"Then I suggest you hand it here," said Xena calmly as she strode over to Eli.

"You see how primitive the workmanship is....this is the ancient, the oldest..."

"It's only a week old!" exclaimed Livia impatiently. "Hephestus forged for me when Alti took mine away and gave it back to Xena."

Xena's lip curled disdainfully, "Not one of his better efforts."

She tossed it lightly into the air shaking her head. "Balance is horrible. No wonder it didn't come back to you, Eve."

"Livia. My name is Livia." Xena's daughter scowled. "And I meant it to stay in his chest a good long time."

"Sure you did," Xena said as she hid a grin and hurled it over to Livia. Turning to Xenan she said, "Look here. You've got issues. I've got issues. The difference between you and me is that I have a snowball's chance in Tartarus of actually working 'em out. Or I would if you people would stop interfering."

Xenan opened his mouth to protest, but instead reared back on his hooves in preparation for charging Livia. Xena cooly eyed the joint where his foreleg connected with his body suddenly struck at a point. The centaur cried out in pain and fell down rolling over on his side.

"Sorry, I don't have time for this." She shot a look over at Minya, Joxer and Paulina. "Go to the inn over there. You look like you'll pop any day now."

"But we're here to help you!"

"Swell," muttered Xena under her breath. She was beginning to realize that she had indeed gone wrong somewhere after Cirra. How the in Hades had she picked up this band of sincerely deluded fools? Xena offered a wordless prayer of a thanks to the goddess that had intervened. Whatever her motives had been, she truly had granted a great favor.

"You can best help me by staying safe," she said injecting her voice with the proper note of concern. "Minya, you've got a ...um...child to worry about. I couldn't bear it if you endangered your little one for me."

Minya's eyes filled with tears, but she held them back. Eli nodded--a mistake he realized, as his hands failed to catch his head and it rolled across the market square coming to a stop at Alti's feet.

*******
"Hmm...." Alti grabbed Eli's head by its hair and held it up. "I'm so glad my little experiment worked on you. You aren't immune to my power of suggestion. Perhaps with your 'help' I'll be able to convince Xena that we are lovers too."

Reflecting that she had several rituals to prepare, Alti strolled out of the square and decided to return to her lair. The moral outrage of a holy man was powerful stuff and could be very useful if properly harnessed. If she could just figure out how to keep him quiet.


*****

LIvia was growing restive. While she was more than willing to take on every single pathetic idiot there, it would take too much time and it might endanger her greater plan.

I'll take care of my old mount later when he's got his strength back, she thought. She signalled her troops and they quick-marched out of the square.

"Let's do this later." Livia added as an afterthought, "mother."

Before Xena could react to Livia's departure Dite's Afro was suddenly beside her pulling her away. Taking a scroll out of her ample bosom, she handed to Xena and began to chatter excitedly.

Xena didn't make out much of it. Something about her father, Zeus and Hades' helmet of invisibility. Dite whooshed away and Xena heard the sounds of Joxer and Minya approaching.

The helmet of invisibility....Xena executed a perfect backflip and landed beside her horse...who had inexplicably changed colors. Quickly donning the helmet of invisibility, she disappeared from view and fled from the square.

It was getting chilly on Mount Olympus. Hera pulled her cloak tight. The decor wasn't the warmest to begin with. It might be best to have a chat with that Odin fellow. He had some fine decorating ideas. With a few fire places and some horns of some description, the halls might feel a lot more comfortable.

Hera picked up her copy of The Daily Scroll and flicked through it. Hades was having a fire sale. The flames of Tartarus made that a regular occurence for him. Dite was trying to flog a second hand afro. Smelly.

Now, here was something new. Hera read the headline with interest. The Power of Three. Three. She read further. There were now three chakrams in existence. Hera rested the paper on her lap.

As far as she had known there were only two. The chakram of darkness and the chakram of light, merged by Xena into the famous split chakram. Someone had made a third. The door would be opened if the three were ever combined. Xena's soul would be vulnerable.

Well, that put a spin on recent events. Would any of the mortals figure out the significance of the third chakram? Only time would tell.

Visit THE LOUNGE.

Alti walked along in a mist of her own making. The hate and anger she had felt all her life had become like a shroud, not even entering the light of day. Eli watched their progress from where his head had been tied to the saddle bag. In his mind's eye He could see her as a child, the fragile little darling, such a long time ago:

She played in the garden, happy to find a flower, she ran to show her dad. He slammed her to the ground. It was nothing she had done, yet she thought it must be.

He began to tear up. And the stream of salty tears ran down the horse's leather and onto her leg.

"AGH! What is this? You're ruining my gear!" She rasped loudly. "Cut it out!"

"I - I can't, he said weakly," I have no hands, I can't even wipe my own eyes."

"Alright, hold on," she said impatiently.

She reached over to him and propped a rag under his head. "Here! Cry into this," she demanded.

Those words took her off somewhere. She had heard them so many times herself. "What a pitiful pair they were…" she thought."…should have never been parents."

"None of them are perfect," said Eli softly.

"Shut-up you moron!" And don't read my thoughts! Sheesh I don't care what you think of my life!"

It would have been easy for her to kick that head from here to eternity. She felt like it too, but just being near him seemed to make her want to open up to some things she had been keeping in for a long time.

They rode in silence for a while. Alti avoided thinking of her plan- that might reveal too much to this weird holy head. But she did think about her life; about all that she had worked for. She had done everything her heart desired. She'd become the best at everything she tried. It was a life of accomplishments! So why, at this very moment when her destiny would soon be fulfilled, did she feel so empty?

Eli sensed that Alti was feeling low. It was a rare moment, and he sought to take some advantage of her mood. "Hey, let's go in there," he said, spying a tavern by the road. "We could have some good ol' fashioned pilsner."

"What, with you! A severed head! PLEASE!"

Alti road away, enjoying the disappointment she could feel in him. Then turned around, deciding it could be some fun. "Anyway, these thoughts are not going to help one bit, might as well drown them out with some suds."

They entered the tavern and found a dark corner. Alti set up the head, over a barrel so the fluid could run out of Eli's neck, and yelled for a pitcher. They stayed there late into the night. They even made a few friends. Eli didn't feel like an outcast, they had all seen mutilated bodies living on, and accepted him as he was. In fact they even drank several toasts to the man who couldn't hold his beer!

As the night wore on Alti and Eli realized they had a lot in common. The less profound of these was that their names both end in "i" but moreover, they recognized that they both had felt different from others all their lives. This became a bond between them, for that night at least. And there was a kind of peace in the ethers of the universe for a while.

INTERLUDE

A long time ago there were two gods called Zeus and Hera. They spent a lot of time talking together and enjoying eachother's company.

One day they decided to organise a Race Around Ancient Greece. They invited people from all over the world to participate. People came from as far away as Sweden, America and Australia to take part in the Race. They even came from Indiana!

Zeus and Hera kicked off the Race and had lots of fun watching as it took place. Then, they came up with a devious plan. They decided to swap two of the players, without telling anyone.

So it came about one week that Nora was told to race for Xena and Heitie was told to race for Xena. Since Nora had gotten the most Race points in the same week, and Heitie had forgotten to complete one of her tasks, this meant that Callisto was dispatched from the Race. It also meant that Xena got immunity and an extra post.

There was much anger, confusion, weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth from the other Racers. Why, oh, why, they lamented, did Nora get dispatched from the Race after doing so well? What is the use in running the Race any more? Is there any reason to go on living?

After some time, things settled back down.

Now is the season to thank Heitie and Nora for playing along with the gods' devilish scheme, and to let all Racers know to keep expecting the unexpected, while racing through Ancient Greece.

Carry on.

Love Zeus and Hera xxxxx

"Alti! ALTI! dammit you hag...make that head shut up!" Ehpiny had endured many inhumanities lately, but this topped it. she was cracking up. "Alti PLEASE! make it stop!"

though it had been amusing, taking the head to a tavern and enduring the "look how much we share in commom" drivel it seemed incapable of suppressing, Alti had become bored with controlling Eli's disembodied mind. making him sing bastardized Solstice carols and recite randy limericks had grown as tiresome as the constant "Way of Love" spoutings that spewed forth whenever she relenquished control it.

she had hoped the head would have value to her plan, perhaps taking the place of the bard's head on the altar. but regretfully, the head of the undead Love prophet was useless. perhaps if she could kill it...but obviously that wasn't going to happen. and now not only was she stuck with the thing, but the Amazon had started wailing for it to shut up. enough was enough.

"Alti, look inside you...deep into the nightmares that haunt your rare and fleeting dreams...deeper still into the tattered memories of a day when your soul still possessed a tiny essence of Light...it's in you still. in the name of Eli and the Way of Love, i entreat you, go to the Light, Al... mmphghmmphml..."

the craggy shamanness crammed a varmit pelt into the prophet's pie-hole. "in the name of me and all that's evil, shut the hell up."

Alti retreated to the recesses of her lair to contemplate recent events and try to salvage her plan before the full moon passed--then she'd have to wait another month for it to come to fruition. and that would never do.

Ephiny slumpd to the floor of her confines. i've gotta get the hell out of here was her only thought.

Livia had returned to her palace after all the rabble had dispersed.

She hated house guests who didn't clean up after themselves. This whole "No one can die" scenario was becoming unbearable.

"Still," she mused quietly, "it has come in handy."

A smirk crossed her face as she watched a headless cadaver bent over on the floor, cleaning up blood stains. She'd found the former body of Eli roaming around mindlessly.

Never look a gift horse in the mouth, especially when you can torture it or put it to good use.

The body was now performing menial tasks about the palace. Needless to say, it was great fun to watch the prophet of the Way of Love's body clean up entrails and marrow and bits of flesh.

Livia sighed. True this was an interesting diversion, but there were other things to attend to. She was sorely vexed at the gall of that pathetic Caesar's attempts to take back over Rome.

Rome had but one mistress and that was Livia. Xena would have to be dealt with soon enough she supposed, but first to exterminate the irritating bugs that kept interfering. Like Minya and Joxer and Caesar.

"Hey, you missed a spot!" Again she sighed, good help was so hard to find these days.

"No, I promise you I won't hurt you. Much!" screamed Draco as he neared his victim with sword raised high. This will be an easy bag of dinars, thought Draco, I'll just stab the fellow once, he'll live to see another day, maybe not again being so dumb as to enter these woods with all that mullah, ha!

"Mercy, please, don't stab m-" pleaded Draco's victim as the warlord closed in.

*gold whooooooshy shimmers, dite pops in*

"Mind if i have this dance, tall dark & um, smelly- gu-roooossss!" dite whispers to Draco, popping in between him & his easy prey.

"dite's afro! What the fark-" Draco managed to say before being whooshed away to an undisclosed location. Leaving the dinars behind with it's original owner, now running home as fast as he can.

...

The busty blonde warrior sighed. She had managed to escape the vines & get back into the caves. Now she was working her way out to the surface in this- wherever this reality was. Damn Xena, damn Ares, damn Gabrielle, she mumbled to herself. And then aloud, "If I meet Xena again, I'll show her who's the best-"

"Best at getting beat and left behind in dark wittle cavey-do?" came the voice behind her.

The warrior woman quickly turned around, "Where'd you come from? How'd you sneak by me? You'll die before you try that agai-"

"Yadda yadda yadda!" dite sighed, one hand on hip, the other up with a curved finger pointing at Mavican. "Let's get outta this place, I have no fan base here."

...

dite whooshes Mavican & self to a Temple in the real reality. The two babes look each other up and down but mostly their eyes focus on the chest region.

Mavican proudly states, "Mine are bigger."

But dite responds, "Mine will never sag. Yours have a few firm years left."

Before Mavican can respond, dite introduces her to Draco who's munching on some food left as a tribute to dite.

"Hey, get yer warlord germs off a-my food gift thingies" dite whines to Draco.

"Fine. You wanna tell me-" Draco says, looking at Mavican's well stacked area with a lustful grin- "us, all of us mmmm, what this is about? Why has the deity of love summoned us? No tricks either, with Gabrielle dead, I've my own free will back."

Both hands on hips, smiling a silly seductive smile, says dite, "I'm taking over Ares' unused temples. I want to assembly an army of peace & love types- and you two are gonna help me. 'Less you both wanna end up hanging onto vines in some strange alternate dimenson world placies, hmmm?"

...

Joxer sat dozing outside the hut. Inside Minya was trying to sleep, but it was hard for her--and for him. She alternated between wanting to snuggle ever so closely and literally kicking him out.

Suddenly a bag filled with scrolls plopped down in front of him. Joxer startled awake. Xena was sitting beside him.

"Not easy living with a pregnant woman," she smiled gently.

"No...are those Gabrielle's?"

"yeah...I've been reading them. We've been living in some interesting times."

Joxer made a sound halfway between a bark of laughter and a cry of despair. "If it gets any more interesting, I don't think I'll be able to stand it."

"What do you make of all this? I mean...all these people running around. Noone dying, a strangely quick pregancy--"

"What about that?' Joxer asked. "I mean, I know we're talking about a divine father, but this is just weird."

"The gods of Olympos usually have their human children in the normal way. Ares used to take on the form of his warriors and visit their wives while they were away in battle. Remarkable as those children came out, they never came out of their mothers' wombs any faster than the usual babe."

"I know," said Joxer with an uncharacteristic grimness. "I wasn't there when you and Gabrielle went to Brittania...was-was it like this?"

Xena didn't answer. Her blood had run cold. Gabrielle's scroll had not given details about how the child she bore came into the world, but there were a few memories that Alti had given her. Just enough to know how Solan had been killed by the creature the bard had spawned. She didn't like it, but this issue would have to be addressed. But it could wait and she changed the subject.

"About this third chakram---"

The earth suddenly jolted and a streaks of lightning stretched across the sky. From the hut Minya screamed and Paulina ran out.

"It's time! It's coming!"

Joxer jumped up. "Xena! You've got to help her."

"Swell." Xena jumped up and ran into the hut. Something was coming and she had a feeling it wasn't a bundle of joy.


*******

From her palace throne room Livia heard the thunder. She laughed as the headless body of Eli stumbled. Then sobered as she realized that this was a harbinger.

************

Hope smiled her cold smile. Her little sister was announcing herself. What a powerful voice. She looked forward to getting to know her. She hoped that the choice of mother had been as good a choice as her own mother. While she and her father had taken great care to select Minya, there was no guarantee. It wasn't every mother who would kill her own child three times.

"I hope she has her mother's eyes and her father's unique world view," she said with a laugh. "Now, I'd better be on hand in case my assitance is required."

i feel the cold stone under my body. a cage. i can't belive she put me in a damn cage. actually, i can. it's so her style. at least there is quiet right now. so much has happened. my son has lost his mind, going after Livia like that. not that i'm far behind him, with my deal with Alti. she's been dragging that head around by the hair all day, making it sing. it's driving me mad. maybe that's the idea. just as i started to bask in the silence, here she came again, head in tow.

"Hey Queenie, I got a new one. Sing it song boy." She dropped the head with no finesse and it loudly thudded beside her feet. it rolled onto it's 'neck' and began singing crudely, loudly, and off key.

i dropped my head and just started to silently cry. i wasn't sad, i just couldn't take it anymore. then i snapped, "can you please just shut that damn thing up for ONE MINUTE?" i shouted in frustrated anger.

Alti snapped her fingers and the wailing stopped. she shot me a dirty look, rolled her eyes, and stomped off mumbling something.

Eli swung his eyes toward me. I knew it was coming before he even opened his mouth. "Ephiny, there is still hope for you. I know you feel the way of love has betrayed you but--"

"look, don't speak to me. i have the sound of your voice imprinted in my brain. shut up. seriously, shut up. don't speak. i don't care what you have to say. honestly. if i could, i would start a game of polo with your head. it's nothing personal, just the situation. please." i wasn't really mad at him. well, the sermon shit was getting old. i was just frustrated beyond belief. i was sure that i wouldn't apologize later, but i wouldn't use his head for recreation.

he must have say the pleading frustration in my eyes, because he didn't say anything else. i sat there with my back against the wall trying to clear my mind and decide what my next step would be.

i gasped, i couldn't breathe. what was going on? my body was in shock. eyes wide open, i quickly glanced around. then it hit me. Alti, standing over me with a now empty bucket. not the subtlest way to wake someone up, but it worked. damn cold water. i looked down and i could have sworn Eli smirked at me. hypocrite.

"Get up bitch. I have plans for you today." her voice as coarse as ever, with a hint of excitment.

i crawled foward bringing myself to a sitting position. i just glared at her, wondering what she had in store for me.

Alti quickly turned her head to the left. i followed suit. it was Gabrielle, but it couldn't be, could it. Alti did not look suprised, but i know i did. she brought her attention back to me.

"Don't get too excited, Ephiny, it's not her. But I do belive the two of you have met." She smirked at me knowingly.

then it hit me. "hope" i mouthed more to myself, but it was audible. i was stunned. how could, how?

Hope turned to Alti, "You've done well, bringing me back. My father is most pleased." She smiled at Alti, it was creepy to say the least.

"Yess, and I believe he owes me some great powers in return." Alti bore down on Hope, showing her just how badly she wanted those powers.

i had no idea what they were talking about. i knew who Hope was, but had no idea they were working together. Alti was much better at keeping her thoughts hidden than most. i was most curious about the promised powers.

"As soon as my sister is brought into the world, you will recieve your powers. You also know what your first act is to be with your bestowed gift." She kept her face expressionless. She obviously had no idea of the catastrophic damages she was inflicting on the human race.

"Rest assured I know my part. As soon as that baby hits the streets, I will have little standing in the way of my goal. Your father will have Xena's soul." She was nearly foaming at the mouth, full of anticipation.

"Let's hope you uphold your side of the bargain. Father does not like to be double-crossed. We must go, the child is on it's way." She turned and walked out the front of the cave.

Alti's eyes lit up, as much as possible, and she bent down and snatched up the head by the thinning hair that remained. She cast a look in my direction, "You stay put, I'll be back soon for you."

then they were gone, and i was completely alone. i was powerless. i knew what was happening and i couldn't do anything about it. i started humming one of those crude holiday songs to myself while trying to figure out a way to help my friends.

A sweat was forming on Joxer's brow. He hadn't worked so hard since that time in Meg's inn when ...

'JOOOOOXEEERRR!' An almighty scream erupted from Minya's lips.

'Coming, my love.' He ran inside the hut with more water from the nearby well. 'I found some soft leaves, too. Here.' He rolled them into a pillow for his lover's head.

'Thanks, Joxer.' Xena turned away from him to face Minya. 'Come on now, one last push.' She gripped Minya's hand tightly.

'Aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhh!' Minya grit her teeth and bore down.

'I can see the baby's head!' Pauly held Minya's other hand. 'Come on, love, push again.'

'Rrrrraaaaaaaaarrrrrggggghhhhhhh!' With one great push the baby's head popped out, quickly followed by it tiny body. Xena caught it and handed it quickly to Joxer, who was waiting to grab it with more leaves.

'It's beautiful!' He eyes shined with adoration.

'It's a girl.' Xena wiped her hands and turned to Minya. 'You have a girl.'

'Thank goodness that's over,' Minya sighed. 'Now, get me some of that left over rum would you, Pauly?'

'Of course, my love. Have a drink and rest up. We want you to get back in action as soon as possible. Joxer and I have some new moves to teach you.' Pauly winked at her.

'Let me see her.' Minya reached out to Joxer, and he passed over her daughter. 'She looks just like her mother. Dark hair, brown eyes.'

'I think I'll leave you women folk alone for a while. I -uh- I ... think I left some leaves, ah, b-by the well.' Joxer left the room quickly, armour jangling.

He had seen it straight away. The child was the spitting image of Ares. Tears filled his eyes. He would love it like his own, but a small part of him had hoped this baby would be his flesh and blood. Come on Joxer, pull yourself together. He squared his shoulders. Minya and Pauly and the baby need you. He wiped his eyes and headed back to the hut.

Xena was fastening her sword to her back. 'I've got to go. It looks like you will all do fine.' She grabbed Joxer around the shoulders and pulled him to one side. 'Joxer, I've stayed longer than I wanted to. I need to get moving, I've got to reach Mount Olympus and speak with Zeus and Hera about this third chakram. I was going to ask you to help me find Jett, because I could use his skills. I think it's better now that you stay here. Keep an eye on Minya and her child and let me know if anything unusual happens.'

'Right, Xena, you can always count on me. Because, as I say to myself, self, if there's one thing you can do it's be counted. And- '

'Joxer. I've got to go.' Xena strode to the door and whistled for Argo. The battle steed appeared out of nowhere, was swiftly mounted by Xena, and they galloped away.

Joxer turned back to his women. They both seemed exhausted. Minya's eyes were drifting shut while Pauly snored against her arm. Her took the baby gently from Minya's embrace and left the hut.

'There ya go, baby. Some nice fresh air. A goo goo! A goo goo goo!' He waggled his face and pursed his lips. The baby smiled at him in an interested way. Joxer smiled. 'She likes me!' He walked around rocking the baby for a while, then stopped. His throat felt tight. 'Ooooo, hang on baby. Let me put you down. Uncle Joxer's got a frog in his throat.' Carefully, Joxer lowered the infant onto some soft grass. He rubbed his throat and coughed. 'Hmmm, might need some water. Feeling dry.' He croaked. The well was only a couple of yards away. Joxer headed for it. He was finding it harder to breathe. Water would soothe him. Only a yard to go. His head was feeling dizzy. He stumbled and hit the ground with a heavy thud. For some reason he could no longer move. His sight started fading. Before he took his last breath on earth, Joxer looked towards the baby. She was looking right at him. Grinning. An evil grin.

They were back. Alti, Hope and the head. I could hear them chuckling long before they entered the lair I was trapped in.

Hope came through the entrance first. 'Did you see? I told you of the powers my Father can bestow. My sister killed simply by willing it.'

'And, with the head of this holy man, I can channel her powers.' Alti hissed in delight. 'Can I test it?'

'No! You mustn't give yourself over to Dahok, Alti. There will be no turning back for you.' Eli pleaded with her.

It was to no avail. 'Silence. Now, what can I test my powers on?' Alti looked around her lair. Her eyes came to rest on me, locked in her cage. 'Ah yes, I had almost forgotten. My little prize.'

'Perfect.' Hope's eyes twinkled. 'Do her.'

Alti pointed Eli's head in my direction. 'In the name of Dahok, and all the powers of Hades, I command all goodly presence to be cast out.'

My body started to shake. I couldn't stop it. My teeth rattled and my eyes felt as though they would fall out of their sockets. Then I felt a searing heat rage through me and the next thing I knew I ...

Here ends the primitive, animal hide diary rescued by the Archaeological Society from mound #483. We shall undertake further examination in order to correctly establish its date and author.

As seen previously in the race around Greece.

My body started to shake. I couldn't stop it. My teeth rattled and my eyes felt as though they would fall out of their sockets. Then I felt a searing heat rage through me and the next thing I knew I ...

was thinking 'By Zeus I think I am about to die'.... And Ephiny goes off to the land of the Amazons.

Minya woke with a start.
What the hell, she thought. Crying. That baby is CRYING.
What was Joxer doing? Pauly was asleep....
Minya sighed, and pulled Pauly's arm out from underneath her. Pauly continued to snore loudly, and turned over.
Minya rose and ran to the doorway of the hut. For some reason that was where the crying was coming from.
What th--
She saw the baby, lying on a patch of soft grass. Gasping, Minya ran to her child and picked her up, holding her by the back of her head and cradling her against her shoulder.
"There there, little one. What are you doing, lying in the grass like this? THere there, there there." She crooned. Then she arranged the baby so she could breastfeed from her.
"Therrre you go. Some nice milk. THat should soothe the savage beast." Minya smiled. THe child was perfect, absolutely perfect. Yes, it was strange, very strange that she had brown eyes right away instead of the usual blue--but then again, she was a god-spawned child after all.
Minya frowned a moment. Joxer had said she looked like her. But...
No.
Minya sighed sadly. What would this do to Joxer? THe kid looked exactly like Ares. Almost exactly.
Little Gabby continued to suckle Minya's breast, like she hadn't had a care in the world. Minya, however was not impressed with Joxer leaving her alone like that, in the grass...
Where the hell was Joxer anyway?
Minya looked around her, thoroughly irritated and confused. Then--her eyes fell on a shape lying by the well.
Her blood nearly froze.
Minya's breath came out in little gasps. SHe had one thought on her mind. Get the little one in the house. Wake up Pauly.
Numbly, she turned and went back into the hut. Pauly was stumbling out of the bedroom, squinting.
"S'matter?" she asked.
"Take her," Minya said evenly. "Take her and put her to bed. Don't leave her alone."
"Minya..."
"And don't ask questions," Minya said. "I may not be back for awhile."
"But--"
"DO as I say!" Minya shouted. The babe, startled, cried out. Pauly took the child and glared at Minya. Minya only turned away, and ran out of the hut.
Joxer...
She ran over to the shape by the well. It was still, very still. But there was no mistaking who it was.
Joxer...no...
Minya knelt beside him. She turned his still form over--and looked into his sightless eyes.
But wait--this can't be right--mortals can't die. But--why isn't he rising?
Minya felt his pulse, and shook him several times. He did not move. Joxer did not even breathe.
Despair, greater than any she'd ever felt, washed over her. She could do nothing. She lifted him to a sitting position, and held him, rocking him back and forth.
I didn't protect you, she thought. I let you die. It's all my fault. Oh Joxer, I am so sorry.
Silent tears burned down her cheeks and splashed onto Joxer's new armor. It was all over. All of it.
Horsehooves interrupted her reverie.
Minya let his lifeless body fall to the ground. She jumped to her feet, drawing the sword she'd fastened to her belt.
Xena got down from Argo, and looked sharply at Minya--then Joxer's body.
Her face went white as realization hit her.
All of Minya's self-loathing transformed in that instant. She dropped her sword, and rushed at Xena, landing a left hook right in Xena's eye. Xena reeled a bit, then grabbed a hold of Minya's hand just as it was about to strike again. Xena backhanded Minya right in the face. Minya flinched but would not allow herself to feel the pain.
"Minya," Xena hissed, "Cut it out right--now. Listen to me."
"LISTEN to me!" Minya shrieked, "Joxer is DEAD, you bitch! And WHY? WHY is he dead when mortals cannot die? Why did you leave him alone?" Her voice broke on a sob.
Xena closed her eyes as the truth was spat out to her.
"WHY?" Minya rushed her and seized her by the shoulders. Xena pushed her back, and Minya fell on her behind.
"I thought he would be safe here!" Xena said through gritted teeth, seizing Minya, lifting her up and pinning her against the tree. "I thought--I thought you needed protection--HIS protection! As to why he's dead--I have no idea. As to how--," she said in a trembling voice, her eyes travelling toward the body, "I misjudged your child."
"MY CHILD!" Minya roared. "HOW DARE YOU!"
"MINYA!" Xena grabbed her and wrestled her to the ground. Minya had lost it, was attacking the Warrior Princess with everything she had. Xena gritted her teeth. Minya was strong, even for having had a baby. THat wasn't natural--then again, none of this was.
"THINK about it!" she hissed at the wild woman. "THINK, Minya, THINK for once in your life!"
Minya sounded a battle cry and kneed Xena hard in the stomach. Xena coughed, gasping for breath--and landed a good right hook on Minya's jaw. Minya fell back, and hit her head on the tree. It didn't knock her unconscious, but it did make enough of an impact for her to stop attacking Xena.
"Now," Xena snarled, "Are you ready to listen to me?"
Minya looked up at her, her large brown eyes full of deep sadness. In spite of the constant annoyance Minya had always been, Xena was touched by her grief. She'd loved Joxer. Someone had had to, and Minya had loved him with all of her soul.
Xena would not allow herself to feel grief jsut yet, anymore than she had for Gabrielle. It was too much right now. Too much.
"I have been to Olympus to see Zeus and Hera," Xena said evenly. "I wanted to find out about the third chakram. Well--they told me quite a few other surprises I was shocked to find out."
"What," Minya said, sitting up and rubbing the back of her head.
"Your child," Xena said evenly, "your child is not--exactly the daughter of Ares."
Minya looked up, grief-stricken. "She is not--"
"No, she is not Joxer's, you can be SO thick sometimes," Xena moaned. "THINK about it, Minya! THINK!"
Minya remembered that letter from Eli--the one where he'd mentioned Dahok. The passage about Lucifer that had frightened her.
No.
"Not," she shook her head, "Not DAHOK."
Sighing, Xena nodded. "He and Hope have been planning this."
"Hope?" Minya sprang to her feet. "I thought Hope was dead!"
"Perfect."
Gabrielle's voice sounded in Minya's mind. She froze, as Gabrielle herself, Xena's Gabrielle, suddenly walked towards her. SHe seemed to have materialized out of thin air.
"G-Gabrielle?"
She laughed, low and gutteral. "You are the perfect mother for my little sister," she grinned. "My father is most pleased indeed."
"As I expected," Xena snarled. Hope looked at her, cocking her head to one side.
"Xena," she said sweetly, "the only reason I don't kill you is because Alti wants you alive for now. But rest assured," she grinned, "my father will have his way in this world. Oh, speaking of fathers...." She turned to Minya, and unhooked a large round saddlebag from her waist. "I come bearing shower gifts. From ALTI." She tossed the saddlebag to Minya, who caught it.
"Alti," snarled Minya, "I might have known she had something to do with this. Well--she got her revenge." She put the saddlebag on the ground, and was about to stomp on it, when a familiar voice sounded from it.
"Minya."
It was weak, but she knew it. Opening the saddlebag, she pulled out Eli's bruised head. It was bruised all right, and a long gash sat on his forehead in the shape of a cross.
"Eli," Minya hugged the head, tears starting in her eyes.
"Awwww," Hope sneered sarcastically. "Well, Alti no longer has a use for that incessant head and his babble. She has more important things to do now that my father has blessed her with infinite powers."
Minya jerked her head up, glaring at Hope.
"What?"
Reality set in finally. Still cradling Eli's head, but not taking her eyes off of Hope, Minya sidled over toward the hut. She had to get to Paulina. And Gabrielle....
"Minya, your heart, your LOVE can save the child from evil," Eli said weakly. Hearing this, Hope burst into laughter.
"My little sister destroyed that which taught Minya to love," she snarled. "Don't talk about LOVE, holy man."
Minya narrowed her eyes at Hope.
"I haven't forgotten," she snarled at her.
Carrying Eli's head, she walked into the hut. She knew what to do. Eli protested feebly.
"Trust your heart, Minya. Your heart. In the end, that is what will triumph."
"I will, Eli," Minya said grimly. "Trust me, I will."
She placed Eli's head on the table. Paulina held Gabs in her arms, singing to her as if she'd never heard anything that went on outside. THen again...that child did have power.
"Pauly," Minya said sweetly, "Give her to me."
Not thinking anything of it, Paulina handed Gabrielle over. Catching sight of Eli's head, she screamed.
"Don't worry, Pauly, we'll sort him out later. Now," Minya said, "I need to take my little one out for a walk."
She carried baby Gabs out the back door of the hut. Tears streaming down her face, she held her daughter close. Gabrielle suckled on Minya's breast. Minya did not stop her.
She kept walking, hardly watching where she was going. She didn't even hear the horse hooves until suddenly Gabrielle spoke.
"Horthie!"
What...
Minya turned. THere she was, with...was that Eli's body?
"Livia," she called in a choked voice, "LIVIA!"
She stopped, and spun her horse around staring incredulously at Minya.
Minya stalked over to her--and held her baby out to her.
"Here," she said. "You like to kill, don't you? Kill her."
Livia laughed uproareously.
"I do NOT believe this!" she shouted. "I knew you were an idiot, Minya--but--"
"I don't understand," Minya frowned. "You tried to in the cell. This baby will grow up to take over Rome if you don't kill her. DO it!" She was lying, she knew it but would Livia guess? She couldn't.
"Minya, Minya Minya," Livia said, shaking her head. "That is NOT my problem anymore."
"What--"
"My focus is Rome," snarled Livia. "Always has been. I don't CARE what that incessant fool Caesar thinks of me--OR that little god spawn--who by the way made you THINK I tried to kill it."
"Enough of that," Minya snarled. "I'm not being deluded again--"
"Ares deluded you. Why not his babe? Anyway I have no time for this. Here, take your stupid holy man's body back. He's taken to boring me by writing religious crap all over my walls. Not interested. You can have him. He no longer interests me."
Livia pulled out a dagger and cut loose the rope holding her horse and the horse that carried Eli's body. As Minya stood, staring after her, she took off--and rode away.
Eli's body rode back to the hut, leaving Minya all alone.
He's trusting me, she thought. Then again--he hopes I'll do what HE wants me to do.
Livia wouldn't do it. Minya didn't know why, but she didn't have time to wonder about it.
Gabrielle fingered her mother's face. Minya's eyes filled with tears again. She thought about Joxer, his sightless eyes full of pain and fear. Joxer, his laughing, happy face, thinking of fatherhood and what joy it would be. Joxer--and Hope, laughing with that evil grin. How Hope had tortured the old Gabrielle. Well--Minya was no Gabrielle.
She stalked toward the trees. Her child began to fidget. Minya began to sob, in earnest, the tears burning down her face. She placed her babe in front of the tree--trying desperately not to look into her eyes...
"MOMMMYYYY!" cried the babe, sobbing now. "MOMMMYYYYYY!"
Minya drew her sword. SHe was literally shaking in sobs.
"MOMMMMEEEE!"
She could see Ares now, his face in her mind, pain in his eyes. "Don't let me down," he seemed to be saying. "Minya--I love you. You know th--"
"SHUT UP!" Minya wailed in anguish. She lifted the sword--and as the child screamed in pain and fear--Minya held the sword up high--and---

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dumbledore's Army,

'NO!' Eli's head called out from behind Minya. She whirled around. His body had picked up the head and carried it outside. 'Minya, you mustn't. If you kill this child you won't stop the cycle of hate. Only love can do that.'

Minya fell to her knees. 'I love my baby, but I can't let it hurt anybody else. Poor Joxer- .' She broke off with a sob.

'We can teach your child how to use her powers for good. I know we can.' Eli's body knelt down in front of baby Gabrielle. His head started to chant some strange language that Minya had never heard before. The baby smiled and looked at the head. It reached out to touch Eli's lips. Eli began to cough and splutter. His eyes rolled back in his head.

'No, Gabrielle, no! Bad Gabby!' Minya tried to grab her daughter, but some unseen force stopped her. All she could do was watch. Eli's body dropped his head and it began to float in mid air. It rose slowly until it was hovering in line with his neck. Then it moved until it was directly over the stump. All the while Eli gasped for breath. The head lowered itself onto Eli's neck and Minya's mouth fell open as pieces of skin and bone reattached themselves with lightning speed.

'Well, that was different.' Eli spoke as though his head had never left his shoulders. He gingerly stretched his neck and gently shook his head from side to side.

'What's happening?' Minya was shaking.

'That baby seems to have some remarkable powers. Not only can it kill mortals, it seems to be able to heal them, too. Probably something to do with its genes. It chose to heal me. Maybe it can sense that I have had a connection with Dahok, through being used by Alti.' Eli shuddered and added, 'The Shamaness is too powerful now, she doesn't need me any more.'

'Then, we might be able to teach young Gabrielle to follow a good path?'

Eli grinned. 'I think we just might.'

********************

Zeus was staring at the candle he had taken from Celesta. 'It's almost burned down, my love,' he said to his wife. 'If it does, that is the end.'

'I've grown tired of all these wounded mortals everywhere. They are making my world look messy.' Hera stifled a yawn. 'Dite's Aphro has healed that silly broad and her girlfriend, the poison has passed through Livia's system, that holy man has had his head reattached and no one has even tried to attack the Shamaness. Even worse our intended target, Xena, has been left unscathed. Body and soul.'

'So, shall I give Celesta her candle back?' Zeus picked it up and looked to Hera for confirmation.

She nodded. 'Please do.'

Zeus zapped into Celesta's room. Being unable to levitate, or shimmer out, she was stuck on Olympus. 'Damn Hera and her ideas, does she not realise how many people are now suffering, how many people have been unable to go when it is their rightful time. I thought hades would have come to help me by now' she says to herself mournfully, not realising that Zeus was standing silently in her room.


'Thing have not gone as planned, Celesta. People are such simple things, all they have done is gone around killing each other for no reason, and Hera is worried about how messy it will look if we haven't cleaned the place up by the time Odin and pals get here in 3 days. So we have decided to give this back to you.' Zeus says staunchily, not wanting to admit he nor Hera were wrong, since they never had been wrong before, and probably never would be again.

He places the candle down within reach of Celesta's hand and shimmers off. She picks it up, as it grows back to it's full length. 'I do like it when it does that' Celesta muses to herself, 'like watching a man grow to his ... full potential' sighs to herself, and levitates away.

***********************

Caesar, after trying to bandage his wounds, had made a cave he had found, a place to sleep, and work on his next part of the plan.

Unbeknowst to him, Celesta had just picked up her candle. With a gut wrenching yell (literally), his stomach felt like it was being ripped out of his backbone sideways. As he falls to the floor dead, the last thing he sees is Celesta turn up, her and her candle coming towards him.

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust..."
And on and on. Minya flicked tears away with her fingers as Joxer's body was lowered into the earth. Eli continued to preach as Xena, Paulina and Minya used shovels to throw dirt over the body.
Eli held baby Gabrielle, who had taken quite a liking to him. Minya would not hold her, or even look at her--not during Joxer's funeral.
No...
She could bear it no more. Falling to her knees, she buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.
Joxer, Joxer, you should not have died, you should have been with me. We should have had a family. It wasn't supposed to be Dahok's--had I known--had someone told me--
Someone knelt down beside her and stroked her hair.
"Mins," Dite's Afro's voice said in a broken voice.
Minya looked up sharply and glared at her.
"Zeus and Hera told Xena who my baby's father was," she snarled. "Did they tell you too?"
"AS IF!" cried Dite's Afro, indignantly. "Daddy Zeus doesn't tell me EVERYTHING, ya know! Oh no, not me, I'M not that important! Here I am, thinking my little neice is being carried by one of my friends--but noooooo! It's pooey old DAHOK instead! I wondered why that little puppy seemed so odd, even Ares wasn't THAT bad!"
Minya sighed and looked down at the ground.
"You're right, I'm sorry," she said softly. "I know you would have told me if you knew."
"Hey," Dite's Afro said, softening. "It's all right--I don't know many people who's own child kills their lover. That has to suck!"
"For the last time," Eli said firmly, "the child did NOT kill Joxer."
"Will you get out of denial, Eli!" Xena said, annoyed, dashing tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. "I know you want the child to be good--I get it. But at least acknowledge what it did--out of evil."
"Joxer choked on his tongue."
"No," Minya rose to her feet and faced her friend. "No. Eli, I believe in what you're trying to do. I--support it. It's hard--very hard to love a child who would do that but I'm willing to try." She lifted her chin defiantly. "I will NOT do it by lying about it."
"Minya, my Father never lies," Eli said sadly.
"Your Father told you this?" Minya shook her head to clear it.
"Oh, for goodness sakes Minya, DON'T fall for it," Xena moaned. "He's so full of himself he thinks he knows everything--JUST like Gabrielle did about Hope! HOPE! She named her Hope as if that would make a difference. Well it DIDN'T, did it?" Xena's voice broke on a sob, and she turned away, shaking for a moment. Dite's Afro caught a hold of Minya's shoulder before she could go to Xena.
"She killed my son. THEN....she caused Gabrielle to fall down a--a--"
Xena turned and stalked away, going into the hut, shaking all the way.
"Nobody go after her," Dite's Afro said in a rare moment of seriousness. "She's needed to get this out for awhile, but I think she needs to be alone to do it."
Eli looked down at Joxer's grave, his own eyes leaking tears.
"I don't pretend to know everything," he said in a trembling voice. "If I did--so many good people would be alive today! My Father--He has His reasons for everything. But I don't--always--understand them."
"I do."
The dark gravelly voice seared through Minya's soul like ice. She whirled around. Alti was standing there, grinning from ear to ear.
"I see you got your HEAD back on your shoulders, holy man," Alti sneered, advancing toward him. "Let me tell you now. I understand that FATHER of yours. He's as much of a ruthless killer as I can be. Only he does it with more SUBTLETY."
"You DARE compare yourself to Eli's Father?" Minya snarled, snatching the baby from Eli in an instant. "All right, Alti. ENOUGH time has been wasted! Enough indeed."
Alti threw her head back and laughed uproareously.
"Little Minya!" she sneered. "What are you going to do--HYPNOTIZE me?" Her eyes turned to Dite's Afro. "Must I dance for you again? Say CHANTS? Not this time, I fear." She locked her gaze on the Goddess. Dite's Afro began to shake.
"Gabs," Minya said to the little one, "remember what Eli and I taught you thi