Twilight: Part II

"Time for plan B. Oh plan B!" Ares called then two of the biggest enemies of all walked out, one in which was the spitting image of Gabrielle.

"Callisto." Hercules said.

"And you remember Gabrielle's first daughter, Hope." Ares said. Faith's ears were definitely wide open now because this was news to her.

"Oh Ares, this is really low." Xena said.

"It's all about survival my princess." Ares laughed.

"So Xena we meet again after twenty years... Luckily, I'm immortal and you're not, time seems to have given me an advantage over you." Callisto said. Xena was getting annoyed with the constant references to her age but at the same time she thought it was funny that they thought it would actually make a difference. Maybe she couldn't somersault in the air and do crazy kicks along with all the other outrageous moves that she used to do but she picked up other skills in the past seventeen years that are even more effective than that.

"I wouldn't underestimate me if I were you." Xena smirked. She couldn't help but flashback to the fights she had with Callisto. Callisto's skills almost matched her own but her weakness was her lack of focus which allowed Xena to win every time. The only reason she was even still alive was first because of Xena's guilt for killing her family so at one point she held compassion for her but then it was because of her stupid immortality.

Ares ordered Discord, Strife and Owen to leave them.

"As fun as this little trip down memory lane is, we really have to go." Xena raised her hands and anticipated using the power she learned from Lao Ma which she's now mastered to turn Athena, Callisto and Ares into stone. Of course there were other things she could do but that seemed to be the most effective for a god and goddesses she couldn't kill.

"Hope." A familiar voice said with surprise.

"Hello mommy." Hope said.

Xena, Hercules, Evania and Faith turned around.

"Gabrielle, what are you doing here? I told you we'd handle it." Xena said.

"I couldn't just wait around... I never listen anyway." Gabrielle replied. It was the truth. Xena shook her head. "Good thing I did come."

"Look, it's a family reunion!" Callisto exclaimed.

Gabrielle gazed at Hope. It was a miracle to her. She finally had another chance in her mind.

Xena finally turned Ares, Athena and Callisto into stone.

"I'm sorry Gabrielle." Xena said. She had to put an end to Hope, she had to kill her. She was a demon and she would only wreak havoc on the world. It was the sole purpose of her existence. Xena knew Gabrielle didn't see it that way, she saw Hope as her daughter who had potential to be good with her help. This wasn't going to go over too well. Hope was mortal, at least she was supposed to be but Xena couldn't understand how she was there.

"No!" Gabrielle yelled, knowing Xena's intention to kill Hope. "I won't let you do it."

"I'm sorry, I have to." Xena quickly used her power to set Hope on fire.

"No! How could you do that?" Gabrielle asked angrily.

"I'm sorry." Xena understood how Gabrielle felt. Both Solan and Evania were targeted to be killed before and it was the worst feeling Xena had ever felt. She couldn't imagine ever hurting Faith but Hope wasn't even really human. She was a demon, naturally evil spirit. Xena had to make the choice to spare one or the many and she chose the many, even if that broke her best friend's heart. It had to be done.

Gabrielle fell to the floor in tears then Hercules went over to her.

"Gabby, come home with us." Hercules said remorsefully.

"No! We're no longer friends." Gabrielle replied. Hercules looked at Xena who was obviously saddened by the situation. Hercules went back over to Xena then Faith went to Gabrielle. "Leave us."

"Let's go." Xena said.

The three of them rode back home to work on a strategy. At this point it wouldn't be long before the Olympians attacked.

"Are you all alright?" Solan asked as his family entered the house. "Gabrielle told be what happened. She left Lycius with me after I got here."

"We're fine." Evania replied as Solan took her into his arms. Before the family talked, Xena and Hercules went to their room.

"This might just be the end of my friendship with Gabrielle." Xena said.

"She'll come to understand." Hercules said.

"No she won't. Hope may have been a demon but Gabrielle saw her as her child and I wouldn't understand if she killed either my children." Xena said.

"But Gabby killed Hope the first time." Hercules pointed out.

"Not because she wanted to, it was the only chance she had of saving Solan and the other children at the time. Given more time, Gabrielle would have tried to bring the good out of Hope but it never would have worked because she's a demon, not really human. Even though she's moved on, when Gabrielle saw Hope she felt like it was another chance for her and Hope and that I stood in the way of it. Trust me, I know her... All of this is just bringing up unpleasant memories and regrets like I don't have enough already."

"Like what?" Hercules asked moving closer to her on the bed for comfort.

"You don't realize the domino effect of your actions when you're doing them, especially when you're young. I shouldn't have given Solan to the centaurs." Xena said.

"You did it to protect him." Hercules reminded her.

"I should have kept him and stopped being an evil power crazy warlord wanting to destroy nations. I saw what I had become. I didn't want him to be like me but I could have changed, become someone I wouldn't mind him looking up to. How could I see what I had become and continue to do the same thing? I could have taken Solan and lived under the radar where my enemies wouldn't find us. Had I done that, Kaleipus wouldn't have died that day. Callisto wouldn't have become the evil she became because her family would still be alive and Hope would have never been born." Xena said.

"You're right but you can't change the past. Maybe in some alternate universe you did make that decision but in this universe you made the decision that made the most sense based on who you were at the time. You changed when you were ready to change and I'm pretty sure that the day you had Solan was the beginning of the person you were meant to become, you just weren't ready to change completely yet. Like you said, every decision has a domino effect and sure some bad came out of it but a lot of good came out of it too. Look at where you are, the person you've become. Your decisions also led you to me... Evania, Gabrielle, Joxer and all the other great people you have in your life, not to mention all the people you've saved." Hercules said.

"..You have a point, I know... it just helped to say it all out loud instead of replaying it in my mind. I just can't get those years without Solan back or all the bad things that I've done." Xena leaned on Hercules' strong shoulder.

"There's always the next life... and then eternity in the Elysian Fields. Doesn't really compare in the long run, does it?" Hercules asked.

"You know, I've seen one of my future lives. I become this mother of peace. I guess my decisions have gotten me that far." Xena reflected on her time in India from long ago. "Well, now that's all off my chest, let's help our daughter defeat these assholes we call gods." Xena and Hercules met Solan and Evania in the kitchen table. Kalie was now up from a nap and playing in a play pen Solan had made for her. "Let's come up with a strategy, shall we?"

"Wait. I have a few questions because apparently I've missed a lot." Evania said. "Aunt Gabby has another daughter?"

"Not really, see she's just a demon that was implanted into Gabrielle so that she'd be the mother. She was supposed to be long since dead... She was the one who killed Kaleipus and she was going to kill you Solan before Gabrielle poisoned her to save you." This was the first time Solan heard any details about who killed Kaleipus and who exactly was after him that day. He was a bit surprised. It wasn't exactly the answer Evania was expecting either.

"Wow... ok... so... secondly... you and Uncle Ares?" Evania asked in disgust.

"Look, that was long before Herc and I were ever together, back when I wasn't... so good." Xena said.

"Mother, he's apparently obsessed with you and I can believe it too. He thought it was hot when I reminded him of you. Oh yeah, he's a sleaze bag too. From what I saw after you walked in, he's still obsessed with you. While I was there, I heard that he saved me because of his obsession with you. What's that about?" Evania asked.

"That's true, see before you were born the gods were trying to kill me and you to stop you from being born because they knew that you would bring the twilight so Ares took us to another world so that you could be born without the gods attacking. It wasn't just Ares though, Aphrodite and Hera helped save us too." Xena explained.

"Aunt Dite I can understand but didn't Hera kill my other brothers and sisters?" Evania asked.

"Yeah, it was a surprise to us too." Hercules said.

"So you're telling me that you all knew that I had the power to kill gods before I was even born but yet no one has bothered to tell me?" Evania asked a bit irritated.

"We weren't supposed to. Our guardian angels, they came to us to assure us that we would be protected from the raft of the gods but they also told us that you would figure this whole thing out in your own time. I don't think they meant for you to find out the way you did though. We were just going to go ahead and tell you once we got you back but you already knew by then." Xena said and Evania sighed.

"... So fine, this is my power, my destiny but I've never killed before, never wanted to, never planned to and it doesn't make it easier because they're gods." Evania said. Suddenly, a calm yet zoned out look came across Evania's face, she was completely still and wouldn't respond to anything.

"Vani?" Xena was becoming concerned but it wasn't long before Evania came out of the trance.

"What happened?" Solan asked.

"I don't have to kill the gods. If I touch each one with intent to take their powers, they will become mortal. Another thing is, we're meant to do this together, all four of us as a family. We're strongest together and the most powerful."

"Great but how do you know that?" Solan asked.

"I don't know. I just do. It's like it came right to me when I needed it." Evania replied.

"So great, you don't have to kill them but you have to touch them in order to make them mortal which means you have to get close to them and that won't be that easy. They'll use their power on you before you get anywhere near them." Hercules said.

"Vani has power of her own and she can fight them pretty well, all of us together would be like war." Solan said.

"You're right, if we get them weak enough which is harder to do because of their power then Vani can get close enough to take their power away and besides, they'll underestimate us which will give us an advantage... We don't have much time before the other gods find out that I turned Ares, Athena and Callisto to stone. We need to go after them before they come after us." Xena said. They came up with their plan, plotted and schemed. They were sure their plan would work.

Joxer agreed to babysit Kalie and Lycius while they were gone. It was time to mortalize some gods.

Xena, Evania, Hercules and Solan headed back to Ares' temple. Xena and Evania went into the room first. It was apart of their plan but little did they know, they were going to have to go with their own plan B. Ares, Athena and Callisto were back to normal and even more to their surprise Gabrielle was on their side.

"It seems I've actually managed to underestimate you princess." Ares said.

"I told you all not to do that." Xena smiled.

"It seems you've acquired some new skills over the years."

"Oh you have no idea." Xena said in a flirty tone.

"Aunt Gabby, you don't want to do this. Don't leave your path. Love is the way, remember, not hate or revenge?" Evania got through to Gabrielle a little but she didn't budge. She was clouded with pain. Xena didn't bother, she would try to get through to Gabrielle later but right now, they needed to follow through with the plan.

"The other gods are aware of what's going on. How do you think I got them back to normal?" Gabrielle asked rhetorically.

"Ares, I'm surprised you haven't checked in on me in all these years, even secretly." Xena said as she walked over to him.

"It was hard to resist but I told you I wouldn't be there if you needed me."

"It took me a long time to admit that I did need you."

"Don't fall for it, she's-" Gabrielle started before Xena used her power to throw her across the room.

"She's right, this is some type of game." Ares said.

"I'm too old for games, Ares. Even if this was a game, you got me right where you want me." Xena caressed the war gods arms, as much as his head was telling him not to fall for this, he wanted to believe it so much.

"Oh please, cut the crap. Let's kill them." Callisto said and Evania telekinetically threw Callisto and Athena across the room.

"Come back to me and we'll spare you." Xena said.

"What about Hercules?" Ares asked.

"What about him?" Xena whispered in his ear, he smiled. Evania then did Xena's famous flip until she was standing behind Ares. Then she touched him, draining all the power from him.

"What did you just do?" Ares yelled in anger. Xena moved away from him.

"Well Ares, you're no longer the god of war, you're no longer even a god. Welcome to mortal life." Xena said.

"Why would you do that to me? I saved your little brat. I love you." Ares said.

"You also brought Hope and Callisto back to hurt us. Pay back's a bitch." Xena said. Ares tried to use his power to throw Xena across the room. "You're mortal Ares!" Xena taunted. It just made Ares angrier and he began to charge at Xena before she used her power to throw him across the room. "I wouldn't try that again if I were you." Ares looked at her in shock.

"I can't believe I fell for your little trick." Ares said.

"Oh please, you could never resist me and I still got it." Xena smiled. Gabrielle, Callisto and Athena finally got up. Xena threw Gabrielle in a chair using her power then just held Callisto and Athena back but it wasn't easy to hold them because of their own power. Solan and Hercules ran in then Hercules got hold of Athena so Xena just needed to hold Callisto back.

"Vani, you need to do this before the others show up." Xena said.

Evania went over to Athena and touched her, draining her of her power then did the same to Callisto. They then had the strength of mortals but were more hostel than ever. They were going to be a problem so Xena turned them back to stone.

"Solan, they'll be here soon. Are you ready? I can't hold them alone." Xena asked.

"Yeah I think so." Solan replied.

"Use it or lose it, just focus and remember why we're doing this. You'll be fine." Xena said.

Soon enough the other gods and goddesses showed up. Xena and Solan used their powers to confine them to where they were but it took everything they had in them to hold ones as powerful as the gods all at once. First Evania went to each one and touched them until she got an idea.

"Vani, we can't hold them for long." Xena announced.

"If I can move things with my mind without touching them and mom and Solan can do that and more with theirs, I should be able to turn them to mortal with my mind. It's worth a shot. It'd be much faster." Evania thought.

She focused all her energy into taking the gods powers away and making them mortal. Finally, they lost their godly strength, they instantly felt different, they felt mortal. They forgot what it felt like to feel that way since they had been gods and goddesses for centuries. They were mad, very mad and though Xena, Evania, Solan and Hercules were outnumbered, the four were without a doubt, more powerful. When they tried to attack, they would just get thrown across the room, either with Xena, Evania or Solan's power or Hercules would physically throw them.

Xena walked over to Gabrielle who was still on the chair she was thrown in to.

"I know you're angry but you know you're like a sister to me. I never wanted to hurt you." Xena said

"You didn't have to kill her." Gabrielle replied, shaking her head.

"I know you don't believe it but she would have killed. What if she went after Faith or Iolaus?"

"I could have saved her." Gabrielle said before Aphrodite appeared. She was the only god left.

"You couldn't have saved her. Xena's right." Aphrodite said.

"How could you say that? You know the life I saw with her and you're the goddess of love. Don't you believe that there's love in everyone; that at the end of the day love conquers all?"

"Of course babe but like Xe said, Hope wasn't human. In the life you saw with her, she was human and it was meant to give you closure and for the most part it has but you have to let her go."

Gabrielle cried and Aphrodite hugged her.

"It's ok Gab." Aphrodite said before taking Gabrielle home. Faith was taken there earlier. Aphrodite returned minutes later. "I guess it's my turn to be de-goddessed."

"You know, auntie goddess of love. You've been the least selfish of all the gods. Maybe it's because of what you represent but doing the right thing usually pays off. You'll be mortal but unlike the rest, you get to keep most of your powers." Evania said.

"Thank you!" Aphrodite exclaimed.

"It wasn't my decision. I'm just the messenger. Are you ready?"

"Let's get it over with it." Aphrodite took Evania's hands. Less than a minute later she was mortal.

"This brings us to the end of the twilight." Evania said.

What a relief it was for Xena and the family for it to finally be behind them.