Sorry it took me sooooooooooo long to finally update this story. For awhile i had a major case of writers block and then got distracted by other things. So, today I began writing another chapter and thought i would post it. I've been watchin my xena tapes again and it sparked an idea. thanks to all who has reviewed this and i hope you all like this chapter.

Chapter 7

"What I Want"

Ares sat on his throne, his left leg casually resting over the left armrest. His right leg stretched out in front of him. He thought of what Gabrielle had pointed out to him. Xena would surely return to her dark side, it seemed to be a matter of time now. She had changed considerably over the past few weeks. Xena had always been different when she was at odds with the young bard. He knew their relationship couldn't last though it this time. Even though the years and torment they have put each other though, it came clear to him Gabrielle was always the one causing the problem. Xena had never caused an argument. When Ares helped Gabrielle reach Chin before Xena it was a betrayal Gabrielle willingly made. Gabrielle made betrayals time and time again but yet, their relationship survived. Much to Ares' approval the relationship between Gabrielle and his love Xena was soon to be extinguished.

Xena walked down the dirt path leading to Ares' temple. She hated asking for his help and wouldn't if she knew another way. Truth was, she couldn't think of another way. She heard the sound of swords clashing somewhere close. She quickly ran toward the sound. She could hear at least four sets of feet on the ground. She heard a girl scream and quickened her pace. She pulled her sword from its sheath and approached three men and a scared woman. The men were the usual bandits she had always seen. It was always the same type of man with different faces every time. The woman screamed again from the ground and began to back up. Her long brown dress had been torn on the arms and the skirt.

"Please don't hurt me." The woman begged. She looked to be in her early thirties. Her hair was the brightest shade of red Xena had ever seen, it reached down to the middle of her back.

Xena kicked the first attacker in the back of the legs, sending the large man to the ground. She met blades with the second attacker.

"Xena?" she heard a voice question, she looked over to her right to see Joxer standing there.

"Joxer?" she asked, surprised.

After a few moments the men had given up and ran like scolded dogs back into the forest. Xena turned to the woman and held out her hand.

"Oh thank you so much! How can I repay you?" The woman asked taking xena's hand, Xena pulled her up.

"You can know better than to walk through the forest by yourself." Xena spoke.

"I had them just fine on my own." Joxer said, standing up a bit straighter and putting his sword in its sheath.

Xena rolled her eyes and put her sword away as well. "Joxer, what the hell are you doing all the way out here?"

"I heard the amazons were attacking villages so I decided to come check it out. Maybe offer my services to the towns."

"Attacking villages?" Xena questioned, a confused look crossing through her eyes.

"Yeah, a few people in the town, Palarious, that I just came through said the amazons attacked a few days ago. Took everything, livestock, jewelry, and almost every girl they could find."

Xena pondered the new information, confused as to why they would attack small villages.

"Where's Gabrielle?" Joxer asked, looking around.

"She's with the amazons."

"She can't be. She'd never attack villages."

"A lot of things have changed with her Joxer." Xena spoke, as she noticed the woman had disappeared in the midst of their conversation.

"What do you mean? Maybe I should go see her." He said, trying to walk past her. Xena quickly placed her hand on his overly sized breastplate.
"No."

"Why not?" He asked, stopping.

"Something is wrong with Gabrielle, she was going to kill my daughter. She is also working with Hope."

"Hope? That's impossible!" he laughed whole-heartedly. "She's been dead for a while now."

Xena looked at him seriously.

"You're joking? Aren't you?" he asked hopefully.

"Sorry, I'm not."

"If Gabrielle is in trouble we have to go in there and help her." He said, pulling his sword out slightly then forcing it back into its sheath. "So, are we going to storm in there and help her?"

"Nope." She said, shaking her head and turning on her heel to continue toward Ares' temple.

"What do you mean no? We have to help her." He followed behind her.

"There's nothing we can do for her now."

They both went silent for a matter of minutes until Joxer decided to speak up again. "Where are we going?"

"To Ares' temple." She stated.

"Are you kidding me? We can't go there, he's the enemy remember!" he shouted, the metal of his outfit clanking loudly as he walked. Xena said nothing, only continued on her way. "I tell ya, I leave for awhile and everything goes to tarturus. See you guys do need me."

Xena pushed open the double doors a tiny crack that lead to Ares' throne room. She knew he would be in there, he always was. She watched Ares from the crack in the door. She watched as he examined his fingers, using a dagger to clean out the dirt from beneath them. Who knew gods could also have dirty fingernails? She watched a grin cross his lips as if he were thinking of something that made him happy. She sighed and shook her thoughts out of her head and pushed the double doors open, entering the throne room. Ares spotted her immediately and smiled. "Xena, where have you been?"

"No where important." She stated, walking to the offering table and picking up an apple. "What did you talk to Gabrielle about?"

"Nothing really, she thinks I've been playing with your mind in a nasty plot to get you to be my queen. She actually wanted me to help her."

"That's a first." Xena said with a small smile, taking a bite of the large green able she held in her right hand. "It only means she is getting desperate."

"Are you ready to tell me what your plan is yet?" Ares asked anxiously.

"Nope, you don't get to know my plan. You only get to see it carried out."

Ares sighed slightly but knew all along Xena wouldn't reveal her plan. But, the war god had to try.

"Ares I've been wondering something."

"What's that?" He asked.

"Earlier you said you were the god of the amazons now that Athena was dead. So, the question is why are you helping me? Aren't you supposed to protect the amazons?" She questioned, eyeing him.

"I was the god of war firstly, Xena. If a few amazons have to die to make you happy, so be It." he said, his lips beginning to form a smile.

She nodded slowly. The doors to the throne room opened quickly with a creak. "Xena? Can I come in yet? I've been standing out there forever!" Joxer exasperatedly sighed.

"What is he doing here?" Ares asked, disgusted by Joxer.

"He decided to tag along." Xena muttered, not exactly happy Joxer had come along.

"Its not like I want to be here." Joxer said, eyeing Ares.

"Good, cause I don't want you here." Ares retorted.

"Your just jealous cause I'm Joxer the mighty!" Joxer grinned, closing the door and walking further into the throne room.

"So is there anything I can do to make you happy?"

"Yes, there is something you can do."

"Anything, you just name it." Ares said, swinging his leg from the arm of his chair and standing.

"I want the army prepared by tomorrow night. I want the men, the weapons, and a camp to be set up where I want it." She spoke proudly, a sparkle coming to her crystal blue eyes as she spoke.

"You got it, I'll have it set right away." He disappeared in a flash of blue light.

"What's the army for?" Joxer questioned, walking to the table of offerings and picking up a few items to eat. He placed some of it in his pockets for later.

Xena shrugged off his question in an attempt to ignore him completely, hoping he would go away. "Oh I get it, your going to use Ares, get his army, and then storm into the Amazon camp, kidnap Gabrielle and then try to make her think clearly."

"Right, Joxer." She mumbled deciding on her next move.

"I love it when im right." He grinned.

"Your never right." She said.

"I am too right, maybe not always but most of the time."

Xena eyed him as a grin spread across his face. She shook her head and continued to get more and more lost in her thoughts. Xena smiled to herself but couldn't help but question herself as to if she was doing the right thing. She shrugged it off, knowing if she thought about things too much she would surely decide against it. Now was the time to act, later would be the time to think about it. She left the throne room and headed toward where Eve was being held. She approached her daughter who was lying on the bed, seemingly unconscious. Joxer followed her. "What happened to her?"

"Gabrielle happened to her." Xena spoke, pushing the stray hairs from Eve's face.

"Oh please! Gabrielle? Our Gabrielle?" Joxer said, unbelieving. "She couldn't hurt a fly."

"Gabrielle didn't put the sword in Eve's side but she might as well have. Gabrielle ordered Eve's death, Varia was only obeying the order." Xena spoke softly, hating to see her daughter in this state.
"Don't worry Xena, we will get our Gabrielle back." Joxer put a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. "No matter what it takes."

"I hope your right Joxer, really I do." Xena whispered.

Xena and Joxer watched over Eve for the next hour. Talking about old times and Gabrielle. They both tried to assume what had happened to Gabrielle. What had turned Gabrielle into the monster she had always hated and swore she would never turn into?