THIS IS FOR YOU, DEAR READERS. I UNDERSTAND YOU WANTED UPDATES FOR THIS STORY, SO LET'S DO THIS ….:)
'' Why Xena! Fancy meeting you here out of all places!''Discord's grating voice could be heard as soon as she made an appearance, just a few steps behind them . ''On the other hand , I've always known you to be a party pooper, so I should have seen it coming- my bad, I guess. Still, now that you're here, be a doll and help me understand - why in Tartarus can't you just accept already that you pretty much lost this battle before it even started?!'' she smugly inquired right before sending a ground shaking energy blast in the direction of her enemy .
Gods how she hated this woman! Why Ares –her Ares- had fallen head over heels for this wretched mortal was beyond her. It was high time she put an end to all this madness!
''Has anyone told you you talk too much, Discord? ''Xena slashingly retorted, and had the Goddess been aware of at least some basic things regarding her opponent, she could have made an exact- ever so useful- prediction about the amount of anger that was hiding behind that sharply raised left eyebrow on the Warrior Princess 'forehead.
''No. I was only told I could do wonders with my mouth.'' she bit back, drilling her with a snake- like gaze but immediately turned her focus towards the visibly nervous War God. ''Right, Ares?''.
She didn't wait for an answer this time- the question seemed to have been rather rhetorical. Instead, a powerful energetic wave meant to melt everything in sight was once again directed towards the object of her wrath, followed by a low, guttural groan when she once more failed to touch a hair on the head of her target. Xena was no sitting duck , that was for sure, and those perfectly executed leaps into the air, only managed to exasperate the visibly fuming Goddess even more.
It came as no surprise thus that her attack continued with a series of fireballs- the instant the Warrior Princess's feet reached the ground. Her aerial acrobatics didn't impress her much- not as much as they appeared to impress Strife- who was literally rooted to the spot, even when the petite Goddess called out his name for the third time or so in those last thirty seconds.
''Strife! Are you going to stand there like a freaking lemon for the rest of the day ?! Start acting like a god, you idiot!''
''What are you doing here, Discord?" Ares- who up to that point had been passively enjoying the show- finally asked, casually drawing his sword, and lazily checking whether its blade was still as sharp as it was supposed to.
''Don't bother, Ares! I could smell mortality on you from the second I stepped out of the aether! I guess that's what you get when you find yourself in the wrong company for too long….As you always said, the stench of death is like a disease. If you don't pay enough attention, it latches on to you….''
''What Discord is trying to say, Unc', is that you kinda started to forget your own lessons - and that's never good news...'' Strife suddenly heard himself talking, his uncalled for line only managing to attract three disgusted stares in the process. ''Just sayin'….''
''Gee Discord… didn't know you needed a translator these days!'' Xena laughed, particularly amused by the situation- winking at Ares as soon as their eyes met. She had a plan- and wasting their precious time with those two blabbering idiots only to eventually end up buried alive under that slowly disintegrating ceiling of the cavern- was obviously not it.
''She's his sidekick…..'' the War God clarified, pointing at the pair, his voice dripping with sarcasm.''It's in her job description, so to speak.''
'''What ?! '' Discord instantly reacted at the unexpected attack . ''I'm not this weasel's sidekick! ''she protested, scandalized by the completely outrageous remark.
Strife on the other hand, looked more than pleased with his Uncle's assumption . Not that was a well deserved recognition! Finally!
''Yeah she is .'' Ares bluntly contradicted, looking at Xena.
''Are they sleeping together ?''
''Definitely.''
''Figures…'' she answered, rolling her eyes. ''Well now that we know who the boss is in your little partnership here, I would definitely like us to discuss….''
''We're not sleeping together!'' the Goddess yelled at the top of her lungs, foolishly ignoring their initial plan along with the utmost urgency of that deadly attack they were supposed to launch against those two. ''That's ridiculous! ''she pouted, glaring daggers at Strife. ''Tell them!''
The God's silly grin though, painted a completely different version of the story – the kind the made the already enraged Goddess go absolutely ballistic.
''Oh yeah?! Then why is he always in your company?" the Warrior Princess innocently asked, making sure to subtly add a bit more fuel to the fire.
''He's here to help!'' was the barely articulated answer she received.
''That certainly puts things into perspective, Xe, what do you think?" Ares retorted, barely stifling a laugh, much to his Chosen's amusement.
''Damn right it does…'' Xena replied between chuckles- she had definitely missed this type of interaction between them-the one during which they always completed each other, precious moments when their sharp minds were on the same wavelength, purusing one single goal- to have each other's back.
''Good job Strife ! I've always known there's more to you than meets the eyes! A diamond in the rough, that's what you are! '' Ares enthusiastically congratulated his nephew-whose chest was nearly exploding with pride by now.
'' This is all your fault!'' an overly humiliated Discord started to scream at his companion, making sure a fire bolt proved her point even more.
It only lasted a moment till Strife felt the overpowering need to retaliate, his divine ego burning like a log along with his leather vest.
In no time, energy blasts, fire balls, sparks and chunks of rock were flying right about everywhere, hitting everything in sight, in a blind war that had nothing, but absolutely nothing to do with their real problem.
''Come on. Let's get out of here! '' Xena urged, placing a warm hand on Ares'shoulder.
''Good idea. Let them have their foreplay.''he answered, a wide grin on his lips.
''I had no clue they were really that stupid ….''
''Trust me, you still don't know the half of it ….''
XXX
"So, do tell me Aphrodite… tell me something useful enough that could somehow make me want to turn a blind eye to your disgraceful betrayal…''Athena challenged, signaling to Hermes to step away from her, her own eyes sparkling with unspeakable rage, just like those lethal drops of Hinds Blood on the edge of her sword. Truth be told, she didn't have the slightest intention to let her sister live-not after all the harm she had done . According to her, she more than deserved her fate- a slow, painful death meant to avenge at least partly the one of her father and uncle . As always, blood demanded blood- a rule as old as time that still applied, regardless of the circumstances. Plus, eliminating her, meant less allies for Xena and Ares – a very wise , strategic move that had definitely made sense that very moment. They were at war after all, a war they were on the verge of losing along with the little time they had left.
''What you call betrayal I call loyalty, Athena. Loyalty, compassion and common sense!'' the Love Goddess exploded seemingly fearless in front of what was clearly going to turn into her unnatural and early demise.
''Compassion?! Compassion towards….who exactly ? This little brat is going to be the end of us all, and of the world as we know it! Towards my brother?! Towards his whore ?! They condemned themselves to an eternity in the pits of Tartarus the moment they decided to protect this …atrocious abominality you prefer to call a child !" her sister spat, disgusted by the idea itself.
''You got it all wrong, Athena ….The prophecy is all about bringing light into the world, not darkness….Peace not war….''
''Peace through slaughter you mean ….Ares'kind of war. Can't you see you've fallen straight into their trap ? It is that moron's chance to finally rule this damned world, just like he's always wanted, and for some reason, that gullible bitch of his agrees with his nonsense. I guess she finally revealed her true colours ….-redemption path my ass!''
Redemption…..now that was a word that despite its apparently simplistic meaning , brought a violent storm of memories in the Bard's clouded mind…..Moments long forgotten that now seemed so far away that they almost belonged to a past life- or at least to a different timeline- one in which that dirty alliance between her best friend and the God of War never existed, in which there was no baby, no soul engulfing darkness, no uncertainty and definitely no barriers when it came to their friendship, a life in which everything was simpler…..
"You've got to take me with you and teach me everything you know! You can't leave me here, Xena!''
"Oh yeah? And why's that?"
''Are you serious ? Did you see the guy they want me to marry?! ''
"He looks like a gentle soul-that's rare in a man."
''It's not the gentle part I have a problem with! It's the dull, stupid part. Xena..., I'm not cut out for this village life. I was born to do so much more!''
''Well that's your problem. I travel alone.''
''So, where are you headed now?''
''Amphipolis.''
'' Amphipolis ...That's in Thrace, isn't it? I love to study maps and places
What route do you usually take?''
''Don't even think about it, Gabrielle!''
''What?''
''Following me. You don't want to make me mad now, do you? ''
...
''Any amazing adventures behind that bush ?"
''I was gonna follow you, until you were in some jam, you know...But it's so cold out there, and...I couldn't get a fire started... And the mosquitoes...are as big as eagles.''
''You know I'm sending you home in the morning.''
''I won't stay home. I don't belong there, Xena. I'm not the little girl that my parents
wanted me to be. You wouldn't understand...''
''It's not easy proving you're a different person. You can sleep over there. You know... where I'm headed, there'll be trouble.''
''I know.''
''Then why would you want to go into that with me?''
''That's what friends do, Xena- they stand by each other when there's trouble.''
''All right..., friend.''
Blasted memories ...they never came alone. Remorse was usually walking hand in hand with them- this time, it was no different...