It must have only lasted a moment or two, but that impossibly bright light hurt her eyes. Then, everything turned into what Xena told herself to be an unnatural darkness, the likes of which she had never experienced in her life, not even during the darkest of nights, a pitch black veil that had covered everything but her soul- a terrifying sensation that along with the sharp, physical pain that had started to drill her upper torso, only made her even edgier.

She desperately tried to inhale, to efficiently clear her mind enough as to objectively evaluate her situation but instead of air she realized she had been breathing ashes and soon, her eyes widened in horror at the realization that those were the remains of her still disintegrating, physical body.

She hopelessly opened her mouth to scream for help but just as the sounds were about to be released from her throat they were forcefully pushed back by a fiery spiral that ignited everything inside her, from atoms to that restless mind of hers, filling her with a new sensation- that she was about to explode like a barrel of blackpowder.

She closed her eyes as tight as she could, shielding them with her palms as if that gesture alone could have protected her from the inevitable disaster that was about to unfold.

''Xena! Xena, can you hear us, babe?"

''Sweetheart ?''

Those voices…..They sure sounded familiar…..

''Come on Princess, open your eyes…..''

And then she felt it… that warm, protective touch, soft but firm that she had been longing for from the moment their paths crossed for the first time…..

''Ares….?'' she moaned, frowning slightly the second her vsion became clar enough as to take in her surroundings.

''Just breathe, ok ? '' he made sure to remind her, noticing just how rigid her chest still was.

''What happened to Yodoshi ?! Is he gone ? Are the spirits free?!"

The Olympian just stared at her for a few seconds, not really knowing what to make of her inquiries.

"Ares….tell me you didn't bring me back without freeing those poor souls.''

Both the War and Love exchanged a confused, then worried look.

'' What are you talking about? '' Ares finally asked, his suspicious tone being a clear hint for his sister that something weird was going on.

''Who is this Yodoshi dude? Was he the one who hurt you on the battlefield?'' Dite huskily questioned, curious to find out who had been the madman who had dared do this to her brother's Chosen.

"The battlefield" she breathed, barely above a whisper as slowly ,a few faded memories began to creep back into her mind….''I was bleeding…..'' she recalled, instinctively trying to look over her shoulder and down on her back, where she knew the blade had cut…

It would have been enough to look at the bed sheets that were still soaked in her blood. That would have definitely put things into perspective for her.

''You most definitely were….'' Ares stressed, nervously biting his lower lip. He hadn't had the needed time to think this through , and now, he could easily predict what her reaction was going to be ….

''It doesn't hurt…as it should have…..'' she voiced, when finally, her fingers touched the moist surface of the sheet and the blanket. Her breath got caught in her throat when, as she slowly flexed her back muscles she realized the impossible. ''Actually it doesn't hurt at all….''

''Well, that's a good thing, right?'' Aphrodite cheerfully replied, gently touching her brother's shoulder for moral support. She could sense how tense he had become and she knew just why.

''How's the wound?'' the skeptical Warrior Princess demanded to know, staring at her patron god in the same way the Medusa would stare at her victims before she turned them into stone.

''About that…..''he began, briefly wondering if there was any way he could skirt around the truth, thus smartly avoiding the very unpleasant conversation he could bet his goodhood they were about to have ….

She didn't say anything…she was listening, waiting for an explanation.

The Love Goddess could distinctly hear the loud drumming of his heart amplify its rhythm. He was scared- scared that by saving her he might have somehow lost her before he even truly had her….

'' Your wound was beyond my healing power…- too deep and definitely too close to the heart….''

''And Thena refused to help….''the blonde goddess added, folding her arms across her chest, still mad at her sister's lack of empathy.

''You asked for Athena's help ?!'' Xena incredulously interrogated, her gaze never leaving Ares'.

''I had to try ….ok? Didn't work….''

''So how did you heal me then ?!''

Once again, Ares considered distorting the truth, changing the story enough as to offer a satisfactory explanation without serving his own head on a silver platter.

Sensing his intention, his sister intervened though, sparing him a huge amount of trouble later on.

"Ambrosia….'' the goddess hastily clarified, an almost apologetic smile playing across her perfectly chiseled face.

For the longest moment, there was silence.

''Ambrosia.'' Xena repeated, in an icy cold voice that made the War God gulp noisily. She could be so heartless when she wanted it ,and with a minimum of effort too. That tiny detail fascinated him beyond comprehension. It attracted him like a magnet. That sweet mixure between innocence and ruthlessness was minbending in his case.

''That's what she said….''

''How convenient, don't you think?'' the raven beauty remarked, glaring at Ares as if she were about to suck the very soul out of his body.

''I'd say. It sure beats burning on a funeral pyre .''he vainly tried to reason with her, but to no avail. She was fuming.

''Ares! We've been through this already and I think I made my point pretty clear! I do not want to be immortal! Immortality is a curse not a blessing! '' she cildlishly explained.

''Yeah well…I guess you have eternity to change your opinion'' he retorted, unable to help himself add a bit of humour to that line .

''That was a good one! ''the love Goddess chuckled. She simply loved her brother's jokes!

XXX

In the meantime, up on Olympus a well built, hooded figure was kneeling in front of Hera's throne.

''It's done my Queen. Everything went according to plan ''

''Was I right ? Was he keeping an eye on her?''

''Yes he was ! Hardly did I get the chance to leave the premises that he was already by her side.''

''Is she still alive?''

'' For now .''

''Perfect! Thank you, my loyal servant. You have once again proven worthy of my divine attention.''

''Serving you is an honour my Queen!''

''Good. Now, I want you to be my eyes and ears on this. And make sure you keep a low profile, understood?'''

Nodding his agreement, the hooded figure disappeared into a trail of smoke.

XXX

''Actually that's not funny at all Aphrodite! Last I checked, immortality was a choice!'' the Warrior Princess corrected, not in the least bit amused. Was her free will a game to them?

''Not when you were dying it wasn't'' both brother and sister replied at the same time, making Xena frown at the awareness that neither of them was sharing her point of view on the matter.

''Look…..I can only imagine how much you dislike this situation…''Ares started, putting a real effort into showing some heartfelt compassion for once.

''Dislike it? I hate it!''

This time, the volume of her voice nearly pierced his eardrums…

''Which makes perfect sense, Princess, but what was I to do ? Let you die?'' he stressed, trying not to let her crappy attitude get to him. He had to constantly and consciously tell himself that he needed to be patient with her . She was young ,inexperienced and extremely impulsive –a headache... more like a migraine, for sure ….But she was worth it, boy was she worth it!

''Ambrosia really was your only chance, Xe….'' the blonde goddess intervened, backing up her brother's words. ''It was immortality or ….the end of it all…''

In response the Warrior Princess just shook her head and gazed away, focusing her attention on each and every crack on the empty wall in front of her.

''Sweetheart….''Ares tried again, this time taking a sit on the bed by her side, and gently covering her hand with his own .''The last thing I wanted was to ignore your wishes but my main priority at that very moment was to keep you alive ok ? I'm not going to apologize for that. I only acted in your best interest …''

''My best interest or yours, Ares?!"' she thundered again, making Aphrodite flinch.

''Yours, of course!''he slashed, taking in a deep breath once he felt that barely controlable wave of fury rising from the pit of his stomach to his chest. He would get through to her eventually, he silently said to himself. ''Now…..do you recall anything about the one who attacked you? ''

Xena sighed. She had been unpardonably distracted during that fight- definitely a mistake she was never going to repeat.

''Not really.I didn't even see him on the battlefield. He literally came out of nowhere. I only saw he was wearing a dark purple cape….And that distinct, pungent smell of sulfur- but that could have come from the burning village I guess…..''

Upset as she was about the whole immortality issue she failed to notice that aggravated frown that had replaced her patron god's previously softer expression.

When his gaze met Aphrodite's , his sister knew it though ….He was on to something….