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Aftershocks

The right to have a disclaimer in this story has been voted down by the legislature of Wisconsin. Protests are being organized.

8

Day 5

Xena, Callisto, Borias, Iolaus, and Gabrielle arrived in Argos. The army in Argos was preparing for war as fortifications went up. Xena quickly took notice of the banners belonging to the two centaur tribes, the tribe of Kaleipus, and of Tildas. Then she noticed the banner of Corinth, she was taken aback by seeing it, she went to investigate.

Who she saw then was none other than Jason former king of Corinth. Xena approached him as she asked, "How? How did the army of Corinth wind up as it has?

Many emotions filled the sad king's face as prepared to answer, "Iphicles had ruled Corinth for several months when Chaos came and took the people from the world. This led to instability of the throne, as chaos ran rampant over here as well. So when Hercules returned…" Jason stopped, wiping tear from his eye

"He tried to act like the old Hercules but it wasn't. I could, there was some dark force inside him. Anyway he began to assist king Iphicles who was his brother. How was he supposed to know what Hercules game was? It was his brother? You are supposed to trust your brother."

Jason stopped as he breathed inward regaining his composure, "We all trusted Hercules. One night Hercules declared that Iphicles was a traitor and had him imprisoned in a dungeon of Corinth and took the throne.

We knew then that something was wrong with Hercules. My wife, his mother went to him to see what was wrong, she was imprisoned too. I gathered a volunteer force of Corinthians and we left the city before we could be imprisoned too. But that didn't matter. Hercules reputation and his knowledge of the land, he very easily built an army that swelled by several thousand to become the mightiest force in the land.

His growing power puts the whole land of Greece in danger, the weaker we are, the more likely Rome of someone else could try to take us all.

But what I'm must concerned about, and what I really want, more than anything, my wife. I want her back. And I will fight Hercules to my last breath to rescue her." Xena put his hand on his shoulder to comfort him as a plan formed in her head.

A few minutes later Xena spoke to Gabrielle. She said "Gabrielle, I have to go. I'm going to infiltrate Corinth."

Gabrielle did a double take, "Alone?"

Xena replied "Yes, I need to be alone for this. I need you to keep Iolaus and Callisto from following me. Especially Iolaus, he finds out he will come to."

Gabrielle nodded reluctantly as she watched Xena ride off towards Corinth.

8

Athens

Hercules and Selenta stood beside one another in the center of what used to be a city. Since nothing remained of the Athenian government buildings, Hercules and Selenta planed their flags in the town square.

The soldiers then placed flags all over the rubble, instilling the statement that they now rule Athens, despite the fact there was nothing left. All while other soldiers wiped out small pockets of resistance which consisted mostly of small handfuls who escaped the carnage of the main battle. Resistance often being defined as an old man in a corner somewhere, or a child hiding under a bed.

Selenta made her play, "I don't know how plan on doing all this but Thebes want's control of Athens."

Hercules scoffed as had no intention of ever giving Athens to Thebes but that was not important as the armies of southern Greece were already marching north to meet him in battle.

Hercules evaded the statement as he said, "We have to send the army to Corinth. Sparta, Messene and several others are marching toward Corinth. My spies tell me that Argos has formed an army and the Centaurs are helping them. If you will excuse me there is something else I must do before I set out for Corinth."

Hercules entered a building that was amazingly still standing. Ares appeared as his body radiated fury, "What have you done!"

Hercules shouted back, "Only what you have always wished Ares!"

Ares stormed into Hercules' personal space, "I wanted you to conquer Athens, not kill every living thing! Even now Athena is marshaling everyone she can to come after you. I fought Athena on Olympus this morning because of you!"

Hercules' nostril's flared, "Isn't that what you always wanted? One large massive war for it all!"

Ares replied in a low menacing growl, "I hate you brother. Even as a warlord I find that I just can't stand you!"

Hercules punched Ares in the face sending him flying back several feet. Ares jumped to his feet, "You bastard!" He charged a bolt of power and threw it at Hercules but Hercules quickly evaded it..

Ares then said with the finality in his voice, "We are done!"

Hercules scoffed in anger, then he shouted, "I never needed you Ares! Never!"

"And how are you going to maintain an army without me?"

Hercules replied, "I have my ways!"

Ares turned about and stated as he disappeared, "I will be watching Hercules; next time we meet will be enemies." Hercules punched the wall smashing it open, and then stepped through the hole, the soldiers stepped back as they didn't want to taste the rage of Hercules.

8

Hera stood beside Zeus as he was clearly hurting. Hera who once would have happy to see this felt for him deeply. His son had become one of the greatest monsters in all Greece and Athena, his daughter had sworn to kill him. Zeus searched hard to find a way to defend Hercules. His daughter was hurting as well for her chosen city was killed to the last man.

Ares appeared before Zeus. With Ares before him, Zeus had a target for which to unleash his rage upon, "Ares you bastard!"

Zeus struck down Ares with a bolt of power. Ares tried to get up as Zeus struck him down again. Zeus' face turned red as an electrical charge built around him the blotted out all other light, "You had to do it!" He struck him again, this time with his fist.

Ares was completely helpless before the king of the gods, "You had to destroy Hercules." Ares tried to speak as Zeus smashed him in the mouth with his fist.

Zeus' voice turned cold, "You are not my son and you are not welcome on Olympus. Don't ever come back or I will kill you."

Zeus cast lightning around Ares and threw him to earth below. Hera said, "Don't you think that was overdone?"

Zeus turned to his wife as his nostril's flared, "Quiet! Dammit woman shut up!" Zeus stormed away. Hera stood speechless, but she understood her husband's pain.

8

Ares landed hard on a small island outside off of Greece. He awoke to see the massive figure of Poseidon looming over him. Poseidon said, "You have gone too far my foolish Nephew."

Ares got to his feet and dusted himself off, "I'm not responsible for all this."

Poseidon appeared unconvinced, "Really, you didn't do cause the complete and total utter destruction of Athena's city?"

Ares replied as he stared up at the king of the seas, "It was my idea to occupy Athens but not to destroy it. It goes against the ideas of military conquest. You don't destroy the cities if you can keep from it. If you can take a city without wiping it completely out, you'll reap the rewards."

"Athens was destroyed before the gates broke!"

Ares replied as he felt the breath of the god Poseidon, "I did not authorize the killing of the civilian population. I'm telling you, something else is going on here."

Poseidon paused for a moment. Then he finally stated, "Maybe your right, but you will remain on this island as I've been entrusted with keeping you here."

Ares adamantly shouted, "You can't do this to me! I'm the god of war!"

Poseidon replied with a grin, "I'm the god of the Oceans and Seas and brother of the king of the Gods. I can do whatever I want!" Poseidon sunk down below the water. Ares sat down as he realized he wasn't going anywhere.

8

Hercules was away from the army momentarily as Aphrodite appeared beside him. "You're doing well Hercules. Because of you my brother has been cast out of Olympus."

Hercules stated with a chill "I don't care what happens to him."

Aphrodite was taken aback by the coldness of the reply. After a moment she regained her composure as she said, "Athena has rallied a large army to come after you. You need to move south and eliminate them."

Hercules replied as his voice got more chilling, "I am aware of them." Aphrodite sighed as she teleported away, seeing that is was clearly best that Hercules be left alone.

8

Athena was in Olympus as she demanded, "Let me kill Ares!"

Zeus shot back, "No! I will not!"

Athena's rage continued to grow as she shouted, "What about Hercules!" Zeus did not answer.

Athena demanded again of the thunder god, "Can I not avenge my people?"

Zeus reappeared in her face as she stepped back in awe of the sudden power that now confronted her, "You are asking permission to kill two of my sons! You are the goddess of wisdom!"

Athena forcing herself against the power of her father she jumped back into his face, "If you allow them they will destroy everything."

Zeus stepped back, he knew she was right, "I've punished Ares and that's that. But you will have to deal with Hercules yourself, and you won't be the one who kills him, I won't have one child kill another, if you want him dead badly enough, then you will have to find someone who can and will!"

Athena shook her head as tears of rage fell from her face, "Damn you father…" as she teleported away.

Zeus did something that Hera only seen one other time in her life. Zeus wept. The last time Zeus wept, that she could remember, was the day he killed his father….

8

Callisto stepped back suddenly as Athena appeared before her. Callisto stated as she anticipated what she was about to be asked, "No, all you gods ever do is destroy everything. I will not follow you!" Athena's tone was simple and to the point, "If you really don't want to be my champion I give you one choice. Kill Hercules." Callisto was stunned to silence.