By Purple Jade
Time Period: This takes place after Ares becomes a god again (season 6). Cyrene is still alive, the whole burning at the stake thing never happened.
Disclaimer: The characters Xena, Ares, Gabrielle, etc. do not belong to me; they are the property of Renaissance Pictures, Studios USA, and MCA/Universal. The Elements however are my creations.
Rated pg-13: for some language and violence
Summary: This is the third and final installment to 'The Plan of The Elements'. (Can be read alone, there is a recap.) With the unexpected arrival of an old lover, tension builds among Xena and Ares. And later the threat of Dahak emerges as death creeps on
Longish but quick recap of what happened.
Prologue: There were four sisters whom possess tremendous power greater than even the gods. The eldest of the sisters Savannah had the power to control fire, the second eldest was Lena whom dominated thunder. The last of the sisters were April and Angel, identical twins with similar personalities; April governed the wind, while Angel ruled the water. The sisters were known by many as The Elements, and dwelled on the Opalachian star. A place where no mountain could reach, no bird could touch, and no mortal could enter. The Elements were the surveyors of mankind and the protectors of life.
Lena was the most kind of heart of The Elements; she would often pay visits down on earth and bring food and money to the needy. On one such visit she was in the form of an elderly woman and was attacked by two thugs. Xena had been there to save her, and for that reason Lena felt, that something needed to be done as a thank you. After returning to the Opalachian star Lena discussed the matter with her sisters, and came to an understanding. They would aid in getting Xena and Ares together. This seemed like a strange way to reward Xena but it was actually only a small part in the bigger scheme of things.
There was a prophecy that a great evil would come and destroy the world, and the only one who can stop it must be filled with wisdom, but young of age, must be highly skilled, but pure of heart, and must be powerful, but not an immortal. With that in mind The Elements set out to fulfill their plan. After convincing Xena, Gabrielle, Eve, and Cyrene that Ares should be given another chance, The Elements then got Xena and Ares to meet together. When it seemed as if the two would not put aside their differences, April took it upon her self to change that. She acquired what she referred to as sprinkle dust, which was a powder that when showered on people would make them calm or in some cases become lust filled and lose control. Paying no attention to the opposition from Savannah, she dropped a pinch of the dust on the arguing warrior princess and war god. This was one of those cases where the receivers lost all control.
Before she knew what had happened Xena woke up in the arms of Ares. Stunned at what occurred, she quickly gathered her belongings and rode away. Knowing that as a result of this incident Xena would try to avoid Ares, Lena had placed a light unseen by the warrior princess, into Xena's stomach as she rode away. Later an unexpected visit from the late King of the Gods Zeus prompts The Elements to bring back the Olympians, for additional help to defeat this great evil. But as a precaution to keep Xena and her children safe from many of the vengeful Olympians, the memory of the twilight of the gods were erased from the mind of all the deities except for Hera, Ares and Zeus.
During a fight April appears invisible to all, and places an arrow covered in dragon snakes venom in the sack of one of the attackers. Who then shoots the very same arrow at Xena's stomach. The arrow leaves no mark, but later Xena discovers what the arrow was covered in. It turned out that dragon snakes venom could speed up the life of a person. After taking enough antidote for one person Xena believes her worries are over, but sometime afterward finds out that she was pregnant and the child had also been infected. After much thought, Xena, Gabrielle and Eve all agree that Ares should at least be given a chance to be in the child's life. The baby is born; it is a girl whom they name Sabrina.
As a result of the venom she was infected with Sabrina would age a year in only two months, but the affects would only last one year. Many of the gods welcome the birth of Sabrina and saw it as a blessing. As gifts for her baptism, Sabrina is given a necklace, which she can use to disappear from place to place. Also she is given a small toy made up of crystals and metal, which when hit with a volt of electricity could turn into any form; and a small demi-god horse, named sky. At the baby's baptism Ares reveals to Xena that he had made a deal with Hades to allow Solan to re-enter the mortal realm. Solan is reunited with his mother and meets his sisters for the first time. He travels with them for a while until he decides to go to the centaur lands, where he meets Serenity.
Gabrielle and Eve soon became more trusting of Ares. And after a confrontation in which Sabrina was abducted, Xena realizes that in order to keep Sabrina safe, she will need Ares' help. A jealous Discord devises a plan to get rid of Xena and Sabrina, but the plan is foiled. When Discord try's one last attempt to kill Xena, Zeus stops her. Ares appears afterwards and thanks Zeus for saving Xena and the others. Xena and Ares later on finally set apart their differences and acknowledge their relationship.
After years of hate and love, distrust and desire Xena and Ares were finally united as one. Their daughter Sabrina was now six, which meant the effect of the dragon snakes venom that she was infected with, had now worn off leaving her to age normally. Gabrielle and Eve had now accepted Ares as part of the family. All the hate and distrust they had towards him before, was now gone. Zeus and Ares still didn't have exactly a father and son relationship, but they were getting there. Solan later departed with his girlfriend Serenity for reasons he didn't wish to talk about, and decided to keep his mother company. It now seems as if the plan of the Elements was accomplished, however things are not always what they seem.
The sky was clear with not a cloud in sight, the sun was shining brightly over the trees. Xena and Gabrielle were at their campsite along with Eve and Solan, when suddenly Aphrodite appeared with Sabrina, bearing a gift.
The young girl stood there motionless for a moment with her raven hair flowing along her face and down her back. Her crystal blue eyes shimmered in the glitter of the sunlight. And her skin had a radiant godly glow. Even in her youthful age she had the poise of her mother and the aura of her father. Dressed in her usual dark blue short-sleeved dress, she wore a necklace, which held an unusual pendent, and she was beaming with happiness from head to toe.
"Mommy, we're back" The young girl said, smiling.
"Hi sweet heart" Xena replied, as she walked to Sabrina whom was holding something behind her.
"Guess what, I have a present for you"
"Oh really, what is it?"
"Here you go" The child replied, handing her mother something wrapped in cloth.
Xena opened up the fabric and inside was a beautiful long shelved, off the shoulder, powder blue dress.
"Do you like it mommy?"
"Yes, I absolutely love it" Xena replied, hugging her daughter.
"Good then you won't mind wearing it right now" Aphrodite said.
"Now is not a good time, I have a lot of things to do. Plus I don't want to rein it" Xena replied, lying through her teeth.
"Come on Xena, this is a gift from your youngest daughter. You don't want to break her little heart, now do you?" Aphrodite asked, with a wickedly cheerful grin.
"Please mommy, pretty please" Sabrina begged, putting her hands together.
"Okay I'll wear it, but only for awhile, I want to save it for something special. Deal?" Xena asked.
"Deal. Now can we go to the market place, remember you promised?" Sabrina asked.
"Alright then lets go. I guess I won't have time to change, so I'll wear the dress later"
"Oh, don't worry about it, I've got you covered" Aphrodite said, with a big smile.
In the blink of an eye Xena was now wearing the powder blue dress.
"Thanks" Xena said, sarcastically.
"Anytime" Aphrodite replied, with a giggle before disappearing.
Xena and Sabrina then made their way to the market place. As they were looking around, a man a few yards from them, glanced their way. He stood there not moving for a moment: shocked by the sight of the raven-haired woman, whose heavenly colored blue dress hugged the every curve of her body. He felt as if his heart had skipped a beat as he watched her hair sway along side her face, as if it was dancing to the rhythm of the wind.
"Xena" He whispered, as he then tried to make his way to her.
But suddenly a cart pulled in front of him, blocking his path. When the cart finally moved they were gone. The man began looking in each direction, but no luck. He gave up and headed to a near by tavern, confused about whether he had really seen her, or whether it was just his imagination. He was sitting at a table quietly contemplating his thoughts when a young man came and sat down beside him.
"Hercules there you are" The young man said.
"What?" Hercules replied.
"You alright?"
"Yeah Evander, I 'm just fine"
"You sure, cause you look like you've just seen a ghost" Evander said.
"I think I did"
"What are you talking about?"
"I thought I saw an old friend of mine, Xena. But she passed away a long time ago. I started hearing stories that she was still alive. But if that were true then she would have greatly aged by now, the woman I saw didn't look as if she had a wrinkle on her. Plus she was with a small child. It couldn't have possibly been her" Hercules replied, with a sad expression.
Sitting behind Hercules and Evander was an elderly man, who over heard their conversation. The elderly man turned around, and with a piercing laugh called their attention.
"That was Xena alright" The elderly man said, with a chuckle.
"Are you sure about that?" Hercules asked.
"As sure as the sky is blue. Xena's alive; the stories you heard were true. As for the little child with her, that was probably her daughter"
"Eve right?"
"Oh no, Eve is all grown up now. The child you saw was Sabrina, she's the daughter of Xena and Ares" The elderly man answered, with a few coughs.
Hercules jumped out of his seat.
"What! Are you telling me that Xena had a child with Ares, Ares the god of war" Hercules said, in disbelief.
"He's the only Ares I know"
"Sorry old timer, but you must be confused. The Xena I know would never do such a thing"
"Well she did, whether you like it or not"
"Do you know where I can find her?"
"You'll find her in the woods near the lake. Just follow the main road, you can't miss her"
"Thank you" Hercules said, before leaving along with Evander.
"No thank you" The elderly man said to him self.
Once Hercules and Evander were out of sight April; one of the Elements appeared beside the elderly man.
"Very nice" April said.
Suddenly the elderly man transformed into Lena, whom was also one of the Elements.
"I know" Lena replied.
"By the way, what is it with you and old people?"
"Hey it got the job done didn't it?"
"Yeah whatever lets just go"
Without a moments notice they were gone.
Meanwhile Xena and Sabrina had stumbled on someone in need of help; a female thief was attacking a young woman. Xena told Sabrina to go hide underneath one of the merchant tables. Xena hadn't brought any of her weapons, but by the looks of the thief she doubted she'd need any. With one flip she landed alongside the two women. She elbowed the thief in the face, causing her to release the other woman. Xena then advised the young woman to quickly leave.
"How dare you interfere, this was none of your business" The thief said.
"When trash like you try to hurt innocent people, you make it my business" Xena replied.
"I'll make you regret ever saying that" The thief said, as she pulled out a large dagger.
"Then come and get me"
The thief charged at Xena, with the dragger aimed at her heart. It was just an inch away from its target when Xena caught it with one hand. She looked at the thief and smiled, before crushing her hand. When Xena let go of the thief's hand the dagger fell. With a head butt, then a low kick the thief plunged hard to the ground. Xena then picked up the dagger.
As she did so, Morrigan arrived to witness this raven-haired woman picking up a dagger while a helpless woman lied on the ground in front of her. Morrigan drew her sword and began attacking Xena. Xena was caught by surprise, wondering what this woman was doing, as she dodged and avoided the steel blade, which swung at her. As the two women fought the thief ran away.
Morrigan proved to be skilled, but not skilled enough. In minutes Xena had taken her sword from her, and at this moment was pointing it at her throat. Looking at the red headed woman before her, whom appeared to be older than her few wrinkles and stands of gray claimed she was, Xena was unsure of what to make of this.
"What are you waiting for, go ahead kill me. Isn't that what you do?" Morrigan asked, panting lightly as her disheveled short red hair fluttered around her.
"You've got it all wrong. I wasn't going to kill her"
"Fine then. What were you doing?"
"She's a thief, and was attacking another woman when I saw them. I merely stopped her" Xena answered, as she put the sword down and handed it to Morrigan, whom in response snatched it from her. "You don't look like you're from around here"
"That's because I'm not"
"My name is--" Xena started to say, but was interrupted by Brigid, Morrigan's daughter, as she called for her mother.
Without so much as a word Morrigan walked away, heading in the direction of the early twenty-year-old blonde whom wore a simple green dress. Sabrina then popped her head out from underneath the table, Xena signal for her to come out. After the little run in that just happened, Xena and Sabrina headed back to camp.