Destiny

                                                                      Chapter 8

                                                                  By: areswarrior

 

Disclaimer: They don’t belong to me. I am only borrowing them. Arianna does belong to me, please don’t use unless you ask.

Rating: PG

Archive: Please do just let me know where I can visit it

 

The next morning the quartet started out for Mt. Etna. Arianna walked quietly behind the others, thinking about the plan she had laid for Ares and how she was going to miss her friends once it was done. Xena looked behind and noticed her friends quietness, she fell back to see what she could do. “Hey, you’re a little quiet, is everything ok?”

“Yes, everything is fine. Just thinking about what lays ahead. I will be going home soon. With all the adventure I have had here, it will be hard to go back. I will be bored to tears.”

“You can always stay.”

“No, my place isn’t here. I have a life to get back to and a job I love. I can’t leave my students or my family.”

“True but it is a thought.”

“I know. Xena, before when you asked me about Solan, I never got a chance to tell you, your son was a great, kind loving soul, he was that way his entire life. Your daughter was as well.”

Xena stopped short, grabbing Arianna’s arm, turning to face her, “My daughter? I have a daughter?” she was very surprised by this revelation.

“Yes, Xena you will have a very beautiful daughter, she will grow up to fulfill a great destiny. She will follow the way of peace.” Arianna smiled as she continued down the path. Xena caught up with her and ask. “What is she like? What is her name?”

Arianna stopped, “Xena your daughter will be born for a special purpose, as far as her name, I can’t give you that, but I can tell you that it will be Solan, not you who will name your daughter. That’s all I can say, I’m sorry”

“I know.” Xena hugged Arianna tight as she thought, “ I will have a daughter,” Xena continued down the road with a big smile on her face. Hercules noticed the change in Xena mood and asks Arianna what had happened. Arianna just smiled and told him that she had given Xena a little glimpse into her future. “I take it was a good one?”

“This part of it is Hercules, but many parts of her life and Gabrielle’s

 will not be so good. They will need to rely on each other to pull thru the trials that will take place.”

 

By mid-afternoon they had reached Mt. Etna. Arianna looked around, “Hercules where is do we find it.” Xena walked near her, “What exactly are we looking for?”

Hercules answered, “The Kronos Stone, Arianna needs it to return home. But it is hidden in a cave and guarded by a Hydra.”

“So what are we waiting for?” said Arianna who was just itching to see an actual Hydra.

They walked around the side of the Mount for a few candle marks before finding the cave opening. Hercules lit some torches, before leading them into the cave he said, “Now remember use the fire against the Hydra, and don’t try to cut off its head because two more will just grow in its place.” Hercules then went into the cave, followed by Arianna, then Xena and Gabrielle in the rear.

 

The cave was very dark; down the tunnel they could see a greenish light coming from deep within the cave. A foul smell filled the air, making breathing very difficult. Before long the group came into a cavern with a deep hole in the middle, they would have to find away to cross this hole or go around the narrow ridge. On the other side they could see the Stone resting on an alter. Now all they had to do was get it. But where was the Hydra? Hercules looked for a way to cross this gaping hole he heard a load roar. Up from the pit came the Hydra. Bearing three heads, each one breathing fire. It was large, green, scalely, foul smelling beast, sent by Hera to guard the stone.

 

Hercules grabbed Gabrielle and ducked for cover under some rocks while Xena and Arianna drew their swords ready to battle the beast. The Hydra shot fire at Xena, but she maneuvered a back flip, which sent her back to where Hercules and Gabrielle were. Xena shouted, “Arianna get down!”

 “Don’t worry about me Xena just keep Gabby safe.” Hercules told Xena to stay with Gabrielle while he distracted the Hydra long enough for Arianna to grab the stone. Hercules grabbed two of the fallen torches and began to fling them back and forth at the beast. Seeing her chance, Arianna went along the narrow ridge, around the beast and was almost at the other side when a figure appeared. Ares from this time period had been sent to stop her. Arianna knew from where she was at, at battle with this god would lead to her death, but she had to reach that stone, it was the only way. So she decided to take her chances.  “Get out of my way Ares.”

“Sorry can’t do that. You are trying to kill me and I can’t allow that, besides mother insists that the stone stays here.”
 “Well I don’t give a dam what your mother wants, and as for you I’m not here to kill you Ares, I just want to get back home.” But Ares wasn’t buying it; he got ready to attack, when he was attacked from behind. Discord and Strife had appeared just opposite of Ares and struck him down. Ares got up, “You idiots what in the name of me do you think you’re doing?”

“Simple, she kills you, we get your job.”
 “Well the only thing you two are getting is a one-way trip to Tarturus”

 

With that Ares, Discord and Strife began to exchange fireballs; it went back and forth sending the gods spiraling into the walls of the cavern. Xena watched as the gods fought, Hercules battle the beast, and in the far distance she could see Arianna nearing the stone.

Arianna slowly made her way to the stone nearly getting knocked off by Ares as a fireball struck him. She watched them battle, “I am going to have to remember to thank those two.” She thought to herself. Finally she reached the stone, with a smile she grabbed it and placed it in her bag, she began to make her way back to her friends, when Ares once again intercepted her. “And where do you think you’re going?”

“I am going home what about you?” she said as she pointed to one of the Hydras head coming up just behind Ares. Ares turned around suddenly as Arianna did a flip, which landed her right on top, the monsters head then she flipped on to the ground next to Hercules. “Ok Herc we got what we came for lets go”

“Alright lets leave the gods to play with this bad boy.” Soon all of the group was out of the cavern listening to Strife wail as he was being picked up by the Hydra and being pick on by his Uncle.

Once safely out of range, the time for goodbyes had come. Arianna asked for Hercules to accompany her so that he could come back with the stone and return it to its rightful place.

She walked over to Gabrielle, “You are a good friend, Gabrielle, watch over her. She will need your light to help her thru this dark times.”

“Don’t worry I will” She hugged Gabrielle and then walked over to Xena.

“I don’t know what to say to you except thank you for everything, I’m am so honored to have had the chance to know you.”

“I am the one who is honored, you gave me a glance into my future, and my family. Take care of yourself, and be safe.”

“ I will, just look after Gabrielle, many changes will take place in her life and yours that will try and strengthen your friendship. Just hang on to each other and you will find your path.” Arianna hugged Xena tight and then told Hercules she was ready to go. As Arianna turned to leave, Gabrielle asked what was in the bag, “Oh just a gift from Hephy.” She answered with a wink. “Ask Xena she will tell ya.” With that She took out the stone, stood next to Hercules, in a flash the two disappeared.

 

Back in present time, Ares had just sent Arianna thru the portal. “Now that little matter is taken care of, on to business. To bad really she looked more like Xena then any of them. Oh well, I am finally rid of that cursed warrior princess and her family forever.”

“Think again Ares”

Ares spun around to find Arianna not only there but was accompanied by his half brother Hercules. Ares looked at the space where she had been only moments before, and then back at her. “How?”

“How did I get back so fast? Easy.” She answered as she held up the stone proudly. “ Your little plan to get rid of me back fired, though I should thank you, my little trip was a valuable learning experience.” Ares stood in shock, that was the one thing he didn’t think about in his scheme. “All that time in the tomb must have damaged your brain some huh?”

“Well you are not putting me back?”

 “Wanna bet.” Ares and Arianna reached for their swords at the same time. Ares lunged at Arianna, but she was able to block his move. She grabbed his arm, calling for Hercules; she used the stone to transport them all to the temple ruins in Macedonia in the exact spot where Ares tomb was. She was thrown back by Ares and hit the wall. She fell and passed out momentarily. Ares made move for the stone but was stopped by Hercules.

 

Ares flung a fireball at Hercules causing him to hit the wall of the temple. Hercules got up and grabbed an old portion of the temple and hit Ares, throwing him clear across the room. Arianna had come to, reaching for the bag; she took the chains that Hercules obtained from Hephesties. Running up behind Ares she flung the chains around him and watched as they wound tighter and tighter around the dark god, preventing him from using his powers. Together Hercules and Arianna were able to lift the war god into his tomb. Ares was protesting the entire time, “ You can’t do this to me I am Ares, God of War”

“Yea Yea Yea I know, I have only heard that more times then I care to. To bad you tried to get rid of me, you’re kind of cute”

Arianna closed the lid, and secure it with more chain. She looked at Hercules. “ Think that will hold him for a good while?”

“Oh yeah. It will be a long time before he is able to get out of this one.”

“Good then let’s go. I am ready to go home. Oh and we have one more issue to take care of.”
 Hercules asked what it was, but Arianna refused to say until she was at home. So in a flash they used the stone to get her back.  Arianna gave Hercules a tight hug and thanked him for all of his help, then ask him to call for Aphrodite. Once Aphrodite appeared, Hercules introduced her to Arianna and told her everything that happened.  Arianna pulled Aphrodite aside.

“Aphrodite, I know we have only met, but you know my story, and I have a request to make of you”

“Sure sweetie, since you kept my bro in check, and I am such a big fan of your family.”

“I need Hercules to be sent back to the point before my first arrival. Neither he nor the others must have any memories of my visit. Everything must be as it was before I came there, can you arrange that.”

“No prob hun. It will be as if you were never there.”

Arianna walked over to Hercules hugged him again and placed a small kiss on his cheek. “Thanks again Hercules for everything. I couldn’t have gotten this far without you.”
Hercules blushed. “It was no problem. I hope we will meet again.”
Arianna smiled. “ Oh I am sure we will, after all you are half god.”

Aphrodite stepped in and said it was time to go. So with a final goodbye Arphodite took the stone and Hercules, in a pink flash they disappeared.

 

Arianna plopped down on her couch and thought over all the events that had taken place. Then she let out a laugh, the more she thought the more she was laughing. Soon she was laughing so hard that she was curled up on the floor, holding her stomach, with tears coming from her eyes. Noone would ever believe a word of where she was and that Xena and Hercules or the Gods actually existed. She had that information all to herself. That was kind of interesting in a way; she had an advantage over most of the Archeologists of her time. She has lived in her study period. Arianna smiled widely as she took a long over due shower and went to bed. She soon was fast asleep.

 

Then next morning she had a meeting in the Deans office to discuss the next trip she was due to make to Rome. When she walked into his office, she spotted a blonde head just above the back of the chair. Then Dean called her over. Arianna nearly stumbled over her feet when she noticed that the girl was a spitting image of Gabrielle.

“Arianna, this is your newest assistant Gabrielle Covington. You maybe familiar with the name her, grandmother help discover the Xena Scrolls.”

Arianna extended her hand to Gabrielle, thinking to herself. “Well I guess the scrolls were right again. Our destinies lie together.”

“Don’t worry Dean I will make sure she will feel right at home.”

After the Dean excused them, Arianna walked with Gabrielle to the classroom. A long the way Gabrielle asked, “Have we met before, you seem awfully familiar to me.”
Arianna grinned widely as she answered. “Yes, we have actually in a former life, and we will again in lives to come.”

The end