Bodies of both friend and foe littered the ground as the battle between Xena, Gabrielle, and their allies against Alti and her army waged on. Amongst the chaos, Ephiny faced off against Velasca and her daughter Celine. Outnumbered, Ephiny did everything she could to fend off the mother-daughter duo. She blocked and countered both of their strikes as they came at her in tandem. Celine slashed at her and Ephiny blocked as Velasca attacked while Celine had her occupied. Spotting movement out of the corner of her eye, Ephiny ducked under Velasca's swing as she then quickly knocked Celine away and drove her elbow back into Velasca's stomach. Celine quickly came back at Ephiny who responded with a swift kick to the back of her leg that dropped Celine down to one knee and a downward swing of her sword towards the back of Celine's neck. Just before Ephiny connected, her momentum was stopped by another blade that blocked her.
VELASCA
To think that you would try to kill my daughter. And you said that I was out of line for trying to take what we both know should have been mine.
Velasca pushed Ephiny's blade away and kicked her. Ephiny backed off a bit as she regained her composure.
EPHINY
Velasca I refuse to stand here and be lectured by you when you know full well what you tried to do to Gabrielle was wrong. That was why you tried to assassinate her from the shadows. And in case you need to be reminded both you and Celine are already dead, so all I'm doing is sending you back to where you belong.
CELINE
Not if we send you there first.
Celine came at Ephiny with a flurry of strikes as Ephiny fought back. The two clashed repeatedly as Velasca came back into the fray and Ephiny was forced to split her attention between the two as they attacked her from opposite sides. Celine swung and Ephiny blocked as she then pushed her weapon away. She followed up with a swing at Velasca who ducked and retaliated with a lunge and a thrust of her sword. In a swift motion, Ephiny turned her sword downward as Velasca's blade scraped against hers as it continued forward and Ephiny redirected it away from her. Then without hesitation, Ephiny spun as she swung her weapon and Velasca ducked to avoid the attack. As she stood straight once more, Velasca brought her knee up into Ephiny's midsection. The shot momentarily stunned Ephiny as she hunched forward on reflex and Velasca took her sword and swung it down towards Ephiny. With the blade coming down towards the back of her head and neck, Ephiny dropped to the ground and Velasca's swing missed as Ephiny swept her leg and knocked Velasca to the ground next to her. Ephiny was about to get up when she saw a shadow being cast over her. Knowing what had caused the shadow Ephiny managed to roll out of the way just in time as Celine drove the point of her sword down and barely, missed impaling Ephiny with her weapon. Moving fast Ephiny was back on her feet and immediately ducked out of the way as Celine swung wildly at her. Celine then followed up with a series of furious swipes aimed at Ephiny. One after another Ephiny blocked and repelled the strikes. This continued for a few moments until Celine came down with such a strong swing that Ephiny couldn't simply deflect it. Instead, she kept up her guard as she attempted to find a way to maneuver her sword in a manner that wouldn't result in getting sliced open. With Ephiny locked up with Celine as the two struggled to maintain power, Velasca spotted her opening and took the opportunity to cut down Ephiny. With nothing standing in her way, Velasca moved in fast and drove her blade straight towards Ephiny. Spotting Velasca out of the corner of her eye at the last second, Ephiny moved as Velasca mistakenly plunged her weapon into her own daughter's chest. Both Velasca and Celine's eyes went wide as they each realized what had just happened. The fighting between the group ceased as Celine gasped and Velasca grabbed her as she fell.
VELASCA
Celine...
CELINE
Mo-ther.
Celine's body went completely limp in Velasca's arms as her eyes closed and her resurrected soul was gone once more. Meanwhile, Ephiny lowered her sword and stood there silently as despite everything the two had done and the severe dislike that she had for Velasca, she couldn't help but feel for her at that moment. Even if they were both technically already dead, Ephiny was certain that to Velasca it still felt as though she had taken her own child's life. And that was something that Ephiny couldn't even imagine what it must've felt like. After a moment Velasca layed Celine down on the ground before turning towards Ephiny. Ephiny saw the look of pure hatred in Velasca's eyes.
EPHINY
Velasca...
VELASCA
We're already dead Ephiny. So it's not as though I actually killed my daughter. No Gabrielle and Xena already did that. And if it wasn't for them both myself and Celine would still be alive. And that's why I'm going to get rid of you right here Ephiny and then I'll go find those two and finally make them pay for everything that they've caused.
And with that Velasca resumed her offense against Ephiny as their fight really heated up.
KAI
(Angry tone) Come on. You're not even trying?!
Kai alternated her attacks between both Iris and Fauna who just blocked and deflected her hits.
FAUNA
We told you Kai we don't want to fight you.
KAI
(Angry tone) What does it matter I'm already dead. And it's because of all of you!
IRIS
You know that isn't true.
KAI
You can deny it all you want, I don't care anymore. Xena, Gabrielle, the two of you and everyone else are all going to pay for just throwing me away simply because I was trying to protect our people from that monster Xena.
FAUNA
Don't you see the hypocrisy of what you're doing? You're angry because we didn't side with you against Xena because you wanted her to suffer for what she did to our people and yet hear you are helping someone else who wants to destroy our home for her own selfish gain.
KAI
I already told you I don't care. I'm dead because of all of you and so in turn you are all dead to me. And soon enough that will be both metaphorical and literal. You've already dug your own graves when you choose Xena over me and now I'm going to make sure that I help put you in them.
With a fierce intensity, Kai rapidly slashed at both Fauna and Iris angrily. They continued to hold her off as they still felt conflicting emotions about having to physically stop Kai and bring themselves to go on a full offensive against her, despite knowing that she was helping someone who posed an unbelievable threat to not only them but the world as well if Alti was to gain access to the power that resided within the village.
KAI
And once I'm done with you I'm gonna stand by and watch as Alti takes the one thing you were sworn to protect. And then whatever happens next will be on all of you.
Iris and Fauna looked at Kai in disbelief as they no longer recognized anything about the woman who was once one of their closest friends.
IRIS
You would doom the world to the consciousness of what you know would happen if someone like her got a hold of that power?! Who are you?
FAUNA
To think someone we thought we knew so well would do such a thing just out of anger and vengeance.
IRIS
We can't let you do this Kai.
Kai showed them an evil smile as she tightened her grip on her sword.
KAI
Just try and stop me.
And with that Kai resumed the fight as she once again alternated her attacks between Iris and Fauna. The two repelled all of her strikes as Kai continued her onslaught.
KAI
(Taunting/ Angry tone) Come on I thought you were gonna stop me.
Iris and Fauna kept up the defensive as Kai continued her attacks and taunts.
KAI
(Taunting/ Angry tone) What's wrong, you already caused my death once, why should it bother you to do it again?
Still, the two living Amazons held back from using any attacks as Kai slashed at them again and again.
KAI
(Angry tone) Come on and fight me damnit!
Kai's slashed at them faster.
KAI
(Angry tone) Fight me!
In an all-out frenzy, Kai's strikes became unfocused as she let her rage completely overtake her.
KAI
(Angry tone) Fight me! Fight m-uh...
Kai's ranting was suddenly brought to an end as her sword blocked again as she felt a sharp pain in her chest. She felt her body becoming heavy as Iris let Kai's arm drop from where she had blocked the strike and watched as she slumped forward onto Fauna who had plunged her blade deep into Kai's chest. Not another word was spoken between the three as Kai's eyes closed and she was gone once again. After a minute both Iris and Fauna eased Kai's body to the ground as they stood looking at her for a long moment. How their lifelong friend had lost her way so drastically they could never understand. And as they moved on to continue defending the village, Fauna and Iris hoped that Kai would find some kind of peace in the afterlife.
XENA
What's the end goal here, Ares? You beat me and then what?
Xena and Ares' swords collided as she pushed herself back to get a slight breather.
XENA
You think Artemis was pissed off at you before for starting that war with the Amazons that she sealed your power and locked you away for years. What do you think she's gonna do to you when she finds out that you tried to help destroy the village that she has under strict protection from the world?
Ares made a sarcastic laugh.
ARES
Oh please even though she had me chained for a bit I'm not worried about her.
You see last time she caught me off guard when she showed up.
Ares smirked as Xena could tell that whatever Ares said next was not going to be good
ARES
But this time you're old friend Alti has worked her own brand of magic to make sure that my sister can't interfere this time.
Xena scowled at the god of war.
XENA
I knew it seemed off that this place would come under such a massive attack and yet Artemis is nowhere to be seen. What did Alti do to Artemis?
?
Oh Xena I would think that you have much more pressing things to worry about right now.
Xena looked over to her side and saw that the cause of this whole chaotic and dire situation had at last decided to make her direct entrance into the conflict.
ALTI
(Sinister tone) Such as now that I'm here, just how much longer do you have to live?
TO BE CONTINUED...
