x

The Internal Struggle

No one wants to own an account with Bank of America.

8

It was now nearly morning, the sun had not risen yet, but Callisto had not slept either. Xena and her small band had already left for their mission to rescue the Centaurs. She was standing out here, collecting her thoughts. In a few hours she wanted to gather her army and start moving towards Hercules, perhaps to give Xena and the Centaurs time to get out of the path way.

Suddenly Callisto pulled out her sword twisting to strike down the presence that was now behind her back. Crossing swords with the figure, Callisto realized that it was a woman; a closer look revealed that it was Athena.

Callisto shot, not hiding her contempt for the Goddess, "What do you want? More people for me to kill?"

Athena lowered her sword and then her head, "I came to apologize, Callisto. When I last appeared to you, I was angry and I demanded that you kill Hercules. I'm sorry."

Callisto raised a single eyebrow, "A god apologizing… is this some sort of trick?"

"No tricks, you are still my chosen."

Callisto turned her back on the goddess as she replied through gritted teeth, "I don't want it."

"Why? In the world of Chaos you seemed willing enough."

Callisto turned around, letting go of a sudden feeling of anger she replied, "We were trapped there, I had to do whatever could be done to free myself and the others. It made sense at the time."

"It doesn't make sense now?"

"No, it doesn't, I was free from the life of the warrior, and then I get dragged back into it."

Athena shook her head, "It couldn't be prevented…"

"Really, you're telling me you omnipotent gods couldn't have stopped the recent tragedy? Either you are full of shit, or you didn't care until it was too late."

"My people were thoughtlessly murdered Callisto, don't you forget that!" Athena collected herself after the reply cooling her temper as best she could.

"I'm aware, if anything I am aware, but as far as I'm concerned all of what has occurred in the last few days is the fault of the Gods."

Athena crossed her arms, "Oh really… let me school you a little since you have barely existed for 20 years can presume to tell the goddess of wisdom exactly what is wrong with this world. You, Hercules, Xena, you are always blaming us for the world's tragedies…"

Callisto spat, "But isn't it the truth…"

"Do you really think that Caesar slaughtered the Gauls because Ares wanted him to, or have you actually determined that the Gods made Xena wipe out your village? When you were blaming Xena for the death of your family you were closer to the truth than you seem to be now. Its humanity, yes it's true, we gods do play on your nature, especially my brother in his dirty insidious ways, but it's your nature that's creating these wars. Someone messed up Hercules' head yes, and that's clear evidence of divine involvement, but what of his soldiers, or Selenta? They are human beings completely under their own power. We Gods have our place in the blame for the sadness in the world, but we will not shoulder the burden alone, the people must realize the errors of their ways, and make better choices, as should we gods."

Callisto bowed her head, it was true what Athena said, humans could not be absolved of their sins just because of Godly intervention, there was no innocent party here.

Callisto asked, "What about Hercules?"

"There is something wrong there, but I don't know what, I feel a more dangerous force than any God of Olympus is involved. Callisto, you are still my champion, doesn't matter if you want it or not, you are. This is the mantle you shall bear until I decide you are no longer able to bear it, until then, you must walk your path. I'm with you always."

Callisto nodded as Athena disappeared. She turned back towards her army, they were going to mount up and do whatever they could to deal with the army of Hercules and give Xena more time.

Later the warrior gathered together a small force which she was going to use to carry out her plan for Hercules and she noticed something. Turning to Iolaus who was now beside her on horseback, "Where's Gabrielle?"

8

Gabrielle sat upon on her bunk in her new tent. She was already regretting her choice of action, though she admitted that it felt good to bust up Selenta, however she was already feeling that she made a mistake by making this choice. It was stupid of her to listen to Ares, or so she thought to herself.

"That black eye doesn't go with your green halter top."

Gabrielle turned away from the former love goddess as she appeared in the center of the tent.

Aphrodite reached to touch Gabrielle's cheek but Gabrielle knocked her hand away. Aphrodite curtly replied, "Stop behaving like a brat, I'm just taking care of that eye."

Gabrielle groaned but acquiesced to the goddess in the skin tight black leather. A wave of Aphrodite's hand and her eye was healed up, and Gabrielle's bruises went away.

"Isn't that better Gabrielle."

Gabrielle eyed the Love Goddess, "No, there's just going to be more fighting, I'm tired of all of this."

"Remember my promise, you'll be free of this life soon enough."

Gabrielle cast a doubting eye, "Why don't I believe you?"

Aphrodite smiled wickedly, "That's because so many others in your life couldn't give you answer, certainly not Xena… it's been hard on you since Chaos took control of you a few months ago. But I can do what they can't, live up to my word."

"But what about you?"

Aphrodite turned away, "What about me?"

Gabrielle replied, "This isn't you, where's the love?"

"Don't say that word."

"Love!"

Aphrodite shouted, "Silence!"

"You know it's wrong don't you! This life you chosen, this isn't why you existed; this is why ARES was created, but not you Aphrodite. You aren't him, and you never were supposed to be."

Aphrodite seized the bard by the arms, "What do you know of it, you mortals think you know everything, you know nothing, this IS my life now, and it's the life I choose? That's what you are about isn't it Gabrielle? Choice, I choose this, and I'm happy that I choose this… and love… has nothing to do with anything. I don't want to ever hear that word again unless I'm crushing it under my heels!"

Aphrodite released the bard as Gabrielle fell onto her bunk. But Gabrielle still replied, "I just miss the old you…"

Aphrodite said in a low voice, "That person no longer exists Gabrielle, just like the old kind and gentle you, the innocent you, no longer exists either. The world has changed us, except it, nothing's going to change it."

Gabrielle tried to argue but Aphrodite shouted, "Enough!" and then disappeared.

Gabrielle shook her head, a part of her told Aphrodite was right, that she should accept the path her life had gone and how it changed her. But deep down a spark inside her torn heart flickered, through all her darkness, there may yet be something left of who Gabrielle really was, maybe there was a silver lining, but Gabrielle sure couldn't see it. She seemed fated for suffering, she could only hope that somehow, someday, someway that there had to be some way out of her suffering, and maybe she could finally heal…

8

Outside the tent, Herici smiled has he listened to the whole exchange, that Gabrielle had an incredible power. If he could harness it someway he could add to his own power, but if not… the bard might have to be destroyed.