Title: The Newcomer

Rating: PG-13ish
Pairing: Xena/Ares
Summary: After turning 17, Ava, Xena's cousin (distant of course), is confused about what to do with her life and goes to the Goddess of Warfare and Wisdom for advice. Little does she know that she has caught the eye of a specific god, Athena's son.Not your regular fanfic!
Status of fic: WIP
Author's Notes/Disclaimer:Xena, Ares, Gabrielle, andanyone else who sounds in anywayrelated to the Xena and Hercules series,are property of MCA, Universal, and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. Takes place towards the end of the second season and beginning of the third, somewhere in between.

Prologue:

It was amazing how so many things could happen in the matter of just days. It had been around five days since her family had been killed after a raid on her village and six days since she had turned seventeen. It felt like only yesterday her parents and her were discussing what the future might have in store for her. She didn't know what to do and the recent events had left her troubled and even more confused; what was she to do now?

In the few days that had passed since her families' deaths she thought she there was something extremely wrong with her; when she first saw them, lying on the ground dead, she was shocked and frightened, but for some strange reason she didn't cry. After that she tried to continue her life as if nothing had happened; the strange thing about it was that she didn't mourn for her loss, no she just tried her best to get on with her life. But now, five days later, she came to see that nothing would never be the same again; everything came to be seen in a strange new light. Yes, Ava—daughter of Dorian and Judith, distant cousin of Xena the great warrior princess—was extremely puzzled.

She was thinking of going away to become a priestess but wasn't that sure of it. However, she also had the option of going and looking for her distant cousin, Xena. She had overheard many of her parent's conversations about her. They would talk about how her choices hadn't exactly been the greatest in the beginning but then she changed her ways and was trying her best to correct her past errors. Ava would fall asleep listening to her mother's voice and dream about what it would be like to get to actually meet her cousin.

This particular night she was pondering what her next step would be. She couldn't stay where she was forever; it no longer felt like home. She was pondering the thought of becoming a priestess again when she fell asleep—before she had fallen into her deep slumber, she had made up her mind, she would go to the nearest temple contributed to the goddess of warfare and wisdom.

Ava was one step closer to finding her correct path much like what her cousin had done.

Chapter 1:

It had been a long journey but she had made, thanks in part to her horse. Ava had now arrived at the front of Athena's temple--the closet one to her village. She stood there a bit shocked and puzzled; shocked because she had actually made it and puzzled because she didn't know what to do next. Ava hadn't exactly worked out what she was going to say, but she hadn't come such a long, weary way just to turn around and go back empty handed. Okay, here goes nothing, she thought.

Ava pushed open the temple door and meekly peered through before completely entering the sacred temple.

"Hello, anyone here?" she timidly asked as she observed the temple. She was so caught up with the decorative temple she didn't notice an old priestess appear.

"What is it you want?" the old priestess asked her while looking over at her attire. Ava had some burgundy and black robes on and to this priestess, they apparently seemed extremely uncomfortable, especially with the hot weather, because she scoffed at her.

"Aren't you hot in those?"

Ava looked at her attire. Okay so maybe these weren't exactly the greatest colors for summer time, but this was one of the last traveling outfits she found when she rummaged through her stuff.

Ava somehow found her voice, but responded timidly. "No."

The woman scoffed at her once more and asked her previous question.

Ava didn't know how to respond; what exactly did she want?

"Hmm…well…" she was scared.

"Well spill it out child!" the priestess angrily responded.

Okay, it's either now or never, Ava thought.

"How does one become a priestess for the Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare?" Ava asked humbly.

The old woman looked at her and sneered. "Child, one is chosen so it'd be wiser for you to be on your way home."

Ava looked a bit disappointed now. "Okay…so one is chosen at a young age, but what if I could some how manage to be chosen; could it be done?"

"The chance of that ever happening is about one in a million and it would have to be discussed with the goddess herself. However, she is far too busy to be disturbed." The priestess retorted.

Okay, well I guess I'm getting somewhere now. "And how do I get in contact with the Goddess herself?" she asked.

"A simple answer to such a silly question; an offering. However, the chances of her appearing before you are extremely rare. I have seen many men and women come in day after day with different offerings and some still don't get an appearance by milady. What in the heavens makes you think she'll appear before a mere child?" the priestess scoffed once again.

"Well, if that 's what I must do then I shall do it." Ava stated now with more determination than when she first arrived at the temple.

"You're wasting your time as well as mine child, go home." The priestess retorted and left Ava with her thoughts.

Ava was left alone with the last comment and she wondered if she should give it a try. I trying never hurt anyone… or that is I think. Okay, so she would have to look through the items she had packed and look for a proper offering to give to the Goddess. She left trying to figure out what she would offer when she hardly had anything of value.

Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare, was amused by the determination of this girl she had seen in her projectile mirror.

She was in her sanctuary on Olympus, when she decided to check up on her temples to see if everything was in order. They all seemed to be fine; just then she noticed that an interesting conversation was happening in one of her temples, the one in Spain. In the temple, there was one of her loyal priestess and a young girl, who couldn't have been older than sixteen years old. They seemed to be discussing what seemed to be about offerings and of the sort.

Athena sensed the girl was a bit frightened and yet still had determination. Samara must have really have got her hopes down and yet I sense strength of mind in this girl.

"Quite the show wasn't it mother?" her thoughts were interrupted by the God of Vengeance, her son Julian. "Why do you think she wants it?"

Athena looked at her son; he was known for being very much like his uncle—the God of War, Ares—which she didn't really appreciate.

"Julian, I'm warning you, stay away from the girl. As to why she wants to become a priestess, that is her reason." Athena stated sternly.

Julian looked at his mother, still smirking." Gods mother, they were two simple-no-harm inquiries."

Athena glared at her son now and he instantly knew he had crossed the line. "No my son, those weren't just two simple questions. You have corrupted too many of my soon-to-be priestesses. I can see that that pathetic excuse of a brother of mine, Ares, has corrupted and filled your mind with dirt."

She didn't hate her brother; she just wasn't truly fond of him. They were always competing about something; it seemed like everything was a competition to them. Although her admiration didn't go to her brother or his warlord, there was one specific former warrior of his she did truly respect and that was Xena; she had overcome most of the things thrown at her.

Athena found it entertaining that Ares was still trying to convince her to return to him. Nevertheless, his constant whining about not being able to win her over at times was tiresome and left Athena with the feeling of strangling her brother on the spot.

She returned her attention to her son.

"Fine mother." Julian complained. Athena didn't like to see him down but he had to learn to respect.

"Julian I do this for your own good. Don't forget what happened the last time you interfered with a woman who wasn't in anyway yours." Athena stated softly.

"That was two hundred years ago mother and I'd appreciate it if you didn't bring the matter up again." He glared at his mother.

Athena stated it with remorse. "I'm sorry my son, I forgot that that is a delicate topic."

Julian looked at his mother. "It's all right. And if it makes you feel better, I'll stop corrupting your soon-to-be priestesses', mother."

Athena smiled at him, "Thank you Julian."

"Yeah sure. Well I've got to go. You know duty calls." And with that he disappeared into a faint blue light.

At least they were on good terms, for the moment that is.

Okay, i know it sounded a bit weird, okay so a lot weird, with hardly any Xena and Ares in it; but all of that will come in time. Hope you enjoyed! Feedback is always welcomed and appreciated!