Gabrielle sunk through the cold sea, her lungs burning for air.
I'm going to drown.
Every time she had tried to swim up to the surface, the violent waves at the top had shoved her back under. Her chest ached with the need for air and she was forced to slowly expel what little breath she had. She watched as her bubbles shot upward, wishing she could go with them. Her head started to bang as the pressure on her chest grew stronger.
Where was Ares? Why didn't he save her?
The world around her grew darker and colder as her limbs grew heavy. Soon she wouldn't be able to move them at all. Already the fight was going out of her as she slowly froze. Her feet bumped into something and she wondered for an instant if she had already reached the ocean floor. But she knew it couldn't be; her lungs would have already burst if she were down that far.
She slipped over the edge of the mysterious object as gravity pulled her down even farther. Soon she would have to let the last of her air out and after that there would only be water to breath.
The last thing Gabrielle saw was a huge face staring at her, one of its eyes bigger than her entire body. Fright and shock gripped her and she forgot herself, gasping. The cold sea eagerly rushed in as Gabrielle gripped her throat with both hands.
XENA! She thought as the world went black.
******
Xena tumbled to the floor of Room 208 as the hand let go of her hair. Startled, she stared up at the God of Mischief.
"I got you now!" Strife laughed gleefully as he stood above her, admiring his prize. She was a feisty little thing, full of pep and energy, just the way he liked them. Just because Uncle Ares wasn't able to tame this wildcat didn't mean he couldn't. He rubbed his hands together as he thought out loud. "Now what shall we do first? So many possibilities..."
"How about this?" Xena wrapped her legs around the God's legs and yanked. Strife fell to the floor as his feet were yanked out from underneath him. In an instant, Xena was on top of him, one knee pressed to the center of his thin chest while her hands shot for his throat. Then she started to squeeze. "Now you listen to me and you listen good. Stop following me around, because I don't like it. And I don't like you, either. You're a pathetic excuse for a God. Got it?"
Loud choking noises emitted from Strife's mouth, his tongue protruding. His eyes bulged out as he gasped for air. Raising his arms stiffly, he struck Xena on her shoulders. The powerful blow sent her flying through the air. She hit the opposite wall with a crash, sending a beautifully painted landscape to the floor with her. Strife's fist shot skyward as he did a little victory dance, his body shaking. "I am the Man! Woo-hoo!"
"You're not a man." Xena said as she picked herself up from the floor. "You're just a pest. I know, because I've been with real men and they don't act like you. Your Uncle Ares knows you're a kid still, that's why he doesn't respect you. Grow up, Strife. You grow up and I might, just might, consider it. Until then, forget it."
Xena walked to the balcony doors and threw them open. Her back was to the Godling so he couldn't see the grin on her face.
"I am too a man!" Strife insisted, shouting as he pointed a shaking arm at her. "You just watch and I'll prove it to you! I can be just as much man as Uncle Ares!"
"Really?" Xena paused on the balcony, turning to glance back at the Godling. The Warrior Princess knew it would be difficult if not impossible to fight Discord. Oh, it was possible to whip her in a battle, but if the Goddess was really determined she just wouldn't stop. She could use a God on her side, even if it were only Strife. If nothing else, it might get him out of her hair for a short time. "Fine. Then prove it to me. First of all, stop taking orders from Discord. You'll never be a real man if you listen to her."
"But she'll hit me if I don't." Strife sputtered automatically. He thought of all the times Discord had blamed things on him when they had gone wrong, getting him in trouble with Uncle Ares. And sometimes Discord just liked being mean, like when she shoved him off buildings or down wells, laughing at him. And there had been that time when he had gotten run over by the satyrs; he could still hear Discord's laughter in his ears as he lay with hoof prints on his back, but and head. If he weren't a God he would have been killed!
"And exactly what are you getting out of your relationship with Discord?" Xena asked, wishing she could hurry this up. She was too aware of time passing, the sand falling through the hourglass.
Then an icy chill passed through her, squeezing her heart. "Gabrielle!"
Xena leaped off the balcony and landed on the soft sand with a thud. Taking off at full speed, she raced down to the water. She and Gabrielle shared some unusual connection, a bond, and sometimes in times of danger it screamed to the Warrior Princess. Xena wasn't sure how it had formed or why, but she was glad it was there. She had used it on several occasions to save the bard's life. But now it led her down to the sea's edge. The ocean tossed violently, the waves easily six feet. Salty waves crashed along the beach, each wave reaching higher and higher onto the land. The wind howled, tugging at Xena's long black hair.
"GABRIELLE!" Xena shouted, scanning the water for any sight of her friend, any movement at all. She was confused as to why the bond had led her here. Gabrielle hated the sea, although the bard liked looking at it on calm days. She would even wade in it, searching for seashells and other tiny trinkets carved by nature. But she wouldn't go out onto the sea by herself. Unless ....
Xena's heart leaped up into her throat. No, it wasn't possible! Ares wouldn't be that stupid, would he? But what if he never realized Discord was plotting against him? "I should have told him instead of playing those games!"
"ARES!" Xena called, trying to summon the War God as she ran frantically along the beach, waves often crashing against her. Within moments she was soaked with ice water, further proving in her mind this was all Discord's doing. The sea normally wasn't this cold, not at this time of the year. "ARES! Where are you? Please, I'm not playing anymore! GABRIELLE!"
Minutes passed and Ares didn't appear. The panic inside Xena increased and hot tears started to drip down her face. What if she had lost Gabrielle? What if she was too late?
A dark shape moved in the waves, sliding on and off the beach as the water surged. Xena raced towards it hope blossoming in her heart. Was it Gabrielle? It was too dark to tell who it was, but it had to be her friend! If she could reach her fast enough, she could expel the water from her lungs, breath air into her. The sea moved outward, carrying the limp figure with it. But the Warrior Princess wouldn't give up. She raced into the cold water after it until she was up to her waist. The figure was before her now and she gripped it by its hair, hauling it to shore. Something bumped against her leg and she saw flotsam from a shipwreck.
It may not be Gabrielle at all, she thought. The hair is too short. Someone else may have been caught out at sea. But whoever it is, I can't leave them to drown. Gabrielle would want me to save them.
Dragging the heavy, waterlogged body up onto the beach, Xena knelt by it. She was shocked to see the bearded face of the War God. Making a tight fist and covering it with her other hand, she pressed on the Ares' stomach to expel the water, rolling him on his side. She was rewarded with coughing as water dripped out his mouth.
"Where's Gabrielle?" Xena shook Ares by his shoulders, her blue eyes wide with panic. "Answer me, darn it!"
"Discord..." Ares gasped out, still coughing up water. His wet hair hung in his eyes, his skin red from the salt. "I tried to save her, Xena. You got to believe me. But something hit me on the head and ...."
"The boat hit you and knocked you out." Xena spat, disgusted. Ares may be good to look at but he wasn't any good on the water. Rising to her feet, Xena ran back to the angry sea. If Ares washed up, Gabrielle might as well.
*****
In room 208, Strife still stood where Xena had left him. "You know, I can't think of any good from friendship with Discord at all."
A fireball flashed out as Discord appeared, striking Strife and slamming him against the wall. Discord's eyes flashed red for a moment, then resided to their normal dark color. "If you're smart, you better take that back! I'm the only friend you have! You're such a loser, Strife, even the God of Prophecy won't talk to you!"
"Uncle Ares doesn't take this from you. I don't have to, either!" Strife stepped away from the wall and started to windmill his arm. A blue fireball shot out at the Goddess, hitting her on her chest. It picked Discord up and carried her all the way to the far wall. When she crashed to the floor her head hit a large stone urn, momentarily stunning her. Tearing the sheet off the bed, Strife threw it on top of her. Then he rolled her up in it until she looked like an Egyptian mummy. A large wooden bureau sat next to the stone urn and Strife pulled open the bottom drawer. Picking the squirming bundle up, he heaved it with bended knee into the waiting drawer and kicked it shut.
"I'll kill you for this!" Discord promised, menace in her voice. A moment later the piece of wooden furniture exploded. Discord tore the sheet off herself, searching the room for the one who had betrayed her. But she was alone, the God of Mischief having popped out the moment the drawer had closed.