A/N: I'm so, so, so, sorry for the extremely long delay of this update. So much has happened since my last posting. I lost my muse to write this story. I'm hopefully getting it back with this next part out now. I hope everyone can forgive me. On another note, I'm hoping to finish this soon, trying new techniques out. Any ideas are gladly appreciated and will be put to use. =D To all whom reviewed for my previous parts, I so, so, so totally 3 you all for doing so and I hope you all can forgive me for this really late part. I'm also trying out a new thing with this update. I've added a song to the story, something I was listening to while writing this out, I feel it went with it, please… Let me know what you think. =D
--Oh and I moved the rating up to a 'T' for some cusswords, so please if you don't like this, or are uncomfortable, please don't read… --
Now on to the story…
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Discord appeared back in her own temple after the incident with Ares and his harlot, muttering to herself about how he doesn't realize what's great in front of him. 'I mean who does she think she is, thinking she can steal him from me. It has always been Ares and I. We are going to rule Olympus when the time is right to overthrow that old man…' As she turned to go to her throne she decided to open a portal to see where his pet went about in her camp of wannabe warriors, seeing her enter her second in command's tent.
After watching the exchange and seeing the look of hatred on his face once she left, Discord knew then whom she can recruit to aid her in ridding of this harlot who thinks she can steal her God of War. Disappearing into the aether again not long after.
She went to Darphus' tent to see what this mortal was doing, seeing him reading over an old scroll that some nobody bard tried to write on the harlot who conquered some no-name land. 'This guy is smart reading up on her and being "trusted" by her to figure out her weaknesses to take over. With my help, he may just be the perfect one for this…'
Appearing out of nowhere with a loud thunder like entrance, Darphus glanced up seeing yet another deity here in his tent. Thinking it was yet another of Ares' lackeys to remind him of his place that he shouldn't be trying anything to get command of the army.
Discord knowing what he was thinking spoke before he got in a word edgewise, "You are wrong if you think I'm here to remind you of that. I figure Ares gives good enough warnings on his own, on certain things of course. I'm actually here to see that you do get command of this army. You help me with a problem and I'll help you. Get the deal?"
Darphus stood there a moment, going over everything she said, "Why should I believe you? You're probably working FOR Ares on this just to get me to fuck up." Discord laughed loudly at that remark, walked around his tent some before responding. "I may work under Ares' rule, but I am far from working with him on plans to get that harlot to rule what should be mine and his. What I want is to make sure this army is in capable hands, and I see that in you. So, do you care to help me… or not?"
Standing up and moving to the other side of the tent, he turned back to her, "Fine, What is my place in this 'almighty' plan of yours that you need a mortal's help with?" Discord raised an eyebrow before answering, "I want you to help me take out that harlot, in some way or somehow. I want her gone. Finished with. Out of the picture. And being her second in command I know you can do that for me. Once that's done, you get the army and I get my peace and my man. Understand?"
Darphus scratched his chin in thought for a minute. "Yeah I get what you're saying. I want your word though that I will get the army once she's done with." Darphus crossed his arms, waiting for her reply to his demand.
Discord held out one hand forming a small ball of lightning in it before replying, "This should give you word enough and a good reminder that you are in no position to demand anything from me, mortal. I make the calls around here, not you. I already told you that you will get the army, enough said. Now… You need to get as much information as you can on the bitch so I can figure out something to get rid of her." With that said she disappeared, leaving him mumbling about ungrateful gods.
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Meanwhile, Ares appeared back at his throne room in his palace on Mount Olympus, picking up the scroll that he had left earlier before his time with Xena. Sitting down and opening it up and scanning the contents, reading over the part about him and his chosen bringing in a new race of gods. 'How do I manage to always get my ass in these positions? All I wanted was a normal ruling of God and Chosen of the world. It's always riddled with crap from eons before I came to be God of War.'
Ares looked up to see Aphrodite appear in front of him, with a worried look on her face, making him put his guard up knowing that more shit is going to hit the fan once he hears what she has to say.
Aphrodite loosely crossed her arms before speaking, "Bro, I'm so sorry, I really thought that was the only scroll. After reading the other two, what I gathered is that once the world is at a semi-peaceful state, whatever that means, will this come about. One where it is not lead into by battles and such by said chosen." She bit her bottom lip waiting for him to explode on her for this piece of information.
Ares sat there a moment, mulling over her words. "So… what you are trying to tell me… is that Xena can't lead my army for this to come about?" Seeing her nod he continued, "Well then, we have nothing to worry about. Xena's going to rule the world in my name. She's already well on her way to it by taking on the Amazons in the next few days, Centaurs not far behind that and soon Corinth." Ares grinned at that, getting lost in the vision of it playing out in his head.
Aphrodite shook her head, "For your sake, bro… I wished you were right. Something tells me that something is going to mess this up. I don't know what… but something is just going to throw a wrench into these plans. I can just feel it." Aphrodite shook her head before walked a bit away from Ares and his throne.
Ares got up and walked to a table not far from the throne to get some wine. "I think it'll work perfectly. The way I see it, Xena will always be my warlord, ruling in my name. Conquering the world while being in my bed, by my side as she should be." Ares smirked at that. "There's no doubt in my mind that tests Xena's loyalties to me, after all, I chose her for a reason. She wouldn't turn her back on me." He finished off with before disappearing, leaving Aphrodite just looking at where he was.
"I really don't think this is going to go right at all." Aphrodite said as she shook her head before disappearing herself.
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*Evanescence — Good Enough
Time Jump - 5 years ahead…
Xena was walking down yet another random trail to yet another random city, walking along side her trusted best friend, Gabrielle. Whom was chattering away as usual, leaving Xena to her thoughts like always. If someone had told Xena, 5 years ago, that she would be here today, doing what she was doing now… Fighting for the people, doing good deeds… She would have cut their heads off after laughing in their faces over such a retarded remark. The Xena now knew that she was a fool for thinking Ares had any kind of thing for her. Thinking he could be faithful to her and her alone, even after his promises to…
*Flashback*
Xena was on her way to meet Ares at one of their mutual hangouts that they frequented a lot over the past year. Leaving the planning of tonight's battle to her second in command to work over. This was one of the last battles that the Amazons had over this particular territory, almost leaving her free and clear to take on the main village to secure her hold on the land and it's inhabitant under her command. And after all the nights out to dinners, the friendly sword fights endured, and all the feelings that were spoken about. Xena knew tonight she was finally going to tell him that she adored him as much as he her. She finally come to the conclusion that he could be trusted and he will be there for her. Little did she know…
Once she got to the location, she jumped off her horse walked up the steps to the worn down temple and opening the door, making her way to the bedchamber that Ares had fixed up for them. She stopped in her tracks however when she opened to the door, to see Ares and Discord going at it like rabbits, Ares not seeing her there, didn't notice her standing there continued on. Discord however noticed her and gave her an evil smirk in her direction as well as a wink that said "And you thought he was devoted to you… Ha!"
Xena just stood there in shock for a minute before throwing the nearest thing, which happened to be a potted plant, at them. Yelling she said, "SOME KEEPER OF YOUR WORD YOU BASTARD! WE ARE DONE!" She turned to Discord and continued, "You can keep that good for nothing piece of shit. Seeing how you two whores belong together." With that she walked out leaving Ares behind calling after her, trying to get Discord off him to chase after her.
Discord just pushed him back down, "Why go after that harlot who obviously has nothing on me. Clearly you chose well tonight." She smirked, leaving him to get up, and disappeared into the aether.
By the time Ares got up, trying to disappear finding he couldn't, wondering why and what the hell was going on he tried to find Discord, who appeared back in a moment later. "Oh, shoot… did I forget to tell you that the drink I gave you earlier takes away your powers for the night…" She pretended to smacked her head like she forgot that information, smirking afterwards. "That will teach you to choose some mortal harlot over me, a goddess." With that she left again, leaving Ares yelling after her, wondering why he just screwed up the best thing in his immortal existence.
Xena got back to her camp to see all the warriors were gone, she changed into her battle gear and followed after the trail they left, heading to join the army battle against the city they just ransacked. Once there, she saw most of the buildings on fire, others had her soldiers pulling people out and into another pile of survivors that chose not to fight against her men. She rode up to Darphus, confronting him on the change of plans that were made without her consent.
"What the hell Darphus?! I never gave the go ahead for this fuckin' battle!" Darphus just looked at her and told her without turning to face her, "This is my army now, seeing's how you like to run off to fuck off with the whore of war rather than run an army as it should be ran. I'm taking command of this army. As it should have been long ago." Before Xena could respond, another soldier went over to Darphus explaining to him that everyone that was left were in the pile awaiting his command on what to do with them.
Xena kicked the soldier out of the way, holding her sword up to Darphus' neck… "I still command this army, despite what you may think, those peasants will not be harmed. Anyone who harms them will have to come through me." Xena watched as some of the soldiers moved to stand behind Darphus, including the one she kicked aside. About 10 of a 50 man army continued to stand by her, Darphus who saw this smirked at her saying, "Well so it seems that you will have to leave the army then, I seem to have the majority here… And you and I both know that the only way to leave is through the gauntlet." He smirked again
*End of Flashback*
Xena snapped out of her memories to see Gabrielle snapping her fingers in front of her face, trying to get her attention. Xena shook her head once to clear her thoughts away before answering, "Yes, Gabrielle?" Turning to her to see what she wanted. Gabrielle sighed, "Nothing's wrong Xena… I'm just concerned about you. You seem out of it lately. Ever since Ares showed up again last time. You want to tell me what is wrong?" Trying not to push Xena too far, lest she get mad.
Xena sighed, rubbed her hand over her face a minute before replying, "It's nothing Gabrielle. Just old memories, you know from before." Xena knowing she was pretty vague with her answer knew Gabrielle wouldn't push her until Xena was ready to speak what was going on in her head. Xena looked around at their surroundings then looked up at the sky to see what area of the day it was at. "We should make camp around here for the night. We can get to the next city in two days time, it's getting pretty late now. I'll hunt up something for dinner and leave you to set up camp and what not. How does that sound?" Xena looked over at her. Gabrielle knowing that Xena will tell her what's bugging her in her own time, just nodded and followed Xena to a clearing before starting to make camp, glancing at Xena to see the direction she went off to.
Xena walked off trying to clear her head while listening to the sounds around the area to find something for dinner for them both. Just as she rounded another tree she felt the familiar tingle down her spine that she absolutely hated now. Getting irritated automatically, Xena drew her sword and pointed it at a tree, "Come out you bastard… I know you're there."
Ares showed himself, leaning on a tree… "Xena, please, just listen to me for a minute, we really need to talk, it's really important that you listen to me…"
To Be Continued…
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A/N Cont'd: I will try to update again soon, so if anyone has ideas, please, please, please feel free to let me know and help me out, I will consider it. Thanks for reading this. See you next time. =D 3