Title: Whispers -Chapter Six

Time Line: Post Fin

Rating: PG-13 (A few bad words in this Chapter)

Arthur: Kitten a.k.a. Cat

Summary: The events after A Friend In Need II, from my point of view.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Xena Warrior Princess or Hercules the Legendary Journeys. I do however own the story line.

Gabrielle stared at Hercules, taking in the meaning of his outburst, she had been wrong about who could save Xena's soul. Her spirits dropped at that knowledge, everything now depended on Ares.

Ares appeared shortly after he heard his name "Yes brother" he said calmly "You called." No emotion shown upon his face

Hercules gathered himself and turned to Ares "You knew?" he questioned holding his feelings in check.

"Yes" was his answer.

"Go to her and fix this" began Hercules "Dite and I will find out what we can about that thing out there" he finished pointing the dark cloud that was now beginning to cover Olympus.

Ares stood still as Hercules placed his hand on his forehead. After a slight burst of light, Ares fell to the floor, entering the plane where Xena awaited.

He found himself running to the throne room, he knew she was there, the bond was back. Bursting through the door he found her, but she was not alone. They turned to face him.

"Well, well, well what have we here a little God coming to save his little warrior" sneered the evil woman. She causally walked toward him wearing and evil smirk "You are too late, with her soul I will be complete."

Ares raised his hand sending a burst of power at her. When the ball made contact she only slightly stepped back, absorbing it and laughed "Yes little God of War feed me" her evil laugh echoing through the room "Your friends are helping me quite nicely with their little display out there" she said as she pointed to the window.

She threw a look at Xena "I have already started to absorb her soul, but I think I will have a little fun with you first."

Ares's breath caught as he could see Hercules and Aphrodite attempting to destroy the darkness which was now taking shape of a giant black dragon "No" he said in a muffled whisper. He had to make a choice and fast, risk everything to get to Xena who appeared to be under some sort of spell or leave and stop his family from destroying themselves. The irony of the situation did not escape him, it was not that long ago similar events revolved around Xena. He turned his attention to the creature before him, his face hard and emotionless "I know you witch" he hissed "Did Akemi know you were using her when you corrupted her life force for your own gains" he stepped closer "Did she know what a snake you are" he was now face to face with her "Did you even tell her your true name witch" before she could react he grasped her by the arms "Did anyone ever tell you not to mess with me?" Closing his eyes he forced them away from the plane. When he opened them he met her black vision "Welcome to my realm" he hissed again as he threw her across the room.

She tried to stand but found that her powers were weakening "You can't do this" she hissed.

Ares looked at her "Alti, right that is your fucking name" he paused as he gained control of his hatred for the monster that was trying to destroy the only woman he had ever loved "You have fucked with her over and over again, life time after life time" he walked calmly to her now weakened form that lay on the floor at the base of the throne "I will end this once and for all, for her and no one else."

"You can't kill me God of War, I do not truly live" she smirked "well not in the way your simple mind can comprehend" she laughed at him "You are so ignorant little God of War. You have no idea what power I have."

Ares now stood above her. He had realized that if he tried to just blast her she would use his efforts against him "What is so important about her soul?" he asked instead.

She pushed herself up to a sitting position as she stared at him "I think I will enlighten you" she hissed as she touched his hands "see what lays in store for you." Using her powers to force images of the future to him "You will not live through this knowledge and I still win" her laugh echoed the room as Ares fell into a trance.

He was once again in the trance that he had experienced on the ship. Images of battles and destruction filled his head. The land was blackened by his anger and pain. He stood on a hilltop surveying the wasted land before him, taking in the power from the bloodshed. He looked across the valley to the hill top across from him. There stood a lone woman dressed in armor. Her raven hair fell past her waist blowing in the wind. From this distance he could still see her steel blue eyes. Her voice called to him across the wind "Ares is this how you honored my memory." The words cut deeper than any sword could. He answered "I didn't know how to handle the pain." Her head dropped at this for a moment and then she looked up to him again "I never told you how I felt, I never shared those feelings with you" she answered. A tear fell from him "Tell me now" he said in a softer voice. She smiled at him "Never give up on me" was all she said as she turned from him and walked away.

Ares forced himself to break the trance as he felt his powers begin to drain. His eyes shot open and focused on the now standing witch before him "I will see her again" he said in a low powerful voice. He grabbed her wrist, twisted and threw her from him "This ends now" as he took in her evil smile "But not the way you had hoped" her smile faded as she became aware of the chains wrapping around her.

"No mere chains can hold me" she hissed as she tried to break the chains.

"These will" he answered as he brought the hilt of his sword down upon her head knocking her out. He watched as she slide down again to the floor.

He left her crumpled form on the floor and transported himself to Hercules and Aphrodite. He first noticed how drained both were and then he took note of the dragon that was growing larger by the moment. He yelled to his siblings "STOP IT" they turned to him, shock on Hercules face that he was there "You are only feeding it" he added.

As soon as they quit the dragon seemed to falter. It had not expected the surges to stop. Turning to face Ares it roared and fire expelled from it surrounding him. Aphrodite fainted as Hercules paled at the site he was sure that had ended his brother. As the fire dissipated he found Ares perfectly fine, a smirk upon his face "Illusions will not hurt me, you are powerless without your mistress in the spirit plane." The dragon seemed to take in what he was saying. "Your time is not now little dragon" he added as he watched the beast slowly decline in size. The smaller it got the more it changed to resemble a person. With a final burst of black smoke now a small woman laid before them "Akemi I presume" he added.

Akemi slowly nodded her head as she took him in again. She could see what had drawn her Xena to him. He was powerful "I am she and I will have my Xena" she said in a low voice as she began to stand.

Hercules remembered what had happened the last time she got near Ares, but this time Ares did not seem to be under a spell.

She slowly approached Ares "I will finish what I started on the ship God of War" she again placed her hand on his chiseled face letting her fingers slide down it "My mistress has said it is so." She again pulled a dagger attempting to stab him.

Hercules saw the blade "NO" he yelled.

Ares caught the weapon before she could do anything to him "I think not little one, for your witch of a mistress is currently not in the realm with Xena" a smile played upon his lips "You will not have her soul." He painfully twisted her wrist forcing the dagger to drop "You my dear are nothing here without your witch." He threw the disgusting child from him. He formed a ball of flames in the palm of his hand studying the flames as he debated his next move.

He felt Hercules's hand on his shoulder "Brother maybe you shouldn't do this" he paused "what if it gives her strength again."

Ares turned to him "Your right Herc" he tossed the ball of flames to the ground and opted to have the chains of Hephaestus placed upon her "You know what to do, take her to the abyss" he turned to the creature "You will not have her, but you will have your mistress to spend eternity with" turning back to Hercules "You will find her in the hall, I have placed her in bonds also, but be wary of her silver tongue."

Hercules helped the now awake Aphrodite stand up. Her hair was slightly messed up "You got her bro" she smiled brightly at Ares "So where's the Warrior Babe?"

Though her question was asked innocently, it still made Ares shudder. He looked to the grand window of the throne room. In his heart he knew she was there watching, but for how long. Before he knew what was happening he felt a rush of power as Hercules sent him back to the spirit plane, back to his princess.

Ares found himself standing before the throne room doors again. He slowly opened them this time. She was there, standing at the window. Gone were her warrior clothing, now she wore a simple red robe. She turned to him and his breath caught. The look in her eyes made him physically step back, they were that of peace "Ares we have little time" she said in a soft voice. It drew him to her again, like a moth to the flame, he would forever chase her he knew that deep in his heart. She was his flame, his light.

He came to her and she gently raised her hand to rest upon his cheek as she stared into his eyes "I can't come back".

He stared into her eyes, her lovely crystal blue piercing eyes, Gods how he was going to miss her "I know that."

"You knew but did not tell her did you" she replied her voice showing no anger as it had before when they spoke. There was no hidden agenda for either of them for once "You took care of Alti?" she asked.

"Yes she and Akemi will reside their eternity in the Abyss, reliving their mistakes and failures" he answered. He was too scared to move for fear she would vanish if he did "You have come full circle, how long do you have until you fully cross over?"

She smiled letting it creep to her eyes, something she truly hadn't done since she was a child "I know you will make them pay, and yes I have come to terms with my time here" she paused as her fingers ran softly over his lips "You were my unfinished business" she pulled him down to her and claimed a kiss.

His head was swimming. He knew this would be the last time he would hold her. Her arms snaked around his neck as he drew her closer. He broke the kiss as he held her and searched her eyes, softly he whispered "I love you."

She met his gaze and opened herself up for the first time to him fully "I know and I wanted to tell you I love you too."

The sun began to rise and as the sun streamed in the window Xena began to fade from him. He tried to hold on to her, but he could do nothing. Her eyes were the last thing he could make out before she completely left him. Her now soft, understanding, loving eyes searching him out. Her voice filled the room as the sun reached the high point and flooded the room in a brilliant display of colors and light "Search me out my love" and she was gone.

Ares stood there for a few moments before forcing himself to go back. He went in search of the bard to tell her that Xena was gone and her hopes were dashed. He found her still in Aphrodite's room. She was staring out the window as he entered. Not turning to face him "She didn't come back?" she asked. Tears filled her voice, she new she had lost Xena again.

Ares cleared his throat before he answered her "No, she never could come back" he paused before he added "She and I both were aware of that deep in our hearts even before you came here." He waited for her reaction.

Gabrielle was past being sad she was pissed. She spun around, her green eyes alive with anger "YOU WHAT?" she attacked as she advanced upon him "GOD OR NO GOD I SWEAR I WILL KILL YOU FOR THIS" she screamed. She ran the last few feet slamming into his chest with a fury of punches.

Ares stood there taking her hits. He knew that she had to get it out. She finally stopped as she crumpled to the floor "Why did she leave me?" she asked between her tears.

Ares knelt next to her and brought her to his embrace. His voice was calm and soothing, something she didn't think he was capable of "Let me tell you a story little bard" he paused "A story of the one we both love."

This is how Hercules and Aphrodite found them. Sitting on the floor comforting each other. Ares stood with the bard in his arms, carried her to the bed and laid her down "rest now Gabrielle" he said in a soft tone as he watched her drift to sleep. He turned to Hercules and Aphrodite "We have to talk" as he walked out of the room.

He first headed to the Throne room, but changed his mind after he remembered the moments that were spent there not too long ago. He led them to his chambers. Once there he collapsed on a couch letting the knowledge of the events flood over him. "The witch showed me a glimpse of the future" he said as he looked up to his brother and sister "Xena knew that we had to resolve our time here together so that she could move on" he again paused a single tear forming in his dark eye "If we didn't I would of ended up destroying the world with my wrath and I would of lost her again."

Aphrodite came to him and sat down "What do you mean lost her again?" she asked concern for her brother dripping her words "she is already gone."

Hercules interrupted "She will be reborn and search you out again, but if you let your pain play out she will reject you again" he took in Ares nod of his head "it would be a never ending cycle of pain."

The three stood there as they absorbed the information. Dite broke the silence "Well did you resolve your issues?"

Ares let out a short laugh "Yes I do believe we did" a smile lit his face "But the bard is crushed by this loss" he looked to Hercules "Can you help her?"

Hercules shook his head as he answered "I will take care of Gabrielle."

Dite smiled as another thought hit her "Whoa bro does this mean you and the Warrior Babe are going to hook up in the future?"

Ares met her gaze "I guess it does" he let out a small laugh "I wonder how many times I have already known her, but was to blind to open my heart to her."

"What about Alti's vision of the future?" asked Herc.

Ares stood up and walked to his younger brother "I guess since we have settled things between us that it won't happen." Ares walked past Hercules and left them.

As soon as he was out of his chambers he transported himself to the mortal plane. He stood atop the hill that he had seen in the vision. Staring across the valley he noticed a woman and a man atop the adjacent hill. He disappeared only to reappear next to them, invisible to mortal eyes as he listened to their conversation.

"Oh darling I just found out I am with child" the woman beamed as she looked up to her husband.

The man smiled broadly as he digested her words "Finally a son to carry on our family name."

The woman's smile faded a bit "Does that mean if it be a girl you would be upset?"

The man looked down upon her "No my wife I would treasure a girl just as much, I didn't mean that the way it sounded." He embraced her in a hug.

The woman sat back from him "A girl or boy I don't care just as long as it is healthy and has your blue eyes" she said with a genuine smile.

"And your dark tresses my dear" he added.

Ares stood back letting a smile spread across his face "So soon my princess, you will be back upon this plane again soon" he snapped his fingers and vanished from the scene.

The woman looked to the spot where Ares had stood even though she had not seen him. Her husband interrupted her thoughts "A dinar for your thoughts my love" he said.

She turned to him "It was nothing, just a feeling that we were being watched" she shook her head "Ever since I got pregnant my senses seem to be in heightened."

"You are being silly woman" as he kissed her forehead and laid his hand to her stomach letting his thoughts run to the vision of a tall strapping young man with his eyes and his mother's raven hair. Then a thought came to him of a beauty of a daughter with his eyes and her mother's tresses. He pictured a strong young woman with no fear in her eyes "You know wife I am thinking a daughter would be a fine idea."

"Well we will find out in soon enough" she stood up "come on we should be getting back" they walked hand in hand down the hillside to the village in the valley.

The end for now, but you never truly know what the future holds…………….