'All is Fair in Love and War'

by: Alexis McLean

Chapter 2: The Bet

Disclaimer: Again, I do not own any of the characters in this story..yet.

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Ares sat upon his throne on Mount Olympus, thinking to himself. It had
been so

Long since he had started a war among the mortals; he was thirsting for
the chance. He

Was deep in thought when Aphrodite glided in. She walked up to him and
eyed him

suspiciously.

"I know that look..you're plotting something..another war perhaps?"
Ares

merely looked up at her, not a word escaping his lips. Aphrodite ceased
her suspicious

glare and turned instead to the throne opposite him and sat down. "My
dear Ares, why

must you think of nothing but blood and war. Haven't you ever heard of
the expression,

'make love, not war'?"

Ah, but my Goddess, all is fair in love and war," Ares responded
charmingly.

Aphrodite smiled. "Besides, I already have a plan in the works. All I
have to do is talk to

Zeus about it, and then - "

"Why do you even try, Ares? You know as well as I do that It will only
be a

matter of time before some mortal makes a sacrifice in the name of Athene
and she

rushes off to plan your downfall. You may have brute strength, Ares, but
brain always

beats Braun," Aphrodite said gently in her gracious, gentle voice.

"Then why don't you join me? Together we can overtake Athene's army
and wipe

out her winning streak! Join me, and we could rule our own
country.Together," he said.

Then he added in a whisper, "I know how much you love to rule," Ares
tried to persuade

her. Aphrodite's expression remained the same, her charming smile still
in place.

"I am afraid, my dear Ares, I prefer to use my talents in the name of
love, not

death and destruction," Aphrodite responded. Ares seemed to be forming a
plan in his

head.

"And just what are the types of things you use your talents on?" Ares
inquired.

"You, of all people, should know, Ares." She raised her eyebrows
suggestively at

him. Since he didn't say anything in response, she explained it to him.
"Oh, you know -

making mortals fall in love, helping them find their perfect mate - the
usual," she replied.

Ares considered this for a moment.

"Hmm.What do you say we make a deal?" Ares purposed.

"What kind of deal?" Aphrodite asked curiously.

"Well, why don't we put your.talents.to the test?"

"And just how do you purpose we do that?" Aphrodite asked.

"Make two enemies fall in love," Ares said with a devious grin.
Aphrodite

thought about this for a moment.

"And what do you get out of this?" she asked.

"Well, it's really quite simple. If you can make two sworn enemies
fall in love, I

will not begin a war." Aphrodite smiled pleasantly. "But, if you fail to
make the chosen

couple fall in love, then you must do everything in your power to help me
win the war.

Including," he added, "persuading your husband to make weapons for me
instead of

Athene like he usually does," he finished bitterly.

Aphrodite thought about this. She was confident about her abilities,
but were they

good enough? She supposed she had no choice, backing down would be
cowardice, but

was she really willing to risk it? She looked at his face full of
triumph.

"Deal!"

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Author's note: Hmm..I wonder who the lucky couple will be..And by the
way, this isn't slash. So, you know the drill. Please review. I don't
mind flames, I guess. Just review. There's a little button at the bottom
of the page on the left hand side. Do you see it? No? Well, it's right
here.

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