"Is there a reason you can't simply transport me to Hades'
realm?" Xena asked Aphrodite.
"Yes," replied the blond-tressed Goddess. "It's one of those
annoying rules. You have to prove get in and out of the
underworld by your own power. I will, however, see you
again." The Goddess of Love vanished in a blast of golden
light, leaving Xena to contemplate the cold dark waters
before her.
THE UNDERWORLD, HADES' CASTLE
In his castle in the underworld, Hades was slumped in a
chair. Persephone was kneading his tired shoulders.
Sometimes, it was really really good to be married to the
goddess of spring. Fresh fruit and cut flowers were never a
problem around the castle when she was around. And when she
wasn't . . . well, it was time for frozen food. He was still
in more casual attire, though. He dreaded what was to come
next.
"My beloved, do you remember the story I told you about
Celesta becoming a mortal human for one day?" he asked
hesitantly.
"Yes," his wife replied.
"I never got around to telling you this, but I did it too.
Became mortal for a day, that is. Long before I met you."
"Really?" asked Persephone in a tone that was both blithe
and neutral.
Hades nodded hesitantly. "For that ONE day I was a total
mortal . . . it was a learning experience, let me tell you.
That's why I decided to impose the same fate on Ares for a
day or so a while back. But the main thing I wanted to
underscore is that for that day, I was a man, with a man's
body, and a man's passions. I met this woman and . . .
well, because of the circumstances, I have a totally mortal
daughter--"
"Oh, you mean that Moment girl. Lovely thing. I think she
takes after your darkly handsome looks."
"You knew??"
Persephone laughed gently in reply. "My mother is Demeter,
Goddess of Fertility. Of *course* I knew! But what brings
this up now?"
"Well, you know that the children of Gods and mortals can
vary wildly in their powers. Some seem totally normal but
may have magical powers, or heroic physical traits, such as
Hercules. In Moment's case, she never had a *chance* of
such, because she was conceived while I was in a state of
total mortality. So, thanks to a deal with Aphrodite, the
Fates have changed her destiny." At that instant, he was
interrupted by a loud pounding on the castle doors.
He ignored it and prepared to speak again. Someone knocked
again. Persephone scowled. "Honey, it must be important.
None of the dead would dare bother you."
Hades immediately tensed all the way back up, causing
Persephone to frown even more. "It's probably Xena, I can't
think of anyone more annoying than her, except possibly ...
oh wait, he hasn't been born yet, nevermind."
The knocking was louder. "Come in!" sang out Persephone.
Sure enough, in walked Xena. She was still somewhat wet
from her plunge into Lake Avernus, and she looked a little
scorched. She was also carrying 3 steaks on a line.
Persephone smiled brightly. "Oh! You brought Cerberus a
little something! What a thoughtful guest! I'm Persephone,
and you must be Xena!" Then she frowned cutely.
AT THAT MOMENT IN GREECE . . .
Just then, above a cooled volcanic flow, two voices could be
heard. The words they spoke grew louder until the final
lines resounded clearly to the hillsides:
"I swear it on the River Styx,
utter destruction on she who dares to break this pact!"
A few moments later, stone cold river suddenly exploded,
volcanic rock flying everywhere as a hole blasted open in
the middle of the lava field. A huge blast crater opened in
the center of the former lava stream and two female figures
stood there holding hands and exulting. "We did it! At last!
Our combined power freed us! Now for our divine revenge!"
crowed Velasca in her best, "I'm a Goddess now, fear me!"
voice.
Callisto grinned, a strange light glinting in her white
eyes. "Sure Velasca, just like our oath. We follow the plan-
-first we go after Artemis' temples, then Xena. Unless she
shows up early looking to get her death a little quicker!"
Callisto grinned insanely at the mere thought of the
horrendous tortures she could--and would--inflict on Xena.
Keeping her alive and awake while slowly dipping her into
lava on a giant fork was but the first of many pleasant
thoughts she entertained.
Velasca just looked at her. She enjoyed dealing pain and
amassing power, true, but there was, in her opinion,
something decidedly *broken* in Callisto.
"AHHHHK!!" she screeched at Velasca. "Don't just stand
there, let's go." Velasca took a step back. "Just . . .
give me a moment to regather my energies . . ." Callisto
scowled, grabbed the other goddess and threw a lash of fire
up the cliff side..
THE UNDERWORLD, HADES' CASTLE . . .
"Honey, did you get that feeling of imminent doom just now?"
asked Persephone. Hades shut his eyes and took a deep
breath.
"Yes, yes I did. The duo swore a pact of cooperation on the
River Styx." He opened his eyes and opened his mouth to
speak. Xena was staring at him. "What?!" he asked.
"You look very different without your armor," she said.
"Much younger-looking than I'd have thought." Persephone
smiled and hugged Hades' arm.
"He was really quite a catch," she purred.
"I'm sure," Xena said, a bit disturbed to find the male
behind the myth.
Hades shook his head. He really would rather have approached
this situation differently but the pressure of time didn't
allow it. "We must get you to the cliffs of Tartarus. Are
you ready for a climb?"
"Yes, I'm ready," Xena replied in her most business-like
manner.
Persephone asked, "What is she going into Tartarus for?"
Hades sighed. "The Scythe of Chronos."
Persephone blanched, looked at Xena, looked at Hades, and
back at Xena. "Xena, even if you can somehow wield the
Scythe, it'll kill you, you realize that don't you?"
Xena's eyes widened. "What?"
"It's a similar situation to the time you freed Prometheus;
a mortal who, somehow, can wield the Scythe will be
destroyed by using it. I believe it will make her age fifty
years from each swing."
Xena stiffened and tossed her hair. "Well, two blows should
be sufficient--there are only two of them after all."
Hades snorted in derision at her incredible pride.
Persephone shot him a look that said to cut Xena some slack.
"So, husband, you said to me earlier that you were going to
select a champion. I think you should go off and do that.
*I* will guide Xena to Tartarus." She briefly kissed him on
the cheek, and then grabbed her travel cloak off a peg in
the castle wall and went to Xena's side. "Xena, I'm trying
to think of something that could improve your situation but
I'm afraid that the only thing I can think of would be the
Golden Apples of the Hesperides, and Callisto destroyed the
last known tree of them after gaining her own eternal life."
As they exited the door, Xena turned and looked at the
Goddess. "All I would ask, Persephone, is once I'm gone, if
you can look over Gabrielle from time to time...?"
Alone, Hades sat for a while before teleporting away. He
arrived in Hephaestus' workshop.
"Hades, what brings you here?" the smith asked, perplexed.
"I need a favor," Hades said. "I need for you to forge a
weapon for me. A very special weapon. And we're going to
need your wife's help to get it up to speed. I suspect that
she might not like what I have in mind."
Hephaestus frowned. "Well, Uncle, you'd better explain to me
what's going on."
Hades nodded in agreement and began telling his story.
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