Am I the only one missing all the old characters?? Didn't think so. Here is a story about Ares quest to regain his godhood..with Gabbys help (of course)> Hope you all like it! Disclaimer: I own naught. I profit naught..so sue me naught. Rating: PG (for now) Feedback: Please..feed the feedback HO! Archive: Be my geust. "Time Heals Old Wounds" (1/?) The blue spiral of smoke, from the old mans pipe, wafted in front of Gabrielle's face. As she swatted at the offending cloud, she saw a figure entering the tavern door. The tight leather pants were a dead give away. Even the dingy cloack, which shielded his face, could not disguise Ares from her knowing gaze. Ares walked over to the table where Gabrielle was sitting and casually pulled up a chair to join her. The events of recent years had created a odd friendship between the two of them, as well as deeper feelings, neither was able to share. "I love your cloak, Ares. It's so...YOU." "Very funny! Do you really think I enjoy going around dressed as some beggar? Ever since Xena let it be known that I'm mortal, every warlord I ever fought is after my ass. Not that I'm afraid to face them, it's just...." "Just what, Ares?" "It's just that..well. This bleeding thing kind of makes me quesy. Thats why I need Xena's help. Where in Tarturus is she by the way? I thought you two were joined at the hip?" "Now who is being funny, Ares? For your information, we are not joined at the hip as you put it. She is in Rome. Taking care of some old business with Eve. Sort of a mother/daughter thing and I decided to sit this one out." "I see. Feeling a little left out are you? Now you have some idea of how I feel. What's left of my family is having a gay old time up on Olympus, while I'm stuck here. That's why I need Xena. I have a plan to get back my godhood and I need her help." "Like I said, she isn't here,but maybe I could help. What is this great plan of yours?" "Well I geuss, you will have to do." His subtle grin eluded to the fact that he was not at all displeased with the notion of her being the one to help him. Thank the gods, she was not paying attention or she may have changed her mind. "I am going to ask Aphrodite to open up a portal to the past. If I can go back to a point of time before all the ambrosia was destroyed, I can regain what I lost." Gabrielle's face fell as the implications of what he was saying sank in. This was the oppertunity she had dreamed of. Being able to go back and to say the good byes she had been robbed of. "When do we leave?" Gabrielle could not believe the wanton destruction they had found, when they entered Aphrodites temple. Statues toppled, urns broken and piles of refuse from unmentionable sources. Ares shuddered to think what his own temples must look like. After making some semblance of order out of the chaos, Ares began calling out to Aphrodite. "Aphrodite!! Come here this instance! Hellooo can you hear me up there! Take the curlers out of hair and join me NOW!" "Ares, do you really think you are going to get her help with that attitude? Let me try." "Go right ahead." "Aprhodite, it's me...Gabrielle. I need to talk to you." In a flash of pink light Aphrodite appeared. "Know it all!" Ares mumbled "Hello Gabrielle...Ares." Ares watched as his sister grabbed Gabrielle into a big sisterly hug, blatantly ignoring his pressence. "UH..Dite. Over here. No hello for your big brother?" "I said hello Are..well sorta. What do you want?" Gabrielle could see that Ares charm had fled and stepped in between the glaring siblings. "We need you help." Gabrielle took Dite's arm and led her away explaining Ares plan. "Women! I'll never understand them." Ares grumbled as he followed silently behind. The two women sat silently for a moment, with Ares sitting sullenly on a rock a few feet away. Aphrodite whispered to Gabrielle "Why should I help him? He helped Xena kill the other gods." "He also gave up his godhood to save Eve and me. That has to count for something, besides you were there. You know what was going on. I wish things could have been different and I am deeply sorry about Heph,but we can't change history. We can only try to make the best of the future and what kind of future does Ares really have as a mortal. Being god of war is all he knows. If you refuse to help us, eventually some power hungy warlord is going to take his head. You don't want that any more then I do." "I keep hearing a lot of us's and we's in all this. Is there something going on between the two of you, that I don't know about?" "It's nothing like that...really. I am just repaying a debt and maybe if this works I get something out of it too. The chance to see my family one last time. Is that so much to ask? Please, Dite. As my friend, will you do this for me?" "For you little one? How can I refuse." Ares saw the look of joy come over Gabrielle's face and knew that Dite was going to help him. He only wished he could bring such a look to her face, but that would have to be dealt with later. First he had to get back his godhood. Then he could work on making Gabrielle his. As the portal began to open Dite screamed above the noise "This will take you outside of the amazon village near Poteidea. Before that witch Velasca stole the last of the ambrosia. But you must be very careful and not do anything to change the time line. Good luck you two. Your gonna need it!" The howling winds began pulling the two towards the appex of the worm hole. In a instant they were propelled inside and through the very bowels of time. The clear azure sky opened up and dropped the former god into a chilly brook. Gabrielle's scream tore through the air as she landed with a thud on top of her traveling partner. Although he was enjoying the auquird position they found himself in,Ares gently rolled out from under her and began looking around. "Any of this look familiar to you?" Gabrielle surveyed the surroundings and immediately spotted a familiar marker. "See that small grouping of trees there? Xena and I camped there the night we left the amazon village, so it must be just over that ridge. Let's go!" "Wait a minute, don't you remember what Sis said? We can't do anything to change history. Don't you think it will be a bit odd for your Amazon's to see two versions of their queen? We will have to skirt around the camp to get to the cave. You do still remember where it is at...don't you?" "Of course I do! That was when Xena almost died and her spirit came back in Autolycus to find me. Oh my! I just thought of something." "I am almost afraid to ask...what?" "To get to the ambrosia we will need the dagger of helios and Autolycus has it." "Dammit! How do you plan on getting ahold of it?" A evil grin pasted itself on her face and Ares cringed, because he knew that look well. It usually ended up badly for everyone involved. "I have and idea." "I was afraid you were going to say that!" Two figures stepped out of the shadows as the man lay sleeping next to the fire. As quietly as possible the smaller of two crept over and began digging through the mans bag. Autolycus's loud snores disguised Ares hissing command for Gabrielle to hurry it up. When a sharp object sliced through her finger, she knew she had found it. Grasping the dagger by the hilt she slowly pulled it from the bag. Barely taking time to breathe she slowly walked backward until she bumped into her companion. "See, I got it..NO PROBLEM." "Who's there!" Autolycus jumped to his feet and began looking around for signs of the intruder. Gabrielle and Ares took off in a run through the thick of the forrest. When there were no signs of being followed they slowed and took time to catch their breath. "NO PROBLEM, you said. Hah! You almost got us caught." "Well we didn't..so shut up already! Now we just have to get to that cave and get the dagger back to Autolycus before he realizes its missing." "Why bother with taking it back? As soon as I get my godhood, we can get back to the present?" "Why bother?? If we don't get it back, Autolycus and I would never have gotten the ambrosia and Xena would be dead now!" "Good point! Let's go." To be continued....