Best Friends, Better Enemies, Chapters 18 & 19

Xena showed Phrixus where the treasure was, and watched with joy the looks of happiness on the youngsters faces. It had been exactly where she had left it all those years ago, none the worse for wear after all the time it had spent with the elements bombarding it.

As soon as it was all loaded and the thank-you's were finished, Xena set off in the direction she had come from. But it didn't take her long to alter her course.

Up and down the roads, word was spread of a she-demon warrioress, a woman who called herself Ara, the goddess of destruction. Everywhere she went, a wave of terror followed in her wake as she killed and burned whole villages to the ground. Those that survived to escape spread the word, and soon everyone knew about the beautiful blonde woman with the heart of evil.

It's said she likes to torture others to get her powers, the gossips whispered. She must not have a speck of humanity in her. But Xena heard their terrified words and knew they were wrong. Somewhere, deep inside, the real Gabrielle still lived. She just has to be alive, Xena prayed silently, as she set off on the path of chaos Ara had left behind.

Late that night, Ara awoke suddenly from a deep sleep, tears trickling silently down her smooth cheeks. Damn, that Gabrielle still hasn't given up yet, the entity swore as a graceful hand swiped at the tears angrily. It could feel Gabrielle begin to struggle frantically in the depths of her mind, but the entity Petros just pushed her efforts aside with careless ease.

Oh, do stop being such a nuisance. I'm getting incredibly tired of your conscious inflicting itself on me. Gabrielle struggled a moment longer, then returned to quiet. Satisfied the silly girl had been restrained again, the entity reclined back into the thick stack of pillows that was her bed.

But sleep eluded her. Thoughts of the coming battle with Aries raced through her brain, along with the excitement she would feel as she took up Aries sword and became a true goddess. The male entity Petros didn't find the idea of being a woman so terrible now. What power they have, he thought greedily. Stealth, cunning, and seduction. Things I never would have considered using against an enemy before. But now, all that and more is possible in this female form.

The transformation to totally female was not yet complete. The entity Petros was thinking less and less of himself as male and more female as the days passed. Hearing the name Ara was common now, and his old one seemed meaningless beside this new power.

Only when Gabrielle was completely gone would the transformation be complete. She was the stumbling block the entity must overcome.

Finally Ara rose, her need to sleep completely gone, and decided a midnight ride might cool her heated blood. She dressed and stepped out of her temporary home into the cool night air, which whistled gently through the trees and kissed her face with it's forest fragrance. She closed her eyes briefly and savored the feel of the air. Such simple pleasures to miss so much, the entity mused.

But before long, one of the guards on duty noticed his leaders appearance and rushed over to be of service.

"Goddess, is there something you require?"

Ara was a little nauseated by the young man's fawning willingness, so obvious of other unspoken delights hoped for. But she wasn't about to let his request go unanswered.

"Yes. Saddle my horse. I want to go for a ride."

The young man backed away, bowing so much it made her dizzy just to watch. But he soon turned around and took off at a run for the stables. Minutes later, Ara was riding through the night, the village far behind and open spaces ahead.

Chapter 19

After many long hours taking out her energies in the saddle, Ara finally stopped to rest on the highest peak in the area. The view was magnificent. Sunrise was just cresting over the curve of the earth and shards of golden light shot out in streaks across the valley floor. The slowly meandering river was glistening blue in the intense light, dark and sinister looking where shadows yet covered it. Across the sloping terrain, trees colored the area in varying shades of green, looking like a huge patchwork quilt somebody has left unfinished.

All in all, the splendor of the area was in full display that early morning, but Ara ignored the beauty spread before her. Her thoughts, as they had been all night, was centered on taking the sword of Aries away from him, the sword that gave him his godhood. The sword that Ara was determined to have at any cost.

Aries must know by now that I'm coming for him. If only I could find a way to infiltrate his temple get close to him, I know I would succeed. Her thoughts drifted in a million directions as she tried deducting how to accomplish her idea, when out of nowhere, a deep male voice behind her broke her concentration.

"Well, such a beautiful place for such a beautiful woman. May I say, Gabrielle, this look does suit you."

Ara didn't bother to turn around. Obviously, it was one of the previous inhabitants suitors. Better set him straight right away.

"I don't know who you think you're talking to, but I'm not this Gabrielle you mentioned. Now begone pest, before I separate your head from the rest of you."

A moment of silence followed her comment, only to be broken seconds later as his laughter cut through the air. How dare he! Laugh at me? Insolent cur! Ara drew her sword and spun around, prepared to take his head off with a single swipe, but an odd thing happened.

Instead of striking flesh and bone, her sword met with steel, stronger than any she had felt in a long time. Her eyes wandered from their clashed weapons, up his powerfully built arms, to the dark visage of Aries himself.

"Surprise, blondie." he said tauntingly as a wicked grin spread across his face.

"I must say, you have developed more skill and spirit since I last saw you, Gabrielle. Or should I say, Petros?"

Ara stepped back, startled by the mention of it's real name. How could he possible know?

"You're probably wondering how I know your little secret. Let me inform you about one of the little changes the gods made after your demise. First, we have eyes everywhere now. Anything that anyone does, is reported to us. We know all, see all."

Aries stopped briefly to smirk at the look of incredulity on Ara's face.

"We're more organized now, Petros. You've been gone a long time, and that's allowed us to establish a system, one not even you could break. And second," he began, walking toward her in slow, domineering steps,

"I'm not the inexperienced pupil you remember. I've been the god of war from the time of your capture. I've grown in power to the point where most of the other gods don't dare challenge me."

Aries' voice rose like thunder as his anger built, trembling the ground they stood on.

"I've conquered nations, destroyed civilizations, and amassed armies of unknown proportions in the time you've been gone. And you expect to just stroll in here after a short time in a body and walk away with my godhood!"

His voice shook the very air around her as his anger reached it's peak. He has changed, Ara thought, observing him now with different eyes. Instead of the young godling I left behind, a powerful being the likes of which Zeus could only hope to match raged forth. The latent power in him drew the new femininity in her like a dying man to water. She couldn't help but think what it would be like if they joined.

"Aries, calm yourself. All this emotion over something that can be changed so easily."

Ara saw an opportunity she had never thought to have. Only minutes before, she had been wondering how to get close to the god, and now she saw her chance.

"Can't you see, Aries? We're meant to be together. The two of us, unified, would be unstoppable."

Aries listened to her words, as always, carefully calculating the possibilities.

"True, Petros. We could team up. With your army and my powers, we could conquer the world easily."

The thought obviously excited him as he rubbed his hands together in anticipation. But Ara wanted him more in her control than as just a partner. She sidled up to Aries seductively, and ran her palms enticingly over his bulging biceps.

"You know, there's more than one way for us to be partners."

Her smooth words fell dreamily as Aries realized what was happening.

"Petros, what do you think you're doing?"

"What does it look like?"

Ara wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders and pressed herself tight to his chest. She could feel every muscle ripple against her breasts in response.

"Petros is gone, Aries. So is Gabrielle. I'm both. I am Ara, the perfect match for the god of war."

Those words, so erotically spoken, found fertile ground in the mind of the god, Aries.

He pulled her tight to him, and leaning close, replied, "Then let's seal this little bargain properly." and kissed her deeply.

Pleasure streaked through Ara's body as Aries rubbed himself against her, but she never lost track of the thought of holding him in control. Aries enjoyed the sensation of her body against his, ignoring his memories of the obnoxious blonde she had once been. After several minutes, the two broke away to catch their breaths.

Ara recovered more easily than her counterpart, mainly because she wouldn't allow her emotions to rule her head. She stepped away while he was still distracted and mounted her horse.

"Then it's a deal."

She rode away before she could hear his final words. Aries ran his thumb enticingly over his lips and murmured, "Only until it suits me."