Title: King of the Gods (1/?)

Author: Artemis Luna Diana

Email: artemislunadiana@yahoo.com

Rating: R

Fandom: Xena/Herc.

Pairing: Ares/Joxer, Cupid/Strife

Disclaimer: I own not a thing.

Warning: homosexuality, sex, reference to character death

Summary: Challenge response to Shadwmage7: Joxer becomes King of the Gods.

Status: WIP

Archive: AJCS, all others please ask.

Website: and

Thanks to: BlackUmbridge for the excellent beta. 

Notes:  My mythology source for this little piece of adventure was: .

"blah" - verbal

'blah' - thoughts

also, I'm not going to even try to do Strife's accent, I'd just screw it up and make it very difficult for you all to figure out what  he was saying.

***

Chapter One

***

Joxer watched as Aesclepius, God of Healing, treated the injuries of the fallen Gods and Goddesses.  There were eleven, twelve including Zeus.  Joxer had dismissed the other Olympians to their Temples or to their Palaces depending upon the individual.  Gaia and Tethys were examining Zeus to see if there was anything salvageable about the former ruler. 

Joxer released a soft sigh and knelt down beside Artemis.  He cupped her cheek in his hand and then allowed his godhoods to guide him.  When he was finished, he looked up and saw Aesclepius watching him.  "I granted her mercy from the pain.  I have not your gifts.  I do what I can."

Aesclepius frowned slightly as he watched the young ruler at work.  While his patients would recover, they were immortal after all, it would be a painful process.  Or rather it would have been.  This young God was not like his fellow Olympians.  "Forgiveness and Mercy?" Aesclepius asked after a while.

Joxer turned to look at the Healing God.  In those eyes he saw a flicker of hope.  He smiled.  "Yes.  Forgiveness and Mercy."

Aesclepius nodded and gave a hesitant smile.  'Olympus needs both.  Perhaps, he could prevent the Twilight.'

***

Athena appeared before Joxer as he commanded.  Her injuries were healing, and she wasn't in much pain.  Aesclepius had informed her that she had her new ruler to thank for that.  The Goddess of Wisdom did not know what to make of this new God. 

"Athena," he greeted her.  He stood and took her arm, guiding her to a chair opposite the desk he had been behind.  This had been Zeus' office, and now it would be Joxer's.

"How would you like me to call you?" she asked after a moment.

"Call me Joxer," he replied easily.  He sat down behind his desk.

"Joxer it is then.  Why have you summoned me?"

Joxer's easy smile faded.  "To discuss your godhood."

Athena felt fear grip her.  "You cannot take my godhood!"

"I wasn't planning to.  However, if I feel it becomes necessary, I will take it from you.  I don't want to do that."

Athena fought to calm her racing heart.  "Why else would you want to discuss it?"

"You are not doing your job as well as you should," he began.

She stiffened and began to defend herself.  "How--"

"Silence!" he cut her off.  "You pick and choose who you shall aid among the mortals, playing favorites among your fellow Gods, using your talents and knowledge for petty squabbles." 

Athena felt the bite of each word.  Quickly analyzing her past actions to try and mount some defense, she found she could not. 

"Athena, this is something I will not tolerate in the pantheon.  I cannot allow it to be divided.  We must be united, and we must change the way we treat the mortals.  It is the only way to prevent the Twilight."

"I understand," she said after a moment.

"Good.  I would like to have the council of the Goddess of Wisdom."

Athena met his gaze.  "You shall have it."

Joxer stood and helped her rise.  He kept a grip on her arm and guided her out of the room and into the adjoining chamber.  He conjured a chaise and helped her sit.  "Rest here.  I shall need your assistance soon."

"Of course."

"Thank you, Athena."

She blinked in surprise, then nodded hesitantly.  "You're welcome, Joxer."

***

Athena could hear the happenings in Joxer's office, and she could only assume he had placed her there for that purpose.  Every single God and Goddess made an appearance in that office, except for the Twelve, bar her of course.  Each person was given a lecture on their behavior, what was expected of them, and an evaluation of their godhood.  Very few were complimentary and one godhood was even removed. 

Psyche, Goddess of the Mind, had been stripped of all of her godly powers.  She was still immortal, but no longer a Goddess.  Her ties to Cupid had also been severed, and she was banned from seeing her son, Bliss.  Joxer had then sent her to Greece, telling her that until she could repent, she was not welcome on Olympus. 

Athena agreed with Joxer's judgment.  Psyche had not stayed true to her marriage vows; she ignored Bliss most of the time, and rarely did anything to help the mortals.  Her time was spent chasing around various Gods and seducing them.  She could care less if any mortal lived or died. 

Eventually, Joxer returned.  "Were you able to hear everything?"

"Yes."

"Good.  I'm going to begin calling the remaining Twelve.  I'm afraid that some will not leave with their godhoods intact."  Athena remained silent.  "Correct me if I am wrong, but are not the godhoods of Retribution, Vegetation, and Mischief unclaimed?"

"Yes, they are all unclaimed."

"I truly hope I will not be removing too many more godhoods.  It will be hard to fill them all."  He returned to his office and summoned Zeus.

Athena listened as each new member of the Twelve appeared.  Joxer gave them by far the harshest criticisms.  Zeus' time as King of the Gods had twisted him so horribly that Joxer was forced to strip him of his godhood.  Now there were five godhoods waiting to be claimed.  Aphrodite was subdued during her interview, and Joxer was very kind to her.  Athena realized that they knew each other before Joxer became a God.  Aphrodite's faults lay in her treatment of the mortals, and as with all the other Gods before her, he explained that he realized they were following the example that Zeus had set.  She was told to remember that the mortals were sentient beings and to treat them as she would want to be treated.  Athena realized that her previous assumption that the Love Goddess was an idiot was completely wrong.  Aphrodite did her job very, very well.

Hermes and surprisingly Ares were also given light lectures.  Once more Athena was forced to reevaluate the qualities of her fellow Gods.  Demeter was given a lecture that should have left blisters on the woman's skin.  Apollo's was no better.  Artemis' was only marginally better.  Poseidon was charged with ignoring his duties to the mortals.  Hephaestus was encouraged to expand what he already did so that more mortals could benefit from his benevolence.  Hera was the last of the Twelve to enter Joxer's office.

Hera's interview was cold, concise, and to the point.  She had failed in all aspects of her godhood.  "The sins of the father are not the sins of the children," Joxer told her.  Her godhood was not one of revenge and her thirst for vengeance had tainted her godhood nearly beyond repair.  Her treatment of the mortals was nearly as bad as Zeus' had been.  However, Joxer gave her one last chance to prove herself.  She would retain the godhoods of Marriage and Childbirth, and she would, of course, lose the part of her godhood that she had been given when she became Queen of the Gods.  Joxer did give her one small bit of happiness: he dissolved the marriage between her and Zeus.

When Hera left, Joxer returned to Athena.  "Your assessment?"

"I agree with your judgments, Joxer, but I do not have your faith in Hera.  I don't believe she is capable of making such a radical change."

Joxer sighed and conjured a chair.  He sank down into it.  "I don't believe she is capable either.  However, Gaia and Tethys want her to have one more chance, and I feel as though I should give her some mercy after all that Zeus put her through."

Athena nodded.  "You realize also that while they listened to your lectures and rules, some of them are plotting against you."

Joxer nodded.  "Yes, I know.  Ares will be one of my main opponents."  He stood.  "There is one last God to visit."  He held out a hand and helped her up. 

He transported them to the Underworld.  Before Hades could speak, Joxer conjured a chair for Athena and helped her into it. 

"Why are you here, King of the Gods?  Come to take my throne as well?" Hades demanded.  He was confused as to Joxer's behavior and to Athena's presence.

"No, Hades, I find very little at fault with you."  Joxer waited until Hades seemed slightly calmer before continuing.  "I have come to request the return of one of your shades."

Hades sat down on his throne and stared at the new ruler speculatively.  "Which one?"

"Strife, the dead God of Mischief."

Hades was extremely surprised.  He was expecting the young God to ask for the return of a friend or a lover, possibly a family member.  He could tell by her expression that Athena was surprised as well.

"Why do you want him returned to life?"

"Because the godhood of Mischief remains unclaimed and I want the best person for the job."

Hades considered carefully.  The new ruler would then owe him one for this favor, and it would get the meddlesome ex-god out of his domain.  He called up Strife's shade and restored it to life.

"What's going on?" Strife demanded as he tried to adjust to being suddenly brought back to life.  "Joxer?" he gaped, finally noticing the ex-mortal.

"Strife, your godhood has been restored to you," Joxer said handing over the symbol of Mischief's godhood.  "Please return to Olympus, Zeus' office.  All will be explained shortly."

Strife glanced at the other two gods who gestured for him to go on and disappeared.

Joxer turned back to Hades.  "Thank you, Hades.  To show my appreciation, I will grant your request from long ago.  Despite her mother's protests, Persephone is free to come and go as she pleases all year round.  It is now her choice when she wants to leave your side."

Hades stared at Joxer dumbstruck.  Now he felt as though he owed Joxer a favor, although this had been for returning Strife to life.  "Thank you," he said quietly.

Joxer summoned Persephone and informed her of his decision.  He then helped Athena to her feet and transported them to his office, leaving the couple to their celebration.

***

"Athena, please inform Strife of what has occurred.  I need to discuss with Gaia and Tethys what should be done with Zeus."

"Yes, Joxer."

"What in Tartarus is going on?" Strife demanded the second Joxer disappeared.

"Joxer is the new King of the Gods," Athena said as she carefully sat down.

"You all just let him take over?" Strife asked shocked.

Athena scowled.  "Of course not!  What do you think happened to me?  I'm not some clumsy oaf, you know!  I was unconscious for four hours, and the only reason why I am up and moving around is because Joxer granted me mercy from the pain."

"What happened?"

"We were all summoned to the throne room.  No one knew why, though I am sure that I was not the only one who realized Zeus was not the one who issued the summoning.  Gaia and Tethys waited until everyone was there before they showed up with Joxer.  We thought he was just a mortal.  They were hiding his power signature.  They weren't even in the room a full minute before Joxer attacked.  He had Zeus' crown before we could react."

"Shit," Strife breathed.

"Artemis led the attack.  He took eleven of us out at once, and no one dared challenge him after that."

"Is Unc' all right?"

"He didn't join in the attack," Athena sneered.

"Then he must have had a reason," Strife snapped.

"No, he just had more brains than the rest of us."

Strife didn't know what to say to that.

Athena seemed to realize that and continued her narrative.  "Once he was officially recognized as King of the Gods, he dismissed everyone from the room.  He and Aesclepius patched us up and sent us off too.  He's spoken to every God and Goddess about their behavior and what is expected of them under his rule.  A few had their godhoods removed and others are close to having theirs taken as well."

"Who?"

"Psyche and Zeus.  That's five godhoods now that are empty, well, four now that you're back."

"So the bitch is gone.  Good," Strife said pleased.

"My thoughts exactly."

Strife frowned slightly, studying the Wise Goddess.  She wasn't acting like he expected.  "So why are you hanging around with him?  Hoping to stab him in the back?"

"No.  Trying to prevent anyone else from doing it."

"Why?"

"Well, for one, I believe he could prevent the Twilight."  She paused and allowed that statement to settle for Strife.  "And two, because he's right.  We have been mistreating the mortals, and we have allowed pettiness to influence our decisions.  We are a pantheon made up of constantly changing factions, backstabbing, and cruelty.  I don't want to be a part of that anymore.  It's in no way wise, and I was a fool for not seeing it sooner."

Joxer reappeared in his office.  Due to the nature of transporting and needing to feel for where you're planning on appearing, he heard Athena's last few statements.  He walked over to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.  "Don't worry about it, 'Thena.  Everyone needs a kick in the ass on occasion."

Athena felt a small smile of amusement slip past her, but then remembered that she no longer had to watch herself at all times.  And what a freeing concept that was: she could be herself.  Yet, after all this time, did she even remember who she was?

"Strife," Joxer said, turning to the other occupant of his office.  "I think you were doing an absolutely superb job, you even treated the mortals correctly.  Torturing only those who were supposed to be tortured.  You also took your duties towards the children very seriously.  I wanted you back at your post because you were the best for the job.  There was no politics involved in my reasons for wanting you back.  You don't owe me and neither does your Uncle.  Do you understand me?"

"Yea," Strife replied.  He really, really, REALLY didn't get this ex-mortal, but then, well, he never had.

Joxer summoned Gaia and Tethys to him.  "I'd like the five of us to come up with suitable replacements for the four godhoods that are unclaimed: Sky, Mind, Vegetation, and Retribution.  Suggestions?"

Surprise kept Strife and Athena silent at first, while Gaia and Tethys considered possible choices.  "There is a farmer just outside Athens who possesses the qualities one would want in the God of Vegetation," Gaia said after a moment.  "His name is Zeraclies."

"I know the man," Athena said.  "I agree.  I believe he is a likely candidate."

"When we are done here, Gaia, I'd like you to go talk to him and feel him out.  If he accepts, bring him to my office."  Gaia nodded.  "Next?"

"I don't know if you've thought about this and dismissed it already," Strife said, his interest spiked enough to help the new ruler, "But Xena wouldn't make a bad Goddess of the Mind."

"The likelihood of her agreeing is very slim, but it is definitely worth exploring," Joxer agreed.  "I'll talk to her."

"If you're going to look at Greece's heroes for ideas, there is also Iolaus," Athena said.  "As God of Retribution."

"Yes," Joxer nodded.  "Will you be up to talking with him?"

"I think I can manage it," she replied.

"All the same, I'd like you to take Strife with you, just in case."

"Alright."

"And Sky?" Joxer prompted.

"Cycrops," Tethys replied.  "He's already immortal even, and he's free from Poseidon's curse now."

"Will you speak to him?  If he agrees, bring him here."

"Of course," Tethys replied.

"Everyone know what they're doing?"  When he received affirmatives from his four advisors, he rubbed his hands briskly together.  "Well, then, let's go get us some Gods!"

***

TBC…