THE ONE WHO WAS DENIED, THE ONE WHO HAS RETURNED

Xena felt her eyes open only to feel them close again her head was pounding like a drum. She opened her eyes again but slower this time watching as everything slowly came back in to focus. She wasn't inside the keep but outside she could see a huge dark city far bellow. Hundred of torches had been lit and all were glowing in the darkness she looked up catching sight of the moon which was high in the sky. She turned painfully feeling the chilling wind as it moved past her body, she was in a standing position. Her gaze shifted as she caught sight of the dried blood which was encrusted on her shoulder wound which ached. She breathed in sharply turning her head her arms had been chained at the wrist with thick tight gold shackles which were pulled painfully taught with gold and silver chain.

The chains were attracted to a post on each side, both her feet had also been shackled and the same chain was attached the lower post on ether side. She groaned painfully all her armour was still in place oddly but her sword was missing. She breathed deeply her breast dagger and her whip and boot dagger, were also gone. She felt her teeth grind together there had to be a way out of here, she just had to think of something. She turned catching sight of two skeleton warriors wearing the full Aztec armour complete with shields standing next to each post, no doubt they were guards. One of them moved slightly his glowing red gaze meeting hers, his eyes narrowed slowly.

The skeleton warrior stepped forward poking her harshly in the stomach with his axe. His glowing eyes moved slightly. "So you're the Blood Jaguar's lover?" Xena sneered slightly saying nothing, he was going to try and bait her how pitifully. This was why she'd always hated being locked up anywhere there was always some bastard guard with a big mouth. The skeleton warrior laughed slightly. "Look she doesn't want to talk." He heard the other warrior laugh along with him. "I'm so disappointed I was hoping that you'd grace us with your great words." He raised his axe using it to push her head up. "You're nothing like the Blood Jaguar." He pulled the axe away forcefully. "Unlike her you're big and stupid." Xena leaned forward feeling a cruel sneer form across her lips. "Your bones feel pain don't they?" She watched as the warriors laugher stopped instantly she felt her mouth form an evil smile. "I'd like to see how much you scream when I break them one by one." The skeleton warrior pulled back in surprise she licked her teeth ignoring his shock. Her gaze shifted as watched him back away further going quite as he took up his position again.

"You look so beautiful standing there."

Xena turned watching as the Star Coyote moved forward in the darkness she felt her hands form fists as the small woman came to stand in front of her. The Star Coyote smiled slightly. "I apologise for the chains they are necessary you understand? Their also godly so don't think for a split second that you can break free from them." She eased up her finger running it along the gold and silver chain. "The Aztec version is the pure version unlike the Greek version it has no flaws and can't even be broken by other Aztec godly weapons." She smiled as she met her gaze. "These chains show the might of the Aztec gods and how powerless you are against them."

She raised her hand slowly running it down the warriors face. "You should thank me…I saved you from death." Xena pulled away in disgust why was the woman touching her? She narrowed her gaze. "You just saved me for your vile master." The Star coyote shook her head sadly. "Don't be this way I didn't want to hurt you, my beautiful Warrior Princess." Xena turned sharply feeling her stomach twist she recognised those last few words. The Star Coyote eased up her hand taking hold of the head dress she slowly eased it off watching as the Warrior Princess eyes widened in utter shock. Akemi smiled tossing the Coyote headdress to one side. "I just wanted you here and this was the only way I could do it."

Xena carried on staring what in Tartarus was going on here? How could Akemi be here? She had seen her meet her end at C'thulon's hand she could remember it as clear as day. She pulled on her chains as she came back in to being. "Akemi?!" Akemi pulled up her hand feeling her smile soften. "Yes my Warrior Princess it is me." She raised her hands looking at them. "The skin colour and the voice was merely a punishment I was given by the elder god." She moved her hand up running it along the warriors face enjoying her shocked expression, which looked so charming with her open mouth and wide light blue eyes. "I hope it doesn't bother you." She raised her pendent with her other hand. "Let me make you slightly more comfortable."

Xena felt the force as the chains on the poles unwrapped slightly, which caused her to fall forward so her nose was almost touching Akemi's. Akemi smiled lowering her pendent ignoring the confused looks she was getting from the two guards. "She raised both hands running them along Xena's face again. "I missed you so much." Xena didn't get a chance to think as the woman lips met her own, her brain snapped back in to gear as she tried to pull away. This little bitch had betrayed her! She had used her and manipulated her! She'd taken her away from the one person she loved more than life itself! She felt her anger boil up all at once she snarled aloud as she bit down full force on the other woman's lower lip.

She tasted the blood instantly which was followed by Akemi's yelp of pain as she pulled away. She could already see the blood spilling down her lower lip. She didn't think as she spat the blood that was in her mouth directly in to the other woman's face causing to cry out even more as she backed away. "Do that again and it'll be more than your lower lip that I'll bleed!" Akemi watched as the guards burst in to laughter, she turned back handing the taller woman hard ignoring her grunt of pain. "I'm trying to save you!" Xena snarled ignoring the sharp pain it was a pathetic back hand, Gabrielle could hit her harder even on an off day. She turned back slowly meeting Akemi light brown gaze. "No you're saving me for yourself…"

Akemi wiped her face slightly. "No Xena I love you, you're my Warrior Princess." Xena snarled aloud. "I'm not your Warrior Princess…don't use that term in front of me, it disgusts me." Akemi looked up sharply. "When you used to make love to me you never minded that term." Xena slowly narrowed her gaze. "The thought that I ever spent time in your bed roll makes me want to throw up." Akemi pulled back trying not to show any hurt as her ex lover's cold voice cut through her inner being like a knife. "You don't mean that." Xena caught the hurt expression in the other woman's face but the truth was it didn't move her she was past those false looks and false smiles. "Oh but I do…I'll never think anything of you, you betrayed me and used me."

Akemi pulled up her hands. "Gabrielle betrayed you! Why does she get your love and I don't?" Xena breathed sharply. "Gabrielle's always apologised for her mistakes. She's also always tried to better her self, it's a concept you've never grasped Akemi." She felt her mouth form a cruel smile. "Don't ever compare yourself to Gabrielle ether she's five times the person you'll ever be." She sneered slightly. "You will never win my affection or my love, not now not ever." Akemi laughed slightly enjoying her own mocking laugher. "Don't think your Gabrielle's going to come to your rescue. Even if she did survive she doesn't stand a chance of saving you." Xena pulled on the chains. "I'm sure she will come and if she finds you, she'll make you wish your soul had died in Japan."

Akemi turned slowly sneering in disgust. "I don't fear your weak partner." She backed away pulling up her glowing pendent watching as the chains rewrapped violently causing the taller woman's body to be forced upright again. "She doesn't stand a chance and nether do you! You can ether give yourself to me or suffer the seventh hell here! If I were you I'd pick me because the seventh hell isn't very pleasant." She pushed past the guards. "I should know I've been there myself." Xena watched as the smaller woman disappeared back inside the keep. How had that bitch survived! She snarled aloud pulling on her chains violently feeling the rage burn in stomach she couldn't believe this was happening it was a nightmare!

8

Gabrielle felt her eyes open very slowly she put a hand on her head she felt terrible. It wasn't a headache but the feeling after having Mexican medicine which always made her feel awful. She looked down slightly she could already see that the special healing water had been used on her body. She moved her hand down feeling that the wound in her side wound had been healed. She used her other hand to pull up the fur cover further over her naked body as she looked around the room. She was back in Xochiquetzal's keep once again on her make shift bed which was on the floor. Food had been placed next to her, along with her clothes which had all been cleaned of their blood. Her sai blades and her lovers Chakram had been put next to them.

She breathed in deeply feeling the stinging pain in all her muscles the fire heart water only healed the top skin. Any serious inner damage it didn't heal like pulled muscles or strained ligaments and tendons. She groaned painfully as she eased up her hand opening her mouth. She put her finger inside feeling the missing chewing tooth. She groaned aloud she was going to have to get a silver replacement tooth just like her lover…and she really hated dental work of any kind. She hated the idea of having some healer poking around her mouth with bronze tools even less. She only liked her lovers healing hands, other people's made her very nervous at times.

She looked around hearing only the silence of the room she blinked painfully feeling the images come back in her mind. She felt her hand form a fist as her teeth grind together as the anger burnt through her system. She had failed her lover! She'd been beaten up badly and to make it worse, it was all Akemi's doing! How had she survived? Xena said C'thulon had brought down his wraith down on her, she said she had been there. She felt her gaze dart had her lover lied to her? No, she wouldn't have, she couldn't have! She had told her so many times that he had felt more than foolish for being manipulated by that Japanese woman.

She narrowed her gaze it didn't change the fact that Xena had once chosen Akemi over her, who was to say she wouldn't do it again? She stopped still she had to stop this she was being paranoid and it wasn't helping her. She'd screwed up so badly she'd rammed her sai blade in the woman's face and the surprise had cost her that battle and then she'd nearly been killed by both Tlalli a monster crocodile and Milintica the grand serpent. She sneered slightly she should have killed Milintica she was so stupid for just blinding him. She stopped still as something hit her Itzli had saved her, why had he saved her he'd always wanted her dead. The truth was she had been kicked over the embankment so her life would be cut short. She closed her eyes feeling the pain in her head return, she hated Aztec medicine.

"You should be resting."

She turned slowly seeing that Itzli was standing close by with his arms folded, she sat back putting a hand on her face. "Why are you here?" Itzli snorted aloud. "Well that's gratitude! I save your life again and this is all you can say. You know a thank you would be nice. You do understand the word thank you don't you?" Gabrielle snarled aloud as she wrapped the cover around her around herself, she groaned painfully as she pulled herself to her feet. She ignored his surprise as she painfully walked towards him. "You were supposed to protect Xena!" She didn't think as she back handed him full force, only to cry out as all her muscles burnt with pain.

Itzli stumbled back painfully only to watch as she hit the floor hard on her back holding her arm which was shaking with pain, he rubbed his face painfully. "I'm sorry! I tried to do as you asked I was ambushed and I didn't get to her, before they teleported with her." Gabrielle gritted her teeth feeling the pain burn through out her body. She tried to get up only to hit the floor hard failing in her attempt, she pulled the cover tightly around herself. She pulled one hand up painfully putting it on her face, why was she blaming him? It wasn't his fault it was hers she was the only one who could have stopped Akemi but she'd failed because of her hesitation in battle.

She turned slightly meeting his gaze. "Why did you save me?" Itzli looked up sharply. "Well it wouldn't be right to see you die in that fashion now would it? It's not a warriors death is it?" Gabrielle narrowed her gaze. "Don't lie to me! You've wanted me dead for years and you had the perfect opportunity to end my life, so why did you save me?" Itzli rubbed his face in annoyance. "Because I'm starting to like you…to quote your lovers words your not the same person who was here before." Gabrielle felt her gaze dart she breathed in painfully feeling her head hit the floor. "This is a joke right?" Itzli shook his head. "No, no joke I have no reason to lie to you anymore."

He slowly moved forward kneeling down next to her. "Now let me move you back on to your pillow and under sheet you need to rest." Gabrielle felt the pain as he lifted her up then put her back on the other fur skin. He carefully pulling the pillow under her head then eased the fur skin over her exposed shoulders. "The Star Coyote beat you up very badly…may be when your better we can go and give her, what she deserves." Gabrielle breathed in painfully feeling her gaze dart as she looked at him. "Her real name is Akemi." Itzli calmly sat down next to her he raised both of her clawed blades he eased up a cloth as he started to clean them carefully. "That doesn't sound Mexican." Gabrielle looked up slightly. "It's not she's from Japan."

Itzli looked up slightly as he placed the first clawed blade down. "Japan the home of the Samurai warrior's right?" Gabrielle lay back feeling the pain in her muscles again. "Yes…she's one of Xena's old lovers." Itzli narrowed his gaze. "So you two don't get along, right?" Gabrielle turned to meet his gaze. "The reason I came to Mexica was because of her! She stole Xena from me and trapped her between worlds with her then forced her to do her dirty work." Itzli raised an eyebrow. "Well if she's the one who brought about all you're pain and misery then it's even more reason to kill her, in my view." He finished cleaning her other clawed blade then slowly placed it down next to the other. "Now you really should rest…once your muscles are healed you'll be able to walk around again."

He stood up slowly. "I'll bring you some water." Gabrielle looked up slightly watching as he walked away. "Itzli?" Itzli turned sharply as he picked up his axe. "Yes?" Gabrielle swallowed. "Thank you for saving my life…" Itzli pulled back feeling him self blink in surprise she was thanking him? She'd never thanked him for anything. "Your…welcome…." Gabrielle lay back feeling her gaze dart. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to hit you." She turned away not meeting his stunned gaze. "It won't happen again." Itzli felt himself stiffen, she was apologizing as well! He turned slightly looking at her. Her lover was right, she wasn't the same person as the one who'd tormented him, that warrior would never have apologised for anything let alone thanked him.

She'd have made fun of him or kicked him around for pleasure she'd also have drunk herself to sleep with alcohol. He'd already seen that she didn't want to go back to drinking he'd been there to see her spill the alcohol out at her feet, but he'd ignored it at the time. He breathed in deeply. "Then I won't curse you again or call you names…." Gabrielle watched as he left the room, she lay back on the pillow her heart was stinging with pain there was just too much going on. She suddenly felt the tears as they started to run down her face, how was she going to get her lover back? She didn't have anything powerful to use against Tezcatlipoca. She breathed in painfully as she tried to think.

Itzli walked out of the room only to hear the Blood Jaguar's painfully tears he turned slightly looking back. He looked down he needed to think why was he being soft to her was it even right? Why was she crying? Was it her failure as a warrior or the loss of her lover? He pulled up sharply realizing that Ohtli was standing close by. "What do you want?" Ohtli smiled slightly. "Is it me or are you starting to sound like you have a heart?" Itzli grabbed the water skin. "Go away." Ohtli leaned forward. "She's crying because she loves her partner and she feels that she's failed her. You probably think her as weak for doing so don't you? Because for warriors to show weakness it makes them pitiful in your eyes doesn't it?"

Itzli grabbed the water skin. "You don't know me." Ohtli smiled again. "Xochipilli and Xochiquetzal will be returning soon, they will heal her muscle injuries. That water skin has a sedative in, it should put her back to sleep she needs it." Itzli sneered slightly he ignored him as he walked back in to the room. He slowly kneeled down placing the water skin on the floor. She was still crying and she had her back to him. "Come on please don't cry." He didn't think as he turned her over. Gabrielle tried to pull away but the pain in her body stopped her. "What are you doing?" Itzli slowly pulled her closer. "Being your loyal servant for once…." He breathed in rubbing her shoulder slightly. "You didn't fail your lover."

Gabrielle lowered her gaze pulling the cover up further. "I did fail her…I hesitated." Itzli shook his head eased up his hand. "You're a great warrior Blood Jaguar, you always have been." Gabrielle breathed in painfully wiping away her tears. "I was only great because I did it by hurting people and killing others." She took a long drink from the water skin then slowly lay back feeling the tiredness kick in. Itzli watched as her green eyes slowly closed as the sedative began to work, he slowly eased the water skin free from her hand. "Sleep now Blood Jaguar…it's for your own good." He turned slightly it would be better when she was walking again.

8

Ares moved towards the keeps inner stairs he could see the temples opening which was at the top of them. He moved slowly up them ignoring the white roped girls who were putting fresh fruit on the table and cleaning the gold throne. He sneered as he walked up the steps the foolish sun god obviously hadn't thought of everything. He moved further up the steps quickening his stride, the next moments turned to pain as four bolts our white and orange light flew out from the statues heads slamming full force in to his chest. He felt the pain as he slammed in to the steps he felt the force as he tumbled down only to hit the floor full force on his back.

He groaned as he heard the sound of laughter from the girls, he sneered slightly this was so humiliating, he was being laughed at by mortal women. He looked up sharply watching as a flash of gold appeared over him. Huitzilopochtli smiled slightly as he looked at the fallen war god. "Did you think that I would just let you walk out of here lesser war god?" Ares groaned slightly. "Shut up!" Huitzilopochtli felt his smile widen. "Have you ever slept?" Ares looked up slightly. "No…I haven't." Huitzilopochtli raised his hand. "Then allow me to introduce you to your dreams and possibly your nightmares." He watched as the gold dust fell from his hand on to the gods face. "It's another lesson you need to learn."

He watched as the god struggled. "That in dreams you can see yourself in another light…you can see within your own eyes and deeper in to your soul." Ares struggled harder feeling his eyes start to close he felt his head hit the floor as a strange darkness over took him. It wasn't like passing out because he could see light and colour all around him. Huitzilopochtli pulled up slightly watching as the god twitched as his dreams over took him. Just like humans dreams could be a bridge even a gateway in to the past and the present. In dreams you could face your nightmares and see all that you had done. Since this god was being stubborn about the suffering of others perhaps when he saw it in his dreams it would shed light on his true self.

He looked up slightly watching as one of his warriors ran down the stairs he turned slightly seeing the man move sideways to avoid the god's fallen body. He smiled slightly. "Yes?" The warrior turned looking at the fallen god before walking around to kneel next to him. "We have great news that will please you." Huitzilopochtli looked up slightly. "Go on." The warrior lowered his head. My self and my men spotted the Blood Jaguar in the fertility goddess's region two days ago." He grinned as he looked up slightly. "We believe it's her though she's changed slightly." He pulled up his gold pendent which glowed with yellow light for a spilt second as he took it off. "I captured her image in the sunstones eye."

Huitzilopochtli stepped forward he eased up the sunstone pendent watching as light blast out from it orange jewelled eye, it formed a circle of sun light. He stared in silence watching as the form of the beautiful young woman appeared. Her long blonde hair flowing down well over her shoulders as her forest green eyes looked around. The warrior was right, she was a lot younger and she was wearing different clothes. He could see her new clothes which consisted of a brown skirt and a dark green top with a much light green collar. He could see the claws in her light brown leather boots as she walked through the trees with a black un-dead winged horse which she was bringing forward using its reins.

He turned watching as a dark haired warrior came up to walk next to her followed by a living golden winged horse. He could already see the light blue eyes and long dark hair as well as the leather and bronze armour, he sneered in disgust it was the Warrior Princess. He lowered his gaze feeling the sharp intense jealousy which he let pass. He looked up slightly watching as Itzli appeared as he walked opposite them both. He smiled slightly before turning back to the blonde woman's beautiful face with its green eyes. "You will all be well rewarded for this." He turned to the warrior as he formed a new gold pendent in his other hand which he tossed to him, he watched as the warrior caught it, his smile widening. He raised the first sunstone pendent again watching as the Blood Jaguar's image froze. "Take anything you want from the treasury. Tell all the warriors in your group that they can also have anything of their choosing." He watched as the warrior nodded as he left the keep. He brought the frozen image closer running his fingers across the Blood Jaguar's face, she had finally returned to Mexica.

End of part 33

Silvermoonlight.