When the bright orange sun glowed low in the western sky and Ares still hadn't returned, Xena decided that she'd take Argo for another island exploration. She hadn't been away from the house long when she felt a disturbance in the air around her. Great, she thought, which one of the Phoenician gods was going to grace her with their presence today. Xena brought Argo to a stop and surveyed the wilderness around her. There was no one visible, only the oaks, pines, and wildflowers could be seen stretching from cliff to cliff atop the mountain. Xena dismounted and reached for the hilt of her sword. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was in imminent danger.

When her boots hit the ground, Argo reared up on her back legs and neighed loudly. The horse could also sense the sinister presence. Xena slapped the horse on her hind quarters and told her to run. Argo galloped off, leaving Xena alone in the clearing. Xena spun around, keeping her senses on the alert, her sword at the ready.

She saw the fabric of the world unfold slowly and watched as Enyo climbed slowly out of the aether. She realized that the goddess' diminished powers in the Phoenician realm were making it more difficult for her to move in and out of the aether than she was accustomed to. When the dark deity finally broke free, she sneered to find Xena prepared for her.

"You really got the jump on me there, Enyo. Oooh, what's the matter? Having a little trouble?" Xena taunted.

"Oh, you think you are so clever, don't you, Xena? Well, I'll remind you that even though I have diminished powers, here, I am still a goddess, an immortal goddess and you are only a weak, disgusting mortal whose only power lies in your cunt's ability to ensnare Ares."

"You sure about that?" Xena raised her sword.

"Oh, you think you can best me with a sword? He trained me!" Enyo pulled her own blade.

"Yeah, well, I've taught him a thing or two. You ready for your lesson?"

"I'll kill you, you bitch," Enyo screamed as she charged at Xena.

Xena brought her blade down to parry as Enyo went directly for her center. The move gave Enyo's goal away. She meant to kill the children. Even if she couldn't successfully defeat Xena, she counted on being able to get in a blow to the abdomen. Xena quickly spun away from the maniacal goddess and prepared for another onslaught. Enyo didn't disappoint. She thrust at Xena's stomach again. again Xena deflected the blade and readied for Enyo's next move.

Enyo was furious. Her powers in this place were nearly non-existent and Xena was a skilled swordswoman. She didn't really expect to kill her, not without having the advantage of her powers. She'd seen Xena wipe the floor with the Olympians. She didn't kid herself, she knew just how dangerous Ares' whore was. But still, she had hoped that she could land some damaging blows. She calmed, as she realized she was going about this the wrong way. She had one thing working in her favor. She was immortal after all, she could just wear Xena down, eventually her mortal arms would become fatigued, her legs would tire. She would eventually make a mistake brought about by weariness. Enyo had only to bide her time, toy with the slut a little longer.

After a few more thrusts, Enyo stepped back a little, as if she was waiting Xena out. Xena realized the abrupt change in style had to have a tactical purpose. What was Enyo up to? The women continued to circle, each waiting for the other to attack. Xena wondered what would happen if she laid a sword on the goddess. Did her lack of powers here make her vulnerable to Xena's blade? Xena briefly considered going on the offensive but quickly dismissed the thought as reckless.

When she felt the strain in her shoulder from keeping her blade at the ready for nearly fifteen minutes, Xena realized what Enyo had planned. The realization must have flitted across her face because Enyo gave Xena a satisfied smirk.

"You think you've bested me, is that it?" Xena smiled devilishly.

"No, I think you've just realized why you'll never be good enough for him. You were born a mortal. I, a goddess. I will always be more suited for him than you. Sure he can give you immortality, but you'll always know that it was a gift and not something you were born to."

"That's right it's a gift. The gift of being his chosen. And I don't mean his chosen warrior, I mean he has chosen me to be his immortal bride. He could have chosen any of you whore goddesses but instead he chose an insignificant mortal to be his goddess. Suck on that!" Xena turned to walk away, finished with Enyo's games.

"Oh no you don't!" Enyo threw a dagger at Xena. Xena spun and snatched it out of the air.

"Keep fucking with me Enyo and you'll end up like his other cunt Discord! Dead and without a head." Xena tossed the dagger over the cliff edge for added effect.

"You can't back that threat up, you haven't the power to kill gods, Xena." Enyo crept toward her.

"Not yet, but give me a week, and I'll see what I can do." Xena snarled.

"I'll never let you marry him," Enyo raged and ran headlong at Xena.

AXAXAXAXAXAXAXA

Ares was sitting in Darian's tent, trying to broker a deal between his two generals when he the got the distinct impression that Xena was in danger. He'd had those feelings before but because he respected her abilities, he never let them worry him much. Now things were different, she was carrying his children. Plus, he'd watched her die, he'd held what he thought was her corpse in his arms. Lived without her in his world for twenty-five years. He didn't want to repeat that, ever!

"Gentlemen, you'll have to excuse me, duty calls," Ares saluted the men and vanished into thin air.

AXAXAXAXAXAXAX

With Enyo running at her full-force, Xena lifted her leg and kicked the goddess in the jaw. Enyo stumbled backwards for a second but quickly recovered and resumed her march toward Xena. The goddess threw finesse out the window. She paid no attention to form, she only sought to injure and maim, at whatever cost to her own hide. Pure jealousy spurred her on. She collided with Xena so hard that the two of them fell thunderously to the ground. Xena's arms instantly bent at the elbows and moved in protectively over her abdomen. But her protective posture meant that she was giving Enyo access to her head. Enyo took full advantage. She began pummeling Xena with her fists. Xena took a couple of hard blows before she realized that if she didn't protect her head Enyo was going to knock her out. She wondered if she could put the pinch on the goddess. Wondered if it would work. It was worth a shot, she supposed. She made to jab at Enyo's neck but the goddess grabbed her forearms and the momentum of the movement sent the women rolling along the ground. Xena realized a second too late that they had rolled precariously close to the cliff edge.

AXAXAXAXAXAXAXAX

Ares materialized in the master suite on the island estate. He saw Xena's veil and dress material laid out on the bed. It was coming along beautifully. He ran his finger along the silk.

"Uh, uh, uh, get your hands off that! Didn't anyone tell you it's bad luck for you to see it before the wedding," Bilka slapped at his hand.

Bad luck. What kind of back luck? Where was Xena? Why wasn't she here? She was in danger, he knew it! He quickly scanned the aether for her soul signature. She was flying? That couldn't be right. No, not flying! Falling! Ares disappeared into the void.

AXAXAXAXAXAXAXAXA

Enyo realized that she had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Xena was a mortal, she an immortal. The fall to the rocky shore below might be a little painful without her powers but it wouldn't kill her. Xena, on the other hand, would be smashed to mushy mortal bits and her diseased spawn would perish with her. With a powerful twist of their bodies, Enyo sent them over the edge. Xena reached for the cliff wall, trying to grab a vine, an outcropping, anything on which she could get purchase. Her left hand struck hard against a jagged cluster of rocks. She couldn't hang on, the glassy volcanic rocks cut her hand wide open and she thought she might have heard the cracking of bones.

Enyo cackled with delight as waves crashing against the rocks below came closer and closer.

Xena felt the ocean spray against her face and closed her eyes, saying a silent apology to her babies and a last goodbye to Ares and the world. She hoped the pain would be brief. She hoped he would find her body before it washed out to sea. She prayed that Gabrielle and Eve wouldn't hate him and blame him for her death. A billion thoughts swirled in her head and then she made impact. The rocks were hard, but they weren't jagged and they were cushioned, cushioned with leather? She opened her eyes. She hadn't crashed at all. He had caught her before impact. He sat her gingerly on her feet before turning his malevolent gaze toward Enyo.

The goddess had fallen to the rocks. Her body spasmed in pain on the craggy stone.

"That is what you get! I told you to leave her alone." He worked up a fireball in his hand. With his powers also diminished it took it longer than usual to charge. Enyo did her best to scramble away. She tried to open a portal into the aether but she couldn't get the void to engulf her in time. Ares flung the ball at her. It hit her square in the head and singed her face off. Her lifeless body collapsed on the rocks before being dragged by the waves out to sea.

"Dead and without a head," Xena muttered to herself as she wrapped her arms around her body protectively.

Ares quickly turned and ran to Xena.

"You okay?"

"I am now, can we just go home?"

"You got, it." He mustered up the charge and zapped them to the master suite.