiss. Then he left her side.

Hera looked on the world again. She wondered what her son Ares was up to next. She knew he was trying to find away to resist Chaos somehow. She was always proud of that part of him. Of all the Gods Ares was the one who was most willing to resist any opponent of theirs.

8

Aphrodite was looking at her self in the mirror, working on her angry face. Making sure the leather looked just right. She felt on the inside that something was wrong. That this wasn't her. She dismissed the idea as being ludicrous. Aphrodite was the goddess of war. What else could she had been?

She went back to Gabrielle checking on her martial training. She had to admit she was taken by the blond. She saw Hera with her. Then Hera looked over her shoulder to see Aphrodite. She walked toward the new Goddess of war saying "Magnificent work." She left. Aphrodite continued her training of Gabrielle.

8

Xena, Callisto and Hades having finally made it out of hell was greeted by a familiar voice, "Wonderful Xena."

Xena replied coldly, "how did you know?"

Ares appeared, "Who else could bring down such a beast?" He touched Xena's face. Repulsed by his advances she pushed his hand away.

Callisto, annoyed by Ares said, "We have Hades and we are still here, god of war."

Ares replied calmly, "Patience, this is only the beginning. Xena did you see the battle in the sky?"

Xena answered disinterested, "I did Ares. What about it?"

Ares replied, "I was closer to it than you. I saw Athena fall. She is here now. Somewhere. We need to find her."

Xena not at all with Ares on this, replied "What about my friend?"

Ares replied looking Xena dead in the eyes, "Your friend can wait."

Xena with a cold stare replied pulling her sword "I will not wait."

Ares touched the tip of her sword running his hand down the blade. He rubbed his hand up her arms and slowly brought her body into his. "If we have Athena, we have a chance."

Xena replied pulling back from the God of war, "If Zeus couldn't stop him, how is it you think she can?"

Ares stopped. He had to admit, she had a point. He then held up his hands saying, "We have to try something."

Xena bowed her saying to herself, "I know"

Sometime later, Xena, Callisto, Ares and Hades were walking south on the road, discussing their next course of action. Xena suddenly stopped she saw a line of bodies on stakes. Ares said "That evil you is sure blazing a path isn't she?" Xena ignored him.

She got a closer look at two bodies that seemed familiar that were impaled on the stakes. After a closer look, Xena said "Hecuba, Herodotus!" Then she saw another about ten feet away. It was Lila. They had been there for at least two days. Words of blood lay on the ground reading "Sacrifices to Alti." Xena crumpled up the note as her eyes flared with anger. She would go after Alti.

8

Borias was preparing his army to move. When a figure appeared walking up towards him. Borias said, "Who are you."

He answered simply, "Chaos, god of chaos, trial and choice. Let me show a choice that was made about you." A purple light emblazoned his mind.

He saw into a part of his past that had been kept from him to this point. He saw again Xena's betrayal of the Centaurs. He saw his death by Dagnine as Xena took his son away from him. Two sons were taken from him by her. Borias yelled madly. Chaos said, "Xena moves against Alti and the Xena you left. I know it don't make sense but the Xena with Alti is a fake. The real one aims to kill her and take back her power and reunite with Alti. The one who cursed your son."

Borias shouted "Men mount up, we go south. We get vengeance!" Chaos laughed quietly as he left.

8

Xena and Callisto decided to make for the Evil Xena. Ares said, "As much as I want to see you two fight, we need to find my sisters."

Xena nodded, "Alright Ares." Ares and Hades went their separate ways from Xena and Callisto.

Chaos appeared before Xena and Callisto as they headed for Evil Xena. He spoke, "Well Xena, finally decided to do away with that dark side of yours?"

Xena replied exasperated and angry, "I never did these things."

Chaos replied in a commanding voice, "Your not as innocent as you think." Xena saw vision of her order to prepare crosses for Borias' army. She saw another woman that she fed to crabs. Chaos arrogantly said "Who is innocent here. Surely not you Callisto."

Callisto saw the bodies of the villagers as they lie dead. Children, dead and cold. Chaos said, "How can you be the Heroes when you do these things?"

Xena replied emotionally, "Because I know the pain they cause. I understand the price of my actions, not on me but these people and their families." She pointed at the bodies on the stakes.

Chaos refused to quit, "The well cultured intelligent Xena. How fine you are. I see Callisto has nothing to say. Starting to wonder about the choices you have made. Remember this."

Callisto saw a vision. A warlord teaching her fighting skills. Then the same warlord grabbing her from her bed at night, for his own pleasure. Callisto shouted as it memory tore her scarred soul, "Why do you do this!"

Chaos answered in a judgmental tone, "Why should anyone feel sorry for you. You have brought ten times the pain on others than you yourself have suffered. You, the great victim Callisto. I tell you both this. Keep playing my game. You'll never leave. I've already won. Your thunder god has retreated from my sight." He left in puff of purple smoke.