This story will contain the following: two women as life partners and mothers, spankings to minor children, and anyone else whom the author deems needs it.
The rights of Xena, Gabrielle, Cyrene, Argo, etc. belong to REN pics and whomever else makes a profit from using them. I own nothing.
All that said, enjoy.
I figured it was time to post that disclaimer again since it had been so long since I've posted. Let's just say that health and computer issues have now been resolved and I'm going to try and ease into a steadier routine of posting.
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Chapter 67
Eve's movie had been a rave event and everyone loved it. No fights had broken out when it aired and even and her troubling threesome had been heroes according to the reviewers. I had stayed out of it as requested by our mothers and the little director/actress and I understood where and when I wasn't wanted. The animals, Amazons, and the men from the village were getting along better than ever and I figured maybe Eve's film had something to do with it. Who knows after all anything is possible in this weird possible time? Right? Right!
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Usual Disclaimers Apply.
Chapter 66
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"Daphne are you sure this is safe?"
"Of course, it's safe, Layla." Daphne stopped walking to look at her friend. I heard Mom and Shay talking last time I was in the kitchen. Gabrielle can't get the leader of this camp to move any more than the centaurs could. A lot of his followers seem to want to leave but are too scared to do it."
"So, we're going to help them?" The girl's light brown eyes stared at Daphne for a long minute before she shook her head. "I still don't think we'll be able to convince them to leave him. I mean we aren't even junior warriors yet."
"They don't know that." Daphne rolled her eyes and looked at Layla. "I mean we have our swords, and I'm pretty good in a fight. And we both know how to do the flip properly. I say we'd do a pretty good imitation of junior warriors. Besides, once we get some of them to leave the camp we'll be seen as more than just pre-junior warriors. Maybe we'll even earn our first feathers."
Sighing heavily, Layla's lanky frame began to walk again, her light brown braid swinging behind her. "Is that what all of this is about, Daphne?" Earning a feather? You know that nobody ever earns a feather before they're sixteen at least. Besides you need to be a junior warrior to earn one and we're nowhere near that status. Hell, we can't even hit the broad side of a cyclops with a bow and arrow yet. Why would we even be considered for a feather?"
"Because if we solved this problem, we have proved we can handle things that much older warriors can't handle and deserve it." Daphne brushed her blonde bangs out of her face. "Besides, I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. I know this will work out for the best."
"I hope that you're right. The last thing I want or need is for the queen to be deciding my fate if this goes south."
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"Are you sure we aren't going to get our tail feathers roasted, Eve?" Emily asked for the sixth time.
Pulling Chaos to a stop, Eve turned slightly to look at her almost five-year-old sister. "I'm positive. Look, Alex already told us that this group has been causing issues with our tribe and the centaurs and men. Right Alex?"
Alex nodded from her place atop Haven, Zoe seated behind her. "Yep. Besides, we're just following Daphne and Layla. Not like we decided to do this on our own. We'll just be here to back them up. They're the ones with the dumb idea to take this group on by themselves." The eight-year-old said rather smugly. She had been eaves dropping on a rather regular basis about the issue of the group and figured the leader was just being a big bully.
"Besides," Addy piped up from her spot-on Mavri. "It's not like we won't be useful in a fight."
"That's true," Mavis agreed from her spot behind Addy. "Come on, we'd better keep going if we're going to be able to help Daphne."
"You all go on," Alex directed. I need to use the bushes really fast." Sliding from Haven's back she handed Zoe the reigns. "Just wait for me, I'll be right back.
"Sure thing, Alex." Zoe replied, happy to be trusted with the horse by herself.
Running into the nearest cluster of bushes, Alex waited until Eve and Addy had started down the trail to call Harry to her outstretched arm. Wrapping the note around the hawk's claw she handed over the piece of jerky she had and gave the directions. "Find Sam or one of her friends and give them that note. I think we're going to need her."
Nodding as if she understood, the hawk raised her wings and took off from Alex's arm and into the sky. "Alex, you, okay?" Zoe yelled as loudly as she could.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Alex came out of the bushes after finally using them and tapped Haven on the shoulder happy when the horse bowed to let her mount using this shoulder as a step. "I just couldn't find any good leaves."
"I hate when that happens." Zoe commented urging Mavri on as she kept control of the reigns.
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Hearing a cry overhead, I pulled Jedi to a stop and put my sword back in its sheath. I had been practicing riding using only my legs for balance while wielding weapons and had managed to stay on Jedi for a good majority of the time. Rory had teased me the first few times I'd taken a header off Jedi, but quit once she had tumbled off her mount too. The fact that she'd been riding using both hands on the reigns made it that much better for me to tease her. At least I had been trying to swing my sword in an arc above my head.
Pulling a leather glove onto my hand from my locket, I held out my arm and smiled as Harry landed on my hand. Taking the scroll from her foot, I gave her a piece of jerky before she once more took flight. Reading the scroll, I groaned and rubbed my hand across my forehead.
"Sam?"
"We need to go find Ephiny." Returning the glove to my locket I handed the mini-scroll to Rory and watched as she shook her head.
"Why is it Trouble and her friends are always in trouble or headed that way?" She asked.
"Because she's her mothers' daughter too." I grinned and urged Jedi towards the village at a gallop. "Keep up, Rory."
"Oh, son of a Bacchae." I heard the curse behind me and grinned as I headed towards the queen's hut. Reaching the hut, I waved to the guards and entered with no preamble. "Hey, Auntie Ephiny."
"Sam," Ephiny glared at me over the map on the table and looked to Eponin who merely shrugged and smirked. "Ever heard of knocking?"
"Not to hear her moms tell it," Rory commented coming in behind me.
"Give me the scroll." I put my hand out and waited for Rory to hand it over before giving it to Ephiny.
The woman read it and gave it to Eponin. "Think they'll be naked?" The weapons master asked as Rory began to choke on her laugh.
"Really, Eponin?" Ephiny ran her hand through her hair. "That's all you have to say?"
Eponin shrugged, "What else would you have me to say? I mean they usually are naked when we find them."
I watched as Ephiny just shook her head. "The queen would have to pick now to attend that bard festival while visiting our sister village to the south." Ephiny turned to me and rolled the map up while she spoke. "So, think your mama will join us in this one, Sam?"
"I think you're out of luck, Aunt Eph." I replied honestly. "Argo is in the early stages of labor and I don't think you'll be able to get her to come on this little adventure."
"Great, just great." I shook my head as Ephiny made sure her sword was on her back and her wife was ready to go. "Well, we better get going before we end up trying to stop a war. Again."
"Who are we getting for backup?" I asked as we moved out of the hut.
"Grab Zivah and Daria," Ephiny directed me. "And I'll pull a few of the best warriors we have to join us."
Nodding, Rory and I split up and managed to grab the requested people before rejoining the regent. "We're ready. What now?" I asked.
"Now, we go find your sisters and pray to the goddess that everyone is still safe." Ephiny replied.
"And fully clothed." Eponin threw in as one of the warriors with us chuckled from a top her horse.
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Riding into the small settlement Eve brought Chaos to a full stop and shook her head. Daphne and Layla were obviously in trouble and neither had her blonde mother's ability to talk their way out of the trouble.
"I'm telling you, Simon, you need to leave Amazon lands." Daphne repeated as she and Layla tried to take control of the situation, they found themselves in surrounded by the man and some of the men in the settlement that backed him.
"We don't want to leave." He spat.
"That's not your call," Daphne continued. "You're trespassing."
Sighing heavily Eve waited until Mavri and Haven were even with her before making sure they would all be ready if the need came for a quick getaway. She was pretty sure that would be needed but was hoping she'd be able to kick some butt too.
"Well look what we have here," one of the men spoke quietly as the younger girls made sure to stay out of reach of anyone trying to grab their horses" bridles. "Looks as if more Amazons came to tell us to leave."
"That's right," Eve stated loudly. "You need to go."
"And if we don't?"
Hearing hoofbeats, Alex smiled knowing that Harriet the Hawk had done her job and found Sam. "Then our sisters will make you." She boasted.
"Really?"
"Really," Sam's voice came from atop of Jedi and she merely shook her head as she and Daria and Zivah entered the village on winded horses.
"Sam, what are you doing here?" Eve and Daphne asked.
"I sent Harry for them," Alex confessed. "I thought we might need the help. "And Harry was in need of practice."
"Ah, okay." Eve nodded her head as Emily and Zoe smiled in relief.
"No! It's not okay!" Daphne yelled. "How am I ever going to live up to Xena's reputation if I'm never given a chance to show what I can do?"
"What can you do?" I asked. "Other than get your ass kicked and have horrible ideas." Staying on Jedi, I had him move up to Daphne and put down my arm, "Let's go Daphne," I said.
"No, Sam."
"Now." I tried to imitate Mama's deep growl but wasn't sure how successful I was when Daphne continued to glare at me.
"How about we take you out?" Simon asked.
"I don't think that's a good idea." Emily responded as Eve began to take off her clothes.
"Eve what are you doing?" Daria asked.
"Getting ready to fight. I find leggings and tunics too restricting, don't you?"
"Not one bit." Daria replied. "Stay dressed and get your staff ready."
Shrugging, Eve heard swords clanging and watched as Daphne and Layla began to fight with some men from the village as well as Sam taking on Simon. Emily and Zoe were attacking a man two on one with their staffs and Alex was utilizing her skills with a staff with a young boy just a few inches taller than her. Seeing a knife fly by, she turned to see Zivah also in the fight and quickly removing the tunic and leggings picked up her staff and joined in the fray to help her oldest sister even though it looked as if Sam had things under control.
Using her staff on Simon's ankles, Eve grinned when the man screamed and gave Sam the opening needed for the cartwheel, flip, sword combo move she'd made her own signature move. Simon finally gave up just as Ephiny and her Amazons dropped from the trees.
"At least it's just Trouble that's naked this time." Eponin quipped and only partially at that."
"Nice of you to finally join us," Daria said.
"Well, we had to check and make sure that Xena didn't want to come and play too," Ephiny quipped as she joined in the fight, using a roundhouse kick and managing to knock black a man's eye who was trying to sneak up behind her.
"Seriously?" Eve's voice came from her place sitting on top of Simon. "You asked Mama to come and play?"
"She did," Eponin replied. "But Sam was right, Xena said she figured between who was already here, it would be under control." Placing her fist in the man's face that Ephiny had just kicked, Eponin grinned when he dropped to the ground holding his other eye.
"What did she say about me?" Daphne demanded as the fight began to wind down.
"That you were lucky she wasn't coming and to know that she would back up the regent, queen, and your mother with any punishment deemed appropriate."
"Wh…what?" Daphne stammered as I laughed.
"I told you," I turned and glared at my younger aunt. "You had a dumb idea, Daphne and everyone seems to understand that except for you."
"Yeah," Alex spoke up. "If grown Amazons and a group of Centaurs and men couldn't make that bully leave, why did you think you could?"
"I am not, umph," Simon began only to stop as Zoe jumped on him.
"A bully." He finally finished.
"Yeah, yeah," Addy turned to face the now gathered crowd. "Who thinks Simon is a bully?"
Watching I shook my head as almost every hand went up, "Really?" I whistled and looked around again. "It seems these people would disagree with you, Simon. Now, who here would like to leave?" looking around I was once again amazed by the show of hands.
"I am not a bully." Simon protested again. "And I demand the Royal Challenge." He stated spitting at my feet.
"How do you know about that?" I demanded.
"I overheard it somewhere," he stammered and I noticed his eyes dart towards Daphne and Layla.
Sighing heavily, I heard Ephiny groan. "Great, just great."
Hearing a snicker, we all turned towards Eponin and she shrugged. "What?" Shrugged her shoulders. "Just glad I wasn't dumb enough to be regent is all."
"Regent?" Simon glared at Ephiny as she stepped forward.
"That's me and our laws, Simon." She explained. "If the queen or her champion aren't available you fight the regent, or her champion."
"What about one of the royal family?" Eve piped up.
"Trouble be quiet." Daria directed.
"No, I want to know for future reference." Eve demanded.
"Future reference?" Simon was too interested and I motioned to Zivah who picked up Eve and Daria who grabbed the twins. "What is she talking about?"
"Nothing," I tried.
"Sam!" Eve shouted. "You know that you're the princess and rightful heir!"
"Oh, is that so?" Simon got this weird gleam in his eye and I sighed heavily.
I nodded slowly, "Yes, it's true but I'm not able to take the royal challenge yet. That's still on our regent since neither of my mothers is available for the challenge."
"Your mothers?"
"The queen and her champion."
"And they are?"
"Gabrielle and Xena!" The twins shouted in unison.
"Xena?" Simon looked me up and down and I recognized the sneer that came across his face. Making sure to be ready, I yelled in English "Everyone get ready, he's going to try something with me. Daria and Zivah, get them out of here. Little bit, don't even try to stay and help, your only job is to get the twins and your friends to safety."
"Okay, Sam." Eve nodded and mounted Chaos Emily sat behind her and grabbed her waist while, Alex, Mavis, Addy, and Zoe followed on Haven and Mavri.
Grabbing my sword, I easily blocked the swing of Simon's sword as he came at me and allowed Ephiny to intercede on my behalf. She grinned at me and I watched as Simon none too happily started to fight Ephiny as Eve and her friends took off with Daria and Zivah.
"Sam, duck!" Hearing the warning almost too late, I held my hand up and caught the arrow from sheer instinct.
"You have to be kidding me!" I heard yelled loudly from a nearby tree.
Taking my chakram from its home on my hip, I threw it at the tree branch holding the young person there and allowed them to drop to the ground as I caught the chakram in my hand and replaced it on my hip again.
"Seriously?" Hearing a laugh behind me I quickly moved to the figure on the ground and picked them up by the scruff of the neck.
"Are you done now?" I asked.
"Yes," the person growled. "I'm done. Is she done with my dad?"
"Your dad?" I asked.
"Simon."
"Ephiny," I called. "Are you done with Simon?"
Running her sword through the man's gut, Ephiny nodded before he could take her head off with his sword. "I'm done."
"Dad!" It wasn't until I heard the scream that I realized the person in front of me was a girl who was just dressed as a boy. Wondering why that was, I never imagined the true reason until I saw her legs. One of her legs was obviously shorter than the other and must have put her at quite the disadvantage as a girl. At least among the general population.
Running towards Simon, she was stopped by Eponin, "You can't…"
"Can't what?" The girl said, stepping forward and kicking the body of Simon as hard as she could. "Hated the Son of a Bacchae. I would have done it myself but my brother worshiped his ass and it would have killed him if I had done it."
Turning to the now gathered crowd she spoke again, "Who here wants to leave? I know it's a rather large number and Simon wasn't letting anyone go."
I watched in amazement as a large number of hands went up into the air. "Holy centaur dung," I heard Eponin whisper.
"Anyone who wants to leave, can leave." The girl announced. "I'm not sure how the Amazons feel about women and girls joining them or the men and centaurs feel about their village growing, but I'm not stopping anyone and now that Simon is dead, I'm the leader of the village."
"Says who?" A deep voice challenged.
"Everyone knows that." The girl spoke again.
"You aren't his son, Vanessa."
"Neither are you, Roland."
"At least I'm a real boy and not a make believe one with a gimp leg." He taunted.
"At least I know how to fight."
Drawing her sword, Vanessa waited and then defended herself when he finally made the first move. I watched her as she countered each of his moves with a counter move and I wondered who had taught her so well or if she was self-taught. If she was self-taught, I figured she must be very talented as he couldn't get a move on her at all. Finally moving to the side, she got a strike on the boy and took him out rather easily. Leaving him bleeding on the ground from a wound to his thigh."
Ephiny stepped forward and put up her hands, "Any women or girls, even the young girls or toddlers, who are with their mothers or orphaned are welcome to our village. And I know that the men and centaurs would welcome the families or anyone else who would like to join them."
Stepping back, she moved away and I stepped forward. "If neither of those options appeal to you, then please consider choosing one village and trying it out while you decide where you'd like to move. No hard feelings when you do decide to move."
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I know it's been a while. Amazing what a brain tumor, and an almost 6 month stay in a nursing home recovering from brain surgery without your things does. I'm still in the home and don't know when I'll be back to my house, I still can't live alone unfortunately, but am working on getting better. I'm having issues with insurance and some other stuff… but now that I have my laptop, I want to continue with my writing, it will help me, I think in my recovery and I've reread my stories and have a new spark on things. For those of you waiting on Glee that one is next on my agenda. I'm thankful that I can still write and the only residual effect from the surgery is a shorter haircut and an eye issue.