Violence: No
Sex: No
Profanity: No
Alternative/Subtext: No
Author’s Note: This is my version of what happened between "Destiny" and "The Quest".
Dedication: This story is dedicated to all of those people that wanted to see Ares’ reaction to Xena’s death after "Destiny"
Help From A God
By Illyandria
"Hades, it’s not her time to die!" Ares said. He stood before his uncle in the Underworld. "She’s helped you before, why not let her go? She’s done too much good to deserve this."
"Why are you so worried about it? She’s a mortal, she’s not worth anything to you," Hades said.
Ares glared at him. "You know why I’m interfering, uncle. She’s an exceptional mortal, she has abilities that others lack. She doesn’t deserve this, not now. It isn’t right. It isn’t fair."
"And since when have you cared about being fair?!" Hades asked.
"It isn’t her time," Ares repeated, ignoring Hades’ question. "She has helped you before. She rescued Celesta, she returned your helmet to you. Why can’t you let her live?"
"It isn’t my fault she died. She got hit by a swinging tree trunk, while pushing a child out of the way. It is her time," Hades said.
"Let her live," a voice said.
Hades turned to see his wife standing next to him. "Persephone—" he started.
"Show her some mercy, she’s helping the world. Don’t you know how much good she has done? Without her, the people on Earth would be unhappy, half of the population dead. She’s saved so many, she deserves another chance," she said.
"I can’t just raise her from the dead," Hades said.
"Then let her spirit go up there and leave her fate in the hands of her friends," his wife said.
"What? I’ve never done that. Zeus wouldn’t approve," Hades argued.
"Then Ares can go to Zeus and ask him to grant him a favor," she said.
"Do you have an answer for everything?" Hades asked.
"Only for the obvious ones," she said, and walked over to Ares.
"Thank you, sister. I owe you one," Ares said. He grinned at her and kissed her cheek lightly.
"I know how important she is to you and your half brother," she said, and walked away.
"So, shall I ask Zeus?" Ares said.
Hades nodded weakly. "Fine," he said. "Go ahead."
With permission granted, Ares disappeared.
Hades sighed deeply.
)((()))((()))((()))(
Zeus, King of the Gods, sat on his throne on Olympus. His son appeared in front of him. "Yes, Ares? What do you need?" he asked.
"I need a favor. You know Xena, right?"
"The Warrior Princess; your obsession. Of course I know her," Zeus said.
"She died saving a young girl. Hades said, with your permission, he could let her spirit go back to the Earth, and let her friends find a way to revive her. Can you let this be?
"How would her friends revive her?"
"Ambrosia, I’m guessing. She’d have to go into the mind of a friend, and tell them what’s going on."
"Why should I let this happen?" Zeus asked.
"Because, like Hercules, she’s helped the world. There’d be many dead, many wounded, many unhappy people on Earth if she wasn’t around to offer her help."
"I thought you were the God of War. You’re supposed to like dead, wounded, and unhappy people."
"It isn’t her time to die. I might like war, but I’d also like to see her alive, no matter what she’s doing. Helping people, or slaughtering them, I don’t care. I’d prefer slaughtering, but we don’t always get what we want."
"Hey, Pop, can I have a word with you?" a voice asked. Aphrodite appeared by her father.
"Yes, fine, go ahead," Zeus said.
"A word in private, if you don’t mind," she said.
Ares looked at her suspiciously. He made no move to leave.
"Bro, I’m on your side," Aphrodite said, and gave him a thumbs-up sign.
Ares studied her for a moment. "Very well," he said, and disappeared.
"Why are you giving him a hard time? He’s trying to save the life of a woman that has helped a lot of people, including the gods. You know he has a fondness for her, and he’d rather she lived, even if she isn’t murdering people. Without her, your son, my brother, would be a totally bloodthirsty god. Xena’s proved that he does have a speck of humanity. He was mortal once, and it has forever changed him," Aphrodite said.
"Why are you suddenly standing up for Xena?" Zeus asked. "She has meddled with many of your plans before. Why do you seem to like her, suddenly?"
"I’m trying to help my brother, I’m not looking out for my own personal interests. Yes, Xena has screwed up some of my plans, but she’s important to Ares. And Ares is important to me. He’s my brother. All he want’s you to do is give the one woman in the world who means something to him another chance."
Zeus looked at his daughter, studying her face. She was telling the truth. "Ares, come back in here."
Ares came back in, a look of hope on his usually arrogant face. "So?"
"If Hades agrees to, and Xena is okay with it, you have my permission," Zeus said.
Aphrodite smiled happily. "Thank you." She went over to her brother. "Looks like your Warrior Babe has a little hope," she said.
"Thanks, sis. I don’t know what you did to him, but it worked," Ares said, and disappeared.
Aphrodite rolled her eyes to herself. "Okay, my good deed for the millenium is done. Later," she said to Zeus.
)((()))((()))((()))(
"Hades, he has agreed," Ares said.
"I’ll go to the Elysian Fields to get Xena. It has to be okay with her, too," Hades said.
"I’ll get her," Ares said, a little too eagerly. He searched quickly for some excuse. "You’re busy enough since I’ve got a war going on in Persia." His eyes pleaded with his uncle.
Hades studied him. The gods weren’t supposed to travel into the Elysian Fields, except for him of course. But his nephew seemed to truly care for this mortal.
"Very well," Hades said, and Ares disappeared.
)((()))((()))((()))(
Xena was talking with Marcus in the Elysian Fields.
"I’m worried about Gabrielle," she said. "What’s she going to do?"
"Don’t worry about her, she’ll be okay," Marcus assured her.
Suddenly, Xena stood up.
"What’s wrong?" Marcus asked.
"I…don’t know. I feel…"
Marcus stood up. "What is it?"
The look of confusion disappeared from her face. "I can’t believe it. Ares, what do you want?"
Ares appeared beside her.
"Are you here to torture me for eternity?"
"Torture my favorite warrior? What gave you that idea?"
"Well, you did on when I was alive. Why not now?"
"I came here to make you an offer," Ares started.
"Let me guess. You’ll raise me from the dead if I promise to come back to you? Or you’ll make me a goddess? No thanks, I’d rather stay dead," Xena said.
Ares grinned at her. "My dear Xena. Always one to jump to conclusions, at least when it involves me. Well, you’re wrong. I’ve gotten special permission from Hades and Zeus, and they said that your spirit may go back to Earth. You’d have to inhabit a body, and find some way for your friends to revive you."
"And how exactly could they revive me?"
"Now, Xena, think for a moment. I’m not going to give you all of the answers. I love to watch your mind work."
Xena shook her head, half in disgust for the god, half with something close to pride. "Ambrosia?"
"Very good. Ambrosia, nectar, a golden apple, or something like that. Ambrosia might be the easiest. Have you heard of the Dagger of Helios? The Hall of Ambrosia?"
"Yes, I’ve heard of it. The dagger of Helios is the key to the ambrosia in the Hall of Ambrosia. So I have to steal the dagger of Helios, get the ambrosia, and somehow delay my body from being buried?"
"Yes. It should be an easy task for you," Ares said. "You did that kind of stuff everyday."
"How long do I get? Is there a time limit?"
"You’ll have to ask Hades."
"Who got him to grant me this? You?"
"Aphrodite helped me get Zeus to give his consent. Persephone helped me talk Hades into allowing it," Ares said.
Xena studied him for a moment. "And why are you doing this for me?"
"You’re my favorite. Like it or not, you’re my chosen. And I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you live for a long, long time."
"You just want to get me back. That’s why you’re doing this. I’m of no use to you dead," Xena said.
Ares shrugged. "Believe what you like, Sweet. Are you going to take my offer?" Ares asked.
"No strings attached?" Xena asked. "Do I owe you for this?"
"Of course not," Ares said. "This arrangement leaves us both happy. No strings."
Xena thought for a second. "I… Fine," she gave in.
Marcus cleared his throat. "I guess this is good bye then."
Xena looked over at him and grinned weakly. "I guess so. I’ll be back someday. We all gotta die eventually," she said.
Ares put his hand out. Xena hesitantly took it. They were immediately transported in front of Hades.
"You’ve decided to go along with this?" Hades asked.
"Yes," Xena said. "Is there a time limit?"
"Yes, I’m afraid. Your spirit will get weaker, until it has completely left the inhabited body. I’m not sure how long you will have, so I suggest you do it quickly. Have you decided who to inhabit?"
"The Dagger of Helios, huh?" she said to herself. "I think I know just the guy for the job…"
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