~ Twilight ~
by WarriorPrin717


Disclaimer: All characters from Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys belongs to MCA/Universal pictures and producers of the show. This story is not to be copied or sold in anyway without the author's consent.

Language: Nothing graphic

Violence: Well unless you don't count the Twilight of the Gods violence...

Sex: Nothing graphic. But there is love between a certain war god and warrior princess.

WarriorPrin717@aol.com.


Promo:

It's Xena's truest test

Athena: Xena's child heralds the death of the Greek gods.

The test of a mother's love

Xena (screams): I will not let them kill my baby!

The gods of Olympus rally to bring about the death of Eve

Apollo: Zeus is dead! And Xena and her child must join him.

But one man stands in their way

Hercules: You're reign is over. Why can't you just accept that?

Hades: Never! The Olympians will rule for all eternity.

Xena wages war on Mount Olympus

Gabrielle: This is crazy! You can't take on all of Mt. Olympus.

Xena: Watch me!

Coming up next!

Athena stood regal and proud in the throne room of Mt. Olympus. "Brothers and Sisters. Xena had eluded us for too long. She had no respect for the gods of Olympus, and now her child will bring about the Twilight of the gods" she struck her fist down on her golden throne. "The time has come. Zeus and Hera are dead! Our priests and armies are no longer enough. We must kill the child ourselves."

"Hold it there babe" Aphrodite stood up. "Now I know the warrior babe can be a little harsh sometimes, but geeze it's a baby. How can one little brat kill us all?" the goddess of love asked. Athena glared at her.

"Sit down Aphrodite. The fates themselves told us that a child born not of a mortal will bring about the death of the Greek gods. You heard it yourself."

"Duh! Every kid is born out of either mortals or gods. Unless its the evil Dahak" she teased wiggling her fingers in the air.

"The creator of this child is a powerful angel of heaven. You all remember when Michael brought about the four horses of the apocalypse. Well he had the angel Callisto impregnate Xena with a child. And Eli's death by Ares's hand" Athena gave her brother a meaningful glance. He glowered back at her. "Eli's sacrifice allowed the beginning of the Twilight" she told the gods.

"We've all tried to kill Xena in the past. It's even harder now with the child. Besides she has helped out all of us" Hades pointed out, straightening his helmet.

Athena pursed her lips. "That's true. Xena has helped Cecrops escape his cursed ship. She returned Apollo's sacred vase. Saved the North Star. Freed death and retrieved Hades helmet. She helped free Prometheus. And not to mention all the times she helped save the amazons from extinction. Plus ridding us of those so called goddesses Callisto and Velaska."

"I think that we should just leave the child alone. All things must eventually come to an end. That includes us" Hestia spoke up quietly.

"I think the goody-two shoes is right" Aphrodite said siding with the goddess. "Xena's helped all of us and how do we repay her. By trying to kill her and her baby."

"Aphrodite's right. Xena may not have much respect for us, but we're gods. We're supposed to be regal and noble. We might not care about mortals but all of the gods trying to kill one little baby. That's heartless even for us" Hepheasuts said agreeing with his wife.

"Zeus is dead! And Xena and her child must join him!" Apollo thundered. All of the gods burst into an uproar. Ares was the only one sitting quietly on his throne.

"QUIET!" Athena bellowed. Everything went silent. "I think we're all in agreement here. We wage war on Xena and her child. All of humanity will suffer until the child is brought to us, and killed" Athena raised her sword high. Her fellow gods answered her warcry, the sound ringing throughout Mount Olympus.

`````````````````````````

"There, there Eve. It's alright" Xena held her crying baby. Eve quieted down instantly, and cooed at her mother's warm embrace.

"You've got real maternal instinct" Gabrielle told her from her place where she tended their campfire. Xena smiled at her. "I'm not the only one. I see how you handle Eve. You're every bit her mother as me." Gabrielle's eyes shone at the compliment. Xena settled down next to the bard. Eve grabbed at Gabrielle's hand and squeezed tightly. "She's definitely your kid Xena. Same assertive qualities that you posses" she teased. The warrior gave her a look. "She's yours too. Same set of lungs." Gabrielle scowled while Xena laughed.

"And she's definitely got her mother's beauty." Xena's head shot up as she heard the familiar voice. "Hercules" her face eased into a smile. She stood up cradling her child gently. He grinned at her and pulled her into a soft hug, being careful not to squish the baby. Looking down at the little bundle in the warrior's arms his face lit into a grin a mile wide. "She's so much bigger than when I saw her last."

Xena made a face. "That's cause she was a newborn. Now she's over a moon old." Eve bopped Hercules repetitively over the head with Iolaus, the toy hydra. Hercules chuckled. "Hey there slugger" he crooned beckoning to her. Xena placed him gently in his arms. "You like Iolaus don't you. Yes you do. You do" he babbled.

"Somehow I think she'll like the real and much more handsome one better," Iolaus said as he entered the campsite. "Hey you" Gabrielle hugged him. He ruffled her short tresses. "What happened to your hair?" he asked her. Gabrielle glared at Xena. "A certain warrior princess felt a need to cut it with her chakram" she said hotly. Iolaus looked surprised. "Guess that's what you get for pissing off Xena huh?" he joked. Xena just shook her head and embraced the hunter. "It's good to see you Xena" he said returning the hug. He turned to Eve. "And who is this little princess?"

"That's my daughter Eve. And as for the hair, she could either get a bowl cut on her head, or get killed by a psychotic shamaness. Guess which one I picked" she said wryly.

"Still you could've aimed for her hand or something. Hey! What do mean by bowl cut?" Gabrielle cried indignantly.

Iolaus tickled Eve under her chin and she giggled, drooling slightly from her mouth. "Eew" Iolaus wrinkled his nose. "Give her to me" Xena reached for her baby. Wiping her mouth, Xena fussed over her for a few minutes before sitting down and holding Eve in her lap. "Men" she rolled her eyes. "Hey" Iolaus protested at her look.

"So" Hercules sat down, stretching out his long legs. "How's it been going with you two. Or should I say you three."

Gabrielle looked uncertain, unable to decide if they should tell him. Hercules noticed her look. "What? What happened?"

Xena took a deep breath. "The gods have been giving us a little trouble," she admitted. "They sent armies and priests to kill Eve. And just recently, Athena herself came and waged war on my hometown Amphipolis." Hercules looked shocked. "Xena! Why didn't you tell me? We would have been happy to help."

"No" Xena told him sharply. "This is my fight. Gabrielle and I can protect Eve. We don't want you to go to war against your family."

Hercules crouched down next to the warrior. "Xena," he laid a hand on her shoulder. "I killed my own father to save you and your daughter. I would gladly fight all of Olympus to protect you both."

"Thanks" Xena gave him a tender smile. Iolaus cleared his throat.

"I'd really hate to break up this beautiful moment, but we have a few uninvited guests" he motioned towards the warriors brandishing swords that were riding towards the campsite.

Xena leapt to her feet, shoved Eve into Gabrielle's arms and drew her sword. Screaming her warcry, Xena flipped into the air, knocking two off their horses. They hit the ground with a jolt. Hercules and Iolaus rushed into the fray using their fists. Gabrielle just stood their holding Eve, and having drawn her sais, attacked the nearest warrior to her. After most of the warriors were either unconsciuos or dead, Xena grabbed one and put the 'pinch' on him. "I've just cut off the flow of blood to your brain. You'll die a horrible death in 30 seconds unless you tell me right now who sent you."

The man struggled briefly, but soon found his life draining away. "We were sent by the great god Poseidon to kill your baby" he choked out. Xena undid the pinch then knocked him unconscious. "This is never going to stop" Xena said tiredly. "There just going to keep coming and coming. It's time we did something about it" she said fiercely.

"What do you plan to do Xena? Go up there and ask them nicely to stop? They're gods! You can't wage war on all of Mount Olympus!" Gabrielle snapped.

"Watch me" Xena said resheathing her sword. "But I do know one thing. I can't do it alone. I'm going to need help. And I know just where I can find it" she told the bard and started to walk off.

"Xena" Hercules stopped her. "Just what are you going to do?" he asked. She ignored his question. "I want you and Iolaus to do something for me. I need you to go see Michael. Ask him if he can help us" she told him.

"Done. C'mon Iolaus" Hercules dragged off his friend and they headed south. Xena turned towards Gabrielle. "Gabrielle this is very important. Go back to the place where I gave birth. I want you to find the rib of Cronus. Its gotta be around there somewhere. Take Eve with you. Meanwhile, there's someone I have to go see."

"Xena..."

"No Gabrielle! This is something I have to do. Please. Just trust me. Okay?"

Gabrielle nodded and hugged Xena tightly. "Do what you think is right. Just promise me you'll be careful. Don't make Eve grow up without her mother."

Xena returned the hug, clutching the bard to her chest. "I'll be fine. Don't worry. But if something does happen to me I want you to promise me now. Promise me you'll raise Eve. Be her mother. I could think of no greater mother than you" she bent down and kissed Gabrielle's lips slightly. (thought I'd throw in a bit of subtext there. He he. J ) Then mounting Argo, Xena galloped off in the direction of the Halls of War.

"Ares. Ares?" Xena called, her voice echoing throughout the temple. The god of war appeared before her. Xena swallowed hard remembering the last time she was here, how she almost made love to him. Xena looked him straight in the eye. All her earlier confidence melted away at one sight of the god. Gods he's so cute. She shook her head, trying to clear it of these thoughts. "Ares...I need your help."



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