"Ok, have a good night, folks." The guy says quickly leaving and shutting the door behind him,
"Now that he's gone, I can tell you what's happening with Gabrielle." Xena says sitting down on the bed,
"You guys might want to sit down for this." Xena adds quickly looking at Hercules & Iolaus standing there waiting for them to tell them what's going on,
"Why?" They ask in surprise,
"The news is very shocking and bad." Xena says seriously,
They look into Xena's eyes and see how serious she is and they sit down. Iolaus in a chair and Hercules sits on the bed next to Xena.
Xena takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, "Ok, here goes. What I'm about to tell you is very shocking and disturbing. Don't say anything till I'm done what I'm saying."
"We won't." Herc and Iol say in unison,
"Ok, good." Xena says,
"Gabrielle has betrayed me and all of the other people that care for her in anyway." Xena says in a dark, angry tone,
"What? What did she do?" Iolaus asks in surprise,
"I told you not to interrupt." Xena says madly,
"Sorry, I'll keep quiet till you're done." Iolaus says holding up his hands scared,
"Good. I don't like being interrupted." Xena says staring at Iol warningly,
"I have to start at the beginning so you guys can understand… Ares killed Gabrielle's and I good, peaceful-nonviolent friend. I got the dagger of Helios from someone. I was about to kill Ares. But Gabrielle intervened, she pleaded to me not to kill him. I was so pissed off, I still am. I can't believe it. She's siding with Ares. How could she? She knows how much I don't like him. I asked her why and she said, "You probably think that I am betraying you by standing with Ares, but I'm just trying to use his knowledge for a Greater Good." I tried to convince her who Ares is, but she wouldn't listen. She thinks Ares has changed. He can never change he's a conniving bastard and he will always be a conniving bastard. I told Gabrielle to never talk to me again, but I can't do that Gabrielle is my best friend in the world. I don't know what lies he told Gabrielle but he's not going to get a chance to manipulate Gabrielle like he did to me. That's why I came to find you guys so you can tell her what a humongous mistake she's making. Will you guys come with me to try to talk some sense into her?" Xena says very angrily and pleadingly on the last thing she says,
For several minutes, Hercules and Iolaus sit there in shock with their mouths wide open, not wanting to believe what they just heard.
"Guys? Say something." Xena says getting impatient waiting for their answer,
"Sorry, it's just so unbelievable. What you just told us." Hercules says in total bewilderment,
"Yeah. Gabrielle siding with Ares. That only happens in a nightmare." Iolaus says in astonishment,
"I know. But, it is happening. Maybe if we all talk to her, she might get it through her head that it's a very bad decision." Xena says hopefully,
"Yes, we'll try to make her see the error of her ways." Hercules says with a stern look on his face,
"Good. In the morning we can go to one of Ares temples and demand to see Gabrielle." Xena says menacingly,
"That's a good idea." Iolaus says agreeing,
"We all need to get some rest. It's a long way to one of Ares temples" Xena says standing up, stretching and yawning,
"She's right. We need to be well rested for tomorrow." Hercules says standing up and stretching,
"Night, Xena. Have good dreams." Iolaus says standing up and walking towards the door,
"Have sweet dreams." Hercules says heading towards the door,
"Thanks. You guys have great dreams. We leave first thing in the morning. We meet down in the tavern." Xena says walking them to the door,
"Ok, we'll be there" Hercules says for both him and Iolaus,
"Good. Night, guys." Xena says as she shuts the door,
Xena, Hercules, and Iolaus get ready for sleep. It takes them hours to get to sleep, because their minds are troubled. They get to sleep, but they have troubled dreams.
Meanwhile, Ares and Gabrielle are still in Aphrodite's room. Gabrielle has finally stopped crying after a few hours. She pulls away from Aphrodite and sits down in a chair.
She suddenly speaks startling Ares and Aphrodite out of there thoughts, "I know that Xena never leaves anything unresolved. But, I'm afraid she'll do something drastic or irrational."
"If you're not ready to talk to her, I will. You don't have to talk to her till you're ready." Ares says reassuringly,
"Are you sure?" Gabrielle asks indecisive,
"Yes, I am" Ares says soothingly,
"Ok, good. I'm not ready to face her and her wrath." Gabrielle says relieved,
"I had a rough day, I'm really tired. Do you mind if I get some rest?" Gabrielle asks staring at Aphrodite and Ares,
"No, it's ok. Go get some rest." Aphrodite and Ares say in unison,
"Ok, thanks." Gabrielle says thankfully and turns to walk out the door,
Then she turns back around with a blush on her face, "Where do I go to rest at?"
"I'll take you to the room you're staying while you're on Olympus." Ares says walking up to Gabrielle and putting a hand on Gabrielle's shoulder,
"Thanks. At least, I don't have to change into pajamas since I already have some on." Gabrielle says with a chuckle,
Aphrodite laughs a little, "That's true."
"Nice seeing you again Aphrodite. We should get to know one each other better. Be friends." Gabby says saying by to Aph,
"Yeah, it was. We can be great friends." Aph says ecstatic,
"Very cool. I'm tired." Gabrielle says yawning big,
"Ok. Hang onto my arm." Ares says,
Gabrielle grabs onto his arm, "I'm ready."
"Bye, Aph." Ares says as he shimmers out,
She hears Gabby yell, "Bye, Aphrodite."
"You don't have to yell." Ares says irritated,
"It's you're fault you disappeared before I could say bye to her." Gabrielle says just as irritated,
Ares just sighs.
Aphrodite laughs at their little spat.
A few moments later, Ares and Gabrielle appear in a room, "This is you're room on Olympus."
Gabrielle suddenly grabs hold of the edge of a table.
"Are you ok, Gabrielle?" Ares asks with concern,
"I'm fine. Just dizzy." Gabrielle says reassuringly,
"It takes time to get used to shimmering." Ares says patting her shoulder lightly,
"I guess." Gabrielle says unsure,
"You'll get used to it." Ares says,
"Good." Gabby says pleased,
"How do you like the room?" Ares asks curiously,
"Room? This is the size of a tavern." Gabrielle says looking around the room in amazement,
The room is as big as a tavern. There's a queen size bed in the middle of the room against the back wall. The bed is wooden on the bed is light-blue silk sheets, with a variety size of pillows that are dark blue. There's candles lit all over the room. They smell like various flower smells: lilacs, roses, tulips, lavender, etc… There are a few mirror's hanging on the wall. There's a full length mirror on the side of the room in front of the bed. Next to the mirror is a desk. On the desk are Gabrielle's scrolls that she wrote stories on. Next to those are tons of blank scrolls that she can write new stories on. Next to them are several ink bottles and ink pens.
When Gabrielle sees this table her eyes grow big with excitement and asks Ares disbelieving, "Those are for me?"
"Yes, they are." Ares says with his trademark smirk,
Gabrielle turns to Ares and gives him a big hug, "Thank you so much."
She notices that Ares stiffens and pulls away, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make
you uncomfortable."
"It's ok. I'm just not used to affection." Ares says shrugging,
"Ok, I'll remember that." Gabrielle says taking a mental note,
"I'll let you get some rest now. Have good dreams." Ares says sincerely,
"Thanks, I'll try." Gabrielle says yawning and stretching,
"Bye. See you later." Ares says,
"Bye. See ya." Gabrielle says as she watches Ares shimmer out,
Gabrielle pulls the sheets down and lies down in the bed. She pulls the sheets back up. She goes to sleep quickly. But, all her dreams are nightmares. She keeps on dreaming about the fight that she had with Xena. Thinking about how protective Xena becomes when she's protecting a loved one.
Meanwhile, Ares shimmers back in Aphrodite's room.
"I knew you'd come back." Aphrodite says knowingly,
"I knew you wanted to talk to me alone by the look in you're eyes, sis." Ares says with a shrug of his shoulders,
"I do." Aph says hesitant,
"Tell me, I'm no weakling. I'M THE GOD OF WAR!!" Ares says truthfully and then shouts loudly and proudly,
His shout shakes the whole room.
"Everyone knows that you're the GOD OF WAR. No need to shout." Aphrodite says steadying herself against a table,
"I'm just saying." Ares says nonchalantly,
"Yeah. Anyway..." Aph says bored,
"I'm listening." Ares says sitting in a chair,
"Ok." Aph says,
"What are you doing? Have you lost you're mind? Gabrielle is Xena's best friend in the world. She's going to do anything she can to get her back. She's relentless. I thought you wanted Xena." Aphrodite says bewildered,
"I haven't lost my mind. I know who Gabrielle is. I certainly know what Xena is capable of, no need to remind me. I don't want to hurt Gabrielle in anyway. She's going to help me rule the world. I gave up on Xena. She's never going to be with me. Don't worry. I know how to deal with Xena." Ares says seriously, sadly, and factually,
"Well, that answers most of my question." Aph says slightly satisfied,
"What are you're other questions?" Ares says at complete attention,
"What are you're plans for Gabrielle? You know that she doesn't kill, unless necessary, right?" Aph asks concerned and says factually,