Title: Fate

Author: Cat

Rating: T (Possible Language and Situations)

Status: In Progress

Summary: Events following A Friend In Need...

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from the Xena Warrior Princess show or Hercules the Legendary Adventures. I do however own the story line

Lachesis sings the things that were, Clotho the things that are, and Atropos the things that are to be.

No sooner had Ares appeared in his hidden sanctuary, the ice cave in Mt Edna sealed with spells to keep others at bay, had the room stopped, time stopped and the three sisters of Fate appeared, the old woman Lachesis, the young woman Clotho and the child woman Atropos.

"You have gone too far God of War" Clotho warned as the three stared with no emotion at Ares. Ares held Xena in his arms, unconsciously pulling her sleeping form closer at their appearance "Perhaps I have just begun" he countered.

The child woman Atropos stepped forward from the three "you are changing fate Ares son of Zeus" she began "fate of yourself and every living creature in this realm" she stepped closer "we will not allow this."

Lachesis stepped forward "Take the woman back to where you have abducted her" she hissed "her fate is to return through the veil, not to exist here once her task has been completed."

Ares stared down at the three creatures before him, torn between the teachings that these woman were not to be disobeyed and his desire to save the woman he loved, the later winning out "I cannot" he answered, his voice low "I have suffered, she has suffered, and for what? Your Folly" he questioned.

Clotho now joined her sisters "You have been warned Ares Son of Zeus" her voice was cold "if you do not obey the fate that has been laid before you" she paused before locking his gaze "you and she will both be eliminated from existence."

Ares swallowed hard, he knew they were not ones to trifle with, but somehow a courage from deep within came forth "Why?" he questioned them "Why are we not allowed to be together, when I have been told she is my match, my mate, you still keep us apart and you punish her most of all."

Atropos took pity upon the God, her eyes softened "You do not understand Ares" she stood just a step away from him "This woman in your arms is merely a vessel, paying pennants for the deeds she committed as a Fae, this mortal is still Xenia, buried deep within and if you look now, since she has completed the task to right her wrong and returned from her rightful realm, the Fae blood is reestablishing itself" she motioned to Xena's face and Ares looked down, he could see subtle differences in her skin, it appeared more pale and her ears seemed to have angled. The voice of the Fate pulled him back "she will be Fae once more and if you were to keep her here, she will become unstable, her power corrupting and will lead to certain doom of this realm. A child by her would be a creature capable of such power it would destroy all life with a mere thought. You see Ares we cannot allow this. The loom has shown the path you chose to take, to keep her; to make her your mate and this path will destroy all life in this realm. It is not her fault, it is not yours. Your time together is destined but not now."

Ares held tight to Xena "I cannot return to a world without her, I have suffered for centuries alone because she was taken from me. I cannot believe she would do these things" he shook his head "no I cannot believe it…you lie" he hissed stepping back with his Xena "she is good, she would not destroy life as you say."

Lachesis and Clotho spoke in unison "Show him."

With a small sigh Atropos waved her hand before Ares and a portal appeared. In the vision, he could see Xena, with Eve; yes it was her daughter Eve, next to her. The lands scorched, the dirt soaked in blood and behind them endless rows of crucified mortals. "They will kill everything in this realm and drain it of life and magic. We will be forced to seal it from the other realms and once they have gathered all the life forces and power they need, they will pass through the Gates of the Gods and take vengeance upon the land of her birth. Once that realm is conquered their quest for blood will not end, they will forcibly open other portals and continue until the universe as fallen before them. They will complete with what Dahak began."

The portal closed. "You can either give her to us now or we will take her by force" Lachesis hissed.

Clotho stepped closer to Ares "You were meant to cross through the Gate Ares" she looked to her sisters for support "We do not normally speak so clearly, but the need is great that you understand what you have done, are doing and will do and how it effects every living creature in this realm and others" her voice softened as Ares looked up to her gaze and she noted tears held at bay in his black orbs "Your intentions were noble God of War and no one can fault you that, your love is true and your heart is as well" she smiled "I promise you she is waiting for you on the other side of the Gate." She touched Ares's hand, and a vision came to him. It was Xena, smiling at him, she looked down to her right and there next to her was a girl, holding her hand smiling at him has well. When the Fate let go, the vision faded.

He found his voice, he was heavy in emotion as he held tightly to Xena's sleeping form "I killed Zeus to obtain the power to come here" he began "there is no going back for me" he added has he looked down upon her form, even though the Fates had stopped time, he could see more changes taking effect in her, she was becoming Xenia again "I" he began has he felt himself lessening his grip upon her "I love you Xena with all my heart and soul" he looked to the heavens "Gods help me I love you and can only pray someday you will forgive me for what I am about to do" he released his hold on her. With a wave of their hands in unison, the Fates sent Xena back to the grove to a moment before Ares interfered.

The Fates spoke in unison "You have done the right thing Ares Son of Zeus" Atropos smiled as she added "Things are not as bad as you deem them young Ares" and they vanished. The room seemed to melt around him reforming to his apartment in New York. He found himself standing where he had just hours before he killed his Father. It was as if it never happened, yet he knew it had, he had held Xena in his arms, his Xena, he had his chance to save her, save him and he let it go for the greater good of the realm. He collapsed on the couch, grief for losing her overwhelming him yet again, as it had so many years ago.

This is where the fair Aphrodite found him. He sat up on his couch, and untouched glass of aged scotch clutched in his hand. Without looking up at her he spoke "You have come to plead with me to return home" he began, his voice defeated "to make amends and hear what Zeus has to say?"

The Goddess stared at her favored bother "How did" she began in a confused tone only to be interrupted.

Ares stood, setting down the glass, stood, meeting her gaze "You would be surprised what I know" he held out his hand "Shall we?" grasping her smaller hand in his, they vanished into the ether.

When they reappeared in the throne room of Olympus, Ares let go her hand and stepped back. He looked up to meet his Father's gaze.

"Ares" Zeus said in a cold tone "I take it you got my message."

Ares merely nodded his agreement to the comment instead of arguing with the older god.

"Good" replied Zeus, slightly shocked at the lack of response of his distant son.

The remaining deities of the Olympian order began to appear with a flash after flash of color, until all the remaining of his blood family gathered, only 20 of the remaining Gods of the Greek Order remained in the realm. Many had perished as their powers failed and mortality claimed them, some had just simply disappeared, to where, no one knew.

Zeus cleared his throat, catching the attention of his family "My family" he began "I have called you here to tell you that the Fates have declared the time of the passing to begin" he met each one of them eye to eye "I will lead us through the Gate of the Gods, away from this failing realm, where magic and beings such as ourselves no longer have a home here or a need" he paused, taking a breath and relieving a sigh "it seems my mortals have no need or want of us anymore" with a heavy heart "it is time to go home." He turned from the gathering and settled heavily in his throne.

Ares looked hard upon this God, the one he had called Father many life time's ago. He found the hate that had fueled the distance between them, no longer there. He found he just didn't care, he felt nothing. His quietly asked "you say we are to return home, how do you know it will lead us to salvation?"

Zeus actually smiled at the question, he would have been more worried if Ares had said nothing and given no argument, that would not have been Ares "To be honest Ares" he began "I am not quite sure what is awaiting us on the other side" he looked about the room "I won't lie to you, no one really knows. The Gods that have passed through this remaining portal have never returned to tell us what is on the other side. I will not question the Fates on this, as I have not questioned them before. To question them is suicide" his eyes fell to Ares "they are the spinners of this existence and for all our grandiose powers and visions of ruling, they are truly in charge" he added quietly "not us."

"And if we chose to stay?" Ares continued, his voice still held little challenge in its tone.

Zeus nodded his head slightly "I ask that you don't" he looked up locking eyes with Ares "I pray that you don't for when I cross the Gate, your mantels go with me and anyone left will perish" he swallowed "I know there are hard feelings amongst some of us, I can only hope they can be put aside for the better of the remaining family" he broke eye contact with Ares and stood again "now if there are no other questions" he looked about and no one responded, he noted many had the look of hope in their eyes, for living here in this magically fading realm had been taxing upon them "We leave in three days, that will give you ample time to clear up your affairs" with a wave of his hand he dismissed the gathering and one by one they faded from sight, leaving only one, Ares.

"Yes Ares?" Zeus asked.

"What happens to this realm once we are gone?" Ares asked earnestly "we leave them, the openings in the veils to other realms are closed, and they will exist without magic?"

Looked down up on the son he had tormented, disappointed and angered beyond belief, he for once in his life decided to not dismiss Ares's concerns, he would throw him a bone "Well Ares, I imagine life will go on has it has for them, the mortals I mean. They don't need us now" he smiled with a small laugh "hell they don't even believe us to be real" he stepped down from the raised platform where his throne rested "The openings are still there, but weak and from what I understand accessible only on certain nights of the year. Any mortals that truly believe will find them" he smiled at Ares "So you can see it won't completely be vacant of magic."

"You say we are returning home" he was pensive has eh met his Father's gaze "yet it is a home I have never been and you don't know what awaits?"

"The Fates know" Zeus replied "Will you be here to cross Ares?"

Ares hesitated before answering "Not sure" and with that he vanished.

Zeus stared at the space his son had occupied, his heart heavy with regret "I'm sorry" he said to the air around him before turning and leaving the throne room.

tbc...conclusion coming