With a barrage of weaponry coming at her, the last thing Gabrielle heard was Hope's voice as she yelled her daughter's name in a desperate plea for her evil spawn to spare her. Suddenly Gabrielle found herself being tackled to the ground as someone landed on top of her.
?
Now!
With that command, Gabrielle saw a rapid series of arrows being fired directly at Hope. However, the projectiles merely curved away from their intended target as Hope looked at the women surrounding her. The arrows kept coming at Hope as some continued to be deflected while others simply hung in the air around her. Then with an evil smile, the arrows slowly flipped over so they were pointing back at the villagers who fired them as they looked on stunned by Hope's abilities.
HOPE
(Sinister tone) My turn.
Knowing the danger that Hope posed, Gabrielle realized that facing her head-on like this would only result in Hope killing all of them.
GABRIELLE
Everyone get out of the way, now!
Despite her best efforts, Gabrielle's warning came too late as without even moving Hope sent the arrows surrounding her back towards the women that fired them. The projectiles flew out from near Hope as Gabrielle saw several villagers get hit and taken down. With a horrified expression, Gabrielle watched as her own offspring mercilessly slaughtered her people and her friends.
GABRIELLE
No!
Gabrielle turned slightly as she looked to see a familiar face looking on at what Hope had done.
SKYLA
What is she?
GABRIELLE
A living nightmare that I never thought I'd have to see again.
SKYLA
And I thought that Alti woman was bad news.
Skyla and Gabrielle stood up.
SKYLA
You okay?
GABRIELLE
Yeah, thanks.
Skyla and Gabrielle looked at Hope as she eyed Skyla.
HOPE
Aren't you the lucky one? Must be nice to have such loyalty. Too bad you couldn't show the same thing to your own daughter.
Skyla glanced at Gabrielle.
SKYLA
You're a great mother, why's she talking about Aurora?
GABRIELLE
She's not. Now isn't the time to explain but that's Hope. My, other daughter.
SKYLA
Your other what?!
Skyla looked between them as she noticed the fact that other than Gabrielle's current hairstyle, Hope was a mirror image of Gabrielle. Which even with a strong family resemblance was far too strange to be a normal occurrence.
SKYLA
Okay, I have so many questions about all of... this.
Skyla motioned to Hope implying her appearance.
SKYLA
I have to hear the story behind your apparent weird, evil, copy daughter.
Gabrielle was about to respond when she saw another arrow fly by them and toward Hope but was deflected. Gabrielle looked to see Cora walk up to her and Skyla as she loaded another arrow onto her bow.
CORA
Like Gabrielle said, now isn't the time for this Skyla.
SKYLA
Obviously, I didn't mean right now. Geeze Cora give me some credit here.
Hope glared at Gabrielle and the others. Finding the other women annoying.
HOPE
This is the company you chose to keep over your own flesh and blood?
GABRIELLE
If that person only wants to bring destruction and evil to the world, absolutely.
SKYLA
You know if anyone else but Gabrielle had said something like that I might be insulted.
Not amused by Skyla's quips, Hope used her power to grab more weapons.
HOPE
Enough of this. I'll just get rid of all of you along with my so-called mother.
Cora looked at the archers as she called for them to unleash another volley of arrows on her. With that, Gabrielle watched as Cora, Skyla and the rest of the group began rapidly firing at Hope. The half-demon stood still as she used her power to stop the projectiles in mid-flight.
CORA
Don't let up. Spread out and keep firing.
Arrows continued to fly as the Amazons did as Cora said and surrounded Hope. One by one more arrows became suspended in the air by Hope as she found herself becoming increasingly angered by what she saw as an annoying interference from her dealing with Gabrielle.
HOPE
Enough of this. If you insist on interfering with then I'll end your worthless lives personally.
(Sinister tone) Then I'll have Mother all to myself.
Again Gabrielle watched as the arrows began to turn in mid-air and take aim at the others. But still, the villagers continued to fire at Hope seeming not to care that she was stopping every single shot from hitting her. Gabrielle couldn't understand what they were doing. These women weren't dumb and they could plainly see that what they were doing wasn't working. So why were they continuing to do something that they knew had no effect? The arrows continued to gather around Hope as an evil smile crossed her lips.
HOPE
(Sinister tone) I think that's about enough. Say goodbye to all of your little friend's mother.
GABRIELLE
No!
As Gabrielle yelled and Hope was just about to release the hail of arrows, they both heard another voice making an angry yell come from behind them.
HOPE
Oh now wh...
Hope stopped speaking in mid-sentence as both she and Gabrielle turned towards the sound and Gabrielle's eyes went wide at what she saw next when she suddenly saw Hope's body drop to the ground mere seconds after her head was removed. In a bit of shock from basically seeing herself being beheaded it took Gabrielle a moment to register the person standing on the other side of Hope's body as the suspended arrows fell harmlessly back to the ground.
SKYLA
(Happy tone) Clover!
Clover rested her axe on her shoulder as she looked at the others and the scattering of arrows around them.
CLOVER
Looks like I showed up just in time.
Clover looked down at the body in front of her and for the first time, she noticed that it looked like Gabrielle.
CLOVER
What the fuck?! What did I just..?
In a panic, Clover looked up and saw the actual Gabrielle still standing and was relieved that she hadn't accidentally brutally killed her friend. Clover then found herself even more confused as she looked back down at the completely dead Hope.
CLOVER
Uhh does someone wanna tell me who exactly I just killed because this person looks just like Gabrielle did before she cut her hair?
Clover looked back up at the others.
SKYLA
Apparently, it's a long story.
CLOVER
Given that it involves Gabrielle and probably Xena too, somehow that does not surprise me.
Steel collided again and again as Xena continued her fight against Ares and Callisto. She blocked an attack from Callisto and pushed her back as she then fended off a sword strike from Ares. Xena rapidly switched between the two as they continued to come at her. Then with a hard shot to Ares's stomach, Xena focused on Callisto and swung repeatedly forcing her to move back as Xena worked to separate the two. She swung her blade and Callisto blocked, locking the two in a stalemate.
CALLISTO
You seem like you're losing your touch, Xena.
Callisto pushed the weapons closer to Xena's face.
CALLISTO
What's wrong, getting tired?
XENA
Just of you.
Xena shoved Callisto away as she followed up with a series of swings of her sword. Callisto countered and lept over Xena with a flip as she landed right behind her and swung her weapon. Quickly Xena raised her blade over her head and behind her as she blocked the shot. Then she pushed Callisto back slightly as she spun around with a kick that connected with Callisto's face. Callisto staggered a bit as Xena kept up her offense and landed another kick to her stomach and then an elbow to Callisto's face. Callisto backed off as Xena attempted to keep up the onslaught but was interrupted by Ares as he sent an orb of energy her way. Xena hopped back slightly as she avoided being hit by the projectile as it flew by. Another attack came and then another as Xena jumped, doing a series of backflips as she dodged the repeated attacks. Finally, Ares stopped his onslaught and Xena landed completely unharmed as she looked at Ares with a scowl.
XENA
You know for some reason I thought you were better than sneak attacks Ares. Guess I gave you too much credit.
Ares held his sword ready in one hand as another orb of energy formed in the other.
ARES
I already told you, Xena, your little shots at what you say is my "fragile ego" won't work on me this time.
Ares threw out another orb of energy followed by another and another. Xena ran, jumped, ducked, and dodged every attack Ares threw out. She swung her sword and knocked away a few shots that came her way as Ares was forced to duck under his own energy orb that came back his way. Infuriated further, Ares threw out more attacks that Xena continued to either avoid or knock away. As Xena avoided Ares, Callisto chased after her and tried to catch Xena off guard. She stabbed at Xena who blocked and kicked Callisto away. Ares popped up close and took a swipe at Xena with his sword. Xena ducked out of the way and swung upwards as Ares stepped back to avoid the strike. He then came back in with a punch that connected with Xena's cheek. The shot staggered Xena and Ares smiled as he sheathed his blade and used his godly abilities to teleport right back up close to Xena and hit her with another punch to the other side of her face. He then hit her again and again as Xena was knocked back. Feeling confident in himself Ares found himself enjoying the more up close and personal approach to fighting Xena than using his sword.
ARES
Oh yeah, that's more like it. The God of war is back!
Xena got up and quickly blocked a strike from Callisto's blade who gave her a sneer as the two fought to overpower one another. After locking up for a few moments out of the corner of her eye Xena saw a flash of light and threw herself back as one of Ares' energy orbs just barely missed hitting her. It was so close in fact that she could feel a slight breeze from the highspeed projectile on her face as it flew by and crashed into one of the other random members of Alti's army and destroyed them immediately. Ares threw out another and this time Xena was ready for it and knocked it away with her sword. She then ducked under a swing from Callisto and stood back up as she kicked her back a little before following up with a hard spinning kick to the side of Callisto's head as she knocked her away. With no time to rest Xena saw another one of Ares' attacks coming at her and Xena ducked and rolled to avoid it. She got up to one knee but was unable to stand again before yet another of Ares' orbs of energy came her way. With no time to move Xena used her sword to once again knock it away as another followed right after. Tired and fed up with this Xena let out an angry yell as she slightly changed the angle of her swing and whacked the orb as hard as she could and sent it torpedoing off as before anyone could react, the attack smashed into Callisto. As the attack hit Callisto screamed while she became enfolded by a bright light that a moment later exploded into miniscule specks which quickly faded away leaving no trace of Callisto's ever even being there behind. Xena huffed as Ares stood there looking at the spot where Callisto had been standing only seconds before.
ARES
Wow, you are good.
Ares returned his attention to Xena.
XENA
Shove your compliments Ares. Two down, one to go.
Xena gave her sword a quick twirl as she caught her breath and pushed aside the fatigue that was beginning to take effect from the near non-stop fighting that she'd been doing since the battle for the village started.
XENA
Come on Ares let's get this over with.
(Half seriously thinking to herself) I'm getting too old for this crap.
Ares held his blade ready.
ARES
Fine with me Xena. When it comes to you I did always prefer taking the more... personal approach anyway.
Xena rolled her eyes at the god's comment, catching the double meaning of what he said.
XENA
Ug, keep it in your pants Ares. No matter what you say or do it is NEVER gonna happen between us.
ARES
Suite yourself. Can't blame a god for trying.
Ares swung his blade and Xena blocked as the two collided one on one. But with Ares being a god and Xena tiring from the already lengthy day of fighting, things didn't look good for Xena. As before long, they would get much worse for both her and everyone else when a vengeful Alti would finally make her appearance on the battlefield.
TO BE CONTINUED...