Merry Solstice
By: Emerald
Three women and the horse walked through the snow crunching underneath them, they walked along the now frozen river and talked about getting winter clothes. Xena, with her keen eye, saw something up ahead. They were many men that seemed to be torturing some women. Xena smiled. She knew there was going to be blood. Her warrior instincts kicked in, and she ran ahead to make some villans wish they had never been born. Meanwhile, Callisto was carefully examining the snow.
Call: I seem to remember this from my flashbacks.
Gab: Ya know, those flashbacks are gonna set you on a very different path soon. You'd better stop thinking abou---where's Xena?
Gabrielle saw Xena ahead kicking butt.
Gab: Ugh! So near Solstice? Jeez!
Call: So go run up there and stop her.
Gab: Remember? I don't have to run.
Call (while carefully looking at some snow in her hand): I thought you weren't gonna use your powers?
Gab: But Callisto, it's too near Solstice for her to fight!
Gabrielle disappeared and then reappeared in front of Xena just in time to get a good kick in the
stomach by her best friend.
Xena: Gabrielle! Don't do that! Can't you see the things you get yourself into? Move! I'm in battle!
Gab: You are not.
Gabrielle looked at Xena very seriously. A big, hairy man came up behind Gabrielle.
Xena: Watch out!!!
Gabrielle froze time. Everything had stopped just as the man was about to hit Gabrielle but Xena was still alive.
Xena: How'd you do that?! Your Goddess of Style, not Time!
Gab: That's something we can all do.
Xena: Excuuuse me, little miss "I know everything because I'm a Goddess".
Gab: Not funny.
Xena looked around at all the men. She walked up to the one guy and took his weapons. She walked up to all the rest and dumped their weapons in the frozen lake creating a break in the ice.
Xena (to the men): Now let's see who is going to win, guys.
Gabrielle turned around very annoyed.
Gab: NO ONE.
Xena: Gabrielle?!?!!
Gab: Zeus, Xena! It's too near Solstice!
Xena: I don't care. Unless you want these women and children beaten by their fathers and husbands, let's go. Remember? It's sooo near Solstice. Do you think we should let them die here?
Gab: Well, I don't want any deaths. Free the women now and then I'll set the time right.
Xena: Fine.
Xena freed all the women and children and brought them by Callisto who was frozen in the shape of kneeling in the snow looking at it. Gabrielle unfroze time. They were outta there! Normally, Xena would have stayed and faught, but it was near Solstice and they had what they came for. Soon into the walk, they had fur coats, boots, and had dropped off the women in the nearest town shelter. They were walking again...The trees were snow-covered and the rocks were white, and the path they were on was 3 feet worth of snow thick.
Call: Ya know, Gabby, I think this Goddess thing is going to work out good for you.
Gab: What do you mean?
Call: I mean, you've matured.
Gab: Oh, thanks.
Call: Xena, what do you think?
Xena: Wonderful.
Gab: Xena, are you okay?
Xena: Not quite.
Call: Why?
Xena: Well, this whole Gabrielle being a Goddess thing hasn't really been what I'd think it to be.
Gab: What?
Xena: Oh, nevermind. I'm happy for you, I really am.
Gab: Good. Now, listen! I've been thinking up a Solstice story, but I have writer's block.
Call: Yay! I can't take anymore of your stories!
Gab: Bad news, Callisto.
Call: Uh-oh.
Gab: I've thought up a poem.
Call: Oh, okay. Those weren't so bad.
Gab: So, do you want to hear it?
Xena: Sure, I do.
Call: So do I.
Gab: Great.
Gabrielle propped her staff up against a tree. She cleared her throat.
Gab: Here goes:
Don't get so busy that you miss, giving just a little kiss, to the ones you love
Don't even wait a little while, to give them just a little smile, a little is enough.
How many people are crying, people are dying
How many people are asking, for love?
So don't save it all for Solstice Day,
Find a way to give a little love, everyday.
Don't save it all for Solstice Day, Find your way.
'Cause Solstices have come and gone, but love lives on, if you give on.
How could you wait another minute
A hug is warmer when your in it. And that's a fact.
And saying "I love you's" always better,
Seasons, reasons, they don't matter, so don't hold back.
How many people in this world, are so needful in this world?
How many people are praying for love
So don't save it all for Solstice Day.Find a way to give a little love, everyday.
Don't save it all for Solstice Day,
Find your way.
'Cause Solstices have come and gone, but love lives on, if you give on.
Let all the children know, everywhere that they go, their whole life long,
Let them know love.
Don't save it all for Solstice Day,
Find your way, to give a little love, everyday.
"Cause Sostices have come and gone, but love lives on, if you give on. Love...
Xena and Callisto started clapping.
Call: That was beautiful!
Xena: There's your story, Gabrielle!
Gab: Really? You liked it?
Call: OH YEAH!!!! But you didn't have a scroll, you memorised it?
Gab: Actually,
Gabrielle paused.
Gab: Well....I just made that up on a spur of the moment kinda thing.
Xena: That makes it even better!
Call: Ya know, your stories are weird, but it's amazing on how your mind focuses.
Gabrielle bowed.
Gab: Thanks!!
Xena: No problem. Now, grab your staff, there's at least 25 miles from here to Potedaea.
Call: 25 miles?!?!
Gab: Potedaea?
Xena: Unless you wanna go back 50 miles and end up in Athens again.
Gab: But, Athens and Potedaea were never 65 miles away? There had to be different towns in
between,
Xena: Actually, no. There was one town in between that we missed.
Call: Well, let's go back!
Xena: No, I really don't want ot go back there. Gabrielle would be upset with the things we'd have to put
up with. Rude people, rouges, barbarians, villans, we'd have to fight. That's why we went ahead to Potedaea. It'd be perfect since we wouldn't have to fight.
Gab: Well? Then let's move!
Gabrielle started walking. Callisto walked too. Xena stayed behind a little with Argo.
Call: Ya know, I don't know why we have to walk 25 miles in snow. We could fly there.
Gab: Fly?
Call: Oh! You know, the zappy thing we do.
Gab: Oh that. You can, but i'm not going to leave Xena behind.
Call: So take her and Argo with you! Don't you know anything about being a Goddess?
Gab thought.
Gab: Uh, nope.
Call: Go get them!
Gabrielle ran back to Xena.
Gab: C'mon. We are not going to walk 25 miles in the snow. We're going to be zapped.
Xena: You know I don't like doing that.
Gab: I don't care what you want. It's what I want that counts. Now, if there's trouble from here to
potedaea, too bad. There are people in Piraievs that are dying, we can't help them! So, if we help the
people here, it wouldn't be fair to the people in all other parts of the world.
Xena thought.
Xena: Okay, I guess your right.
Finally, they were zapped. Two thousandths of a second later, they were in Potedaea.
Gab: Home sweet home.
Call: Nice place, Gabby. No wonder your such a peacemaker.
Gab: Just wait 'till Lila hears my story!
Xena: What story? You said you couldn't think up anything!
Gab: What, and you think I tell you guys everything?
Xena: Harsh, but true.
Gabrielle ran into a house that was obviously hers.
Call: There she goes. Sweet little Gabrielle running into her sister's house to tell her a story.
Xena: She's amazing. I think her sweetness and purity got her the Goddess powers she has.
Call: Gee, ya think?
Xena: Callisto?! I'm serious!
Call: Zeus, why do people insist on calling me "Callisto?!". You've said it, Gab's said it, Ares' said it!!!
Xena: Read my lips: I........Don't.........Care!!!!!
Call: Oh, thanks.
Xena: Welcome.
Callisto growled.
Call: I'm going..........................
Xena: Going where? Going nuts? Going insane? Going to Tartarus?
Call: Oh, shut-up.
Callisto disappeared.
Xena: Yipee.
Xena started to walk towards Lila's house but didn't go in because she knew that family didn't like her.
Xena started to brush Argo when Gabrielle came out with a frown.
Xena: What?
Gab: She wasn't home. Next stop, mom and dad's house.
Xena: I thought that was their house?
Gab: No. Lila moved out when we were here last.
Xena: Oh, okay.
Gabrielle walked off, stopped, looked back at Xena. She smiled happily. She disappeared with a dark blue shield of water the over-circled her.
Xena: Nice arrangement.
Ares: Isn't it though?
Xena looked behind her. There was Ares.
Ares: I'm suprised you didn't hear me coming.
Xena: Oh, I did.
Ares: No, you didn't. There was no sword dealing, sighs, or even bad attitudes.
Xena: Well maybe, I'm not going to fight with you. Maybe I'm not even going to get your nerves, today.
Ares: That's impossible. Your always on my nerves. How come you don't hate me today?
Xena: Ares, you don't have to worry. I'll always hate you.
Ares: Oh, goody.
Xena: But, it's very much near Solstice and I'm going for the peaceful mood.
Ares: You are? Xena: Warrior Princess, peace? No, nuh-uh. Never. Your kidding yourself.
Xena: Ares?
Ares: Yeah?
Xena: Shut-up.
Ares: Okay.
Xena: So, did you just make that up?
Ares: Make what up?
Xena: The dark blue water.
Ares: Oh. Yeah, well, their were a bunch to choose from and, well, she got the water.
Xena: It's cool. If I were a Godessssss.......
Xena stopped. She was not about ot alk about being a Goddess in front of Ares.
Ares: If you were a what?
Ares face was calm, but his words were shouting out glee.
Xena: Nevermind.
Xena walked off and left Ares and Argo.
Ares (to Argo): She's really something, ain't she?
Argo looked at Ares and snorted.
Ares: They're all alike. XENA!!!!!!!!!
Ares disappeared and reappeared in front of Xena.
Xena: Would you stop following me around?
Ares: It's a bad habit.
Xena: That was cruel, really cruel.
Ares: I know.
Xena: What do you want?
Ares: Your horse has a bad attitude. He must get it from you.
Xena: He must.
Ares started walking side by side with Xena.
Ares: Where ya goin'?
Xena: To find Gabrielle, actually.
Ares stopped walking.
Ares: Is there ever a minute in the day when you could care less about Gabrielle?
Xena was still walking. She ignored Ares. He ran up to her.
Ares: Xena? You didn't answer me. Which of course means, there has been a few seconds you weren't thinking about her. Which were when?
Xena stopped.
Xena: Why do you care do much about my life?
Ares: It's not so much your life.
Xena: Then what in Tartarus is it?
Ares looked at Xena.
Xena: Ya know? Your never going to win me back, so just give up, okay?
Ares: I've tried that many times. But it doesn't work. Every time I pass an army, I think of you. A burned village, you. An innoscent child that's being tortured, you. A---
Xena: Oh shut-up! Your putting me on a guilt trip and it's not working, my friend.
Ares: Should've figured.
Xena: Yes, you should have. Now, could you please leave me alone?
Ares: Ya know, something? I envy Gabrielle.
Xena: Here we go,
Ares: It's like, there she is: Old pal Gabrielle. In absolutely no harm, whatsoever, and your desperate to find her. Here I am: Old pal Ares, In absolutely no harm, whatsoever, and your desperate to get me out of your life! There's no difference between me and her, and yet, you still hate me. What did I ever do to you, huh? I mean, just not fair. Ya know, I'm really nice, I've proven it to you...but still you can't ever see that. I want to be there for you, but something has totally blocked your mind from seeing that I do, and your always so busy trying to get rid of me that you see no sincereness in me. Why me? Just because I'm the God of War I'm assumed to be bad. Hey, when I was mortal, was I that bad? Yeah, you were in Callisto's bady, but hey, it was your soul! And Gabrielle is Savior of the world, huh? I try to get you back, yeah. But does it ever work? No. Why? Because Gabby over there has got you on this totally weird side for you. She is soooo over-pretective. I hate the woman. I just ahte her. and, not to mention, I'm very envious. I've never hurt you, and that's not a lie. I could never hurt you. You've been dead a coulple of times, but I've never even known! Why, because Gabrielle never tells me anything. Xena, I love you, and you know that, but if this isn't going to work, fine. I don't really care! All I want is you off this goody good side because I don't want future heartbreak when something happens to break this promise to yourself. Get it?
Xena: Wow, Ares. I didn't----
Ares: Like hell you didn't. Xena....
Ares sighed.
Ares: Nevermind.
Xena: Ares, look---
Ares: Forget it, Xena. Forget it.
Ares disappeared.
Xena: Talk about guilt.
Xena walked to the front of Gabrielle's house. After an hour or two, she came out and they met up with Callisto. Xena hadn't said anything for the rest of the day. At night, Gabrielle was lying on her stomach writing another scroll and Callisto was sharpening her sword. Xena was just lying in bed, thinking.
Gab: "And then, just as Xena was about to punch the man in the head, something grabbed her wrist. She looked behind her and there was Ares. He looked at Xena and laughed. Xena kicked him and he fell to the...".....the what?
Call: Your not big on writing violence are you? Or at least speaking it.
Gab: This is my first time, Callisto. Duh?! I've been doing this for years!
Call: Then no wonder your stories stink.
Gab: Shut-up!
Call: Well, they do! And he fell to the floor, Gabrielle. Not that any God would.
Gab: You'd probably fall.
Call: So would you!
Gab: Oh yeah?
Call: YEAH!!!!
Gab: Fine...
Gabrielle got up and put her fists up.
Gab: Bring it on!
Xena spoke low.
Xena: Don't fight, again.
They ignored her.
Xena: Please don't fight!!!
Gabrielle and Callisto looked at Xena in shock.
Gab: Sorry, Xena. You haven't spoken all I day and I forgot what your voice sounded like.
Call: Yeah. Why haven't you been talking all day?
Xena: No reason. I just have a soar throat.
Gab: Doesn't sound like it.
Xena: Well, it went away.
Call: Yeah, right.
Xena: You calling me a liar?
Call: No ma'am!
Gab: I am.
Xena: Would I lie to you, Gabrielle?
Gab: No. But you can never expect things from you. I know your lying. What's wrong?
Xena bit her the side of her bottom lip and sighed.
Call: Say no more.
Gab: No, no. Say alot more than that! You think I'm gonna let this slide? Ha! Your nuts, woman. Nuts!
Xena: What do you want me to say? I feel really, really, bad. That's all.
Gab: Why? I have no idea what your talking about!
Xena: Ask Callisto.
Gabrielle looked at Callisto.
Call: Hey, I don't know nothin'! She just sighed a sigh that spoke for itself and said "Oh great," and now, usually that means "I don't wanna talk about it". And if we make her talk about it? Let's just say you don't wanna make a Warrior Princess mad, Gabrielle.
Gab: Well-----
Xena: She's right. Now leave me be and go away.
Gab: Well, if your not gonna talk, I will!
Gabrielle sat down next to Xena and looked at her. She started to tell her about how much her and her family liked the snow that gave Potedaea a speacial touch.
Xena: So, anyway, how did your family react when you told them you were Goddess of Style?
Gab: Oh, they freaked out. They noticed when mom came rushing out of bed. Her hair was sooo messy, and you know I'm a neat freak. So, I fixed her hair with my powers. I made it into a cute little bun. She yelled. Dad yelled. I told them. They freaked. But, they're over it now.
Call: Sounds interesting.
Gab: Well, goodnight.
Call: Night, guys. Hey, Xena, you seem quite upset. Do you think you'll sleep?
Xena: No. But not because of that, because Gabrielle's sister is upstairs sleeping right above me and she isn't to thrilled that I'm here. I'll probably try to sleep but end up staying awake making sure she doesn't lower ropes around my neck at night.
G
Gab: Ooookay.
Xena lied. She lied and was not to thrilled with that. Ever since Illusia, Xena had tried her best to stay clean with lies. So, tomorrow, she'd tell the truth. Right? They were in Lila's basement. Crouched down under her bedroom. Xena had to lay down to move anywhere. Later, it was about 1:00am. Xena, was still awake. 1:30...2:00...2:30...3:00...3:30...4:00...4:30...5:00...5:30...6:00...6:30...7:00...7:30...8:00...Gabrielle awoke.
Gab: Jeez! What time did you wake up?
Xena: 7:30am yesterday morning.
Gabrielle: Zeus, Xena!!!!
Xena: Told you I wouldn't sleep.
Gab: Well, what did Ares want?
Xena sprang to her feet bumping her head.
Xena: How'd you know he was here?
Gab: He always comes when you stay up all night.
Xena sighed.
Xena: He didn't come last night. He came yesterday when you were visiting your family. That's why I didn't sleep.
Gabrielle gave Xena a disgusted/confused/weird look and raised and raised her eyebrow.
Gab: You lied to me?
Xena smacked her forehead.
Xena: Nothing's going right.
Gab: Next thing, just become he showed, you couldn't sleep? Why are you acting so weird Xena?
Xena: I couldn't sleep because I was too busy thinking.
Gab: About......ARES???????
Xena: No, no. About what he had said to me.
Gab: Speak.
Xena was about to speak when Gabrielle raised her hand.
Gab: Wait!
Gabrielle walked over to Callisto.
Gab: Stop faking and get up.
Two milliseconds later, Callisto sat up.
Call: Okay, okay. So I was awake. The point is, I heard it all. So, continue, my lady.
Xena narrowed her eyes at Callisto.
After everything was straightened out.....
Gab: I can't believe it. I truly can't. Even he hould be sorry for what he said. Ya know what? He will be sorry. 'Scuse me, ladies.
Gabrielle disppeared.
Xena: Holy mother of Zeus!!!! Where the heck did she go?!?!
Call: Oh great. I'll be right back.
Callisto disappeared.
Xena: Callisto!
Callisto reappeared.
Call: What? I'm gonna go find Gabrielle.
Xena: Take me, will ya?
Call: Oh yeah, forgot about you.
Callisto grabbed Xena and they disappeared. The reappeared in one of Ares' temples just to find Gabrielle disappear.
Call: Gabby!!!!
Too late. She was gone. The disappeared and reappeared back into another temple. There was Gabby, disappearing. Next, a different temple. They finally caught Gabrielle.
Xena: Zeus, that was scary. How do you guys do it?
Gab: Easy, now what do you want? I've got some butt to kick here, and if you guys are gonna stick around, go find a hiding spot.
Xena: Yeah, right.
Call: Your joking.
Gab: Your right. I think I am.
Xena: Can we go now?
Gab: Go? I don't think so. After the guilt that idiotic, bratty, mean, dumb, cheap, Ares put on you?
Xena: Yep.
Gabrielle narrowed her eyes.
Gab: Fine. But only because you said so.
Xena looked around. Just a little bit in back of Gabrielle, she knew Ares was hanging around. She didn't say anything and looked at Callisto.
Call: Here's what I don't get, how can this guy eat? He's so full of himself!
Xena saw Ares fall back a couple of steps and she laughed.
Call: What?
Xena: That hit. A good clear hit.
Callisto bowed.
Call: Let's go. This place gives me the creeps.
Gab: No wonder, the king of creeps lives here!
Xena: Oh, Gabrielle. Stop it.
Gab: Your actually sticking up for the guy? What in Tartarus did he do to you?
Xena: Knocked some sense into me. Now, let's move.
Gab: Okay, but before we go, I have to do something.
Gabrielle turned around and pointed at a statue of Ares. She put a pink toga on it.
Gab: Now we can go.
Gabrielle laughed. She disppeared. Xena shook her head.
Xena: Let's go.
Callisto disappeared.
Xena: HELLO?!?!
Callisto reappeared.
Call: Oh yeah,
Callisto grabbed Xena and they left.
Ares appeared and took the toga off his statue.
Ares: Blondes. Can't live with 'em, can't kill 'em.
Back in Potedaea...
Gab: I'll kill 'em. When no one's around, and he's sleeping warm in bed, and it's summer, I'll kill him.
Xena: Not if I have anything to do with it.
Gab: Well, you won't have anything to do with it.
Xena: Ohhhh, yes I will.
Call: Why don't you want the guy dead? You used to hate him more than we did!
Xena: I know. But I've never wanted to kill him.
Gab: Oh yeah. I'll believe that.
Xena: Good.
Call: I'm freeeezing!!! Where the heck are my boots? Has anyone noticed I'm walking in my bare little feet?
Gab: YOUR WALKING IN YOUR BARE FEET??????? Are you mentally ill?
Call: Well, my boots are gone.
Xena: heh,
Call: Alright, Zee, gimme my boots back.
Xena: Oh please! Lila took my boots to clean them at this shoe place.
Call: Fine.
Callisto zapped a pair of boots on herself.
Call: Ah, much better.
7:30pm, in a barn, still snowing, three days later.
Gab: I love my life.
Call: So do I. Ares proof for three days. Whatever you did to him, Xena, thankyou!
Xena: Aheh.
Gab: I'm sooo tired and it's only seven something.
Xena: Seven thirty.
Gab: Whatever.
Xena was angry. For a bunch of different reasons. She was mad at Callisto, for being so......so.....well, you know how she gets. At Gabrielle, for being a smart aleck. Mad at Ares, fpr putting Xena on a major guilt trip and not showing. At herself, for being so angry. And she was mad because over the past couple of days, there had been so many things and people she'd just want beat so severly they'd wish they'd never been born.
Xena: Goodnight.
Call: Aren't we supposed to have a ceremony or something?
Xena: For me? Just because I'm going to bed? Why, thankyou.
Call: No, stupid, because it's Solstice Eve.
Xena: Oh yeah. No, I don't think so. You think so? I don't think so. What about you, Gabrielle? You think so? I don't think so. Goodnight.
Call: What the heck was that?
Gab: I think she's finding someone to fight with because Ares hasn't been around.
Call: Good theory, hon, but I doubt it.
Gab: I'm going to go for a walk, see ya.
Gabrielle left the barn. The next day Gabrielle wasn't back. Xena was awake and refreshed, and Callisto was asleep. Xena shook her awake.
Call: What the heck do you want, lady?
Xena: Where's Gabrielle?
Call: In bed, I guess.
Xena: She's not there.
Call: Oh, Zeus. She went for a walk last night and maybe she didn't come back?
Xena ran out of the barn.
Xena: Gabrielle!! Gabrielle!!! Gabriooof!
Xena fell on the floor. She was tripped by something. She looked up and didn't see anything. She needed her hands to get up. When she got up, she rubbed her hands together from the coldness and looked at them. Her hands were bloody.
Xena: Real funny, Ares.
Nothing.
Xena: Ares?
Nothing.
Xena: Hm,
Xena looked at the ground. There was blood. She kneeled on the floor. Callisto ran after her.
Call: Who'd you kill, now?
Xena: No one. I fell over a puddle of blood.
Call: For the love of Zeus, eeeew!!
Xena: Who's blood is this?
Call: Oh no. No, no! I know that look. You think that's Gabrielle's blood! You bad, bad, person, you!
Xena: I do not think it's Gabrielle's blood. She's a Goddess and has no blood. Unless someone kills her with the Hind's Blood Dagger.
Call: Which you have, right?
Xena: Yeaaaaaa! No! I don't have it! It's gone! The Dagger is gone!
Call: When did you lose it?
Xena: I don't know! I had it yesterday!
Callisto gasped.
Call: I just realized something!
Xena: What?
Call: Yesterday was Solstice Eve! Today is Solstice Day! Sweet mother of Zeus, it's Solstice!
Xena: So what?
Call: Merry Solstice!
Xena: Yeah, yeah, yeah, you too. Now, help me find the freaking Dagger!
Call: Okay, okay, okay!
They both started looking and rustling in the snow.
Call: More blood! Over there! Zeus, that's disgusting how it stains the snow!
Xena: Look, a trail. It's like they must have left a trail of her bloo---I mean a trail of whoever's blood to lead whoever to the body.
Call: You think we should follow?
Xena: No. I think we should stay here and wish each other good lives.
Xall: Okay, I wish you a good life.
Xena: OH!!!! LET'S MOVE!!!!!!!
Xena had no time to go back and dress. She was too afraid that Ares had gotten the Dagger and killed Gabrielle like he wanted to in the first place. Jealousy is a wild thing. Callisto was dressed in a fur coat, boots, and a burlap knapsack holding all her weapons. Xena wasn't dressed. All she was wearing was the leather under her armor and no shoes whatsoever. At leeast she was running faster than Callisto. When they got to the forest where the blood led to, Xena gasped. Callisto ran up behind her.
Call: What is it?
Xena: Look.
Call: Aaah!!!
Xena and Callisto looked at the dead body that was against a tree, with the Hind's Blood Dagger sticking out of him.
Call: Oh Zeus.
Xena stared. She started breathing louder and saw the smoke coming out of her breath.
Xena: It's....It's Ares.
Call: Ya know? I'll bet Gabrielle did this.
Xena looked straight ahead and ran out into the deeper forest. She heard loud, loud, breathing. She saw clearer through the trees...Gabrielle.
Gab: Xena! Thank Zeus your here.
Xena: You....you...you killed him? No, no you didn't Gods can't kill Gods.
Gab: But mortals can.
Xena: Then it's certain you didn't kill him.
Gab: No, I did kill him.
Xena: Impossible!
Gab: I'm a mortal again. bad Gods can be kill
Xena: Your a what???
Gab: A mortal. mor`-tal: A human being. Which means I can kill a God. Which I did.
Xena: How did you become mortal?
Gab: Okay, it happened like this. I was walking through the forest, and Ares stopped by. I got so, furious with him because he was taunting me about betraying you, joining the bad side, and then talking you into it. So, we ended up over back there. The only thing I could do would be disappear but I didn't want to leave him to come back and possibly trick you into going back which I now know he wouldn't have. The next best thing....kill him. But I was a Goddess, so that was impossible. I tricked him. I told him to make me mortal again so I could think straight and wouldn't be interrupted with too many things. Once my powers were gone, I took the Dagger, and.....
.
Xena: How did you get the Dagger?
Gab: It was easy. You were sleeping and I took it!
Xena: And now you've killed Ares.
Gab: Right. But now I'm really scared.
Xena: Why?
Gab: Because I'm afraid that he'll come back and kill me. I can't believe I killed Ares!
Gabrielle started crying and fell into the snow. Xena (wearing the same thing and very cold) hugged her.
Gab: I don't know why.
Xena: Because you were protecting me and I thank you. Don't worry, I doubt he'll ever want to come back to earth just for you.
Gab: Xena, I'm sorry.
Xena: Don't worry, Gabrielle. It's okay. C'mon, let's go back to Callisto.
Gab: Oh great, she saw too?
Xena: Shhhhh.
They both went back over to Callisto.
Call: What the?
Xena: Nevermind. Take us back to the barn.
Callisto: Go yourself.
Xena: Callisto, she's mortal.
Call: How? Who? When? Where? What the hell?
Xena: Long story. Let's go.
Soon, they were back in the stable. Xena explained everything to Callisto. Gabrielle fell asleep quickly. Before nightfall, Xena and Callisto felt drowsey.
Call: Some Solstice, huh? I didn't even get you guys presents!
Xena: So then you owe us two next year.
Call: Oh, shut-up.
Xena and Callisto both laughed.
Xena: I'm sooooo cold.
Call: Serves you right, Xena.
Before 7:00, they were all asleep. In the morning, Xena woke up laying in the snow and looking up at Gabrielle. She was wearing a fur coat and boots, and she looked over to see Callisto still looking at the snow. She reconized the same outfits and the river. She was back where she started!
Gab: Eeek. Xena, are you okay? You took quite a hit. I got rid of those barbarians for you. I'm sorry I got in the way during your fight but I'm glad I did. I don't want you fighting with anyone so near Solstice!
Look, you gave me a bruise on my stomach when you kicked me!
Xena: Wow! You mean your still a Goddess?
Gab: Yeah! Why wouldn't I be?
Xena: And Ares is alive?
Gab: I think. Haven't seen much of him, though. Thank the Gods.
Xena: And you didn't kill Ares!
Gab: Of course not! If I did that Zeus would kill me!
Xena: And you never told me a poem on the way to Potedaea? And we never reached Potedaea?
Gab: We're going to Potedaea for Solstice Day!? YEAH, MAN!!!!!!!!! This is great!
Gabrielle ran to Callisto shouting "Hey, we're goin' to Potedaea!". Xena sat there, practically laughng.
Xena: It was a dream! It was all a dream!
Ares appeared.
Ares: Yeah. A dream.
Xena layed back in the snow smiling and not giving a damn about Ares.
Xena: Man, Ares. I had the coolest dream in the world!
Ares: I know, I know.
Xena: You died, too!
Ares: I know, woman, I know! I was there. And it wasn't a dream. I really did die. Yes, Gabrielle killed me. Yes, I put you on a long guilt trip. Yes, yes, yes!
Xena sat up and was hugging her knees. She looked like a school kid. Ares knelt down to her.
Xena: How?
Ares: See Xena, lemme just say Hypnos didn't do this to you. It was actual life but Zeus thought that path was too much for you so he just changed everything and made Callisto and Gabrielle forget it ever happened. I, for one, remember because who in their right mind would forget a Goddess of Brats killing them and a Warrior Princess sticking up for them? Espescially her worst enemy.
Xena: If you meant all that stuff you said to me in my "dream"....your not my worst enemy.
Ares: Yes, I meant it all. Otherwise I wouldn't have said it, right?
Xena: Uh,
Ares: Right!
Xena laughed.
Xena: Now get lost before Gabrielle sees you and I relive my dream, okay?
Ares: I'm going.
Gab: Then go fast!
Ares: Oh, Zeus.
Ares disappeared.
Gab: I'll kill 'em. When no one's around, and he's sleeping warm in bed, and it's summer. I'll kill 'em.
Xena laughed.
Xena: I'll bet you will.
...The End...