An Old Friend (Ares)

[Gabrielle]

Here's the funny thing about time; it'll fly away from you if you let it. It was drawing in on one full year since Gabrielle's boat was dragged into the Crystal Expanse and she had met Zora along the crystallized ice that contained this metropolis buried underneath. Boy, how that has changed. Now the ice was melted and the city was allowed to live again under the guidance of their leader Kain. Gabrielle decided to go on a walk through Kari on her own enjoying the sights of the city, a city she never would have thought could exist before, to clear her mind and be at peace. Finally having a chance to rest after all that had happened.

Gabrielle found herself wandering to the armory where she trained Zora how to use a staff. Her eyes wandering over to the modern weapons she never fully got around to learning how to use. Was these the things her world could expect in a couple of decades time? Would the cycle of blood and violence not only continue but receive an upgrade to make it easier and more convenient for someone to do bodily harm? The thought was enough to make Gabrielle feel sick, until her senses flared and she realized that wasn't just the thought of people back home never being able to end the cycle she once thought she'd end before losing her own blood innocence. It was something familiar and not in the good way. Instinct took over the body causing Gabrielle to draw the Katana from its sheath as she turned around and aimed the blade towards the intruder that appeared behind her.

[Ares]

The katana's blade stopped just a few inches away from the God of War's neck, a chuckle leaving Ares' lips as like Xena before her Gabrielle had easily detected him in his invisible state and was one step ahead of him. This time. The Battling Bard of Potidaea had truly proven herself as Xena's successor both with this and her mastery over the chakram since the Warrior Princess' untimely and unfortunate death.

"You've gotten better at that."

Ares brought his wristband up against the blade and gently pushed it aside as he got out of the sword's reach.

"Xena would have been proud."

[Gabrielle]

Gabrielle's eyes widened in shock and then her face twisted, displaying obvious disgust at the appearance of the god of war. Someone she thought she was finally freed from but once again had shown up when he was least wanted. Gabrielle lowered her blade and sheathed it as she looked at the god now in front of her.
"What do you want, Ares?"

[Ares]

"Is that any way to greet an old friend?"

Ares turned around and walked to the opposite side of the room where Gabrielle was standing. Admiring the many different kinds of modern weapons being held here. Running a finger across the glassed cases that held the FAMAS assault rifle and watching Gabrielle from the reflection of the glass as he continued.

"I thought I'd drop in, say hello..."

He turned back around to face the Battling Bard of Potidaea. All grown up.

"See how you were doing in this brand new world."

[Gabrielle]

Gabrielle barely able to suppress a laugh as she replied to Ares.
"You and I are not friends."
Allies perhaps, when the need calls for it. But Ares has put she and Xena both through too much hell to ever be considered friends.
"And we both know you don't just drop by to make social calls. Now get to the point so I can tell you no and get on with my day."

[Ares]

"I'm hurt."

He said sarcastically. Merely chuckling at what Gabrielle said next as he slowly began to approach her position in the room again. Stopping a couple of feet away from her before he continued on.

"Oh, I can guarantee you're not gonna want to say no to this."

The God of War spoke at length. Building up to the revelation that had occurred in Elim thanks to the worlds coming together to cone central key point.

"Xena's alive."

[Gabrielle]

"Is that right?" replied Gabrielle skeptically.
The amused smile at Ares' guarantee was soon wiped off the Traveling Bard's face when the god of war said those final words. "Xena's alive." Just the thought alone was enough to make the world around her go silence. For the longest time Gabrielle had felt Xena by her side, even capable of talking to her but lately? Lately she hasn't seen her at all. Could it be? Could Xena really be alive again? Dare she trust the deceiving god of war?
"What?"

[Ares]

"That's right."

As he expected the amused grin on her face was wiped away as soon as the revelation was revealed to her. It was the natural reaction anyone would have to hearing their "soulmate" was back from the dead. True, the two had cheated deaths many times before but Xena's death in Jappa was definitely meant to be her end. Thanks to the current situation of the universe however, that was soon ended. And for Ares it couldn't have come at a better time.

"Due to the realms conversing the afterlife Xena's soul was confined to was shattered. Leading Xena back to her body and onto a nice little continent called Elim. Last spotted near the elf's capital Essancee. If you set sail now you can make it there by morning and begin searching for her. It'd be a tragedy if Xena came back to life only to perish again before you had a chance to reach her."

[Gabrielle]

Gabrielle still couldn't believe what she was hearing. So much in fact that it crossed her mind this could be some trap. The Traveling Bard knew Ares was slime but how could he sink so low as to use the current situation to make her believe Xena was back from the dead? She had to be sure this was legitimate before she even considered leaving Kari to go searching for her. And there was still the matter of what to do with Zora if it came to that. Should she take the witch with her on such a journey or find a safe place for her to stay? Gabrielle would have to cross that bridge when she came to it. If she came to it.
"Ares, I swear, if this is some trick-"

[Ares]

Ares saw the doubt on her face and in her mind. It was only natural but if she honestly thought he would fabricate something like this for some diabolical scheme then she didn't know him as well as she thought she did. No matter how bad someone can be we all had to draw the line somewhere, and this was his.

"No trick," he interrupted. "I wouldn't lie about something like this."

[Gabrielle]

"Why are you telling me this?"
Gabrielle's suspicion was going back up for a whole new set of reasons now that she could tell by that look in his eye he wasn't making this up to trick her. What was stopping him from greeting Xena himself? Even if he had and she already gave him the cold shoulder like she has in the past that didn't explain why he was here informing her. Unless he was trying to get her to owe him another favor. Gabrielle knew how those usually ended.

[Ares]

"The real question you should be asking yourself is "does it matter?" We both know now that Xena is alive there isn't anything in this reality or the next that's going to keep you from her."
Ares wasn't going to give her a reason, she wouldn't believe it anyway. He would simply banked on the fact they both knew to be true. Gabrielle was going to search for Xena. To the ends of Genesis if she had to in order to be reunited with her soulmate. And she wouldn't care if it was a trap or not.
"Good luck."
With a smile the God of War's body turned into a bright hue of blue as if he was becoming a walking humanoid of energy before vanishing in a spark of white light leaving the Traveling Bard to process what she had learned here today. And wondering what Ares' endgame truly was.

[Gabrielle]

"Ares, wait!"
But it was no good. The god of war was gone and the Traveling Bard was left wondering what his plan was. Gabrielle didn't want to admit it but he was right. Even if it meant walking straight into a death trap Gabrielle planned to leave and find Xena. There was just one thing left to attend to before setting off.
Zora.