Disclaimer: Xena and Hercules etc. belong to Renaissance Pictures.

Here is like announced a new story. It plays in continuity after the three parter Darkness in the Light, Light in the Darkness and Days of Tomorow.

It should however not be absolutely necessary to have red the other stories before hand. Of course a few things, like Hope having become an ally, Xena and Gabrielle meeting the Demon Sin (from Hercules Season 6) and Hercules living in Ireland, would be explained there.

At the beginning is a recap of one certain scene from Days of Tomorow, but added with a few more details.

At the end of this chapter a person will be mentioned who will possible surprise a few people. But it seemed fitting to include him.

Merry Christmas Everyone.

Days of Yesterday

Chapter 1

The year 43 AD – a unpopulated area somewhere in Greece

They were standing inside a large crypt. Originally it was the burial-side for a Warlord who had died a few days ago. One of the few who were still following the God of War.

"Xena," he greeted her.

"Ares," she responded.

For a few moments neither of them said anything.

"I know what you are planning Ares," Xena told him.

Of course she did. He should not have expected anything else.

xxxx

During those last years he and Aphrodite had seen their godly powers diminishing more and more as the numbers of their followers became smaller and smaller.

And slowly they became truly scared. Would this be their end? Or would they just be reduced to pathetic, powerless beings, helpless against anyone who hated them?

But during that time he also realized one thing, despite his lack of followers, the presence of war and battle was still restoring his powers, at least to some extent.

It was over ten years ago that the borders between the realms oft he different Pantheons had crashed.

While Ares powers were now far lower as they had originally been, at least now he was able to use them everywhere on the planet. Even at places that originally belonged to other Pantheons.

So in the end, the entire Twilight of the Gods might have at least one good aspect about it. For him, it was also a chance. As horrible as the price for it was.

He could now spread war further than ever before and he would.

He could bring the Roman Empire to collapse, he could urge the countries they had conquered to raise up and rip both the Romans and each other to pieces. Egypt or Britannia for example would be all too eager to rebel.

He could turn the powers of the West and the East against each other - the Greeks against the remains of the Persian Empire - once again, why not?

India against Chin - maybe. Both would have been out of his reach before. But now...

He would throw the continent and the entire planet into the greatest war the world had ever seen.

And all that staged to restore himself to his former glory and simply to survive, he silently told himself.

xxxx

"I'll do what I have to do Xena," he said to her.

"On the cost of how many lives?" she asked.

"Do you really want to know?" he responded, "as many as necessary."

"You can not do that," she told him.

"I can not do that?" he asked angrily. "Look at me - I am the God of War and I am slowly dying, all thanks to you."

"You don´t know that," Xena replied.

"I know enough. Me, Aphrodite, Cupid and Hermes, we are all what is left of our kind because of you.

You've slaughtered the others. And now we are getting weaker with every month."

In a few years, we will be helpless, at everyone's mercy and you know all too well how many people hate us."

Well – what did he expect? He remembered how some of them had plaqued Mankind with suffering for centuries for the pettiest of reasons. And the rest had pretty much stood by and did nothing. And they did not even had the excuse of being God of War.

"I am doing what I have to do to ensure our survival," he said, "and if it costs the lives of a few million mortals, so be it."

"This is your last word?" she asked him.

"Yes."

He hated the disappointed look she gave him. But there was no other way.

"So you are still the same old Ares, even after everything that happened."

"Don´t come me like that Xena. You have no right to criticize me, not after having killed all the others. You have no right."

"And since when did you start to care about them? You've tried to kill them yourself more than once as I remember."

"Since I 've started to realize what it means to lose your family," he told her. "You should know that as well."

"Okay," she said, lowering her head.

"You won´t try to stop me?" he asked.

"What would I be able to do?" she questioned.

"Xena," he whispered, "...I wish it didn´t have to be like this...you know what you mean to me."

"I know," she answered, "this won´t change anything between us."

She slowly moved closer to him and moved her arms around him.

Then she kissed him.

He was surprised… He had never thought she would do that now after everything she had found out.

But maybe she realized that it wasn´t personal, not meant against her.

Then he felt the sting in his back.

She had stabbed him, he realized, she had caught him off guard like this and stabbed a dagger in his back.

Moments later, he felt the pain all over his body, a slow, immobilizing pain. He was not longer able to move a limb.

He knew this effect… Hope´s blood - not enough to kill a God. But enough to completely disable him if it was enough of it.

Was the helping Xena doing this? Or had she just taken her blood under some excuse? Not that it made much of a difference to him now.

Slowly, he felt the last of his strength being drawn from him.

"I am sorry Ares," Xena told him, "but like you said, I do what I have to do." she said.

While she laid him into the still open sarcophagus behind them.

He should have expected this. Somehow he could not even hate her for it.

Ares knew this would not be the end of him. But the blood would probably put him into a deep hybernation. Maybe for centuries. He felt that he was already at the brink of passing out.

The only question was how long it would take for him to wake up and get free afterwards. And how much would have happened by then.

xxx

A short time later, Xena stepped out of the crypt where she was greeted by Gabrielle.

"Have you done it?" she asked her.

She looked nearly exactly as she did when they met for the first time, all those years ago. Not really showing any sign of her real age.

Even her hair, that she had worn short for a few years, was long again, like that of her daughter Hope, since the time Xena had last returned to life.

Immortal, she thought. Or at least very close to it. As an unintended side effect as Ares sacrificed his Godhood to save her´s and Eve´s lives all those years ago.

Just like Xena herself was as part of the pact she had made after the events in Jappa.

At least never of them was in it alone, she thought.

"Yes," Xena replied. "Our trap had sprung. Everything is in place. I wish I didn´t have to, though."

"So do I. Believe me, Ares had grown on me over the years. But we couldn´t let that happen."

"I know. Come on, we have to seal this crypt," Xena told her.

And so they did. They were however not doing it alone. Ironically it were the men originally hired by the very same recently deceased Warlord, who helped them sealing it off.

Xena and Gabrielle had convinced them with some money and some `convincing words´ (especially in Xena´s case) to do it.

The Warlord was simply being burried in another part of the crypt complex. Ironically he would have considered this a great honor, lying in the same grave as the God of War.

xxxxxxx

A bit later, when Xena and Gabrielle were back on their way to the place they were staying at night, they were greeted by a female figure in a dark reddish colored cloak waiting for them at the side of the road.

She was obviously waiting for them. She could not see her face, but they knew perfectly who it was.

The woman lifted her hood. Her face was identical to Gabrielle´s.

"Hope," Xena greeted her.

"You know I am not happy about this," she said.

"Neither are we Hope," Gabrielle said. "As unbelievable as it sounds sometimes, Ares became something of a… friend to all of us."

Beside other things, Hope thought. She didn´t say it loud though. She just send a meaningful look from her mother to Xena and back.

"We had no other choice," Xena stated. "You know what he was planning to do."

"Yes. And we all knew what drove him to it," Hope replied. "He was desperate. The remaining Olympians are only getting weaker and weaker."

"I know," Xena said sighing. "But does that change anything about the consequences?"

"No," she admitted.

"You know – there was a time where you would have probably joined him doing it," Hope stated.

"And another time when I would have."

"But we both have changed," Xena responded. "Look at us – there was a time when we could not be in the same room without trying to kill each other."

"You have started it," Hope replied with an ironic smile. "But seriously – I think I will go on my own for a while," she told them.

"I will travel the world for a while. There are places I would like to see for myself, when I am flesh and blood, not just in visions. Like India or Chin, you have told me about.

Maybe I will see Hercules and spend some time with him. I guess he would still be in Ireland. And maybe I will make a visit in Britannia. It is the place of my birth after all."

"I see. Take care of yourself Hope," Gabrielle said.

"We will probably see each other again in a few years," she replied.

With a wave of her hand, Hope opened a portal in the air behind her, that could lead her to any other place… and left.

xxxxxxx

It the beginning of a New Age.

The Gods who had once ruled the world for as long as people could remember were long gone.

The Old Pantheons, who had shared this world and divided it into their own territories – the Olympians, the Sumerian and Egyptian Gods and others – had either perished, had abandoned their Realms willingly as they sensed that their time had come…

… or just faded into obscurity as their powers slowly waned and disappeared because of their lack of worshippers and faith.

In their place stood now the Belief in the One God – and the new Religion of Christianity.

Or at least most of the Gods were gone.

A few Pantheons – the North Gods and the Indian Gods in the far East – still existed.

Also a few survivors of the Olympians were still holding on. Aphrodite – who now ruled Olympus – Ares and also a few minor deities who were still alive.

They were just a shadow of what they once had been. With most of them being dead and with their former believers not longer following them.

And they were growing weaker with every decade.

Ares in a desperate attempt to reverse this process had planned to trigger a world-wide war in his name.

A war that was meant to bring that name back into the hearts and minds of every mortal.

But before it came to this, he had been stopped by Xena – with the reluctant help of Hope - and imprisoned.

The rest of the surviving Gods accepted the new reality like it was and tried to find their own way to survive in it.

All except one.

xxxxxxx

Mount Olympus – a very long time later

Aphrodite was lying weakened and barely concious on the floor of the Palace of the Gods.

A Palace that was now occupied by only a few people.

"I am sorry," the young man standing before her said. "But I am doing what I have to do."

How had it come to this?

"You don´t need to worry. Everything will be good again soon. You will see Mother," the man told Aphrodite before she passed out.

Cupid look sadly at the unconscious Aphrodite. He was more than sorry that he had to do this to her, tricking her like this to steal her power.

Especially since something like that had happened to her before.

But he had no other choice. He had just stood by and accepted things like they were long enough. If he wanted to get their family back, there was only one last chance.

xxxxxxx

The town Mira in the former Persian Territory

Two women had just entered the town a short time ago.

It were only the two of them travelling together. Both of them were armed. The taller one was actually carrying a leather armor beneath her travelling-robes.

Nobody would suspect that this two were actually the legendary Xena and her partner Gabrielle – who by now had also become legendary in her own right.

The two had raised some attention, ever since they arrived here.

Simply because it were two women travelling together. Even more than the two of them were both carrying the Sword.

This was something quite barely heard of - at least in the Roman Civilization.

Livia had only been getting away with it because she had been the forster daughter and later the fiance of the Emperor. But she was an absolute exception.

In the old `barbarian´ lands women as warriors had not been so unusual. But by now the Roman Civilization was covering nearly the entire Continent.

So they were getting several strange looks.

It had already started at the towns-gate, with the guards who had given them a few suspicious glances. But in the end they had let them pass without any real issue.

As they passed the streets the normal people seemed busy preparing for a celebration. This was no surprise. After all this area had converted to Christianity some time ago.

"We arrived just at the time of the celebration of Christmas," Gabrielle stated.

For some time now however they both had also noticed a group of armed men in white robes that were following them.

And under these robes, Xena was sure she could make out some battle-gear.

"Yes – the time of peace and love for everyone," Xena responded sardonically, with a glance back at the men following them.

"I guess not everyone here is truly getting the spirit," Gabrielle replied with some sarcasm.

"Whatever – we should find a way to deal with this guys quickly. We are here for a reason after all."

"Yes – and that reason was again?" Gabrielle questioned.

"We wanted to meet Eve."

"But that was not the only reason wasn´t it?"

"No," Xena replied. "I was told that something very dangerous will happen here soon and I am here to prevent the worst."

"And who has told you that again?" Gabrielle said.

"Sin did," Xena replied sighing. She knew where this was going.

"Yes exactly – a Demon told you that. The same Demon who had manipulated us before."

"I know. But I can not simply ignore this."

"Tell me," Gabrielle said, "What exactly has she told you? I thought we have gotten over you not telling me things a long time ago."

"She has told me that a old enemy of us is about to return."

"Who? Why did you not just tell me this right away?"

xxxxxxx

At the same time the God Cupid was appearing not far from the town.

He was far away from Olympus. But this place was ideal.

The feelings of love from the Mortals just seemed especially strong here. This increased his now restored godly power even more.

He needed all strength he could get for what he was going to do.

Cupid concentrated and in front of him formed a portal – one that connected through time and space, to the past.

He had never tried something like this before. The thought of manipulating time had never even crossed his mind. He had just been the bringer of love. Why should he have?

If he was honest, he was not sure if he would have been able to do this even in his best times.

He had not been one of the major Olympians after all. His mother however had always been one of the most powerful. Even if you saw little of it because of her peaceful nature. And now that he had gained her remaining powers added to his own – stolen them, he thought.

He would do it, he told himself. He would return to the past and bring them all back.

After a few moments however he noticed that something was going wrong.

He felt like the portal he had created could not connect properly to the past.

No – in fact it was worse. It seemed like there was something else interferring. Another force from somewhere else.

He tried to stop. But it was already too late, he realized as someone was suddenly appearing before him through the portal.

It was a blonde woman and a armored leather-outfit. He could sense that she was a God as well.

Cupid had never met her before in person, but he had a good idea who it had to be.

He had made a grave mistake.

He noticed the dagger she held in her hand and the pendant she wore around her neck – Hind´s Blood.

A terrible mistake, he realized. He had wanted to bring back the other Gods. But now all who were left might die because of him.

For a few moments the woman was looking around disoriented.

"Hope?" she asked confused. "No," she said to nobody in particular.

Then she noticed him. For a short moment she was just starring at him.

Then she grinned.

"The little Love God – who had thought? Is your Momy not here?"

"Callisto?" he asked.

"Ah – it seems you know who I am as well. Then I don´t have to introduce myself. Did you bring me here?"

"It was a mistake," he said.

"You are right," wid rage suddenly appeared in her face, "it was a mistake."

xxxxxxx

A short time later Xena and Gabrielle had just entered a tavern where they were trying to get a place to sleep for the night.

The white robed men however had been following them and were now standing at the other side of the room.

They were going to the bar, where a man was currently serving a few other guests.

"Something to drink – Ladies?" he asked them.

"Yes – and a room or two, if you have something free," Xena said.

"You are lucky," he told them. "We have one room left. If you are willing to share it."

"By the way," Gabrielle said. "Can you tell us something about these guys? They have been follosing us since we arrived in the town." She pointed at the group in white.

"These zealot-warriors? This group has appeared in this town some time ago and caused trouble ever since. They claim to act in the name of God and to fight his enemies.

But if you ask me they are just a group of thugs who are using that as an excuse to attack everyone who does not fit into their own picture how things should be. And since you are two women who travel together and carry weapons…"

"We get the picture," Xena said.

"You should not be too worried about them," the man said. "The Bishop has his eyes on them and if they cause any more trouble he will have them locked away for good. He had even announced that at the market place."

"This Bishop of yours – can you tell me more about him?" Xena asked. "My daughter has told me in a letter about him. She said he is a remarkable man."

"You have a daughter old enough to live here on her own and write you?" he asked.

"Belief me – I am older than I look," Xena said.

By centuries, she added in her mind.

"Okay. Well – he is really a great man. He is known for his many gifts for the poor. Especially on Christmas. He had for example given a few lumbs of gold to a family, so that their daughters did not have to go out on the streets to… well – you know what…"

Yes - Xena and Gabrielle knew exactly what he was talking about.

"But that is not all," the man continued. "He has special powers that they say were given to him by God. He had for example calmed down a storm to save a ship."

Xena and Gabrielle exchanged a short look.

"Tell us more about this Bishop Nicolaus," Gabrielle said.

Author´s notes:

The last details come mostly from stories of the historical Nicolaus of Mira.

This version of Nicolaus will appear fully in the next chapter and will have a few surprising details.

xxxcc

The Callisto that appeared here is from the time of the Armageddon Now two-parter.

This version is the one that had succefully killed Alcmene and then moved on to Cirra, where she accidentally killed her father and then her mother. Events that were rewritten when Iolaus used the Kronos Stone to restore the normal timeline.

The Callisto who then returned to the present (and later reincarnated into Eve) claimed that she had never made it to Cirra because Iolaus changed events back.

In the continuity of this storyline however the Conqueror Timeline still existed in an alternate world. So logically this second Callisto should also still exist, somewhere lost in time.