OF LOST LOVES AND BROKEN DREAMS
Xena eased Argo forward she turned slightly catching sight of the fertility goddess's city which could be seen in the distance. Ohtli had led them out of the city then he had then gone back inside with his warriors. She turned slightly she was glad that they'd managed to leave the place with out any problems and that her lover hadn't been tied up when they'd left. She turned looking at the mountains far ahead, her gaze slowly drifted to her lover who was moving her un-dead horse along. "Where are we headed?" Gabrielle smiled slightly. "As far as those mountains over there." She raised her hand feeling her smile widen. "Then we have to turn and follow the river west."
Itzli lowered his gaze, as he pulled up his weapon up in a fluid motion at least those idiots back at the city hadn't ruined it. Gabrielle moved closer to her lover as she pulled the Aztec bag over her shoulder. "That should get us past Huitzilopochtli region." Xena looked up slightly. "The Aztec god of war?" Gabrielle nodded slightly. "Yes." Xena breathed in deeply. "Did you meet him?" Gabrielle nodded calmly. "I met him only once, yes." Xena narrowed his gaze. "What is he like?" Gabrielle breathed in sharply. "He's a lot nicer than Ares, but he gave me an offer very much like the offers Ares always gives you. I told him I wasn't interested."
Xena breathed in sharply. "What was the offer?" Gabrielle breathed in slowly and deeply. "He wanted me to become head of his grand Hummingbird armies." Xena turned slightly. "Is the offer he gave you still open?" Gabrielle slowly met her gaze. "Yes but I would never take it…it was no better than an offer from Ares." Gabrielle carried on moving only to feel her self stop in mid motion as she caught sight of the swamp land bellow. There was a steep embankment which led down in to it, it was all too familiar. "We should stay clear of these marshes." Xena looked at the swamp land bellow. "Why what's down there?" Gabrielle sneered slightly. "A monstrous snake called Milintica."
Xena felt her whole body stiffen up she looked around her at the jungle she leaned over lowering her voice. "Someone's following us." Gabrielle felt her gaze dart. "I know they've been following us for over half an hour." She slowly stopped her horse watching as Xena did the same her gaze moved as Itzli raised his weapon as he realized something was wrong. Gabrielle didn't think as she grabbed one of her sai blades easing it up slowly. "I hate being followed." Xena pulled her sword free in a fluid motion. "Another set of fools who want your head I assume?" Gabrielle twirled her weapon. "Probably…." Itzli pulled up his weapon grinning slightly. "Well then you can do what you do best Blood Jaguar, kill them." He ignored Xena's look of disgust as he readied himself. "Rip out their insides like you did the twelve elite." Gabrielle turned away ignoring his wide grin she slowly moved forward so she was in front. "Come out now! I know you're here!" She stopped still watching as her lover moved slowly forward to stand next to her.
"You talk to much Blood Jaguar."
The Star Coyote stepped forward out of the trees watching as Amimitl and Ehecatl followed her. "You've always talked too much." Gabrielle felt herself stiffen in shock as the golden Coyote warriors mask came in to view with its black and white feathers. The black and white coils swayed with the small woman's movements she was closely followed by a number of skeletons warriors. She felt her grip tighten on her weapon as the woman who was about her height came to a stop she couldn't see her face the mask hid it far to well. All she could see was the dark tanned skin which even to her eyes was slightly to light in colour, her long black hair hung down well over her shoulders. She swallowed it was the woman from her vision.
She breathed in deeply as she raised her weapon. "Who are you?" The Star coyote smiled as she eased two long curved Greek Xiphos swords free. "Oh I'm a servant of one of the gods, you may have heard of me I'm called the Star Coyote." Gabrielle narrowed her gaze. "Sorry I've never heard of you." The Star Coyote sneered slightly. "You should do you put me here!" Gabrielle twirled her weapon slightly. "Oh let me guess you're from the temple of fire aren't you? I heard that Itzpapalotl punished everyone important, after I burnt that temple to the ground." The Star Coyote put her hands together her cold voice hitting the air again. "Burnt it to the ground no, you created black power with the fertility goddess's pendent then you blew it sky high."
Gabrielle narrowed her gaze. "How do you know about the black powder? No one in these lands knows what it is." The Star Coyote raised her hand ignoring her question. "I'm not one of Itzpapalotl's lap dogs and I had nothing to do with her temple. Though from what I heard everyone who was meant to be guarding that temple and making sacrifices was flayed alive then thrown in to hell." She smiled slightly. "They say that you bring hell where ever you go Blood Jaguar and that would seem to be true." Itzli sneered in disgust. "I think you talk too much frankly. Also Star Coyote, what kind of a name is that anyway, it sounds pathetic?" The Star Coyote turned to look at the Warrior Princess she felt her smile soften.
Gabrielle didn't think as she pulled her other sai blade free. "What do you want?" The Star Coyote smiled as she looked up watching as the warriors behind her readied themselves. "Tezcatlipoca wants your head on a platter." Gabrielle sneered slightly. "I see so he sent you to do his dirty work for him? I'm flattered…." The Star Coyote stepped sideways enjoying the unnerving effect it was having on the Blood Jaguar. She could see the three skeleton warriors positioning themselves in the trees above. This was not going to be easy by any length of the imagination she knew that already. "You haven't changed one bit, your still arrogant and self righteous."
Xena felt her gaze dart something was wrong here, her lover hadn't noticed it because she was too focused on the Star Coyote. Who looked familiar to her somehow but she couldn't place the voice. The Star Coyote narrowed her light brown eyes she eased up her pendent watching as pulsed with red light. "Let's see how far that arrogance takes you when the stars come crashing down on you, shall we?" Xena turned feeling her world slow down she looked up only to watch in surprise as a huge shaft of white and red light appeared in the sky above. It huge flames blasted outwards as it came towards them full force. The floor in front of them was blown apart as it slammed in to it sending dirt and earth skywards with immense force.
Xena was thrown sideways as the dirt blew up around her she grunted aloud feeling the pain as her shoulder impacted with a tree. She groaned in pain pulling herself away from the trunk only to feel her eyes sting because of the dirt which was now all around her. It was like being in a sandstorm she couldn't see a thing! Gabrielle was thrown backwards she felt the floor as she slammed in to it back first. She heard Itzli cry out painfully as he hit the floor close by but she couldn't see him in the storm of dust and dirt which was now everywhere. She clutched her weapon tighter as she pulled herself up sharply feeling herself growl aloud as she looked around her.
Xena looked up trying to see through the dust, what in Tartarus was going on?! She felt all her muscles tense she knew something had been wrong! This was a trap of some kind and the Star Coyote was using some powerful godly object to do her bidding. She raised her hand as she moved in to the storm she had to find her lover. Maybe this was her lovers dream she'd said it had been a female Aztec warrior! If that was so she then there was a chance that she might loose this battle. It was true that Gabrielle's dream visions weren't always accurate but most of the time they were very close. She felt her eyes sting as the dirt and dust swept past her.
Gabrielle narrowed her gaze feeling the dirt as it stung her eyes she turned only to feel the agonizing pain as a wooden hilt was slammed directly in to her face. She looked up as she stumbled back watching as the Star Coyote appeared, the dirt storm around her parted on both sides as her pendent glowed with red light. Gabrielle pulled up her other sai blade only to feel it slam in to the other woman's sword. She felt the force as both weapons grinded together she swung her other sai blade only to feel it hit metal as the Star Coyote's blade flew up. She felt her feet dig in to the ground as she tried to push against the other woman who didn't budge. She pulled back only to feel the force as the blade slammed in to her sai blade again full force.
She pulled back narrowly missing the other blade as it swept past her face, she didn't get a chance to think as the other weapons hilt slammed in to her face knocking her side ways. She ignored the pain as she stepped to one side as both blades came down full force. She brought up her weapon hilt watching as hit the Star Coyote in the arm causing her pull back. Both weapons swung past her face again she narrowed her gaze as watched the woman twist on her heels she was using her own fighting style against her! The pain suddenly came again as the woman's foot slammed in to her stomach. She jumped back bringing the sai blades points forward only to feel the force as both the woman's weapon came down on hers again.
The Star Coyote sneered as she pushed against the sai blades. "Your rusty what's wrong not been killing anyone recently?" Gabrielle didn't think as she brought up her leg slamming it in to the woman's knee. "Like you, you mean? No their already dead, maybe you'd like to join them!" The next moments suddenly turned to agony as the woman's weapon hilt came up slamming in to her chin. The Star Coyote watched as blood flew through her opponent's teeth, she brought the other weapon around again slicing the blade across the other woman's shoulder. Gabrielle winced ignoring the pain and the blood as it started to run down her arm as there weapons smashed again. The Star Coyote pulled back only to feel her rage burn as their weapons smashed again with even more force.
Gabrielle cried out in anger she carried on trying to find an opening only to find that for every blow she was making it was being matched stroke for stroke. She ignored the cold feeling of blood as it ran down her chin as there weapons collide again. She couldn't break through the woman defences and she was already bleeding! She pushed against the Greek blades again feeling her feet grind in to the floor, the fact that she couldn't see the woman's whole face was even more annoying! She found herself feeling even more pain as the wooden hilt suddenly looped around smashing in her arm causing a spike of pain. She found herself screaming with rage as she brought her sai blade around watching it collided with the Coyote headdress.
One of the gold plates on the snout cracked with the force of her blow, causing the other woman to stumble back in surprise. She didn't think as she sliced the blade across the other woman's exploded upper knee before she could pull back any further. She slammed her foot around knocking the Star Coyote over, she pulled back watching as the other woman hit the floor back first. The Star Coyote snarled in disgust she watched as the blood ran down her leg. She felt her grip on her weapons tighten as she pulled herself on to her knees she felt every muscle tense as she watched the sai blades rise up. Gabrielle didn't get a chance to think as pain burnt through her system as the other woman's weapon hilt came up slamming in to her stomach.
Her scream of agony hit the air as the other blade came around plunging in to her side. The burning pain took over only to be replaced with more pain as the wooden hilt came up impacting with her jaw causing more blood to fly through her teeth. The sound of the blade shattering hit the air as it was yanked free with immense force. The Star Coyote brought up her broken weapon she watched as the Blood Jaguar stared at her in shock, she could see blood leaked out from the deep wound. The tip of her blade had shattered, which meant the tip was stuck in the blonde woman's side which was even better. She twirled both blades around so the hilts were facing forward.
Gabrielle felt her head sting as the blows came all to fast she was in to much pain to stop them. She was feeling the dizziness as the wooden hilt hit her in the head again. She tried to raise her sai blades only to feel the other wooden hilt impact with already wounded side. She tried to focus only to be hit again, in the shoulder the other weapon came around impacting with her upper knee. Her rage began to burn all too suddenly as she stumbled back feeling the blood run down her nose. She couldn't stop her scream which filled the air as she brought the sai blade. All she could feel was the intense anger and hate as it took over, the weapon flew upwards slamming in to the Star Coyote's face. Everything slowed down as the Coyote headdress was thrown off it flew skywards only to land near the other woman's feet.
She felt her breath come out in one horrible rush as she stared at the face looking back at her. It was like some horrible dream that she didn't want to be real. "You!?" The Star Coyote didn't think as she pushed both weapons back in to their scabbards. Her fingers came up slamming in to the shocked and dazed woman's neck. Gabrielle felt her body freeze as the stinging pain took over her, whole body felt like it was on fire as she hit the floor hard on her knees. Her hands couldn't hold her weapons which fell from her shaking fingers hitting the floor. She could feel her lungs burning as the pinches effects set in. Her breath was coming out quicker and harder as she tried desperately to breath.
She felt her gaze widen even more as the woman leaned over so their faces where almost touching. The pain was getting worse by the second and she could feel the pressure as it began to travel up her spine. She couldn't move she was paralyzed in place nothing would work not even her fingers which stung with sharp pain as she tried to move them. The Star Coyote watched the green eyes widened, she could see the dust storm which was still thick around them. "I don't need to tell you that you have thirty seconds to live, because you already know that don't you Gabrielle?" She smiled turning slightly. "You can already feel your life ebbing away can't you?"
She smiled raising her hand. "Xena taught it to me, but I heard she taught it to you to." Gabrielle struggled harder to speak, her neck was burning and every letter hurt as it left her throat. "Akemi…" Akemi sneered slightly. "Yes…but here they call me Star Coyote, because I can bring down the stars as you've already seen…." She turned looking at her darker skin. "As you can see C'thulon changed my skin colour and my voice, it was a cruel joke of his so I'd fit in with his vile people." She leaned closer enjoying Gabrielle's pain. "When you took Xena away from me C'thulon destroyed my tea house and took away my soul. He sent me to his version of hell, where a mere hour to you is a season to me!"
She snarled aloud. "He finally set me free from his living hell and handed me over to my new master as a gift." She narrowed her gaze. "I made it my ambition to find out everything about you, to study you're escapades in Mexica. I waited hoping that you'd return and now you have." She pulled her unbroken sword free. "I'm so glad you did." Gabrielle could see her sight blurring in and out as she stared in to Akemi's light brown eyes. She tried harder to breathe the pressure was now in her upper neck and she could feel needle like pain in her head. Akemi slowly ran the blade of the dagger down the blonde woman's upper chest near her lower neck leaving a bloody trail. "I'm going to destroy you Gabrielle…."
She put the bloody weapon away, she could see that the woman was on the brink of death blood was starting to run down her nose as she tried desperately to fight the pinches effects. "Know this I'm not going to kill you today…but I am going to kill your soul piece by piece. I'm going to take away what you love and need the most and what's kept you sane…the Warrior Princess is going to be mine." Gabrielle choked painfully only to feel the fingers jab her neck, she fell forward coughing. She could feel the blood dripping down the side of her face. One of her back teeth in her lower jaw was stinging she watched as the sand storm slowly parted behind her. She could see the steep embankment which she was within inches of.
Akemi smiled as she picked up her headdress. "I have a present waiting for you down there, he's called Tlalli." Gabrielle looked up struggling even harder to focus. Her body was screaming with pain, every time she moved it hurt. Akemi smirked as she took a step closer watching as the green eyes met her own again. "I do hope you enjoy meeting him." Gabrielle looked up only to see the woman's foot as it impacted with her face. She was thrown backwards only to feel the force as her body hit the embankment. Everything turned to a horrible blur as she smashed in to bushes and trees on the way down. She slammed in to ankle deep cold water on her front.
The sound in her ears died all at once and was replaced by a painfully ringing she pulled her face out of freezing cold water watching as it dripped off her hair. She groaned trying to get up only to hit the water on her front due to her lack of strength caused by her wound. She had to get up! She had to get up now for Xena's sake. She ignored the pain as she tried to rise to her knees only to feel the ice cold water as she hit it once again. She watched as her sight blurred fully as she tried to get to her knees. She felt herself cry out in pain as she pulled herself up on to her feet. She felt the sound as it came back in her ears which made her close her eyes painfully. Her whole body swayed slightly as she tried to step forward she could feel the stinging pain in the back of her jaw again. She coughed only to feel the weakness kick in fully. Her feet instantly lost their footing and she felt the cold water as she hit it on her back. Everything slowly turned to darkness as she lost consciousness.
8
Xena turned trying to see through the dirt she couldn't see a damn thing! She moved sideways as she caught sight of a dark shadow moving. She eased up her sword as the figure staggered forward. She felt her teeth grind together as she caught sight of the feathered head dress with the hawk like beak which was getting closer. She swung her sword only to stop in mid motion as she met Itzli's half closed gaze, the Aztec warrior pulled back raising his hand in panic. "Don't kill me you idiot!" Xena didn't think as she grabbed him with her free hand. "Where's Gabrielle!?" Itzli lowered his head feeling the stringing in his eyes. "I don't know! Even if did know it wouldn't matter, she ordered me to protect you!"
Xena pulled back. "What!" Itzli raised his weapon. "I have to do everything she tells me!" Xena grunted aloud, she couldn't believe this! Her gaze narrowed as she watched the sand storm suddenly part around her as three figures appeared. She snarled aloud recognising the Coyote warrior's headdress which now had a long deep crack running across the gold plating. The Star Coyote's over shadowed face could be seen along with the faces of the two skeletons warriors, who appeared behind her. Xena narrowed her gaze catching sight of blood which was dripping drown from a long wound on her upper leg, she looked up slowly sneering at the smaller woman. "I see you're not looking so good."
The Star Coyote ran her finger along the crack on her gold plated headdress a smile slowly spread across her lips. "You should see the Blood Jaguar, she looks a lot worse." She slowly eased out the broken sword with its shattered tip. "Having half of this stuck in her side can't be very pleasant." She threw the broken sword watching as it landed at the tall warrior's feet. "The pain must be agonizing, wouldn't you agree?" Itzli sneered slightly. "Bitch you're lying, no one can take down the Blood Jaguar!" The Star Coyote narrowed her gaze. "Oh am I? Well if you survive this battle you can go and find her dead body slave! I'm sure you'll find the other half of this blade's tip sticking out of her side!" She turned slowly to Xena as she eased out her Katana from its scabbard raising it slowly with one hand.
Xena pulled the Chakram free in a violent motion she didn't care who this bitch was anymore. The thought of her lover lying wounded somewhere made her mad, she didn't even care if it was just a trick ether she was going to kill them all! The Star Coyote looked up slightly raising her glowing red pendent with her other hand. "You really don't want to do that Xena." Xena snarled as she threw the Chakram full force she watched as it sped towards the Star Coyote who kept perfectly still. She pulled back as the weapon came to a screaming stop before it could touch the gold headdress. The Star Coyote smiled ignoring both the skeleton warriors who had ducked in panic. She raised her finger touching the razor edge of the now floating ring. "Beautiful weapon…would you like it back?"
Xena didn't get a chance to think she dropped her sword as the Chakram suddenly flew back full force in her direction. She breathed in, in panic as she grabbed it mid flight. The next moments turned to agonising pain as her body was thrown backwards with painfully force. She felt the tree behind her as she hit back first. She grunted in pain as the Chakram's razor tip sliced in to both her palms. Itzli pulled back in panic watching as the Warrior Princess heaved herself up on to her knees. He could see the blood leaking from her palms. The bitch was cheating she was using godly powers of some kind! Xena snarled aloud as she pulled herself up painfully to her feet clutching the bloody Chakram what in Tartarus had just happened?
She could hear the skeleton warriors laughing at her, she coughed painfully. "Coward!" The Star Coyote smiled. "You should give yourself up it'd be much easier and less painfully. After all we didn't come here for the Blood Jaguar, we came here for you." She raised her hand. "Now!" She watched as the other three skeleton warriors appeared, walking out the sand storm. "Kill the slave! I want him dead you hear me!" Itzli didn't get a chance to think as all three skeletons leapt at him the first collided with his body. He winced in pain as he was pushed back in to the sand storm, which closed around him in an instant causing the dirt to sting his eyes. He turned only to feel the agonizing pain as an axe sliced across his upper shoulder causing red blood to leak down his arm.
He lowered his head ignoring the stinging pain as he watched the sand move around him. He raised his weapon slowly feeling all his muscles tense bastards he was going to make them crawl home in ten pieces! He turned watching the shadows move around him, one of them was with inches of him he didn't think as he swung his weapon full force. The sound of bone shattering hit his ears he turned seeing one of the warriors skeleton arms as it was smashed in half. The skeleton let out a scream of pain. He swung his axe smashing it through his ribs watching as most of them shattered. The warrior fell down hard at his feet crying out in pain, he could see the headdress clearly now, it was a pitiful lower ranking warrior.
He didn't think as he brought his weapon down full force on his skull watching as it smashed to pieces. The skeleton's body shook as it fell sideways, head less and flailing. How pathetic, he'd killed lesser people for free and it was far more inspiring that this. He swung the axe taking one of the flailing arms off before swinging at the leg watching it shattered in half. He kicked the still moving skeleton back in to the dust storm the little bastard would probably spend the next three months trying to put his pieces back together. That was the great thing about the skeleton warriors despite that you couldn't kill them you could send them crawling home in a million pieces and it would take them months to heal up afterwards, it was their greatest weakness.
He swung his axe lowering his head to the sand storm he'd fought so many battles on the sun gods boarders with his brother. There he'd learnt the fine art of taking these skeleton fools down. He didn't feel like a warrior when he wasn't fighting, battle had always filled him with pleasure and he'd always been admired by women for it. He watched another shadow moved through the storm barely visible. His older brother had been such a great warrior, yet he'd never gained any admiration from women despite his conquests. It was odd that his brother had always seemed empty on the inside despite his noble front outside. He'd always found that sad. His brother had died for that nobility because he'd come to his protection when fighting the Blood Jaguar and it had cost him his life.
He turned watching the shadows move again, his older brother had deserved that love more than him after all he had trained him. The only problem was with out realizing it he'd overshadow his brother and surpassed him. He roared in anger as he swung his axe watching as it smashed through a skeleton hand holding a weapon. The Blood Jaguar had taught him even more, from just watching her he knew that not to fear death made you stronger. He twirled the axe smashing it in to the screaming skeletons face sending shattered bone every where. Warriors feared to die because they wanted a noble death, but if you didn't fear death, death would never come to you and everything was with in your reach.
He snarled as he smashed his weapon across the skeletons spine separating its rib cage from its body. It's shaking legs fell over disappearing in to the sand storm. He turned again paying close attention to the shadows if the last little bastard had any sense he'd run away. He turned trying to ignore the stinging in his eyes if he found him he'd mangle him just like his friends! Xena eyed the Star Coyote she looked at her bleeding palms she watched as the blood ran down her wrists. She snarled aloud she was going to kill her! She was going cut her up slowly and she was going to enjoy every minute of it! She slowly put the Chakram on its hook as she picked up fallen her sword in a violent motion.
The Star Coyote stepped forward putting her other hand on the Katana she swung it in a beautiful looping motion. "I really don't want to hurt you Xena…reconsider." Xena didn't think as she moved forward holding her sword tighter. "Come and get some!" She felt the force as both their weapons collided she grunted feeling the weapons grind together. The Star Coyote growled aloud. "You can't hope to defeat me Xena!" She dodged as the taller woman tried to kick at her. She felt there blades collide again she pulled back narrowly avoiding the sword as it came with in inches of her face. She knew what she had to do, she just had to wear the Warrior Princess down slightly it would make the next part of her plan work beautifully.
She swung the sword watching as the Warrior Princess back flipped avoiding the blade. Xena swung her fist only to snarl as the smaller girl dodged she was used to this with Gabrielle, but not with others! She felt the force as both there swords impacted again with even more force, this woman was only Gabrielle's height and it was clear that she almost as skilled as her lover. She swung her sword as she brought up her elbow only to watch in annoyance as the woman moved with lightning speed avoiding her blow. The next moments turned to pain as the Katana skimmed past her shoulder. She cried out feeling the stinging pain, she pulled back watching as blood began to drip down her arm. The Star Coyote twirled the blade. "I always loved that move…it took me forever to work out a counter for it."
She twirled the blade again reading herself again there was no need to do killing blows she wasn't trying to kill the taller woman she just wanted to weaken her. She stepped back watching as the warriors carefully moved they'd only get one shot at this. She watched as her pendent began to glow again cheating was never really fair but saying that when was life ever fair? Xena roared in anger as their weapons met again this time though the force caused pain in her fingers as if she'd been stuck. The Star Coyote smiled the taller warrior brought her weapon around again only to scream in pain as her weapon hit hers. "With every action there is a conscience…are you enjoying the feeling of your souls pain Xena?"
Xena coughed feeling blood come up she brought her weapon around only to feel more pain spasm through her body. It was agonizingly painful worse than being hit by one of Alti's illusions. The Star Coyote smiled as their swords clashed again only to cause the warriors legs to buckle in an instant. She watched as the tall woman hit the floor coughing in agony. She smiled slightly "If I'd had time I would have done this to your lover unlike you she feels her evil much more, where as you just repress yours. For her this would have been so much worse." Xena stumbled to her feet ignoring the stinging pain. The Star Coyote smiled slightly. "You've fought gods and monsters but here the rules are different, here your own soul can be used against you."
She smirked watching as the warrior readied herself. "It's not the same peasant magic as your gods use on Greek shores ether! Here your truly helpless didn't your lover tell you that?" Xena turned she screamed as their swords impacted again only to scream as pain flew through her limbs causing her to double over in pain. "Who are you?" The Star Coyote brought down her sword watching as it impacted with Xena's which caused the warrior immense pain causing her to stumble back further. "You'll find out soon enough…." Xena didn't think as she grabbed the Chakram bringing it towards the Star Coyotes face. She felt even more pain as their swords grinded against each other, which caused her to let go of the bloody weapon which left her hand too soon.
She heard it fly only to hit a tree in the distance somewhere the pain was coming thick and fast now. It felt like the strength was being drained from her body. She pulled away feeling herself breath in painfully. The Star Coyote smiled the moment was so close the warrior had lost her most prized weapon and it wasn't as if Gabrielle could use it anymore, she'd lost that ability after turning back time. Xena sneered bringing her sword down on the Katana blade only to cry out more feeling herself hit the floor on her knees as she clutched her chest painfully, her heart felt like it was about to explode. The Star Coyote moved forward grabbing her arm ignoring her scream as the full force of her pendent was felt. "Welcome to Mexica!" She watched as the floor lit up with red light all around them.
Itzli could see the shadows moving he roared in anger as he smashed though the sandstorm only to see it clear. He watched in horror as the Star Coyote grabbed the fallen Warrior Princess's arm. In an instant both skeleton warriors leapt in to the red light which blasted upwards as they disappeared. He pulled back watching in shock as the dirt came cracking down around him as the sand storm stopped instantly. He looked up seeing that the last skeleton warrior was running away disappearing in to the distance. He obviously didn't want to meet the same fate as his friends. He roared in anger as he looked around him how had this all gone so wrong? They had beaten everyone they'd met so far so why had this battle failed! He looked around him, where the hell was the Blood Jaguar!?
8
Xena felt the pain as her face impacted with a cold stone floor, she coughed in agony as she closed her eyes trying to take the pain. The Star Coyote slowly backed away from Xena this would all be over soon. Xena was still a much better warrior than she was and she didn't want to cause her anymore pain. She put her hand on the pendent watching as it stopped glowing. Xena groaned watching as the Star Coyote stepped back along with the two others skeleton warriors. She pulled herself painfully up on to her knees. "Fight me you coward!" She groaned aloud trying to take the pain her gaze caught sight of the bloody floor with its Aztec imagery. She tried harder to pull herself up struggling with the pain.
"Welcome to my keep Warrior Princess."
Xena looked up catching sight of the huge clawed feet in front of her and the bloody throne, a long Jaguar tail lashed violently. Her gaze slowly travelled upwards as she met the Jaguar gods cats like eyes. "You're that bastard, Tezcatlipoca." Tezcatlipoca roared in anger he ignored Itzpapalotl smirk as he slowly stood up. Ehecatl laughed slightly only to stop as his gods gaze met his own, he quickly backed further away seeing Amimitl do the same. Tezcatlipoca moved forward grabbing the warrior's long dark hair violently. "You dare mock me in my own keep!" Xena narrowed her gaze feeling her limbs burn with pain. "I've seen your past, your ex wife showed me it to me. You're not even a real man you're just a vile disgusting monster…."
Tezcatlipoca growled aloud he was looking forward to this. "Then you know why you're here then don't you! Your lover took something from me, which I needed. You're here because you're what she loves and needs the most!" He sneered looking her over with disgust. "You look more like an overgrown man than a woman." He didn't think as he slammed his clawed foot full force between her legs he let go of her long black hair as she cried out in agony. Xena groaned falling forward trying to take the pain which hurt like Tartarus she hadn't expected his blow to be that hard. She grabbed her fallen sword holding the hilt tightly. Tezcatlipoca sneered. "Obviously you're not male or that would have hurt a lot more." He stepped back smiling slightly watching as she stumbled to get to her feet. "You don't honestly believe you can take me on in battle do you?"
Xena sneered in disgust. "I wouldn't want to disappoint you." Tezcatlipoca laughed slightly. "You're as foolish as your lover…do you get it from her?" Xena coughed pulling herself up in to a standing position ignoring the pain. "My lover isn't foolish she's twice the person you'll ever be." She turned spitting in his face. Tezcatlipoca narrowed his gaze as he raised his huge clawed hand wiping her spit away in disgust. "I agree, compared to the Blood Jaguar you're very foolish she would never let herself fall in to my clutches." He turned eyeing the Star Coyote. "She is still alive I assume?!" The Star Coyote nodded. "Yes I wounded her very badly but she'll recover." The Star Coyote backed further away. "Feel free to finish of the Warrior Princess."
Xena snarled aloud clutching her sword tighter. "You bitch I swear I'll kill you if I ever get the chance!" Tezcatlipoca laughed enjoying the sound of his mocking laugher. He moved closer to dark haired warrior whose piercing ice cold blue eyes stared at him with pure hated. "My, my, your lover has a big mouth as well, does she get that from you to?" He didn't think as he brought his hand around slamming it in to her face he watched as the blood flew through her teeth as she stumbled back, somehow managing to stay standing. "You also have that same disgusting spirit, where you refuse to give up even when you know you're defeated!" Xena stumbled back trying to clear the painful daze.
She coughed feeling blood flow down her chin why she hadn't she been able to react in time to his blow? She swung her sword only to feel his fist impact with her stomach. She felt the floor as she hit it hard on her back, her head was spinning she found herself loosing the contents of her stomach instantly as she rolled on to her side. She groaned pulling herself to her feet only to feel his fist impact with her chest before she could even rise. She hit the floor hard feeling her sword fall from her shaking hand. Even Gabrielle in her werewolf form hadn't caused her this much pain. She'd only had one battle that had brought this much pain and it was when both her and Gabrielle had faced of against Lycaon the werewolf king.
Tezcatlipoca watched as the dark haired tried to get up again she was persistent, just like her lover. She didn't understand why he was winning he could see it in her eyes. The truth was he was moving faster in time, it was power that very few lesser gods had and their versions were washed and pathetic. His version was so fast that he could hit her before she could get her sword to mid swing. Xena pulled herself up trying to grab the sword only to feel it fall from her fingers as her sight blurred. Tezcatlipoca moved forward he kneeled down grabbing her hair forcing her head up to face his. "I have big plans for you, your going to bring the Blood Jaguar to me." He felt his knuckles crack as he looked at her. "She will come for you, after all she loves you." Xena felt the pain as his fist impacted with her side causing her old spine injury to flare up intensely. The next blow caused nothing but pain as it impacted with the back of her head. She hit the floor hard on her side feeling the exhaustion and pain finally take over. She groaned painfully watching as everything turned to darkness.
End of part 31
Silvermoonlight.
The dagger wound Gabrielle got in her side in this chapter is to mirror the one she received in the Abyss Episode.
