Author: Gayla

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Ares stalked around his temple; tense after his plot to win over Gabrielle failed. `I had it all planned out. I got to torment Xena while subverting Gabrielle to my side. Only it didn't work! I managed the torment Xena part fine; she's probably still worrying what I'll do next. But Gabrielle wouldn't play along. I didn't plan something right. What was it?' Ares was so caught up in his thoughts that he had to stop just short of running into a wall. "Aargh!! I can't think this way." Ares stopped pacing and rubbed his temples as he watched a battle that was taking place. Ares snapped his fingers and transported himself to the battle.

"This is just what I need. A little mindless violence always makes me feel better." Ares said before joining the battle disguised as a common soldier.

Ares was in his element exchanging blows with his enemies. `Now this is more like it!' Ares thought, his body moving almost on pure instinct.

`Why can't everything be this simple?' Ares thought while performing a spin kick. `You throw a punch, someone falls down, simple cause and effect. I offered Gabrielle a chance to give the entire world peace.
Why would she refuse? She says she fights for peace, she should have jumped at the offer. Xena did when I offered it to her after Amphipolis.'

Ares stopped dead as the realization of what he did wrong hit him. Then he realized how stupid it was to stop dead in the middle of a pitched battle and back-flipped out of the way of an oncoming sword.

Deciding this wasn't the place for truly deep thought he transported himself to one of his private getaways. This particular place was one of his favorites. A mountainside retreat with all the amenities,
including a hot tub, which Ares decided to make use of. Ares stepped into the water and let out a groan. `This is perfect. The exercise got rid of most of my tension this ought to take care of the rest.'

`I can't believe I made such an amateur mistake. I got so used to dealing with Xena I just automatically used a ploy that was geared toward her.' Ares wiped a hand over his face. `I am going to have to
study what motivates Gabrielle. Find something that will get her on my side temporarily. If I can get her to fight on my side a few times, because it's the right thing to do, her resistance will be weakened. I am going to have to seem like someone she can agree with.' Ares sighed. `This is going to take some time. Because as sure as Hades right now she would never consciously agree to anything I proposed, much less become one of my chosen.'

`That means I am going to have to spend time with her and Xena.' Ares sighed. `This could be more trouble than its worth.' Ares decided to weigh the pros and cons of making a concerted effort towards swaying Gabrielle to his side.


`First there are the cons. One, it's going to be a lot of time and effort. Two, Xena will be instantly suspicious. And three, the other gods will think I am still after Xena. `

`Now for the pros. One, it has been too long since I had a real intellectual challenge to solve. Two,' Ares grinned, ' it will drive Xena nuts. Three, the other gods won't have any idea what I am really doing, that is always a plus. But most of all if it works. If it works I will have a warrior personally trained by Xena. And if I time it right maybe the student will have time to surpass the master.'

Ares grinned in satisfaction. `Gabrielle will be the perfect chosen. She will have all the skills and knowledge with a unique twist. She will be so different from my other chosen no one will realize what
she is until it's too late.'

`Yes.' Ares laughed. `It will definitely be worth the effort. If only to drive Xena insane trying to figure out what I'm up to now.'


The End