WHERE THE SKY AND SEA MEET

Xena folded her arms as she watched her lover pull the un-dead horse forward slowly by it's reins. "Are you sure you know where you're going?" Gabrielle pulled the horse around. She slowly pulled her staff apart putting it in one of the side bags. "Yes Xena." She pushed the weapon out of sight she wouldn't need it again it was absolutely useless where they were going. "You just have to follow me." Xena sighed aloud watching as Lector ran out of the barn she could already see the shock written all over his face. Lector breathed in deeply. "Your horse it's got!" Xena sighed aloud. "A big pair of wings, right?" Lector looked up surprise as he adjusted his shirt. "Yes how did you know?" Xena shrugged slightly. "It's a long story."

She patted his shoulder. "I'll tell you all about it when we get back." Lector blinked as he eased up his hand. "I'll get your horse…." Herodotus moved forward to where his daughter was standing. "Can't you both stay longer?" Hecuba watched as Xena grabbed the Mexican warrior by his bonds pulling him up from his sitting position on the floor. Gabrielle looked at the sai blades in her boots as she adjusted her brown leather wrist gauntlets slightly. "We can't, the longer we stay the worse we'll make it for Lila." Hecuba looked down sadly. "I was just hoping you could stay longer we miss you when your away." Gabrielle turned to meet her mothers gaze. "We'll be back soon mother I promise and Lila will be with us."

She looked up slightly. "Xena do you have that bag of gold?" Xena turned slightly. "You mean the one we got from Messene? She watched as her lover nodded. "I already gave that man the money for his barn and your dead horse." She pulled the bag out throwing it to her lover who caught it with one hand. Gabrielle opened the bag of gold. "This isn't for that." Herodotus blinked in shock as he watched her ease out ten pure gold coins. He turned staring at the Warrior Princess in shock. "You have gold?" Xena raised an eyebrow. "We also have a villa in Apollonia, which we can use when ever we please." She smiled inwardly enjoying the look of utter shock that was on Herodotus's face. He obviously thought that because she didn't have a home that she hadn't considered his daughter's future which she had.

She had even considered the fact that they could both settle down in Apollonia some time soon, hence why she'd had a long talk with the governor there before they'd left. Gabrielle put the coins in her mother's hands. "This should help you through the winter you can get more help for the fields and stock up better this season." Hecuba stared at the gold coins in her hands. "Where did you get this?" Gabrielle smiled slightly. "We helped the people of Messene a while back this was a gift." She looked up slightly. "If you need help of any kind you can send a message to a man in Messene called Demetrius his wife is called Alexia. He'll send people up here to help you."

She paused pulling something out of one of the horse's bags it was a long chain with a jade and silver pendent of a werewolf with deer antlers blowing on a horn who was dressed in armour, it was the symbol of Horn Hind the werewolf hero. She slowly placed it in her father's hand ignoring his surprise "Put this on Demetrius's men will recognize it instantly." Xena turned watching as Lector brought out her horse she could already see the huge feathered wings on ether side which were as golden as the mare's fur colours. She raised an eyebrow Aphrodite really didn't do things by half that was for sure her horse looked like a Pegasus. She leaned over taking the reigns watching as Argo pulled out her wings to full length flapping them.

Gabrielle took a better hold of her horse's reins only to feel it jerk its head violently as Argo came closer. The un-dead animal suddenly yanked on its reins rising up on to its hind legs screeching in anger as it flapped its huge torn wings. Xena didn't get a chance to think as Argo raised herself up on her hind legs naying in anger at the other horse. Gabrielle didn't think as she grabbed the reins. "Down!" The horse screeched again as it looked at Argo. "I said down!" Xena grabbed Argo's reins ignoring Lectors surprise. "Down, girl!" She watched as her horse ignored her as she carried on displaying in front of the other horse who screeched demonically flapping its wings. Gabrielle pulled on the reins hard. "Stop it now!"

The un-dead horse's glowing eyes moved for a moment as it lowered itself back on to all fours folding its wings back. Xena pulled Argo down watching as her feathered wings stopped beating and she slowly calmed down. "What in Tartarus was that all about?" Gabrielle looked at her horse. "I guess he just doesn't like Argo because she's alive." Xena slowly looked at all the bags checking they were in place, she turned seeing Gabrielle do the same. "We need to work on that." She slowly eased herself up in to the saddle. She breathed in turning Argo slightly. "Are you positive you know the way?" Gabrielle breathed in sharply as she pulled herself in to the saddle. "Yes Xena I am, will you please stop asking me that?"

Xena turned grabbing the Mexican warrior forcing him in to the saddle behind her, she sneered eyeing him. "Don't you dare try anything?" The Mexican warrior gave her a cold stare. Itzli slowly placed his hands which now had some rope in between them on the bags gripping tightly. Xena turned back watching as Herodotus came forward the older man sighed as he met her gaze. "Please just bring my youngest daughter back." Hecuba leaned over putting her hand on Xena's. "We have faith in you." She moved slowly over to her daughter who leaned over the saddle. She put her hand on her shoulder. "Are you sure you've both got everything?" Gabrielle smiled as her mother ran her hand through her hair. "We've got everything mother." Hecuba kissed her head lightly. "Please be careful."

Gabrielle pulled herself up slightly watching as her father came forward he slowly put his hand on hers. "As soon as you get back we'll talk. I promise you things are going to be different." Gabrielle met his gaze for a long moment. "I'll bring Lila home." Herodotus looked up slightly. "I know you will if anyone can bring her back then it's you and Xena." Gabrielle moved the horse forward slightly. "We'll be back soon I promise." Xena slowly followed her lover watching as Agro opened her huge feathered wings. "We'll return as soon as possible if you need anything send word to Messene, they won't disappoint you." Gabrielle turned her horse sharply so she could see Lector who was looking down sadly. "I'll tell my sister that you're a truly brave man and that she couldn't have picked better."

Lector blinked in surprise as he looked up slowly. "Thank you." He watched as she turned the dead horse whose wings opened fully as they began to flap full force. Gabrielle braced herself in the saddle. "Fly!" She felt the force as the horse burst in to gallop she felt it pull up as it began to lift in to the air. She held on tighter as its body left the floor and it soured upwards. She turned seeing Argo take flight behind her, the golden winged mare slowly followed her skywards. She gripped the reins tighter as she turned her horse flying over the houses causing commotion bellow as people looked up in surprise. Xena gripped the reins tighter following her lover she could see her parents waving bellow. She breathed watching Gabrielle wave to them before turning sharply in flight flying in the opposite direction. She breathed as she turned following her, today was going to be a long day she could feel it in her gut. She hadn't flown on a flying horse in what felt like ages. She leaned forward gripping the reins tighter as she followed her watching as Potidaea disappeared in to the distance.

8

Ares eyed Apollo's chariot again which was sitting outside of the Olympus along with another chariot owned by Eros a present from his father no doubt. Cupid's son looked about eighteen now and was turning in to a pain. He folded his arms eyeing Apollo's golden chariot again with its four black horses all with gold reins. He sneered as he walked forward he hated Apollo he was an annoying blonde haired idiot. He slowly eased himself on to the Chariot taking hold of the reins. He watched as the godly horses all turned to look at him. Apollo was busy visiting Zeus over some trivial matter in which Eros had destroyed something in his temple. His grip around the reins tightened it wasn't like he'd miss his chariot, he could just have another one made and right now he needed it. The idiot could do with out it…it was the better chariot after all and probably the only one that would take him to Mexica. He didn't have anymore time to waste Xena and Gabrielle had already started there flight towards the ocean.

"You're leaving?"

Ares turned sharply meeting Aphrodite's gaze. "What do you want?" Aphrodite looked down sadly. "Why can't you just leave them alone?" Ares let go of the reins as he slowly walked towards her. "It should be me in Xena's bedroll, not your irritating blonde friend." Aphrodite shook her head. "You can't change the fates loom." Ares sneered slightly. "I don't need to change the loom I can change time its self." Aphrodite looked up slightly. "Don't do this." Ares leaned forward. "You can't stop me!" Aphrodite narrowed her gaze. "Why can't you just accept that Xena doesn't love and will never love you?!" Ares pulled back he put his hand on his sword hilt. "Because she was mine once and she'll be mine again!"

Aphrodite turned sharply. "She's not yours because you treated her badly and tried to control her. She broke free and found her soul mate as she was destining to." She raised her hand. "Even if you do change time you can't stop her meeting Gabrielle. It will always happen and nothing you can do will stop that from happening." She turned away slowly. "C'thulon will never for fill any request you give." Ares narrowed his gaze. "Then why did C'thulon for fill your irritating blonde friends?" Aphrodite turned slightly meeting his gaze. "He didn't for fill it the first time around he twisted her request and he'll twist yours. You'll never win against the god of gods."

She eased up her hand slightly. "If you get to him that is, with out being seriously hurt or even killed by his children first." Ares took a step back. "I'm not afraid of the Aztec gods." Aphrodite moved forward. "Gabrielle was right about you! You're so selfish you don't care about any one but yourself." She turned sharply. "Even when Xena died in Japan you were selfish…you wouldn't even go to Japan to save her." She narrowed her gaze. "You just tormented Gabrielle instead! Claiming you cared about her just like you cared about Xena and then treating her even worse than you ever treated Xena and all so you could bring to your side." Ares laughed coldly as he put his hand on his chest. "Me care for that irritating little blonde? Please don't insult my intelligence!"

Aphrodite raised her finger. "Oh I'm not insulting your intelligence because I was the one who had to pick up the pieces after you tried to break her. I disliked you then for doing it and I dislike you now for your pure arrogance and selfishness." Ares sneered slightly. "Ouch, now I had no idea that you even knew what the word dislike meant." Aphrodite turned away. "I do you taught it to me, makes me wish that you could remember the other lifetime in full." Her gaze drifted up to meet his. "The Olympian twilight has been averted. Yet all you want is to ruin it for everyone by making a warped version of the future. In which Xena is the conqueror of nations and you're her lover and everyone else including the gods are suffering."

Ares turned back grabbed the reins of the Apollo's chariot. "The other gods have never cared about me so I see no reason as to why I should care about them." Aphrodite put a hand on her chest. "The gods do care about you Ares you're just too selfish to realize it." She put both hands together. "Zeus doesn't want you to go to Mexica he's worried about you." Ares gripped the reins tighter. "Zeus is a coward he's never cared about me! He always picked other gods over me like Athena or you." Aphrodite shook her head. "No Ares he does care its just you've never taken the time to actuality see it. He just doesn't know how to say it to you ether, he never has. When ever he's tried to show you kindness you belittled him."

Ares tapped the reins bringing the horses forward. "I don't need him or you or any one else on Mount Olympus." Aphrodite sighed aloud. "You don't have to prove anything to the other gods or your father." Ares eyed her as he turned back to the Chariot which he stopped. "Go back to Zeus and tell him you failed in talking to me. After all he did send you to speak to me didn't he?" Aphrodite shook her head. "No Ares he didn't I came to speak to you because I care about you, you're my brother." Ares eyed her for a long moment. "I'm your half brother and you're the offspring off a Titan not an Olympian." Aphrodite eased up her hands. "Does that matter?" Ares grabbed the reins cracking them hard. "Tell Zeus that he's a coward." Aphrodite breathed in deeply watched as the four horses moved in to the air pulling the golden chariot after them. The god off war disappeared in to the clouds high above. As the chariot got faster its horse's hooves began spraying out gold light as they galloped through the sky disappearing altogether. She lowered her gaze sadly he was being so foolish what was it going to take for him to see that?

8

Gabrielle looked down ignoring the cries of surprise as they flew over the Ambracia, they'd made good time but the travel across the sea was going to gruelling and punishing and they'd be flying all night. Despite that the winged horses were far faster than any ship it wouldn't help matters. They'd first have to stop on one of the land messes known as the Canaria Islands which was far out to sea. Then they'd have to carry across the endless ocean towards another set of set of islands called the Greater Antilles and land on the one called Cuba. From there it would be straight on to Mexica. The only good thing was that this time around she wouldn't be on a boat. The first boat she'd travelled on to Mexica had been covered in freezing spray during part of the trip which had turned the mast and deck to ice.

The thought of breaking chilling ice with a hammer day in day out didn't thrill her. It was price she'd paid for being on that ship so long not that the months of sea sickness had helped ether. She was not looking forward to landing on Cuba ether if anything she was going to be looking out for one of the ships in particular which was called the Archipelago. Assuming the dock was still there and time hadn't changed on those islands. Its captain had taken it up on himself to strand her on Mexica despite that she'd given him the money to pay for the crossing there and back. She'd had to wait a whole three weeks before finally getting picked up by a trade ship whose crew thought that she was cursed because Itzli was with her. She'd been so happy when they'd finally dropped her off back on Cuba, where she could get another ship back to Crete.

She'd stayed in Crete for a week just to rest up before catching the last boat which had taken her back to Corinth where she'd make her way back home. She breathed watching as the ocean appeared bellow as they both flew over it. They quickly passed by small boats and merchant ships who had left the dock. She breathed in sadly she was going to truly miss Greece no doubt it was going to be a long time before her and Xena would be sitting on the beach outside the villa in Apollonia again. She swung her head around seeing that her lover was following just behind her. She could see Itzli who was unmoving and keeping quite as they flew across the sea which was now churning. Poseidon who was probably unhappy about them using his sea as a crossing she turned slightly not that they could help that, this was the only way to get to their first island stop.

In The Lands Of Mexica

Lila turned looking at Tlaloc as he dragged her through the main street. "You're hurting my arm!" Tlaloc turned slowly eyeing her. "I could hurt a lot more you should keep that in mind." Amoxtli laughed slightly. "Pain…pain glorious pain!" Lila looked at her. "You sound like you like it." Amoxtli turned sharply. "Pain is natures way of saying your alive." She put a hand on her chest. "The problem is I'm not alive and I can't feel it anymore unless I get hurt by another un-dead warrior." Lila turned sharply. "You've both said this before! Yet you look alive to me." Tlaloc brought them to a stop he turned eyeing Amoxtli. "Please, satisfy her curiosity." Amoxtli grunted in annoyance she came forward pulling her long curved dagger free.

Tlaloc grabbed the girl pushing her forward by her shoulders as her terrified eyes widened. "You wanted to know Lila allow her to show you." Lila pulled back in terror as Amoxtli raised the dagger to her chin. She could feel her whole body shaking in fear. "Please don't kill me." Amoxtli smiled as she moved the weapon slowly towards her own arm. "The dagger isn't for you little fool." She slowly moved it across her lower wrist watching as the blood flowed free. She ran it up her palm watching as the fake skin disintegrated in a blast of red flames. She slowly raised her bleached bloody skeleton hand moving the fingers slightly watching as the Greek girl screamed in terror. "Does this clear it up for you? Or would you like me cut off my face so you can get a better look?"

She moved her fingers again this time closer to the girls face ignoring the cries of terror from the people around them. Lila stared at the bloody skeleton fingers which moved again she felt her self shiver. "I…I…" Amoxtli smirked. "You understand now don't you?" Lila nodded trying to control her shaking body. Amoxtli grinned as she stepped back. "Good, so now that you know that I'm dead and he'd dead." She pulled her skeleton hand back. "We can all get back to our normal lives." She watching as the fake skin slowly reappeared covering her bloody skeleton hand up completely. She moved her fake flesh fingers watching as the last scars made by the dagger disappeared. "Now don't waste any more of our time with your stupid questions!"

Tlaloc sneered in disgust. "Yes we have places to be and people to kill…." Lila turned in shock. "You kill people?!" Tlaloc leaned down slightly. "Yes we kill people…namely those who don't give enough tribute to our all powerful god." Lila blinked as she looked at him. "You kill people for that?!" Amoxtli grabbed her arm. "Yes we kill people for that you stupid little fool!" She dragged her forward ignoring the surprised looks the people gave them as they moved aside in fear. "What people don't die for that in Greece?" Lila tensed slightly. "No they don't die for that in Greece!" Tlaloc pulled up his huge club with its grooved edges swinging it over his shoulder. "Oh yes where you come from the gods are pathetic…they've lost the spine to kill."

Lila narrowed her gaze. "No their, civilised…." Amoxtli sniggered. "Being civilised is for the weak minded." She slowly met Lila's gaze. "Power is obtained through fear and suffering. Those who don't suffer don't grow stronger they grow lenient and weak." Lila pulled back slightly. "We also grow smarter and learn literate and poetry." Amoxtli eyed her in annoyance. "The feathered serpent's people know how to write poetry and literature! Ours is probably far better than yours." Tlaloc sneered in disgust. "You talk to much Lila…and frankly you don't look like much of a poet more a peasant." Lila turned sharply. "My older sister is a bard! She taught me a lot about poetry and literature."

Amoxtli rolled her eyes. "Your older sister isn't here right now, so don't bore us with how intelligent she is. Or how you believe you're just as intelligent just because you listen to her." Tlaloc swung his weapon in a flowing motion. "I doubt you're that intelligent, if you were that smart you wouldn't be here waiting for an early death." Lila sneered trying to control her anger as she met his gaze. "Well you can't be that smart ether…your dead!" Tlaloc stopped in mid motion he turned grinding his teeth together as he met her gaze. "Are you insulting me peasant girl?!" Lila swallowed trying to find her courage which was suddenly disappearing. "Yes…."

Tlaloc slowly stepped forward watching as Amoxtli let go of her arm. "You know you don't have to go your death in one piece. I could cut off your arm or perhaps cripple you." Lila looked up slowly narrowing her gaze as her hand formed a fist. "I'm not afraid of you…." Tlaloc grabbed her face holding it. "You should be Lila because I never bluff!" He eyed her for a long moment there was something familiar about her, it wasn't her it was more her angry expression he'd seen it before on another's face. He shook his head letting go of her face harshly. It was his imagination playing tricks on him, there was no way in hell that this peasant girl could be related to the person he was thinking about, she didn't even look like her.

He grunted walking away letting his thought go he was just winding himself up. Amoxtli took hold of Lila's arm again. "You should be thankful to who ever it you pray to that you're still alive he normally hurts people for words like that." She grinned meeting the woman's light blue gaze. "I can't tell if you're just a stupid fool or a courageous fool? Ether way if want to keep your limbs I'd keep your mouth shut." Lila breathed in deeply this was awful she was with two dead warriors who didn't care or feel about anything. All they could do was be violent and savage. She lowered her gaze she wanted to be back at home with her mother and father. She wanted to be in Lectors arms next to warm fire kissing his lips she wanted to feel his warm comforting protection. Yet he wasn't here and all she could feel was her loneliness and fear welling up in the pit of her stomach.

End of part 15

Silvermoonlight

The Canaria is the ancient name for the Canary Islands. The Greater Antilles is the Islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea. I had trouble finding the old name for Cuba as my ancient map only covers 1736. If I come across it I will fix the name to match the ancient one.