With the battle continuing to rage around her, Xena stood amongst the bodies of the multiple enemies she had taken down. She gripped the handle of her blade tightly as she glared at the newly materialized Alti who stood a little way from her.

XENA

Alti. What are you doing here?

Alti looked around at the chaos of the battle that surrounded them.

ALTI

I did say that it wasn't over and I'd be back last time didn't I?

XENA

You mean when you failed in getting rid of me and Gabrielle for whatever you were planning and took off when you realized that you had lost?

Alti scowled.

ALTI

That was only a temporary setback. One that I was sure to not let happen again.

(Angry tone) Which begs the question as to why you're here. You and Gabrielle were supposed to be gone.

XENA

So you've been watching the village since our last little meeting. Just waiting for us to leave. But what made you so sure we would?

ALTI

You forget Xena, I know you. You've never been one to stay in one place for too long. So I knew it was only a matter of time until you moved on from this place and then it would be all mine for picking.

Seeing Alti and with no enemies coming at her, Gabrielle moved to stand beside Xena as she stared angrily at the evil sorceress.

GABRIELLE

What do you want with this village? Why do all this? The last time you were here you said the village had something you wanted. So what is it? What exactly are you after here?

Alti scowled at Gabrielle.

ALTI

(Angry tone) I knew I should've just killed you when I had the chance. If it weren't for you Xena would be gone and I'd already have what I came here for.

Xena smirked.

XENA

Well, we all have our regrets now, don't we?

ALTI

Yes I suppose we do

Alti's expression changed to a sinister grin as she returned her focus to Xena.

ALTI

But luckily unlike you Xena I can easily fix the things I regret. Just like this.

Using her power Alti made a sword from a fallen body near her rise from the ground and float in midair beside her. The blade then turned so the point was aimed directly at Gabrielle and without warning it shot towards her with incredible speed.

XENA

Gabrielle!

On instinct, Xena dove and sent both Gabrielle and herself to the ground as the projectile just barely missed hitting either of them as it sailed past them and stuck into the earth just behind them.

XENA

You okay?

GABRIELLE

Yeah, thanks.

Xena then glared at Alti as she and Gabrielle got back up.

XENA

(Angry tone) That's it, I've had enough of your cheap tricks and cryptic wording. I don't care what you're after here you aren't gonna get it. I think it's time that I finally purge this world of your evil once and for all.

Xena yelled as she sent her chakram towards Alti. The shamaness didn't even flinch as the bladed weapon careened directly at her. Instead, she just smiled as the chakram came to an abrupt halt just inches from her face.

ALTI

Come now Xena you should know something like that won't work on me.

Alti then reached up and barely touched the suspended blade in front of her and it suddenly shot back towards Xena and Gabrielle at high speed. The two hastily moved apart and dodged the weapon as it flew between them and embedded itself into the chest of one of the unfortunate Amazons that were behind them. Xena and Gabrielle watched as the woman fell and layed motionless before turning their attention back to Alti. Seething with rage Xena yelled as she charged Alti. But before Xena could reach Alti she found herself being lifted into the air by Alti's power.

ALTI

You still don't get it do you Xena? You are not going to stand in my way this time. I will take what I want from this village and you can't stop me.

With a flick of her wrist, Alti sent Xena flying back. Xena hit the ground and rolled as she quickly got back to her feet.

ALTI

And once I get my hands on the power that lies here nothing will stand in my way from doing whatever I wish. This whole world will be mine to do with as I please.

GABRIELLE

Wait that's what you're after? God's I completely forgot about it even being here.

XENA

But it's supposed to be hidden, how did someone like you even find out about it or that it's here? Or even where this village even was?

Alti grinned.

ALTI

I saw it in that fowl-mouthed Amazon friend of yours mind when I was giving her a peek into your history. In truth, I've been looking for it for a very long time. Which was why I knew that I needed to get rid of you. Then I could take it's power for myself.

GABRIELLE

(Angry tone) So everything you put us through since coming back has been for that?

ALTI

Yes. And since you spoiled my plans once already I made sure to come well prepared this time just in case the two of you showed back up here. And it seems I was right to do so. So although you're here this time not you, Xena, or anyone else will stop me from taking what's hidden within this village. The power of the Fountain Of Youth Will be mine.

Both Xena and Gabrielle stood side by side as they readied their weapons.

GABRIELLE

We'll never let that happen. Xena, myself, and everyone else here will stop you just like we did last time.

ALTI

You think so but this time I made sure to come prepared.

XENA

I guess that explains this little army then. This is all your doing.

ALTI

That's right Xena. Just another little trick I picked up in my absence. I can now raise the dead to do whatever I command.

Gabrielle shook her head in disbelief as the unnatural durability of the enemy army suddenly made sense.

GABRIELLE

So you're telling me that all of the people attacking us are already dead? We've been fighting moving corpses.

XENA

When you think about it they make the perfect fighting force. Being that they're already dead I doubt they feel pain. So that just lets them keep going while a normal living person would be slowed down or unable to keep fighting once they took enough damage.

ALTI

Exactly.

Alti looked around at a mass of her army that layed across the battlefield, a majority of them taken down by Xena.

ALTI

Although it would seem that doesn't mean they're not unable to be put down once again with a focused effort.

XENA

Too bad for you I discovered your seemingly unstoppable army's fatal flaw.

(Half joking) Or rather re-fatal flaw I should say.

Alti scowled.

ALTI

Make your jokes and smart comments while you can Xena. You might've found a slight weakness in my army, but that doesn't mean you'll be able to stop me.

XENA

Sure we can. It might take time but all we have to do is hit their weak points. And one by one your army will fall for good. And then so will you.

Alti gave a sinister smile that told Xena and Gabrielle that the sorceress obviously had something else up her sleeve.

ALTI

I don't think so, Xena. You see I compiled my army of much more than these little nobodies that I just grabbed because they knew how to swing a weapon. I found a good number of fighters that you might recognize Xena. And I'm sure that they can't wait to see you.

With a snap of her fingers, there were multiple quick flashes of light behind Alti. After a moment the light faded to reveal multiple figures standing behind her with Xena and Gabrielle recognizing all of them.

GABRIELLE

Unbelievable.

XENA

I know I could've gone the rest of my life without seeing any of them again.

Alti smiled.

ALTI

(Mocking tone) What's wrong Xena, Gabrielle? Not excited for this little reunion? Because I know that all of them have been looking forward to seeing you again for quite some time. So I think I'll leave you alone so you can all get reacquainted.

With an evil cackle, Alti vanished, leaving Xena and Gabrielle surrounded by the new arrivals on the battlefield. All of whom were the enemies that they had faced in the past. Both sense they had first come to the village as well as a few others from before discovering the secret village. None of which were happy to see Xena and Gabrielle once again as they all now had the perfect opportunity to extract their vengeance on them both. With the gathering of so many powerful foes to join Alti's already overwhelming army, Xena, Gabrielle, and the other Amazons now stood in even more peril. As the fate of the village and the fountain of youth hung in the balance. As was the fate of the known world if Alti was to get her hands on the fountain of youth's power where she surely plunge the world into unimaginable darkness.

TO BE CONTINUED...