BELIEVE IN ME WHEN I CAN NO LONGER SEE THE SUN IN YOUR EYES

Gabrielle breathed in painfully as the sai blade carried on downwards on its deadly ark shifting slightly in mid air. She felt the force as someone grabbed her hand stopping her weapons action she turned sharply meeting Xena's light blue eyes which were looking back at her filled with uncertainty. She could see now that the taller woman was down on one knee her light blue eyes were filled with pain. It wasn't pain from stopping her weapon but pain from getting down on one knee. She could see it in her ridged body, which was tensed up painfully. The taller woman was also sagging slightly forward and her grip on her hand wasn't as tight as it could be.

She lowered her gaze meeting the Blood Jaguars good eye as it looked up at her seeing where her weapon would have landed. She knew already that her weapon was aimed to miss. That had been the whole point she had wanted to see if the pain her counterpart felt was real and to see if it she was telling the truth or lying just to save her self. It wasn't a lie through she'd seen her counterparts moment of despair the truth was that they were both suffering. She was suffering because she now knew that her existence had been a lie and her counterpart was suffering because she'd had no life to start with. She looked down sadly they both weren't meant to be this way.

It made everything so much clearer though and what ever fears she'd had seemed to leave her in this moment. It didn't matter what kind of a person the real Gabrielle was, what mattered was that she was made from both of them. A person becomes more because of the parts they have for better or for worse. Xena eyed the weapon in the angel's hand she turned watching as Itzli kneeled down close by. She'd only just managed to stop the weapon but that in its self made it feel like a painful weight had been lifted of her shoulders. She'd been here once before with her daughter Eve and she'd done the wrong thing and now she'd had the chance to do the right thing.

Her eyes traced the weapons path downwards, she found herself blinking it was going to miss! It was if it had never meant to strike a killer blow in the first place which meant that the angel had wanted to find out something. She watched as the huge clawed hand came up easing the sai blade free from the angel's hand. She could tell by the werewolf's good eye that she knew that it was going to miss but she was still surprised by it. Xena gently let go of the angels hand watching as the Blood Jaguar looked at the weapon for a long moment before dropping it which caused it to clatter as it hit the solid floor hard.

Blood Jaguar looked at the weapon lying on the floor. "You weren't going to kill me were you?" Gabrielle breathed in deeply as she pulled her wings forward using one of them to shade Xena who kneeled down, breathing in deeply as she listened to their conversation. "As you said nothing ever changes, I want things to change from now on." She leaned forward keeping her wing over Xena. "It was never meant to be this way, you, me we were never meant to be separated." Blood Jaguar pulled herself up slightly in to a sitting position ignoring the pain. Her counterpart was putting forward a truce, something which had never happened before and every part of her wanted to take it.

Despite living she was tired of the constant pain and sadness that ruled her life and she wanted a means to an end it. She pulled down her hand forcing her ankle back in to place ignoring the pain which caused her to grit her teeth. They could fight for an eternity but it would accomplish nothing and they both knew this now. "Your right it wasn't." She shook her mane watching as the bone in her wrist forced its way back in side her skin causing her clawed fingers to move. Her healing process was so much slower than her counterparts she eyed Xena for a long moment. "You came here to save us from ourselves." Xena looked up slightly meeting her good eye. "Yes."

She felt the feathers of the huge wing as they touched her back. "I love you both." She put her hand on her face feeling the exhaustion hit home. She eased the bag off her shoulder dropping it in front of them. It wasn't her choice to force them together she wanted them to come together because they wanted to. She looked down slightly. "I can put you back together but you don't have to merge if you don't want to." Blood Jaguar looked up sharply. "I don't understand we aren't your Gabrielle, why would allow that?" Xena breathed in deeply as she looked up. "Because ether way you're both my Gabrielle."

She eased open the Aztec bag pulling the skull out putting it down in front of them. "I'm your lover in one form or another but I have no right to decide your fate it should be your choice to make not mine." Gabrielle ruffled her feathers slightly as she looked up. "You would take us both back home if we were to choose other wise?" Xena nodded to her head. "Yes I would, I'd live with you both, I don't care if you have wings." She turned eyeing the Blood Jaguar. "Or if you're a werewolf who's blind in one eye, none of this matters to me." She looked down slightly. "You'll both always be Gabrielle to me and at the end of the day that's all I want."

She closed her eyes for a long moment a part of her wished that her Gabrielle could see her now if only for spilt second. She would have been so proud of her for doing this. Some how she hoped that what ever the out come ether her merged lover or her separated lovers would remember this day for the rest of their lives. Huitzilopochtli looked at the two beings seated close by along with Xena he'd heard the whole conversation. He looked down sadly nether of them had looked at him or spoken to him. He put a hand on his face, eyeing the dead snake had this really all been worth it? Over a hundred or more of his people had been wounded and some even killed.

Half of his main street had been destroyed along with part of his father's temple and he didn't even want to contemplate his people out cries which he knew were soon to come. He had failed as his people's god, he had put his personal wants over them and now he had paid the price for doing what was in essence a terrible thing. He blinked as he looked up eyeing the dead serpent something didn't add up though. How had Milintica managed to get this close to his city in the first place? He had a set of specialized warriors who guarded the outer city yet somehow this huge snake had gotten right past them, it didn't make any sense!

Something that big couldn't just slip by unnoticed, he narrowed his gaze there was only one weak spot and that was his first loves burial place. He didn't put his warriors there out of respect for her field and only the highest ranking warriors were told the truth about it and they would never uttered a word to anyone. The only other people who knew about that field were the other gods he stopped in mid motion, the other gods! It was so damn obvious! One of the other gods had helped the grand serpent so he could get in to the city! Some one had made some sort of a deal with him. his prize being Gabrielle but he had no idea what the snake had given them in return.

He breathed in deeply which ever god had done this they were going to pay for it! He'd hunt them down a make them pay ten fold for all the suffering bringing this monster here, had caused his people. The monster side of Gabrielle had just done what was part of its nature and made things much worse. Even if she hadn't started to fight it though, it would have still broken through his city trying to find her. The werewolf had done a noble act without even realizing it, it had killed the serpent before it could get in to his main temple. No doubt that was where it had intended to go while his back was turned as he was preoccupied with other things.

He turned watching as the other god's appeared behind him all at the same time including the Greek war god who was being helped by Xochipilli since he had no powers at this moment in time. He felt his teeth grind together as her eyed them one by one. "Who of you knows that the field on the left side of my city!?" Xochiquetzal blinked as she eyed the scene in front of her for a long moment. Xena had managed to stop the two sides she felt the tension finally leave her. She could see the two sides seated with Xena one in front of her and one behind. Itzli was seated close by although he wasn't saying anything he was just watching. In truth he was watching the werewolf with horns with curiously more than anything else. This didn't surprise her no warrior in Mexica had ever seen a werewolf and if they had it would have been no more than a glimpse.

Also this creature despite its very frightening looks was a part of Gabrielle which made it seem even more surprising. She eyed her brother and Chantico who were looking at it with the same fascination. The only one who didn't look fascinated by it was the Greek war god she could sense the tension in his body already along with a very real twinge of fear. She put a hand on her chin now her brother's words made more sense he said a part of Gabrielle soul had been able to change her body but the part had been dormant. This was that dormant part awakened once more by mistake, it was very fascinating yet at the same time slightly unnerving that a person could change in to such a powerful beast.

She slowly met Huitzilopochtli gaze seeing the burning anger in his eyes. She shook of her personal thoughts as she went over his question in her mind. "What about that field I didn't know any of them had anything special in them?" Huitzilopochtli turned sharply eyeing Chantico. "What about you?" Chantico blinked as she looked up. "You know I don't care about fields." Huitzilopochtli sneered as he looked at Xochipilli. "You know though don't you!?" Xochipilli eyed the tall man he sighed as he stepped forward. "If this is about your first love, I never pried in to personal business when you buried her. All I know is that you gave her a special grave I no, no more than that, so don't look at me as if I'm to blame for what it is that's rattled your cage."

Huitzilopochtli felt his hand form a fist as he eyed him only to feel his anger start to burn away the love god never told lies. If he didn't know then he didn't know. He folded his arms breathing in deeply as he eyed them all. "Some one told that serpent how to get in to my city! There's only one way in and it's through one of my fields and very few people know about it!" Xochipilli eyed the huge dead snake he could tell how it had been killed it had, had fireballs thrown at it, but the killer blow had been from two horns going through its head. He didn't need to ask to know who had done that he could see her sitting opposite her angelic counterpart her huge blood stained horns gleaming in the sunlight.

This horned werewolf was a terrifying creature to behold but at this moment it was completely submissive. The angelic counterpart's wings were spread outwards so one was covering Xena from the hot sun. Xena herself was sitting still while the both parts sat still thinking deeply about something, nether saying anything. He turned back to Huitzilopochtli who still looked annoyed. "None of us would tell the grand serpent where this field is Huitzilopochtli, we aren't like that." Ares folded his arm sneering slightly at the Aztec war god. "They wouldn't but I would but only because I don't like your Huitzilopochtli, you're a bastard."

Huitzilopochtli eyed the other god in disgust, he felt his teeth grind together he wasn't in the mood for rising to his pitifully bait right now. No Xochipilli and the others hadn't done this. Which left three other possible choices Quetzalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca and Itzpapalotl and he could cross out Tezcatlipoca from that list, since the bastard never gave up secrets. Tezcatlipoca liked to keep them for his own personal use, never anyone else's it was part of his greedy cat like nature which only left Quetzalcoatl and Itzpapalotl. He knew deep down his gut that it had to be one of them. It didn't matter which though he was going to make both of them pay, they had terrorised the innocent people of this land for far too long!

He felt himself self snap out of his haze as a warm slender fingers touched his hand, he looked down meeting Xochiquetzal's concerned gaze. Xochiquetzal looked up slowly watching as Chantico came closer folding her arms. "I'm sorry that your people were hurt by the grand serpent." She turned watching as people as they carried on running past with healing bags and herbs to help the wounded. "So am I." Huitzilopochtli raised his other hand watching as the huge stone centre of the sun stone floor symbol began to pull back as it opened. He could see the bloody pool churning inside. He felt the pain wrenching at his heart all his dreams of keeping Gabrielle as his own had brought nothing but painful suffering to all his people and to her lover Xena.

He looked down sadly trying to hide the pain he felt deep down inside. "I should be thankful that the monster I released has been stopped it in its tracks." He looked at the blood staining the floor most of it was Gabrielle's. "Yet I feel in freeing this monster that I have failed my people ether way by letting it happen." Chantico put a hand on the big man's shoulder. "Your people have always adored you." She looked down slightly. "Take it from someone who knows. The more human you are in your peoples eyes the more they can come to terms with your mistakes. That is what sets us apart from the lesser gods we understand humanity and embrace it."

Huitzilopochtli sighed as he shook his head they were both being kind which was more than he deserved since he'd just accused them. He had always been less tolerant of other gods. May be because of his dealings with the creator gods, which had made him very judgemental and angry he looked up to where Xena was seated. Xochiquetzal followed his golden gaze. "You should join her." Huitzilopochtli shook his head. "No I shouldn't, I don't feel my presence is required, I've caused them all enough suffering." Xochiquetzal patted his arm slightly. "No I think you should join them, I think they need to see you." She gently pushed him forward. "It might help."

Itzli turned watching as the pool of creation finished opening, he could see the boiling blood churning in side it. He breathed in deeply he'd never seen it before. It was also just as the warriors from other villages had said it was in the very centre of the sun stone carving. Right where Gabrielle had landed her winged horse when they'd both come here. Huitzilopochtli moved slowly forward watching as Ares followed although the lesser war god was a least a step behind him. He smiled at him coldly. "Do I sense fear in you lesser god?" Ares carried on moving yes it was fear but he was going to admit it, not to this bastard. "No but if I were you I wouldn't get close to the werewolf part she has a thing about ripping off heads."

Huitzilopochtli felt his smile widen. "I see and I am assuming it's your head she wants to rip off, which does not surprise me in the least, lesser war god." Ares sneered at him as he carried on moving he couldn't wait to be free of this bastard he was so full of himself. He felt his body tense as he got closer to the seated group. Xena eased up her hand as she looked at the huge feathered wing over shadowing her. She eased up her fingers not being able to stop herself she'd dreamed about this moment for so long. She couldn't help herself her hand was moving of its own accord to wards the central wing feathers which were blowing the gentle breeze.

She slowly moved her fingers along the length of the centre wing feeling all the soft feathers under her fingers. It was just as she'd imagined every feather was as soft as silk and beautiful to the touch. It felt like a guilty pleasure but it had been worth waiting another life time for, she breathed in deeply moving her fingers down one of the long flight feathers. Gabrielle eased up her other wing slightly ruffling the feathers she leaned over pulling one of the flight feathers free on her opposite wing ignoring the twinge of pain. She took it between her fingers turning it slowly as she moved it towards the tall dark haired woman. "Here take this." She slowly took hold of Xena's hand gently placing it in it.

Xena eyed the long feather for a moment before turning to look at the angel as she put it in the Aztec bag. "Thank you." She gave her a wide smile only to feel it fade as turned to the Blood Jaguar who was looking down sadly. She moved forward gently easing her hand up watching as the blood dripped down from her lips from were her teeth were cutting in. She gently put her hand on the red fur which was silky soft to the touch, just as she remembered the golden fur being which seemed so strange. Some how she hadn't expected it to be this way, she'd expected it to rough even course to the touch. She watched as the one good eye slowly met own. "What's wrong?"

Blood Jaguar put a clawed hand on Xena's closing it gently making sure that her claws weren't touching her skin. She knew that they would cut through her flesh like a knife through butter. They were much sharper than the original Horn Hind's had been. "I have nothing to offer you that you'd like." She looked at the red muscle showing through on her body. "Nothing about me is that nice." Xena moved her other hand slowly up the wolf like head and up one of the horns. It was solid bone just like the stag horns had been, she moved her fingers to the lesser horn feeling the tip which was razor sharp. "You're wrong Blood Jaguar you forget that I love this form as much as the human one."

Blood Jaguar looked up slightly. "This isn't that form though is it? I just took it, changed it for my own means, it's not Horn Hind." Xena moved her hand down running it through the long main the fur which was so red that it almost burned like fire. Her lover had once used red henna to dye her hair this colour during her mid adolescence it was strange to see the colour made real now. She moved her fingers slowly down the long snout. "I loved Gabrielle in this form, I love you just the same the difference doesn't matter to me." Blood Jaguar looked at her for a long moment, she moved up her clawed hand to her face opening her jaws feeling that one of her back teeth on the right side was loose, it had felt loose ever since her resurrection.

She opened her mouth wider pulling it free ignoring the sharp burning pain it was going to come out any way, so now was as good a time as any. She pulled the bloody tooth up seeing the glint of a gold plate on its side she slowly put it in front of the Warrior Princess. "Keep it, a token from the monster if you will." Xena looked down as she eased up the long razor sharp tooth seeing the gold plate which was on the side. She knew her old self might have been disgusted by being given a bloody gift like this but she had come so far since then, she could now see this for what it was. The dark side could only give her what it had just like the angelic side. All it could give her was its tooth which was no different from being given a flight feather by the angel. She sat back down in the middle of them looking at the skull while putting the bloody tooth in the bag. She breathed in deeply as she looked up at them both. "What do you both want? I don't mind what ever you choose as long as I'm with you."

End of part 81

Silvermoonlight

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