Reunions

4/23-6/13/2001

Angelica wandered through the dark woods, not remembering ever seeing them before in her travels. Tobi and Eden were fast asleep upon their mothers back, apathetic to what kind of dangers the refugee princess may encounter. "Dont worry girls. Momma will get you out of here in a minute," she assured the faternal twins, who were still ever so tiny and each precious but different as day and night.

Ange suddenly saw a flash of light, then another. Suddenly a figure appeared before her. "Angie..."

The princess pulled her chakram, ready to strike the unexpected guest, but took a moment to study the mysterious man who addressed her so informally. The pasty complexion, mussed black hair, the quantity of safety pins that held his leather attire together. "Strife?" she whispered, lowering her weapon.

The next thing Ange knew, she was lying in her bed back at Rafe's castle, She sighed and reached over to seek comfort from Ted but he was nowhere to be found. Angelica remembered he was still in Athens as the lead in their newest production. She climbed out of bed and raced into the nursery; seeing her little cherubs were still fast asleep, she returned to her bedroom. Quickly dressing in her original attire- which was a killer to get into after having the twins-  and venturing out to Strife's old temple, hoping to find someone still there to tell about her vision and what they had to do to resurrect Strife.

He too clarified his death as unlawful and wanted a second chance. Besides, how could Hades say no to her? She being his lost first granddaughter and presumed one of the apples of his eye, even though she refused to give into his sickening baby talk affection. Ange did care about him, and recalled how upset he'd get when Adrianna would bring beings back to life, since she was goddess of resurrection, totally screwing up his scrolls. But this was different, Ange was certain that Adri would give her the materials she needed to bring the god of skirmishes back to earth once again.

Maggie hoisted the final bale of hay up onto the stack in the loft and stepped back to admire her handiwork.

"Anyone ever tell you you're cute when you're smelly?" Deimos asked, licking a drizzle of sweat from the side of her neck.

She wrinkled her nose and did her best to keep her temper. Now that she was crashing at his temple she had learned to put up with his spontaneous appearances from nowhere at unwelcome times, but that didn't mean she had to like it. Disentangling herself from his grasp she smirked over her shoulder at him. "Anyone ever tell you you're cute when you keep your mouth shut and your hands to yourself?"

Before he could reply she wrapped her hand around the pulley rope over the loft chute, riding it down to the stable floor. He was already waiting for her at the bottom; being a God he could do that, which tended to irk her. She brushed past him with a saddle in her arms, doing her best to ignore his cocky smile.

He leaned over the stall door as she saddled up. "Still playing hard to get hard to get, even after all these months Mags?"

"If not wanting your tongue on any part of my body and rejecting your many bizarre advances constitutes playing hard to get then I think it's safe to say that all the women in the known world are currently playing hard to get," the girl retorted. "Now if you'll excuse me, my chores are all done so I'm going out for a ride." And with that, she kicked her horse into high gear and took off across the pasture at a canter.

Deimos nodded at the mule in the next stall with a grin. "She wants me. Bad."

Maggie loosened up the reins and let Peregrine speed into a gallop. She didn't know what was wrong with her lately; usually she and Deimos got along fine but now she seemed to be picking fights with him over nothing. Maybe the fact that's she'd been having weird dreams all week had something to do with it. It certainly didn't help that the god of terror bore a more then passing resemblance to Ares' deceased right hand man and her ex-patron god.

Which reminded her, she should probably stop by and visit her old temple digs and priestess pals. After Strife had died the temple was nothing more then a painful reminder of her slain friend, so she'd taken off one night without telling anybody and just headed out on her own. After the money and supplies had disappeared and she'd run out of things to sell for some fast dinars she had no real options left, aside from getting a job or joining another temple. And since the mere idea of her doing *real* work was laughable she'd decided she'd have to find herself a new residence.

Strife's priestesses had a bit of a reputation as pranksters, so very few temples of the many gods or goddesses would even consider taking her in. That left only the temples to the gods of aggression to choose from. There was no way in Tartarus that Mags would even contemplate going to Ares' place, not after he'd formed an alliance with Dahok and that murderous witch Callisto. Discord was about the last person she'd ever go to for shelter, and she was pretty sure the only reason that particular goddess would take her in was to make her life a living nightmare. So she'd had no one to turn to but Deimos.

He wasn't such a bad god, really. He hadn't made her pledge her allegiance to him or declare him her new patron god, he was just content to have someone in his temple. So she performed the duties usually reserved for the high priests and priestesses, since Deimos had none, kept the place clean and looked after the animals. Not a bad gig, but with no other people around it sometimes got lonely.

Her horse slowed to a trot as they approached the temple from the back way and she ducked to avoid some overhanging branches. Since Strife had died the place had really started to become run down. The yard was choked with weeds, the pond had become nothing more then a swampy mudhole and the roof to the stable had collapsed in on itself.

With Peregrine put out to graze on the small patch of remaining green grass, Maggie cautiously pushed open the broken back door leading into the kitchen and stepped inside. This part of the temple was filthy and full of dust and cobwebs. "Hello?" she called out. There was no answer so she tried again. "Housekeeping!" But no reply came.

Wasn't anybody who used to be here left?

Angelica kept nudging Argo II to move on after studying the area before them and seeing no sign of danger. The horse was reluctant, like a stubborn mule insisting there was something lingering close by. She then sensed a godly presence around her; it wasn't but a moment later that a raven haired goddess appeared before her.

"Well if it isnt the next generation of Xena..." she hissed, setting her blood red nailed hands upon her leatherclad hips. "Long time no see Angelica."

The refugee princess dismounted and walked cautiously toward the olympian road block. "Hello Discord."

A devious smile formed on her pasty face. "Well pretty you haven't given me the honor to darken the doorsteps of my temple...especially when I am now goddess of retribution," She hissed softly, enjoying the opportunity of teasing Ange a bit, considering they were neither bitter enemies nor exactly best friends but civil to one another.

Angelica raised a brow while holding a steely gaze similiar to Xena, even though anything having to do with the warrior princess was taboo to her mother Diana, who detested Xena and had good reason to. "I heard....congratulations."

"All of Olympus knows of the birth of your daughters. Hades and Anallia can't say enough about them. My Marisela is going to have a baby as well...so I guess that makes me a...grandmother," Dissy declared, cringing as though the G word left a bad taste in her mouth. "I am aware of your scheme to raise Strife from the great beyond...one question sets in my mind and I have to ask...why?"

The princess stared at Discord. "Because, he didn't deserve to die. Now that his murderess is dead as well it gives good reason to bring him back. Strife is needed back on earth, Ares is lost without him and I know deep down you are too."

Discord merely shrugged, not wanting to admit Ange was right.

"I hate to cut this social gathering short but I have to get to Strife's temple; I have a feeling there is something there I am going to need...but I don't know exactly what is it yet. All I know that time is growing short..." Angelica said, then trailed off, suspecting there was another piece missing in this operation, something small and not knowing what it was.

But first thing's first; she needed to get to the temple. She mounted Argo II again and rode off reaching Strife's old temple and slowly walking inside. Quietly Angelica strutted inside, her catlike warrior moves keeping her on her toes, prepared for any surprise guests. She heard footsteps and grabbed her chakram just in case holding it tightly in her hand when....

Emily slowly and cautiously walked towards the kitchen, she had heard the commotion and wondered what was going on. She peered around the corner and squinted to see what was happening.

"What's goin on?" she said softly. No one heard her. She stepped around the corner and walked slowly to where Maggie and Ange were standing. She recognized them immediatly and smiled.

"Maggie? Ange?" she said "I havent seen you guys for . . . AGES!"

Zynthiel felt some trepidation as she approached Strife's Temple. There were a lot of happy memories there but also the sadness after Strife's death that had led everyone to leave. She'd stayed as long as she could but eventually she'd drifted off as well. There was nothing left for any of them after Strife was gone.

Zyn had wandered around Greece, meeting new people and getting into adventures but in her heart, the temple was still home. Now her journey had led back in this direction and she had to see the temple again, no matter how it might hurt to see it empty and abandoned.

As she came up to the back door, she noticed the door was slightly ajar and then she could hear voices from inside. She stopped, frowning, as she tried to figure out who could be in the temple. It couldn't be squatters. No one could be stupid enough to take up residence in a temple- even one dedicated to a dead god.

The voices suddenly rose in volume and she realized they sounded familiar. Taking a breath, she walked up and opened the door. She stared at the sight of Maggie, Emily, and Ange hugging each other and talking excitedly.

"What in Tartarus are you all doing here?" Zyn said loudly enough for them all to turn in her direction. Emily squealed and ran over to hug her.

"Ohmigods. It's like a reunion!"

Sillen sat on the cold cellar floor, staring blankly at the small stick-man she had just drawn on the stone wall. It was one of many that covered the walls, all of which she had drawn over the countless weeks.

The poetry never really worked out, she gave it up completely when Strife had gone. She had been meaning to leave as well; find somewhere else to live, possibly go back to Thebes. It had taken her a long time to realize Strife was truly gone, but the feeling that he would come back constantly haunted her.

She had most of her stuff packed, but decided to check out the dusty old cellar, which only stored odds and ends. As expected, she had found nothing of interest down there. She kicked a stray piece of charred wood; a remnant from one of the many nice things which decorated the temple that turned out to be flammable after all. As it skid across the room, it left a deep black mark. She picked it up and started to doodle on the wall, wanting to do anything but leave. ‘Poetry had never really attracted Strife's attention, but maybe art will.'

She admired her talent for making stick-men, each one looking more like Strife than the last.

"Did you hear something?" she whispered harshly to her latest work of art. "Damn rats."

She continued her work, while nibbling on a piece of dried vegetable. There were more sounds, more voices, familiar voices. Sillen dropped her char, and looked around her. Everything suddenly seemed very surreal.

"What is going on?" She looked to the stick-men, but they did not reply. She glared back at them, then clambered over to the stairs. "Fine. I'll go this time. You guys stay right there."

Creeping through the hallways, sneaking around corners, surprised yelps, lots of hugs, squeals of glee; it happened all very quickly.

"Um, yeah, it's nice to see you all, but really, what are you doing here?" Zynthiel asked, after a big hug from Emily.

Strife's priestesses were suddenly aware of the strange coincidence. There was a long silence, while each of them tried to figure out exactly what to say.

Angelica suddenly burst out, "Strife! I had this vision...."

"Did someone just say Strife?!" Sillen wandered in amongst the group, shielding her eyes from the natural light, seeping in through the broken doors and bare windows. She soon recognized all her friends, who were just standing there, doing nothing.

"Sil... what happened to you?"

"Not much. So, what's this about Strife?"

Angelica continued, "I had this vision, about Strife. It's hard to explain."

She went on, mentioning how she wanted to resurrect their long departed god. The priestesses listened, excited and hopeful.

One spoke up, "Exactly how are we going to do this?"

Emily looked around and shrugged. "I really don't know," she said. She looked at everyone else. "But we have to think of something! There must've been a reason we all came here. Because it seems pretty . . . odd? Ange your vision had to have meant something!"

Everyone thought for a few minutes.

They all sat in silence for a few minutes and finally Zynthiel spoke up.

"Look, we have to approach this logically. Ange had a vision of Strife and that made her come back to the Temple. The rest of us, for various reasons, coincidently come back here at the same time. I think that either the vision was real and Strife needs our help or someone's playing a trick on us."

Ange shook her head. "I know what I saw. It was Strife. Besides, why would anyone else want to bring us all here?"

"Yeah, that's what I figured. We should assume it's Strife calling us all but we can't dismiss the notion that it might be a trick. If it IS Strife then the next question is what does he want us to do? Are we supposed to wait here for some sign or should we make a little trip to Hades? Or maybe Ares could help? What do you think, guys?" Zyn looked around at the others.

Angelica gazed at Zyn with a look that screamed 'are you crazy'? After careful thought of her beloved grandfather, the lord of the dead, who'd do anything for his only granddaughter but wouldn't consent to assisting in resurrecting Strife. As for Ares, that was one she didnt even want to go there with. After the outs she's had with him, then looking just like his daughter and psycho granddaughte,r Ange believed that it was best not to ask him for his help. "We can do this on our own," The refugee princess declared like the Xena wannabe she was. "Besides, if Strife wanted godly intervention he would have said so in the vision. Now I have Adrianna's ancient spell of resurrection right here in this scroll. But here's the catch, we must do everything in the exact order it says or we'll be in big trouble. Are you prepared for what we must partake in this most awesome mystical mission that none of us will ever forget?"

After a rousing speech like that, the girls couldn't help but feel motivated, so Ange quickly assigned tasks before the euphoria had time to fade. The priestesses rapidly scattered to gather materials and prepare the altar for the coming ritual.

Maggie rummaged through the neglected cabinets, searching in vain for the final ingredient on her mental 'to find' list. "Pepper, pepper," she murmured to herself. "Where did we used to keep the friggin' pepper in this place?" She crouched down to check the lower cupboards. "Or was I supposed to get paprika? Maybe it was Hasenpfeffer? Damn." She shoved her upper body further into the confined space to see if she had missed anything in the back. "Wait, that can't be right, Hasenpfeffer means rabbit."

"Looking for something?"

Her neck snapped up with a start, her head colliding with the top of the cabinet. "*Ow,*" she glowered darkly at Deimos once she'd managed to extricate herself. "Don't sneak up on people like that."

"What are you doing here?" he asked her with a cocked eyebrow.

"Umm," she stalled badly, not wanting him to know what was going on. "Looking for the pepper?"

"We don't have pepper at my temple?"

"Well, yeah, yeah, we do but not *this* particular pepper. This has sentimental value." She'd forgotten how bad she was at this.

"Sentimental value?" he asked incredulously.

She nodded vigorously, wide-eyed and dry-mouthed with nervousness. Just then a loud crash came from the next room. The god looked at her suspiciously.

"Really...big...rats," she explained calmly.

"Right. Look, as much as I'd love to stay and debate this with you, I have a meeting with Ares." He tossed her a glass vial filled with tiny black kernels and she looked at him curiously. "Next time, try the spice rack." She put a hand to her face and laughed weakly in mortification.

"Oh, and when I get back you and I are going to have a little talk. Going through your dead ex-god's temple looking for marinade seasonings? That's *really* morbid." And with that, a bubble engulfed him and he was gone.

"I didn't even know we *owned* a spice rack," Maggie said defensively. She turned the jar over in her hands, it seemed all right. Had Deimos pulled a switcharoo on her? "Nah," she shook her head at the sheer ludicrousness of it. Deimos had all the subtle devious tendencies of a bowl of custard.

Sillen and Emily were just righting the fallen altar stone as Maggie emerged from the kitchen. "So *that's* what that noise was."

"Yeah," Em wiped some sweat from underneath her arms "that thing is way more heavy then it looks." She sniffed her hand curiously. "Ew. Massive BO. I'd better go change before we start."

Sillen briefly looked up from where she was sketching symbols for the ritual on the tablet. "Yeah it would kind of wreck the moment if the first thing Strife said upon being resurrected was 'My gods what's that stink? Oh, hi Emily!'"

Zynth and Mags burst into giggles as Ems leapt up onto the altarstone and tried to smother Sillen with her sweaty tunic. Sill pretended to choke on the smell and faint. In a way it was just like old times.

"Somebody get the door," Angelica's voice wafted in from the hall. "Don't make me kick it down"

Sillen made a miraculous recovery and ran out to help the other priestess before she made good on her promise.

"Got your stuff?" Zynthiel asked Maggie.

"Yup." She emptied her satchel out on the table. "Mortar, pestle, flint, and pepper. You would not *believe* what I had to go through to get this," she said, and shook the vial to punctuate her point. "Deimos was being his usual pain in the butt self but..."

"Deimos was here?!" Zynth hissed in surprise.

"Yeah but," she lowered her voice as Emily, Sillen and Ange entered the room, "but don't worry, I got rid of him."

"Does he know what we're doing?"

"I don't think so. He was just wondering where I'd got to, that's all. Why, do you think he could be a problem?"

"I don't know."

Emily crossed her arms and did her best to look like stern. "Would you two stop swapping secrets over there. *Some* of us have a spell to get started on."

"You're just jealous we're not sharing with you," Zynth teased

Ems jutted out her lower lip. "So?"

"Okay guys gather round." Ange dumped an armload of plants on the top of the altar. "We've got to get this just right or who knows what will happen." Taking the mortar and pestle in hand she read carefully from the scroll as Sillen proceeded to mark out various runes on the dial she'd previously drawn with a piece of charcoal.

"A Zinnia in remembrance of an absent friend." Angelica dropped the blossom into the mortar and proceeded to grind it up. "Poppies for the oblivion he currently resides in. Dead leaves for the mourning process we went through. Forget-me-nots for our memories and lilies for our devotion to them." These too were added and ground in with the others.

Ange then took the pieces of flint and struck them together until a spark fell into the mortar and set fire to the plant life within. She dropped a nut into the flaming mass. "An acorn for immortality, for as it withers away from the nourishment of its tree so it falls and is born again as a tree unto itself."

"Can we get any more pretentious?" Sillen muttered.

"And finally pepper for..." Angelica looked around for the final ingredient. "Pepper for..."

Maggie reluctantly handed the bottle to the other priestess. She had a bad feeling about how Deimos had blinked in and just happened to find the one thing she needed before blinking out again, but she didn't want to say anything. Her mind was just probably playing tricks on her out of nervousness.

Uncorking the vial, Ange shook a measure of its contents out and into the fire. "Pepper for the spice of life." The flames flared brightly upward for a moment, filling the room with a horrible smell, before sinking down and extinguishing themselves. Dipping her finger into the smoldering powder that remained, she marked out specific points on the rune dial and then made the same marks on her palms as well as the ones of the other priestesses.

"Everyone sit down around the circle cross-legged and hold hands." Once everybody was properly situated she spread the scroll out in front of her. "Now while I read the incantation I need all of you to close your eyes and concentrate very hard on a mental picture of Strife. Any really strong memories you have of him will work too. What's important is that you keep your minds occupied and your mouths shut."

Angelica then launched into a chant in a language that none of them were familiar with at a speed where all the words ran together in a blur. With their eyes squinched tightly shut, Zynthiel, Maggie, Emily and Sillen did their best to resist the urge to peek and keep their minds on Strife. As Ange's chanting grew in intensity the room suddenly grew cold and a sharp wind gusted about the room before becoming a concentrated storm at the center of the circle. Their hair whipped from the force, stinging at their cheeks and noses but still they concentrated. They focused until their heads hurt and their eyes ached and their fingernails cut into the hands tightly grasping theirs.

And just when they thought they couldn't hold out any longer everything stopped.

An unearthly quiet came over the room, as if the world had stopped around them. Nobody dared move or breathe or speak. Finally, Sillen broke the silence.

"Is it okay to open our eyes now?"