AS DESTINY FINALLY COMES TO PASS

Gabrielle looked down feeling Akemi's hands clawing at her shoulders no one was stopping her, no one was standing up to her, she held every card. She felt her grip tighten soon this would all be over she could see Xena moving closer and her sister watching her. There was a cold silence that had fallen over the room the only sound was coming from Akemi as she struggled underneath her. She could hear the other woman's sandals scuffing the floor as she tried harder to stop her actions. This was right wasn't it? She needed die she was doing the whole of Mexica a favour. It wasn't as if the whole of Mexica had any love for this woman, who had in essence destroyed her life more than once with her actions.

Xena moved closer she could see the conflict starting up in her lover's eyes, Lila was watching the whole thing despite her pain staring on in shock. This was the first time she'd ever seen Gabrielle kill some one, she looked down as she stepped closer. Despite that a part of her conscience was shouting at her to stop her lovers actions she was ignoring it. Akemi had to die they'd discussed this before they came here and she knew that this was a fight between the both of them and it wasn't right for her to interfere. If she interfered she would ruin the battle and hurt her lovers pride, she done that so many times before when she really shouldn't have.

If she was ever to truly be a better partner than she needed to stay out of Gabrielle's personal battles and let her deal with them herself. She knew full well that her lover could deal with anything the world had to throw at her Mexica had taught her that. If Gabrielle needed her then she'd say she did and right now she didn't. Itzli blinked turning to the taller woman keeping his voice low as he eyed his brother and Amoxtli who were staying well back. "You're not going to stop her?" Xena looked at him for a long moment. "If she wants to stop she'll stop, it's her choice to make not mine. We both knew it might come to this and what ever happens we have to except that this is how it will end."

She turned eyeing the spinning calendar they didn't have much longer they needed to stop it and shut everything down. Itzli breathed in deeply nodding his head as understanding flooded home. "I understand." He turned seeing the panic as it spread across Ehecatl's face who ignored them all as he came towards Gabrielle lowering his weapon. Gabrielle looked down seeing the fear in Akemi's eyes which was stared back at her she suddenly felt unsure of her self. How many times had she killed in cold blood? She looked around her noticing for the first time the dead bodies of the twelve elite, who had all been killed once more but not by her hand.

That wasn't the point though was it? They had, had to be killed they were murders and they were vile through and through. She turned back staring at Akemi was she going to be the thirteenth kill in cold blood? Did she truly want that? It had always been so easy before now to kill people hadn't it? Right up until she'd made her way up to the top of Tezcatlipoca's temple. The truth was that in her heart she'd stopped that day she'd died not as the Blood Jaguar but as Gabrielle. She had come here to be Gabrielle not to be the Blood Jaguar. She felt her world freeze as she watched as the Yellow Torch flower fell free from her leather gauntlet. It fell slowly to downwards multicoloured light coming off its petals as it landed on the floor.

There was an instant flash its stalk grew in to the ground and it grew upwards. Suddenly hundreds of flowers were growing around it all at once filling the spot between the altar and where Akemi was lying, multicoloured light blew upwards from the flowers raining down on her. It felt as though she was looking outside her own mind at this moment. Xochipilli's words came again in her mind. "I think you just need to find that part of you again and I feel once you do every thing will finally fall in to place once more." She felt her grip loosen as the tears came to her eyes, gods she killed too much and now she didn't want to. That dark will just didn't push her anymore like it used to.

It was as if that darkness with in her was finally settling once more as if everything was balancing, she hadn't felt this way in so long. The fact that she hadn't made her grab the moment emotionally wanting more with all her heart and soul. She looked down at Akemi watching as Ehecatl came down on his knees letting go of his weapon which hit the floor with a crash. She could see the panic in his face as he shouted out his next words with utter desperation. "Don't kill her! Please I'll do anything you want just don't take her away from me I love her! She doesn't know it she doesn't see it but she will! I beg mercy from you mighty Blood Jaguar!" She blinked feeling the tears as they started to run down her face.

Gods what right did she have to take away someone else's life when they had someone who truly loved them? Akemi had taken away hers so to take away Akemi's made them no different. She didn't want to be Akemi, to be Akemi would make her a cold blooded murder and she hadn't come here to be that she'd come here to escape it and become more. She eased her hands free watching as Akemi coughed painfully as the air returned to her lungs. She grabbed her harshly pulling her up so their faces were touching. "I'm not going to kill you I have no right to be your executioner. That will be C'thulon's choice to make." Akemi coughed feeling the pain in her neck.

She tried to speak despite the burning in her throat. "C'thulon already sent me to the seventh hell and back, so it makes no difference to me!" Gabrielle eased up her hand wiping her tears away realizing that they were gleaming like silver. She eyed them for a moment before turning back to her. "Oh I think it will, after all some one loves you this time around." She didn't think as she smashed her own head in to other woman's, she watched Akemi's brown eyes rolled back as she lost consciousness. She let go watching as the other woman's body slumped to the floor. She eased herself off her body eyeing Ehecatl who looked up the gratified as clear as day in his face. "I won't take away what you love the most Ehecatl, I know how it feels."

She looked up painfully. "I only hope that she comes to realize just how much you love her and that you were willing to stand up to me to save her life " She leaned down picking a Yellow Torch from the multicoloured flowers she clutching it tightly in her hand as she walked painfully towards her sister. She suddenly felt the energy leave her and she couldn't stop herself as she fell forward hitting the floor on her knees. She ignored the pain in her body dragging herself up to her sister side lying against the altar next to her. She felt herself blink as she tried to stay conscious, she was feeling so tired and her body was starting to rebel against her mind.

She eased the pendent free ignoring the pain tying it to the Chakram which she pulled off her belt hook. She didn't think as she threw it with all the force she could muster watching as it hit one wall and then another. Xena turned seeing her Chakram as it flew through the air she grabbing it out of mid air as it came at her. Gabrielle turned meeting her lover's eyes ignoring her sisters shocked gaze. "Turn the device off turn it off now!" She was going to say something else but the energy wasn't there to say it, she felt her eyes start to close. She hardly felt the floor as she hit it side on listening as the sound died all around her as she passed out in to a blissful darkness.

Xena felt her gaze dart as she looked at her lover who was now lying on the floor opposite her sister who cried out doubling over in pain. She watched as the glowing light faded away in her green eyes as she'd passed out. She moved forward wanting nothing more than to go to her only to feel Itzli grab her arm. Itzli didn't think as pulled the tall woman further back. "We have to turn the device off Xena!" Xena looked up watching as all of the portals images suddenly started to change becoming random moving from one image to the next in her lover's life all from different times and places. She turned back feeling unsure of her self.

She breathed gods she didn't want to be in this situation again where her lover was hurt and she couldn't do anything but what choice did she have? She put a hand through her hair in frustration as she turned back to Itzli it had been her lover's choice to allow Akemi to live and she knew why that was. Gabrielle didn't want to be the person she'd been anymore and she'd given Akemi her life not that she deserved it. She had no idea where all the flowers had come from. All she was sure off was that it was obviously something the god of love had to given her. Now these flowers were all around the altar growing in between the trails of blood.

She turned back watching the calendar spin gods she hated all of this but how she felt no longer mattered. She had to turn off this device because that was what they'd both promised the Aztec gods, her lover had done her part and now it was her turn. She yanked the pendent free from the Chakram as she put it back on its hook. Lila turned looking at her sister who was now lying next to her she ignored her pain as she put the clawed weapon down and put her hand on her shoulder. Her sister was in an awful state she was bleeding in a number of places her knuckles were also bruised she had dried blood on her chin and forehead.

She leaned over further forcing herself to her knees despite that it caused her to scream in pain. She eased her hand over running it through the long blonde hair. "Gabrielle?" She suddenly felt unsure of herself was her sister dying? She couldn't explain the glowing eyes and she had no idea what was going with the portals it was like they'd gone mad their images were random. She grabbed her sister using her arm to heave her up then pulled her over so her head was resting on her lap. She ignored all her pain as she looked down at her seeing no movement. She suddenly felt afraid but it had nothing to do with all that was happening. No it was the fear of her sister dying.

She had only one sister in the world and she couldn't be replaced ever, no matter what time she came from. Also no matter how cruel or unkind she was she would always be her sister. She eyed Akemi again who was being looked at by Ehecatl she had expected Gabrielle to kill her and yet she hadn't instead she started to cry as if the will to kill in cold blood anymore. Akemi didn't deserve to live but Gabrielle's words hadn't been about her life it had been about taking her away from the one who loved her. She found her grip tightening gods she had been so happy to see her. Yet she hadn't said it before Gabrielle had jumped through the portal and now she wasn't sure that she'd ever get the chance to say it.

She looked down at her sister's face speaking softy not really caring if anyone could hear her. "I'm sorry Gabrielle, I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry that I hated you for so long because of what you did in the past." She looked at the blood running down her sister's shoulder. "You just wanted to guide me through the snow so we could find our way home and I betrayed you." Xena watched as Ehecatl slowly dragged Akemi away from Gabrielle who was now on her sister's lap, he easing her away and then sat down with her close by. His fight was over she could see it in his eyes he didn't care about all that was happening anymore he just wanted to be with Akemi. She looked down she wouldn't take that away from him, it was what he wanted.

She turned eyeing Tlaloc and Amoxtli keeping her voice even she had no idea whose side they were on. "You can help me or get out of my way your choice." Tlaloc looked at her for a long moment she was questioning their allegiance. "We only fought on your rival's side because we wanted freedom, we didn't know about this!" He looked around him. "We came for Lila, and we'll do what ever it takes to save her now." Amoxtli turned nodding as she looked at Itzli. "We want to save Lila we are both her friends we were trying to escape we thought the Star Coyote was our way out." Xena turned pulling up the pendent she eyed Itzli as he came to stand by her side. "What's going on now?" Tlaloc turned to the calendar. "Ask the crystal skulls that's what Akemi did, they tell you everything!" Xena moved towards the spinning calendar whose skulls eyes were all flashing with white light. She stopped at the edge looking at the red light. "Tell me what's going on right now!" The golden skulls at centre eyes flashed white and gold as its deep male voice hit the air. "You are holding time in your hands Warrior Princess the past, present and the future."

It eyes flashed a brighter white. "You have a chance as the owner of time to see your lover's future should you wish it, we are all awaiting your wish. We know that you do not want what Akemi wanted and as your lover has stopped her, we will grant you a taste of what you truly desire in your heart." Xena eyed the golden skull. "I don't want to see the future!" The golden skulls eyes flashed gold. "Yes you do Warrior Princess you want to know if what you did in giving your heart to the Blood Jaguar was right and if it will truly change everything. You want to know if you will ever have children together. You also want to know if you will be together in this life time until you grow old."

The skulls jaw moved. "We know all that is in your heart you can not hide anything from us." Xena looked up gods why did these skulls have to know this she hadn't voiced it aloud. She put a hand on her face gods it was so tempting to know and the need to see the future was so strong, she looked at the images of her lover's life which were now flashing faster. Everything around her seemed to freeze for an eternity as she felt herself fight the urge only to find herself breaking and coming to only to one conclusion. She breathed in deeply finally finding her voice as she turned back. "I only want the answer to two of my questions." The golden skulls eyes flashed white. "Then I will give your answers as a gift."

Xena lowered her gaze. "Will it be the way it should have been for us and will Gabrielle truly be happy with me in this life time?" The skulls eyes flashed gold for an instant. "Yes Warrior Princess if this world continues she finally will, and to answer your first question you will both have what you finally seek." The white light flashed up once again. "You're going to ask me how to shut this device down and you know what that answer is, don't you?" Xena looked at the gleaming pendent at the calendars centre the golden skulls eyes flashed gold. "You know right now I can see it in your mind and I will tell you the truth it is going to really hurt you. Know this though C'thulon is coming, you may shut the device down and free the soul bound to it but you have no control over the tree of life."

The eyes flashed red. "It will be his choice to use the tree of life to recreate the world a new you will have no choice but to be recreated anew if he chooses to do so." Xena looked at the pendent in her hand as everything became clear. "I understand and I know what I'm supposed to do, but how much will it hurt?" The golden skulls eyes flashed white again. "There is no telling what you will loose or gain or what you will see, the soul takes and gives in equal measure just as the body can be broken and rebuilt." Xena took in a deep breath turning to Itzli as she closed her eyes. "If I don't make it then Gabrielle's last request was to save me then you'll do the same and save her."

Itzli looked down for a long moment he felt a smile spread across his face. "Oh I know you'll be coming back, you always do." Xena smiled as she patted his shoulder. "I'll see you when this is all over." She walked away from him ignoring the look of confusion on the others faces. She took a deep breath closing her eyes as she stepped back further. She could do this she knew she could because if it was Gabrielle standing here then she'd do with out second thought. She eased her sword back in to its scabbard then placed the Chakram back on its hook. She eased up the pendent winding it around her hand closing her fist around it taking in another deep breath hearing silence hit the room around her.

She didn't think as she bolted in to a run feeling her feet hit the floor as she ran forward not looking back. She felt the breath leave her as she leapt of the edge with all her might. She could see the white and red light passed her by as she flew through the air towards the spinning calendar. The pain went through her as she slammed in to the central ring which caused it to stop spinning. She felt her body cry out in pain which caused her to scream as both lights hit her. Gods it felt like Itzpapalotl's godly whip all over again, she felt her teeth grind together as she held on watching as all of the rings carried on spinning. The skulls eyes all turned gold as they stared back at her. She screamed again as the golden and red lightning started to strike her body.

Itzli stared at the Warrior Princess who was now disappearing in side the mixing lights. He could see her light blue eyes as they started glowing as she was struck again by the lightning. It was painful to watch he knew she was suffering and he was powerless to stop it as were they all. They didn't have godly pendants which could allow them access to the calendar. He breathed in the light was widened causing everything to fade away from site altogether no longer allowing him to see the calendar or her. Tlaloc walked up putting a hand on his brother's shoulder. "She's insane." Itzli shook his head staring in to the light. "No brother she is honourable just like her lover." Amoxtli breathed in turning to look at Lila whose eyes were starting to close. "What ever she's doing she had better do it fast!"

Xena ignored the feeling going through her body which was a mix of pain and ecstasy all at once as she looked down seeing the pendent. It was in side the central piece which she was clinging to. She didn't think as she brought back her fist smashing it in to the calendar's central pendent. She winced pulling her closed fist away watching as the blood ran down her knuckles. She brought her fist back only to realize that the Itzli and the other were now frozen in place as if they'd stopped moving in time. She looked down seeing the tunnel of red which now covered with pulsing flesh which was crawling slowly upwards. Her gaze shot up she could also see red white light and flesh coming down from above. She felt the lightning again which caused her to scream as she clutched harder bringing back her bloody fist back before smashing it in to the central pendent, hearing it creak in its locked position as the brackets holding it started to buckle. She brought her hand down smashing it a third time only to feel everything stop as a memory flew in to her mind.

8

Xena turned looking at her lover again the younger woman was looking out of the window of the large room which over looked the family's grain fields in Potidaea. Her lover's fingers were tapping the frame in frustration. She breathed in deeply. "We have to talk about this Gabrielle." Gabrielle let her eyes trace the sill again. "I don't want to talk about this it shouldn't have happened it was a mistake." Xena moved closer to her. "Gabrielle this is good and right it's not a mistake." Gabrielle breathed in deeply trying to hold back her tears. "You say that but you do mean it!" Xena looked at her for a long moment before speaking keeping her voice gentle. "Please don't be like this with me sweetheart I'm not like that anymore. I don't hide things from and I don't tell mistruths just to make you feel better."

She stepped closer. "You should have told me about this but I know why you didn't and I don't blame you. Please don't be like this with me, I'm not your enemy, I won't hurt your feelings because I believe I'm right. I don't want to hurt you I want you to be happy with me. Do you know how happy hearing this makes me? I hear this and I think it's wonderful for us we have a chance to get things so right this time." She came even closer putting both hands on her lover's shoulders she eased up her hand moving it through the long blonde hair watching as her lover's eyes met her own she slowly leaned forward taking hold of her hands. "Please don't deny me this Gabrielle and don't try to take it away from me again. I promise you what happened before won't happen now I would never do that to you again." She felt her teeth grind together feeling the pain start to well up in her chest before she could stop it. Tears started to run down her face as she pulled the younger woman in her embrace feeling the utter desperation of the whole situation finally hit home. "I want this so badly its part of you and I love this as much as I love you."

8

Xena found herself shaking as she came back to present what in Tartarus was that? Her thoughts were cut off as the pain came again gods she couldn't take much more of this every nerve ending her body was on fire. The problem was that it was pleasure and pain all rolled in to one and she wasn't sure whether to hate it or love it. She breathed in deeply trying to stay too focused as she slammed her fist in to the centre bracket once more hearing it smash. She looked down grabbing the pendent forcing it free feeling the lightning as it stuck her with its might free. She didn't think as she put it over her head then grabbed its counterpart smashing it in the central rings turning circle.

The light from above came down hitting it causing it to float upwards before it disintegrated away in a shower of gold. She looked up watching as the calendar rings stopped spinning. The golden skulls eyes flash red and white. "You know the truth of your heart." Xena looked up just in time to see the red and white light as it flew out of its mouth. It went right through the opening in the calendar smashing the rest of the bracket apart as it hit her in the stomach causing her to cry out in pain as she was thrown through the air by it. Everything seemed to blur and go in and out of focus as she swept through the merging lights, she blinked coming through it.

She breathed in realizing that everything was about to hurt as she saw the floor of the temple bellow. She cried out as she slammed in to it back first sliding along it coming to a stop on her side. She could see the light not more than two footsteps away from her but it was going in and out of focus. She was lay on her front on the cold stone floor feeling her head swim as three people's shadows appeared around her. She groaned feeling her face hit the floor as the energy left her. She felt someone's hands as they started to shake her but she couldn't hear them because her brain was floating. She breathed in feeling her eyes close as the darkness took over.

End of part 114

Silvermoonlight