After school the next day Xander made his way to the library glad to see the only one there was Giles. He really didn't want to deal with questions from Willow or Buffy.
"Hey, Giles can you help me." Xander asked keeping a smile on his face. "I need some books on the Greek Gods especially the God of War."
Giles looked up from the book he was reading on old Prophecies. "Why do you want books on the Olympians, Xander?"
"Doing a report for class." Xander lied hoping Giles wouldn't find out the truth. He couldn't let the Watcher know that he was thinking about awaking up Ares from the Twilight. Xander had a feeling that wouldn't go well. "I decided on the Greek Gods."
"I see." Giles went over to one of the book selves in the back of the library. "There are a few books on Ares and the Greek Gods." Giles took down two and handed them to Xander. "These should have the information you might need."
"Anything on the Twilight of the Gods and the Way." Xander also wanted to ask about Dahak, but decided Giles would really be suspicious.
Giles looked over at Xander with narrowed eyes. Not many people ask about the Twilight or even knew what it was. Most believe the Gods were only legends that even the Watcher's Council didn't believe. He knew better having called on the Gods when he needed help. Giles was a follower of Hades and has been since he was a teen. "And why do you want information on the Twilight, Xander."
'Let it go, Rupert." Giles heard a strong voice in his head and knew at once whom it belonged too.
'Lord Hades?' Giles didn't take his eyes off of Xander.
'Help the boy, Rupert, everything will be known soon. Trust me on this.' Hades left the Watcher's mind knowing his Priest would do as he was told.
Giles trusted his God more then he did anyone else. Something was going on and he had a feeling Xander was going to be right in the middle of it all. "Very well, I have a book that will have all the information you want." It was a book that was given to him by Hades himself. His great-nephew Strife, God of Mischief delivered it himself.
Xander followed Giles to the place he kept all of the dangerous and important books. No one was allowed back here unless they have his go ahead, which didn't happen often. He watched as Giles brought down a thick old book and sat it down on the table. "Be careful with this it's very old and special to me."
"Yeah, I'll be careful." Xander sat down and placed the other books on the side opening the one Giles sat down first. It was all written in Greek, but lucky for him all the research parties thought him how to read several old languages. Giles left him going back to his office.
Xander found out that the Twilight was suppose to save the Gods from dying and that Zeus gave his life to protect the others, as did Hera. In the end it was Hercules that stood up against Xena. Even if Hercules didn't get along with his family they were still his family. Ares, God of War was different from the other Gods. He loved his children above all else and hated his brother Hercules because his father Zeus treated the demi god like he was everything and Ares like he was nothing. Xander sat the book down he still had two days to make his choice.
"Is something wrong, Xander?" Giles came back to check on Xander and saw the sad look on the boy's face.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Xander gave the Watcher a small smile.
"Xander we live on a Hellmouth. There is nothing you can see that will surprise me." Giles sat down across from Xander. His instincts were telling him this had something to do with the Gods.
"IwaskidnappedbyStrifewhoisagodandtakentoHadeswhoistheRuleroftheUnderworldtheywantmetowakeupAresGodofWarfromtheTwilight." Xander took a deep breath after he got that entire story out.
Giles had no idea what the boy was trying to till him. "Can you repeat that only slower, Xander?"
"I said that I was kidnapped by Strife the God of Mischief and taken to Hades the King of the Underworld." Xander stopped when he saw no reaction from Giles. "They want me to wake Ares the God of War from something called the Twilight. I was given three days to find out if I want to wake him up or not."
"I see." So that was why Hades wanted him to leave Xander alone. "And you don't know what to do?"
"You believe me?" Xander smiled maybe Giles can give him some advice.
"Of course I am a Priest of Hades." Giles admitted, no one knew that part of his life expect for Ethan.
Okay, that was knew no one that part of Giles life. Xander was glad the Watcher trusted him enough to tell him. "Can you help me?"
"Yes, I can answer any question that you have." Giles smiled at Xander.
"Tell me all you know about Ares." Xander turned serious a look Giles doesn't see on the boy often.
"Ares isn't the monster some people like to make him out to be." Giles remembering some of the stories told to him by Strife and Hades. "He cared for his family and loved his children more then anything even Xena who was the one that turned against him in the end."
"Should I wake him then?" Xander asked not wanting to make mistake, but something told him he needed to wake the God of War.
"We need a God of War more now then ever before Xander not only because of the human wars, but because of the demon wars." Giles explained how many of the wars that happened wouldn't have if Ares were around. "Of course it's your choice."
Xander nodded then yelled. "Strife."
The God of Mischief appeared in black sparks. "No need to yell Xan."
"Sorry, Strife." Xander smiled in apology. "I've made my choice."
"And?" Strife already knew Xander's choice, but wanted to hear the boy say it out loud.
"I will wake up your Uncle." Xander hoped he wasn't making a bad choice.
Strife held out his hand. "Come on then we have to go to Olympus and to the Hall of War." Strife looked over at Giles. "I'll return him safely Ripper."
"Be sure that you do." Giles said as Strife and Xander disappeared.