THE GOLDEN LIGHT THAT WILL REPLACE THE DIMMING AGE
Huitzilopochtli folded his arms looking back at all the gods it was getting to be a tight fit in side Xochiquetzal's temple. He had allowed everyone to rest for a while but now the time had come to talk about the future. Then fix the issues which were now showing themselves in his mind, none of these issues made him happy. He could not see how his head warrior was doing until this was over ether. Personally he wished he could check up on his city but his responsibilities had changed and now he had to do what was right and hope that the other gods agreed to his changes. Some of which he wasn't sure how they would pan out in the long run.
He finished off his drink of blood as he stood up slowly. "I feel that now the time has come to resolve a number of issues." Xochiquetzal sat down on her throne watching as Chantico leaned against it folding her arms. "Please go ahead there is no better place to hear the words of the new king than from my temple." Huitzilopochtli gave her a slight smile as he put his hand on his chest. "Thank you." He turned watching as the room fell silent as the other gods looked up. "As you have said you want me as your king, but this is not my kingdom unlike Quetzalcoatl I want you to have free reign over your cities and the freedom to keep your laws and methods in place as you have always done."
He looked up slightly. "The alliance will remain with each city helping each other as and when it is needed." He tapped his foot. "This brings me to a very serious issue of who will now own the kingdoms left by Quetzalcoatl and Itzpapalotl." Tezcatlipoca sneered putting a clawed finger on the collar around his neck. "Itzpapalotl's kingdom should be mine she took all that I had!" Huitzilopochtli eyed him for a long moment. "Ah yes and I thought that you would say that brother you will have her kingdom, but you will rule it under my rules." Tezcatlipoca looked up sharply. "You just said that every god could rule his kingdom as he chooses!" Huitzilopochtli narrowed his gaze. "Yes brother I did but you do not know how to rule mortals, you need to learn."
He stepped forward eyeing his older brother. "Everyone thinks that you are evil and there right you are evil, but in my view you have only been evil because you were denied everything that my self and Quetzalcoatl were given. I believe that you can be good and that you can be kind but you are going to have to start all over again." He turned slightly. "If you do not go by the rules I give you dear brother that collars points will find themselves digging deeper in to your throat. I will not have another creator god like Quetzalcoatl running loose. You will be loyal to me and only to me, as you promised and you will help me when ever I need it."
Tezcatlipoca looked up feeling his eyes dart as he thought about then notion of playing by his younger brothers rules. He slowly raised his clawed fingers he could have a kingdom that was all he wanted. In fact now that he thought about it playing by his brother's rules was a small price to pay for having a new throne. "As you wish my loyalty to you is absolute brother." Huitzilopochtli eased up his hand. "I am not quite finished yet you will also stay away from Xochiquetzal and Chantico. If you pull another stunt like the one you did under Quetzalcoatl's rule I will kill you my self." Tezcatlipoca lowered his head, he wouldn't even try that again ever, he valued his life to much and he knew that Chantico would kill him outright.
He put a hand on his chest. "I have no interest in doing that I value my life." Huitzilopochtli looked at him seeing the genuine honesty in his cat like eyes. He turned watching as the jaguar god stepped back. "This brings me to Quetzalcoatl's kingdom it will be put in to Xochipilli's hands until he returns from exile." Xochipilli looked up sharply blinking in surprise. "You're giving me his kingdom? Why would you do this, why not give it to Chantico?" Huitzilopochtli folded his arms. "Because Chantico has a kingdom waiting for her and I owe you something for the suffering and pain I put you through." Chantico blinked in confusion. "What do you mean I have a kingdom waiting for me?"
Huitzilopochtli turned to her. "When the right moment comes I'm sure Xochiquetzal will tell you all about it." He ignored the shock in Chantico's face. True it wasn't his business but then again it was time to bring them back together fully and now was a good a time as any. He eyed Xochiquetzal who looked just as shocked by his words as he turned back to Xochipilli. "You deserve more than you have Xochipilli and now I am giving it to you." Xochipilli looked up slightly. "I thank you for this gift it is nice to know that despite our differences we have both come to respect each other." Huitzilopochtli gave him a mile before turning slightly. "I consider it to be a friendship more than respect." He turned again eyeing both his parents who were saying nothing, but then they couldn't they were forbidden to interferer in his choices.
His gaze drifted to the hawk god who had rolled himself up in a coil to give everyone room. He stepped forward. "Manaia isn't it?" Manaia shook his feathers. "Yes great Aztec king." Huitzilopochtli looked at him for a long moment he knew all about this god but he had no idea why he had come here to start with. "I know that you were caught by Quetzalcoatl but why did you come here in the beginning?" Manaia lowered his neck. "I came here because the Zeus of the Greek gods asked me to find his son Ares and bring him home. He feared for his safety but could not leave due to another demon god who is in hiding. As I now have to take care of Quetzalcoatl, I ask only that you allow Ares to leave your lands and return to the father who cares for him."
Ares folded his arms sneering in disgust. "My father doesn't care about me." Manaia turned meeting his dark gaze. "I feel that you do not know how much your father does love you. Believe me when I say that he does love you what ever you may think. He will never stop loving you and one day you will understand his love for you have taken your first noble steps to greatness." He smiled slightly. "When he sees the greatness in your eyes for the first time he will admire it." Ares eyed him. "I don't think so I think you're trying to make me feel better, since I made the mistake of coming here." Manaia leaned closer to him. "Who knew then that this would be your greatest triumph born out of that mistake."
Huitzilopochtli stepped forward watching as Manaia looked up. "Ares is going to leave these lands unharmed, he will return to Olympus through a portal that we will create. One will also be created for you as well so you can return home and look after Quetzalcoatl who I am sure has landed on your island by now." Manaia lowered his neck further. "Thank you, great Aztec king." Coatlicue flicked out one of her tongues. "I do not mean to interfere, my son but what is to become of us?" Mixcoatl flicked his tail in a violent motion. "Yes what of us!" Huitzilopochtli smiled slightly. "I have two huge temples in my city both will become yours and any one from any city can come here and worship you."
Mixcoatl felt his teeth grind together. "Then we will never have a kingdom?" Huitzilopochtli turned un amused by his father's anger. "Once you have both settled down you can work on building a new kingdom for yourselves with the help off the other gods. Once they are built you can rule your people in the same way I rule mine." Mixcoatl turned sharply. "I do not wish to rule in the same manner as you I was king once!" Huitzilopochtli folded his arms. "Yes you were and we both know that you were no better than my brother Quetzalcoatl when it comes to ruling others. The reason myself and my creator god brothers became so bad was because we all followed your example, an example that I will not repeat under my rule."
He narrowed his gaze. "This is not a request it is an order, I will not have gods fighting each other as long as I am king. It benefits no one in the long run that much your example has shown." Coatlicue moved her clawed fingers looking at her lover. "Our son is right Mixcoatl violence can no longer sustain the kingdoms of the Mexican gods anymore." She moved her clawed feet. "We have to become a unified empire, driven by the same goals and ideas. Blood should be given willingly and only the blood those who trespass and bring war to our land should put on our dinner table. We should have allies and alliances among the lesser gods namely those who have our gratitude and respect."
Huitzilopochtli smiled slightly. "Your right mother and that is why there will be a new warrior cast a cast that can act as ambassadors between gods they will take the place of the old godly messengers. The gods can still have normal messengers between their cities though. These new ambassadors will wear both colours and will stand along side the elite warriors at the top." He opened his hand. "They will guide the armies in to this new age and they will have equal understanding of both battle tactics and political views and they will have the right to live in which ever god's city they choose." He turned eyeing Itzli who was standing in the corner he stepped closer to him. "I believe I have the first warrior to take this role right here."
Itzli looked up sharply suddenly realizing that all eyes were on him he could Ohtli standing close by his smile widening. "You want me?" Huitzilopochtli felt his smile widen. "Yes I want you for this role Itzli you are perfect as you have already dealt with other gods on many levels and I feel that you are very much in between worlds as you embrace love and war in equal measure." He looked up slightly. "The last time you stood up to me and I read your memories and I know you have a reason to stay in Xochiquetzal's city an important one. You can stay here for now or move to another city of your choice as soon as the right time comes. Be it a year from now or five it is your choice as long as you report to me now and again then that is all that matters."
He turned enjoying the shocked look as it spread across the warriors face. "Your name will become legendary here in Mexica as you will the first to take this position and your history with Gabrielle speaks for its self." He eased up his hand as he came towards Tlaloc whose face turned to fright along with the woman's next to him. "Which brings me to you Tlaloc?" Tlaloc didn't think as he hit the ground on his knees along with Amoxtli. "I beg forgiveness from you mighty sun god I was forced to serve the feathered serpent." Huitzilopochtli looked down sadly. "You misunderstand me I am not angry with you, your choice was taken away from you. You could do nothing but serve him."
He put a hand on his chin. "I am asking you what you want you want now that you have returned to me." Amoxtli lowered his head. "I wish only to serve you great sun god." Huitzilopochtli shook his head. "Please both of you stand up." He watched as they both slowly got to their feet he met Tlaloc's uncertain gaze. "No that is not what you want." He looked down slightly. "You served in my army for far too long I know you are a warrior who values things, things that you could not have. So tell me what is that you truly want?" Tlaloc put his hands together. "I do not want to fight anymore I wish to retire from the army and have a quite life."
Huitzilopochtli felt his smile widen. "Why would you want that life you are a great warrior?" Tlaloc lowered his gaze. "I want it because I have deep feelings for the woman next to me, her name is Amoxtli." Huitzilopochtli turned looking at the woman opposite. "You served under Quetzalcoatl am I right?" Amoxtli looked down sadly. "I hate Quetzalcoatl he eat me alive giving a slow and painful death all because I was hungry and took food from his godly table. I've had to suffer an un-dead existence in which I had to live outside as of humanity. I couldn't join the warriors because I was considered a peasant, by the feathered serpent's standards."
She felt a tear roll down her face. "I got my chance years later to be a warrior but I had to watch my family die and be there when they disowned me. Then I took the pain of being tortured by the twelve elite so when I saw my chance to betray the feathered serpent I did so. I did it with out thought or question, and took the new life given to me." Huitzilopochtli put his hands behind his back this was another horror story brought about by his younger brother. He had to feel sorry for this woman. She in a way epitomized all that had been wrong in Mexica and he had to fix this. It was his duty to put right any off his brother's wrongs when ever he found them from this day fourth.
He breathed in deeply meting her tearful gaze. "I do not destroy those who have left the feathered serpent willingly. You sound as though you have suffered too much and deserve the life you were denied. I only ask that you pledge your loyalty to me for the remainder of your life." Amoxtli lowered her head. "My blood and allegiance are yours great sun god." Huitzilopochtli felt his smile widen. "I will make sure that you both get that quite life you desire, as you have both suffered enough. If the events of these past few weeks have taught me anything it is that every warrior has the right to retire and have a peaceful life. Those who have served me through the wars or suffered under other gods should be given that with out question."
Tlaloc lowered his head further, he couldn't believe this, he was free to pursue the life he wanted and he had been given to him with out question. He had no expected it to be this way he thought that he would be punished for being forced to serve the feathered serpent. Yet here he was finally free from carrying a weapon. He watched as Amoxtli lowered her head out of respect. "Thank you great sun god." Huitzilopochtli nodded. "You are very welcome I only hope that you both find what you are searching for in this new mortal life." He paused moving his fingers. "You are free to return to my city when ever you are ready because of your brothers earlier deeds your family will be joining you very soon in a noble house hold."
He turned slightly. "You can join them, as and when you are ready or you can both make a new home in of the other god's cities of your choice." Tlaloc shook his head. "I would like to join my family again, if they are in your city then that's where I want to be." He turned meeting Amoxtli's gaze. "If that's what you want as well?" Amoxtli looked up slightly she had never had a family not for a very long time as it had been denied her because of her un-dead immortality. She felt a smile form. "I would like that a lot." She leaned over gently putting a hand on his arm trying to stop the tears from falling she was finally free at long last.
Huitzilopochtli's gaze drifted up as he watched two of Xochiquetzal's warrior bring in another he felt a smile form as he caught sight of Coaxoch's glowing gaze. Coaxoch groaned slightly as he pulled himself away from the two other warriors using his axe to stand him self up. "Great sun god you have returned, I apologise for not being here when you arrived I did not get the news until now." He turned slightly. "My power has returned to me, which can only mean that the many others in the city will be getting better now." Huitzilopochtli walked up to him putting a hand on his shoulder. "The thought of that makes me very happy I believed for the longest time that you and the rest of my hummingbird army would die."
Coaxoch shook his head. "No one would want that to happen, not now that you are king of the gods." Huitzilopochtli eyed him for a long moment. "I see that news has travelled very fast I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing." Coaxoch looked up slightly. "I believe it is the news that everyone wanted to hear, the throne has been in need of a new king for to long." Huitzilopochtli looked at them all he took in a deep breath as he spoke. "You may now return to your rooms, there are plenty of spear rooms here. Later tonight I will open the portals so that some of you can return home. While others will return to there new kingdoms at the same time after which I will take my throne in Tenochtitlan where I will begin my rule as king of the gods."
8
Gabrielle felt Lila pull away from her, her younger sister wiped the remainder of her tears away. She eased up her hand putting it on her sister's shoulder. "Are you okay?" Lila nodded taking in a deep breath trying to quieten her mind which kept on pulling her in all directions. She breathed in again as she met her sisters concerned gaze. "Do things get better after you've been through this?" Gabrielle looked down slightly there was no point in lying about this. "Not at first but things do get better in time." Lila looked up slightly her sister was being honest the truth was in her eyes. She paused trying to work out her next words carefully. "I'm so sorry." Gabrielle raised her hand. "You don't have to be sorry for anything this was my fault."
Lila put her hands together. "No I mean I'm sorry for what I said to you, you are my sister nothing will ever change that." Gabrielle gave her a slight smile only to feel it fade. "I know I'm not from your time, but trust me I love you just the same." She lowered her gaze sadly. "I don't hold it against you for not believing that, there's so much that goes against me because of how I treated you." She looked at her sai blades glinting in there holders. "I would understand if you never forgave me for all this, just know that I will spend the rest of my life things right between us again no matter what it takes." She let her eyes trace the floor. "People shouldn't have to suffer for my mistakes least of all you and Xena."
Lila shook her head as she folded her arms. "It's Mexica isn't it? It turns people on one another." Gabrielle took a step back oh that would be the perfect excuse wouldn't it? She knew better though Mexica was only half to blame, the rest was her own doing. She turned meeting her lover's concerned gaze before looking back seeing the uncertainty in her sister's eyes. Her younger sister was terrified that was the truth and she had no idea how to deal with the suffering that had fallen up on her. She had been thrown in to a situation which was completely out of her control and she didn't have the means or the mindset to deal with it. She lowered her voice to calm tone as she spoke. "Mexica does not make monsters of us."
She looked at her sai blade for a long moment. "Mexica gives us the choice to be evil and offers us the means and the way, but we are the ones who take what is offered. I took what was offered because I didn't think twice that I would have to live with the consequences. I have no excuse I'm a warrior and I should have known better and I became everything I despised." She looked at her sister who was thinking her words through. "You have nothing to be ashamed off though Lila, you've never lived my life the feathered serpent knew that and he used it to manipulate and hurt you as well as play his twisted mind games with you. Akemi used you in the same way and what happened in the temple wasn't your fault ether."
She looked at her hands again. "You didn't betray me Akemi forced you in to a position in which you had no choice." Lila shook her head. "Why don't I feel any better about you saying that?" Gabrielle looked up slightly. "Your feeling guilty you should let that guilt go believe me when it burdens you that much it will start to destroy you." Xena moved forward finally seeing that this was the moment that it was alright to come forward. "We are both going to help through this Lila what ever you need we will help you with." Lila felt her gaze dart. "I don't understand this, your both being so nice to me, yet I have been cruel to you why would you do this?"
Xena put a hand on her shoulder. "Because we've both been through this, we know what its like. We've both had our lives turned upside down and we know how painfully it is when it first happens to you. Your life is never the same again, even when things return to normal. When this happened to me the first time it led me down the path to becoming a tyrant." Gabrielle looked up slightly seeing the uncertainty once more in her sister eyes. "For me it changed everything, I never looked at the world again in the same way again. Things are going to change Lila but they will get better you just have work through this one day at a time. I know you can get through it your not a coward and if Mexica has given you anything then it's the strength to get through this."
End of part 124
Silvermoonlight
