Disclaimer: I do not own the Xena and Hercules gangs, Gods, etc.

Warning: This story takes place in our time period and in ancient Greece... It's a bit confusing but you'll soon see what I mean. I've made it pretty obvious who the characters are but if you get stuck on one that you can't figure out don't be afriad to ask. There is also no subtext. This is my first Xena fic so please let me know what you think.

Hey all! Thanks for the reviews! Summers commin' round so I'll have more time to write. This story is almost over, but I'm in the processof writing another one right now. I hope you enjoy this chapter! Thanks again!

CHAPTER 23

Xena unsheathed her sword and let out an ear piercing battle cry. The monster stopped what his torture on the defensiveness villager and covered his ears.

"That outta' get your attention big boy!", Xena whispered and smiled.

"Let the man go and we won't kill you", Hercules reasoned to the monster. He hoped that they could do this peacefully, for now anyway.

Xena looked over to Hercules and rolled her eyes. Peace was long gone by now. Damion wanted a fight and a fight they would give him! Xena took another step forward, but stopped suddenly, catching a familiar aroma. Xena rolled the kinks out of her neck and bit her lip in anger.

"Ares come out! I can smell your sadistic, life wrecking butt!", Xena finished, looking around wildly.

"Now, now Xena is that anyway to greet an old friend?", a sensual voice said behind her, followed by a huge cloud of black smoke. There when the smoke had disappeared stood the god of war himself, Ares.

"I didn't greet you, you popped in unwanted and unannounced. As for a being a friend, well you better wake up from those dream states you've been in lately", Xena replied harshly.

"Gods have real dreams too Xena... they can even love ya' know", Ares replied as he stepped extremely close to Xena. He grabbed a piece of her midnight hair and toyed with it between his finger tips.

Xena pulled her hair back and sneered. "Some Gods can love Ares, but if your referring to yourself then you're even crazier than I thought. War will never be able to love. Now stop playing these pathetic games and get out of my way, there's a monster other then you that needs to be destroyed", Xena said loudly, pushing Ares out of the way.

"I wouldn't do that, you know", Ares called, rubbing his arm playfully.

"Oh? And why not?", Xena asked, tired of Ares' nonsense.

Ares shook his head. "That monster, The Hailiadies, will crush you and my pathetic "hero" of a brother, Hercules, to bits. Now I know your strong Xena, but this monster doesn't fool around", Ares replied shrugging gently.

"Neither do I!", Xena reminded bitterly.

"Well, don't say I didn't warn you", Ares shot back, sneered, and disappeared in yet another cloud of smoke.

"Gods!", Xena whispered roughly. She quickly caught up with Hercules. She found him crouching behind a tree in the woods where the monster had fled.

"What was that all about?", Hercules asked in a heartless tone.

Xena looked over to Hercules slowly. She knew Hercules hated Ares with a deep passion. After all the awful things Ares and his mother Hera had put Herc through she really couldn't blame him.

"It was nothing big Hercules, he just wanted to bother, as usual", she explained, giving him a reassuring smile.

"Bothering is what he does best", Hercules said angrily.

Xena smiled and padded his back softly. Hercules grabbed her hand quickly and kissed her fingertips. Xena smiled and grabbed her chakram, she was going to need it, she was sure of it.

"Ready?", Hercules asked, getting up slowly.

"Ready as I'll ever be", Xena replied.

Hercules went to the left of the woods, while Xena went right. They would cut off the Hailiadies from both sides.

Xena ran as fast as she could to catch up with the horrid creature. She soon spotted the giant crossing a small stream. She slowly stepped behind it making sure as to not step on any twigs or rocks that might catch it's attention. She was right behind the monster now, only inches away from it's back. She slowly and quietly unsheathed her sword.

'Time to die you beast from Hades!', Xena thought to herself before attempting to make the plunge. The monster however, sensing the presence behind him, turned quickly, kicked the sword out of Xena's hand and swung his left arm into Xena's ribcage, sending her flying into a nearby tree.

"Xena!", Hercules cried out, having seen the destruction the creature had done. "That's it ugly! No more mister nice guy", Hercules said, picking up a good-sized stick.

The monster seeing this tensed up and charged directly at the demi-god. Hercules dogged the Hailiades blow and countered with a strike of his own. This sent the monster flying to the ground. The monster quickly recovered and got up. It roared loudly causing everything around it to shake uncontrollably. Hecules held his balance and twirled the stick. It would take more than a couple of shaking tree's to get rid of him. Hercules charged at the monster, but the Hailiadies, being as strong as he was countered and sent Hercules flying backwards with a lethal blow to the chest.

Xena slowly stirred, finally recovering from the blow. She got to her feet quickly and grabbed her sword. "I've had just about enough of you!", she growled. Xena charged quickly, running as fast as her strong legs would let her. She wouldn't fail this time!

"Pathetic women! You don't know when to give up do you?", the Hailidies loud voice boomed.

"When it comes to scum like you?... no", Xena replied stabbing at the creature. Xena suddenly heard running footsteps though the woods. A man and a woman, two blondes if she knew her friends well. She didn't really expect them to stay put anyway.

"Hercules, Xena, we're here!", Iolaus called unsheathing his sword. Gabrielle followed behind him, her staff ready in hand.

The monster looked around at all four of them. He had to get out of there, it wasn't that he was scared, it was that he had to tell his master that the three elements of love, heart, and soul had come together. It was only a matter of time before they found the way.

Xena could tell the monster was thinking of something, of what she didn't know and she wouldn't give him a chance to finish his precious thoughts either! Together Xena and Hercules charged at the Hailidies with full force, neither one wanting it to survive.

The Hailidies smiled and just as Xena's sword was about to pierce and Hercules stick about to beat, the monster disappeared. There was laughter in the wind. "We will meet again pathetic mortals, we will meet again!", the invisible monsters voice roared.

"Coward!", Iolaus screamed, ready to take off after it.

"Hold it Iolaus, we've won for now. It went off to tell it's master we're commin' for him!", Xena said, putting a restraintive hold on his shoulder.

"What now?", Gabrielle asked.

"First we gather up supplies, we'll need them for the trip ahead", Xena said putting away her sword and chakram.

"I know a town not far from here, Mythos. It will have all the supplies we'll need", Hercules said pointing the way.

"Great, let's get a move on shall we?", Xena said in commanding tone and walking in the direction Hercules pointed.

Hercules, Iolaus, and Gabrielle looked at eachother and then at Xena. They shrugged and saluted to their "commander", before laughing and following along.