Author: Athea (athea@netexpress.net)
Series: War God II, chapter 15
Title: Labor Pains
Date: April 29 2000
Summary: The trip into the Void doesn't quite go as planned.
**********************  
Labor Pains
********************** 

	Joxer took a quick look around the room and hid his smile at 
how close together Apollo and Iphicles were standing.  Way to go, 
Apollo.  Let's get this over with so we can get to the good parts of 
this story.

	"Ah, yes.  King Iphicles, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. 
I meant to come down and talk to you about that dispute over the harbor 
at Cenchreae.  That was a very nice job of soothing tempers instead of
fighting."  Zeus genially greeted the king who looked a little stunned
at suddenly being confronted with the king of the gods.

	"T-thank you, Sir."  His dark eyes darted to Apollo in an 
unconscious plea for backup.

	"Father, did Hades say he'd help out tonight?"  Apollo summoned 
a goblet of wine and handed it to Zeus.

	"It took some convincing but actually Aphrodite did some fast 
talking and convinced him to help.  I think he has a soft spot for 
Iolaus, myself."

	Joxer rolled his eyes at how dense his father-in-law could be 
some times.  Hades had more than a fondness for the bright mortal, he 
hadn't wanted to give him back the last time he'd 'died'.  //Ares, are 
you going to tell him or should we just let well enough alone?//

	//Not the job we came here for, love.  I want to get this over 
with so we can get back to 'Dite.  Did you notice how irritable she was 
at dinner?//

	Joxer shivered slightly while he remembered the way she'd 
gotten up and down to get items that she suddenly couldn't do without. 
First it was olives, then more feta followed by golden apples and some 
hard crackers that could only be found in Delphi.  He'd gone to Delphi 
for the crackers while Ares had popped over to the garden of Hesperides 
for some apples.

	Then she'd only taken a bite from the apple and part of a 
cracker before getting up again.  Harmonia had told them to split 
before she got back with the fish eggs she'd been muttering about.  So, 
they'd popped back to the cottage for an uninterrupted meal of bread 
and cheese.  He smiled and leaned a little harder into Ares' shoulder 
feeling his arm come up around him in a fond embrace.  Bread and cheese 
and loving went well together.

	Hercules and Iolaus came in before Zeus could get in any 
questions about why Apollo and Iphicles seemed to be glued together at 
the hip.  Joxer sighed at the dark circles under both their eyes.  They 
looked as if they'd been in a battle, careworn and faintly disheveled. 

	//This had better work or they're going to fade away 
completely.//

	Ares sighed mentally and agreed.  //It will work.  I just wish 
we had a major water god in with us.  I don't like leaving an element 
undone.//

	Joxer gulped and decided to come clean.  //I, uh, spoke to 
Tethys yesterday.  I told her that we really needed a better water god 
than me and she said she'd come.//

	The arm tightened around him.  //Not better, Joxer, just more
experienced.  She's got about five thousand years of controlling water
under her belt.  And just what did you have to promise her?//

	Joxer squirmed a little, his eyes meeting Ares' sheepishly.  
//I asked her for water lessons and promised to go to her in the Ionian 
Sea.//  

	//Oh well, it could have been worse.  I can get in some work in 
the islands while you're learning.  The pirates are starting to unify 
and I need them to be separate.  Strife and I can sow a little 
dissension here and there while I'm waiting for you to come back to 
land.//  Ares smiled down at him and Joxer leaned up into his kiss.

	//I love you.//  They spoke simultaneously to each other, only 
breaking apart when Zeus cleared his throat loudly.

	"Now, we're all here and ready to get down to business."  A 
wind whirled through the room and Tethys appeared beside Hestia.  
"Thank you for coming Teth'.  Now, we have all the elements covered so 
we'll be grounded on all four points with myself in the fifth 
position."  Another sparkling shape appeared.  "Ah, Hades, are you sure 
you're up to this?"

	The dark god contented himself with a nod, his eyes sweeping 
the room with one comprehensive glance.  The shears in his hands 
reminded Joxer of the Fates.  A flutter of wings heralded Cupid's 
arrival followed closely by Strife.  Joxer speculated about who'd been 
where when they got their summons.  He and Ares exchanged a grin and a 
lightning quick exchange of shared speculation.

	"All right, I think we're finally all here.  Cupid, you'll 
anchor your Aunt Hestia and Strife will be my anchor.  Hades, I believe 
your water element is up to working with Tethys.  Of course, Joxer will 
work with Ares and I believe Apollo will have Iphicles at his back."  
Zeus got all their nods before continuing.  "Son, I think it's time you 
and Iolaus go to sleep.  We'll follow you and break this link once and 
for all."

	Hercules nodded, his arm around his lover's shoulders.  "Thank 
you . . . all of you.  I just hope this works."

	"It will, lad.  One way or another we'll solve this puzzle 
tonight."  Hades' voice was like soft velvet and everyone seemed to 
calm a little when he spoke.

	"Off you go, boys.  Teth' and I will tuck you in and watch over 
you until you fall asleep."  Hestia rose and took Hercules' hand while 
the white haired goddess of the ocean took Iolaus' in a firm grip.  
They sparkled out of sight and the whole room of gods and mortals 
relaxed.

	"Morpheus is there so until they fall asleep we have a few 
moments.  Is our plan of action clear to everyone?"  Zeus materialized 
a tray of goblets filled with wine from Joxer's favorite vineyard.  
Once everyone had one, he raised his in a toast.  "To our successful 
trip in and more importantly out of the Void."

	They all raised their goblets and drank.  Joxer watched 
Iphicles' eyes widen at the taste of the golden wine.  He was glad to 
see that someone else had his reaction.  He enjoyed watching the king 
and the bright god who stood so closely beside him.

	//They look good together.  Right.//  He told Ares with a 
tender glance.

	//The way we looked when we first came together.  'Dite told me 
that we were just as sweet as they appear now.//  Ares returned his 
look.

	//We were very, very lucky, love.  I hope they are too.//

	//The trip will be hard on Apollo.  He's been afraid of the 
dark since he was a little boy.  He's so bright and sunny that the 
other gods have always teased him about his fear.//

	//I know exactly how he feels.  I still get a little panicky 
when it's dark.//  Joxer confessed ruefully.

	//I know, love but you're getting better.  The trip into the 
Void will be hard but I think we're going to witness something 
amazing.//  There was a tone of suppressed excitement in his voice that 
surprised Joxer.

	//What do you have up your sleeve, Ares?  Something from the
Archives?//

	Ares just smiled down at him and kissed the end of his nose.  
//If I'm right, this may be just the beginning of something new.  
Something that's never existed before.  Kind of like the twins that 
'Dite is carrying.  One from each of us.//

	//Really?//  Joxer tried to wrap his mind around the concept of 
a place being pregnant.  //That's either very cool or very weird, I'm 
not sure which.  But I thought the two universes were opposite each 
other.  And they'd destroy each other if they touched.//

	//We don't know.  But one of the earliest entries in the Chaos
Chronicles says that when opposites attract, a new way is born.  That
stuck in my mind for some reason and after meeting you, I knew that it
was true.  Out of the chaos that was my life, you came in with your 
love and freed me from the cold place where I'd dwelt far too long.//

	Joxer felt tears well at the matter-of-fact declaration of love 
from the god who owned him.  He didn't have the words to reply so 
instead, he threw his emotions into their link with all the passion he 
had.  Only to be met with Ares' love redoubled.  He felt warmed all 
through and leaned a little harder into the arm that held him.

	"They're asleep.  It's time for us to follow."  Zeus spoke with 
a far away look in his eyes.  Gesturing towards the table, he seated 
himself at the head and gestured the others into place.  Ares sat at 
his left hand while Apollo sat at his right.  Hestia and Tethys flashed 
back into the room and took their seats beside the others.  Strife 
stood to one side of Zeus, with his hand on his shoulder.  The others 
mirrored his pose with their own principals.

	Joxer took a deep breath and prepared to follow Ares into the 
Void.  There was a moment of disorientation then he knew they were 
there.

	Darkness, cold and dank.

	The heartbeat was faster now.

	And the sense of impending movement was much clearer.

	He could feel Ares touching him and through him he could also 
feel Hestia's warmth.

	The more he tried to strain to see something other than the 
dark, the darker it felt to him.  Finally giving up, he drifted into a 
trance that gradually became the dream.  He saw Hercules and Iolaus in 
the cave but this time there was no spear and no death.  Instead they 
began to glow with a golden light that grew brighter and brighter until 
Joxer had to close his eyes.

	And suddenly there were two sets of images, one in bright gold 
and one glowing silver bright.  He was guessing that the golden set was 
their Hercules and Iolaus while the silver pair came from the other 
universe.  Both pair inhabited a dark place that stretched out into 
infinity yet were growing closer and closer to each other.  If it was 
possible, he would have said they were mirrors of each other.  They had 
still not touched when the distant heartbeat began to speed up.

	Joxer could feel the ties between the gods straining at the 
seams while they maintained their hold on Hercules and Iolaus who were 
getting farther and farther ahead.  A faint echo seemed to be coming 
from the silver universe and he wondered if the gods on that side were 
doing the same thing they were.  His tether to Ares was still strong 
but he could feel some of the other ties were not.

	Suddenly the light was gone and a hush filled the Void in place 
of the heartbeat.  How would they know when to cut the cord if they 
couldn't see it?  From just beyond Ares, he saw a small spark that grew 
into a flame of fire.  Hestia burned brightly and Joxer could see the 
two images approaching each other with hastening speed    

	At the moment of collision, bright and dark mixed in stripes of 
gold and silver until they could hardly be told apart.  The merger was 
almost silent and after a moment of unity, they split apart only to 
leave something behind.

	The cave appeared dark and empty.

	The heartbeat began again, slow and hesitant.

	Ares was holding on to their Hercules with all his strength but 
the tug towards the empty cave was strong.

	Hades had a strangle hold on Iolaus but Joxer saw the bright 
warrior slipping slowly into the new cave. 

	The darkness grew in volume and substance like a sticky web, 
trapping them all in strands of black.

	Dragging them all towards the empty cave.

	Apollo threw a lightning bolt of pure light into the cave.

	It absorbed it.

	A wave of refreshing water came from Tethys, filling the cave 
to overflowing.

	It drained it.

	Hestia's fire flamed into the cave with bright flames.

	It quenched them.

	Joxer felt Ares dig deep inside of himself and shake the cave 
in a silent earthquake.

	It stilled the motion.

	Zeus gathered his power and asked soundlessly for their 
strength.

	A bolt of lightning illuminated the Void and Joxer saw the four
elements twine together into an impossibly solid rope of energy that
looped around the cave and began to squeeze.  The tug towards the cave
was almost impossible to resist but Joxer dug in his heals and held 
hard to his lover.  Ares was going nowhere without him.

	A slight movement caught his eye and he saw the shears of the 
Fates loom overhead.  Concentrating on them, the gods and mortals 
willed them towards the knot that wavered where their energies entwined 
with the parallel universe's.  Joxer felt his body tremble with the 
strain and he began to feel himself split in two.
	
	But with a sudden burst of light from Apollo, the shears 
reached their goal and the sharp blades sliced through the glowing 
energy strands.

	A scream filled the cave.

	A white light began to pulse within.

	The explosion of energy threw everyone back into the 
appropriate universe.

	And the Void grew quiet once again.

****************  

	Joxer woke up on the floor of Iphicles' study with Ares' head 
on his leg.  Sitting up slowly, he looked for the others.  Hestia 
wasn't there but the fire on the hearth was suspiciously red.  Tethys' 
white head was cradled on her arms on the table.  Zeus was slumped 
against the back of his chair.  Strife and Cupid were in each other's 
arms on the other side of the room.  Hades was missing completely.

	Apollo looked like a pale shadow of himself, cradled in a 
groggy Iphicles' arms.

	It felt like a hangover of gigantic proportions.

	Hercules dashed into the room, glowing with energy.  Iolaus was 
right behind him.  Joxer sighed thankfully.  Even though it hurt, it 
appeared their battle for their two friends had been successful.

	Ares stirred and Joxer concentrated on his lover.  Stroking the 
dark hair from his forehead, he gently nudged him through their bond. 
//Lover?  We're back and safe.  All of us, I think.//

	//?//

	//It seemed to suck the energy right out of us.  I think we're 
going to need to head to the valley for a recharge.//

	//Ow.  It feels like somebody ran over me with a chariot.//

	//Poor love.  I'll kiss and make it better if you'll let me.// 
Joxer suited his statement with soothing caresses.

	//That sounds good.//

	"Well, that was interesting."  Zeus' voice was a little hoarse 
and Joxer looked up in time to see him rub his temples.

	"Does anyone know if it succeeded?"  Apollo's accents were 
faint.

	Tethys sighed and stretched.  "I believe it did.  All that 
energy went straight into the cave and when the shears cut us apart . . . 
something was born."

	The fire snapped and crackled, Hestia appearing from the flames 
only a little singed around the edges.  "I caught a glimpse of the 
Other Side.  I think the other universe was truly paralleling us and 
part of their energy was cut off as well.  It seems that there may now 
be three universes."

	"And if it happened once, who is to say it won't happen again. 
Hasn't happened before?"  Hades' soft voice sighed from the corner of 
the room where he materialized with a slightly rusty pair of shears.

	"Fascinating to contemplate."  Zeus said, sitting up and 
straightening his robes.

	"Later.  We can contemplate it later."  Tethys stood up and 
sent a piercing look at Joxer.  "I will see you later as well, young 
man."

	He gulped hard as she flashed from sight.  //You'll stay with 
me, right?//

	//Every step of the way, love.//  Ares sat up and pulled him 
closer.  "I vote we let it go for the moment and recharge.  Meet you 
all back here in a week or so."

	"Agreed, son."  Zeus stood and hugged Hercules before giving 
Iolaus his own hug.  "I'm glad you're both all right.  Take care of 
each other."

	"Thanks, Father.  Thanks to everyone for all your help."  
Hercules' blue eyed gaze flashed around the room with a contented 
smile.

	"Yeah, yeah, whatever."  Strife was trying to stand up without 
letting go of Cupid and it wasn't working.

	"You're welcome, Uncle Herc'.  Iolaus, keep an eye on him, 
okay?"  Cupid wouldn't let go either and the two of them winked out of 
sight still holding onto each other.

	"Hades, I'll go back with you and help explain the state of 
their . . . shears."  Zeus nodded to the others and flashed from view 
with the god of the underworld.

	"Apollo, will you be all right?"  Ares got to his feet with a 
groan, pulling Joxer up with him.

	"As long as I don't move more than an inch for the next year, 
I'll be fine."  Apollo tried for a joke but his trembling hand gave 
away his lack of energy.

	Joxer crossed to him and took one of his hands.  Willing some 
of his air element into the god of the sun, he felt his boost 
reinforced by Ares.  The pale skin grew a slight tinge of pink and 
Apollo blinked rapidly.  Iphicles supported him when he struggled to 
sit up.

	"How did you did that?  Air is your weaker element, Joxer."  

	"I've been working with 'Dite and Mother Hera for the last six 
months.  They're both pretty powerful."  Joxer knew that Ares wanted to 
keep their link quiet for the time being.

	"Well, they did a great job.  I can take it from here.  Thanks,
Joxer."  Apollo sat up but kept hold of Iphicles' arm.  "I think I'll
stay here for a while.  Rest up, you know."

	Iphicles' eyes gleamed in the firelight and Joxer felt the 
energy sing between them.  "My castle is your castle, Apollo.  Herc', 
why don't you and Iolaus go soak for a while?  I'm sure you need to get 
rid of some . . . stress."

	Iolaus caught the hint and slung an arm around Hercules.  "Good 
idea.  Hey, Big Guy, why don't we go bathe?  You can scrub my back for 
me."

	Herc' was frowning slightly while he looked back and forth 
between the gods and his half-brother.  "Um, okay.  You guys will be 
all right?"

	"We'll be just fine, big brother."  Iphicles smiled up at them.

	Joxer saw them leave from the shelter of Ares' arms.  "Bye, 
Herc'.  Iolaus.  Take care of each other."

	"You bet, we will."  Iolaus grinned and tugged his lover from 
the room.

	"The same goes for you two."  Ares growled before winking them 
from the room and into the hot springs, sans clothes.

	Joxer sighed and relaxed into the heated kiss from his lover.  
He spared one last thought for their trip to the Void.  Hopefully, the
energy was building a bright new universe.  Just like he and Ares were
building something new between the two of them.

********************  

	In the new universe, a baby waved his arms and legs excitedly. 
Cooing brightly, he felt strong arms pick him up.  "What have we here? 
Iolaus, come see what I found."

********************  
End part 15