The Path Not Taken


By Jo

Disclaimer: All characters in this story are property of MCA,Universal Studios,and Renaissance Pictures. I am just borrowing them so there is no need to sue.

Violence and other Warnings: It is a Xena story people so of course somebodies gotta get hurt. This story indicates rape and sexual situations however I do not go into detail. This is also a Xena/Ares story.

Rating:PG-13

Notes: This story takes place after the episode Succession but before Animal Attraction.

Dedications:This story is dedicated to Illy for her positive words and to Skkye Blue for her ideas. Also to all the wonderful people at AresXenaShippersBattlefield Club.

Prologue

When time had just begun and Oranos, who killed his father Chaos, was king of the gods. The fate of a mortal woman was decided.

Mortal men and women held on to each other for dear life as the earth shook with the mighty battle that was raging on Olympus

Cronos' sword clashed with the kings. Oranos kicked his sons leg causing Cronos to fall to his knees. Oranos brought his great blade down, just before it split his head open Cronos blocked the deadly blow. His father laughed and kicked him in the stomach. Oranos continued his assault until he began to tire and was a deep shade of purple. Cronos nearly giggled at the irony of the site. His father was getting old and couldn't even protect the thrown!! He took the opportunity that was left open and kicked the gagging god right in his face. Oranos was startled by the strength and speed at which the boot it him. He was totally knocked on his back. Cronos straddled him and punched him until the kings eyes began to roll back in his head. He got off and grabbed his sword. He raised it high over his head.

"CRONOS!!" his father bellowed. "You kill me now and your fate is determined." Cronos lowered his sword. Let the old man have his last words, he thought. "One of your sons will take the thrown from under your feet as you have taken it from me." Oranos continued"And his son shall take it from him. Only the cycle of murder and hatred between father and son ends at your death. Your son will be willing to hand down the crown. I see love and forgiveness. This is caused by a mortal. She will be no ordinary mortal. She is a warrior with a dark painful past who is as beautiful as a goddess with raven hair as black as ebony and eyes as blue as sapphires that seem to pierce your very soul. This beauty captures the heart of the god that is to become king. She will become his queen and together they will rule heaven and earth for eternity."

Cronos who had barely been listening to this prophecy again raised his sword and muttered a "whatever". With that Cronos became king. Years later Zeus took over the thrown and he too shrugged off the prophecy.

Chapter one

Gabrielle stared at her empty scroll and sighed. She and Xena had stopped for the night and made camp. It has been a long time since she was able to be a bard. Their last run in with the God of War had left them both tired and they decided to take it easy for a while. Gabrielle smiled, when had their life ever been easy? But for right now she had all the time she needed only she couldn't think of anything to write about. She looked over the fire to her companion and best friend and sighed again.

"Okay Gabrielle, what is it?" Xena asked as she stopped sharpening her sword.

"Nothing Xena, don't worry about it."

"Gabrielle, come on tell me."

"I just can't think of anything to write about."

"Take your time it will come to you." the warrior stated matter of factly, as she again started to work on the already razor sharp weapon.

"Okay." Gabrielle replied reluctantly. She thought long and hard and her green eyes lit up with an idea.

"Xena?"

"Um?"

"I love you and we've been through a lot together. I would never do or ask anything that would intentionally hurt you?"

"Yeah I love you too Gabrielle. What do you want to know?" Gabrielle smiled.

"Well I know that you were once a warlord and then Hercules and Iolaus helped you become the hero you are now."

"Yeah, so what?"

"You were filled with so much hatred and something had to happen to you to make you the way you were."

"Yeah."

"Can I please know what that was?" Xena raised her eyebrows.

"But of course if its to painful you don't have to tell me."

"No Gabrielle It's okay. About time you knew."

"Thanks Xena."

"No problem."

"And maybe...just maybe you can kind of tell me about Ares, you know....about how he was when you served him, and what your relationship was like..."

"You know your pushing your luck?"

"Yes I do. But your going to tell me, right?"

"Yes Gabrielle I'll tell you."

"Good!" Gab said flashing a triumphant smile. She was finally going on the journey to her friends dark past that would unlock all the secrets the woman kept within herself. Xena sighed as she began the tale. Gabrielle would learn why Xena was on the bloody path of the Warrior Princess.

Chapter Two

"Mom said I was born during a thunderstorm. Go figure." Xena started. Gabrielle smiled nodding her head as she wrote.

Atrius was away at war when Xena came into the world. For the few days they were alone mother and child were very happy. As soon as Atrius heard word that his wife had delivered the child he went home.

He slammed open the door and went straight to the crib not even looking at Toris or asking if Cyrene was okay. When he saw that the child was a girl he swore and picked the child up. He was not going to have another woman around the house. He started to walk toward the door. Cyrene blocked the door with her body and begged that he spare her child. She promised to bare him another son and that he wouldn't even notice a girl was here. He relented and shoved the screaming babe into her mothers arms. He stalked into another room. Cyrene gave the baby to Toris and went to make here husband dinner.

Atrius didn't keep to the plan. He did pay attention to his daughter. Although it was not the kind of attention a mother would want for her child.

Xena was three years old when Lyceus was born. She was proud of her brother and held him all the time. Atrius began teaching Xena how to hold a sword. All day she learned to fight, all night she cleaned the inn and took care of her baby brother.

One day Cyrene took a sword away and told Xena to go play for a change. Xena smiled at her mother and started to skip out the door. Her father seized her by the hair and threw her against the wall. He then went to his wife and took the broom from her hand. He beat her with it. As he was doing this he screamed at Xena.

"Is this what you want Xena? Your hurting your mother. She's in trouble because of you. look at her she's crying. Do you like hurting your mommie Xena? Do you want your mommie to cry?" Xena started to cry.

"No!!! Daddy stop! Please. I'll be a good girl. I won't do it anymore!" Xena ran over and picked up her sword she then layed over her mother getting a few whacks.

"I'm sorry mommie. Don't cry. I'll be good I promise. I'm so sorry mommie."

"No baby it's not your fa..." Cyrene started but stopped when Atrius grabbed Xena and dragged her outside for her training.

One day when Atrius just came home from war and Xena was twelve he made everyone go to bed early. When he was sure Cyrene was sleeping he stole into Xenas room. He lay on top of her sleeping form. Her eyes flashed open and he covered her mouth.

"If you scream I'll kill you and both of your brothers." Xena nodded with fear. Atrius smiled as he undressed her. She was only a child, but he took her virginity that night. Xena cried the whole time.

By the time Xena was thirteen she could fight as well as any Amazon. She was very flexible and could do back flips. No one in Amphipolis would challenge her except her brothers. Toris always got mad because Xena always got all the attention and she could beat him up. Xena was close to Lyceus they spent most of their time together. They would often spar and sometimes Xena would even let him win. Xena told him everything. Well almost everything.

On the night of Xenas fourteenth birthday her father again took advantage of her. At first Xena cried. But then something changed. She stopped crying and her eyes that always held love and kindness,even for the man that was on top of her now,despite everything that he had done was replaced by cold uncaring blue orbs. Atrius who seen the transformation stopped and smiled.

At fifteen Xena was as mean and obnoxious as her father. She didn't even have a warm smile for her brother. One day Xena was outside practicing tumbles and backflips when she saw him coming up the road. She hopped on her horse and ran out to meet him.

"How are you father? Come back for a good screw? Will this screw be from your wife or your daughter?"

"You little bitch," he growled as he reached over and slapped her across the face so hard that Xena nearly fell off the horse. Xena regained her balance and smiled wickedly at her father. She went ahead to tell her family they had a *guest*.

That night Atrius handed Xena a note. He explained that it came from Ares the God of War himself. It read:

ALL WARRIORS WELCOME There Will Be A Competiton Held For All Those Who Deem Themselves Worthy. You Will Have The Chance To Fight The God Of War Personally. The One Warrior That Can Battle The God For Over A Minute Without Being Seriously Wounded Or Die Will Become Ares Chosen.

Atrius exclaimed "See Xena if you can hold him off for just one minute you will be the greatest warrior that has ever lived. Ares will train you personally and make you his greatest weapon."

"Okay."

"Okay what?"

"I'll do it."

"Oh. I know you will. You were going to go even if you didn't want to"

Cyrene hearing this wrapped her arms around her daughter and wept thinking that see would never see her again.

Xena and Atrius set out the next morning.

Chapter Three

Atrius and Xena walked all night. As they neared the temple where the competition would be held they began to see crowds of warriors all getting ready for the battle of their lives. Atrius pushed Xena through the mobs of men to the temple where a priest was standing surveying the warriors skill. He smiled to himself,' Most of these men couldn't even last five seconds against him let alone his god'.

The priest held up his hands and the woods fell silent. "I suggest you all get some rest. When the sun comes up it shall begin." The priest turned and walked through the temple doors. Atrius and Xena leaned against a stone pillar and soon Xena fell asleep.

Xena was soon was roughly shook awake. "Get up you lazy good for nothing girl.Its time." Xena got up to see the same priest standing in front of the temple. As before he raised his hands and there was silence.

"Welcome. You all have come here for the ultimate battle, and you shall get it. Most of you will die, so if you think you will be one of them you are free to leave now. Otherwise come with me." The heavy wooden doors opened and warriors began to follow. Some did go into the woods afraid for their lifes. Atrius held his daughter back until every other brave soul entered then they followed.

The temple was dark and you could see nothing except a hall where all the warriors where following the priest through. Xena got at the end of the line. Soon they came to a halt. Another set of doors opened and light shined through. The group walked into a giant room. There was weapons on the walls and a huge thrown. The crowd filed around making a half circle facing the thrown. The priest knelt and said, "Ares God of War, the warrors who deem themselfs worthy of asking for you presence and favor are here." The priest remained kneeling. There was a blue flash of light and then there stood a man in black leather. The warriors all fell to their knees. Only Xena was left standing. Ares glanced at her and immedetaly Atrius pulled her down.

"You don't think you should kneel before a god girl? Your lucky I had time to pull you down before he really took notice of you. Don't think for a moment you won't cease to be if you anger Ares." Xena pulled herself away from his grasp and looked at the god.

"So.... you all come to raise your swords against me. I assure you, you won't win. It should be a good bloodbath." The mens eyes widened with fear as the god spoke. Ares noticing this laughed sending chills into the warriors hearts. "Lets get it on"

Chapter 4

And so the competition began. Ares looked through the crowd and pointed his sword at a man.

"You will be first."

The crowd parted to make way for the warrior. They looked at him with respect and dread for they didn't have any doubt he would surely die. The warrior stepped into the circle and knelt before the god. Ares smiled he could see that the mortal was scared.

As soon as the man was in a battle stance Ares lunged his sword at him. The warrior managed to block the blow. Ares raised his sword at the man and brought it down. The man tried to protect himself but with the force Ares put behind his attack his sword broke into two. The warrior started to run for his life. Ares temper got the best of him. He threw a fire ball at the man. It killed him a several more standing in the crowd.

" You cannot be afraid of your enemy or they will destroy you. Now who wants to go next?" A woman from the crowd.

"I will." she said. The group of warriors turned to look at the brave soul. Once they saw it was a girl they started laughing. Ares turned to the girl and said.

"Now sweetheart, what makes you think that you can do better than anyone else standing here?"

"I can fight just as good as the dumb asses that are here and I bet I can even kick you're ass."

Ares raised his eyebrows. "Oh Really"

"Really" Xena took her place in the circle. Ares stepped up behind her.

"I might kill you, that is a chance you have to take when you fight against me. Do you understand?"

"Perfectly." Ares nodded his head and walked to the other side. he looked back at the girl. He could not since any fear within her. 'Well lets see if we can't change that' he thought to himself.

Xena and Ares stood in the circle. Xena smiled and waited for the god to make his move. Ares stepped forward and threw a ball of power toward her. Seeing this coming Xena ducked and rolled away. When she stood Ares was standing right over her. Ares brought his sword down on hers. She blocked and did the same. There was blow after blow for a while then Ares decided to see how she could fight without a sword. With a thought her sword was gone and Ares swung his around. She ducked and then jumped as he swung it at her feet. With a kick to his arm his sword flew out of his hand. Ares looked at her. She shrugged and smiled. She started to run toward the crowd. She grabbed a sword from a warrior. When she turned around another ball of fire was coming toward her. She again avoided it. She focused her attention on the god before her. He was standing there smiling with his arms crossed. She stood there for a second then dropped to the ground. The ball flew over her head then started to come toward her again. She got up and ran toward the god. She ran right up to him and leaped under his legs. She got to the other side and stood behind him. Ares turned around to face her. The power ball hit Ares on the back full force. He staggered forward and wrapped his Arms around Xena to hold him up. But the god was to heavy for the young girl and she dropped to the ground. Ares landed on top of her.

"Well looks like I got a chosen. The rest of you get out."

The warriors some breathing sighs of relief others cursing and complaining walked out the door the priest held open for them. Atrius came up behind his daughter. Ares noticed this.

"What do you want?"

"She is my daughter lord Ares."

"Well she is no longer your responsibility. You may leave."

Ares stared at the god wide eyed for a while and left. Ares muttered about mortals always wanting something. He turned his attention back to the mortal standing in front of him.

"What is your name?"

"Xena"

"Xena..... Xena I like that. One of the priestesses will show you to your room." Ares said before he fanished.

Xena turned to see a woman standing at the door. The woman turned to leave. Xena followed her wondering what was in store for her.

To Be Continued