Xena, Gabrielle, Hercules and Iolaus are all the property of MCA Universal and Renaissance Pictures. I am merely boring them. This story however is my own work.

This contains sexual themes and violence. If this offends you please go read another.

**Author's note: This is a far stretch from what I usually write so I have to say it's a bit weird.

Part I

Xena looked out as friend after friend dropped at the weapons of Cortese's men. The 17-year-old clenched her fist and hit the table next to her. Her gazed left the battlefield and wandered to the green mountains just north of her village, Amphipolis. Her brother, Toris, and a group of men and women had already fled into the hills for safety. 'That coward!', Xena thought angrily. She picked up a knife from the table and threw it at the wall opposite her. It was caught expertly in two fingers by a hooded figure. Xena stepped back, startled.

"Don't worry", the figure said, "I'm not here to hurt you." Xena raised an eyebrow.

"You're not with Cortese?", Xena asked, "There are not many in Amphipolis who can catch a knife like that! Who are you?" The hooded person nodded.

"Your mind works like a warrior. I gave you the gift of warrior arts when you were just a small child. I knew you were the one." Xena just looked confused.

"Who are you?", she asked shaking slightly.

"I am Ares. God of War.", the hooded being said. Xena drew back, suddenly afraid.

"Then you'd be with Cortese.", she said, "Cortese worships you. Get out of my house, please." Xena looked defiant.

"Relax!", Ares said, "I'm not in league with Cortese. In fact I came to help you!" Xena looked confused.

"Me? Why me?", she asked. Her blue eyes flashing with both fear and excitement. Ares laughed.

"Yes you!", he cried with a laugh. Seeing the confusion on her faced he added, "You were always my chosen one. Come give me your hand." When Xena refused to. Ares laughed at her suspicion and said, "It is your destiny to be a warrior Xena, fight your battles, but don't fight destiny. Now give me your hand." Xena reluctantly gave Ares her hand. He lifted it to his lips and kissed it. Xena felt a rush of energy and she shivered.

"Go out tomorrow, defeat Cortese. I have big plans for you Xena.", Ares said as he vanished, "Big plans." Xena stood stunned in the room and turned towards the window. Cortese was withdrawing his army for the day.

"But I'll make sure you never live to withdraw your army from this village again", Xena vowed, "Never."

*****

Part II

"Xena, get my sword will you?", Lyceus commanded. Xena nodded and took not one but two swords off the wall.

"Xena what in the gods' names are you doing. Put Toris' sword back on the wall. We don't need reminders of that pathetic excuse for a human." Cyrene, looked shocked.

"Lyceus, don't you dare speak of Toris in that way! Xena please put that sword back, and…what in Artemis' name are you doing?" Xena looked up. She had slipped into a knee-length skirt and had slung Toris' sword on her back.

"I'm going to fight Cortese.", she said simply and turned back to adjust her skirt and sword. Lyceus knew better than to argue with Xena when she had made up her mind. Cyrene however burst into tears.

"Toris is gone, Lyceus is always fighting, he's being lucky so far but…oh Xena! You're the only daughter this family has. Don't go, let Lyceus take care of Cortese!", Cyrene sobbed. Xena shook her head.

"I must fight Cortese, it is fated that I go out today. But I will come back after Cortese is gone." Cyrene nodded through a veil of tears.

"Take care", she whispered.

"I will", Xena replied as she walked out the door following Lyceus.

*****

Part III

Xena bit her lip as the burly soldier advanced on her an evil smile lighting up his face. His metallic mask glinted in the bright sun. Xena's eyes darted around nervously as she pulled Toris' sword from its sheath.

"Don't make me use it", she said a nervous edge creeping into her voice. Suddenly inside her head she heard Ares say, "Come on Xena, FIGHT! You were born to fight, fulfill your destiny!" Xena felt a rush of adrenaline and she reached forward and slit the man's throat. A jet of blood squirted from the wound as Xena pulled the sword back. The man slumped down to the ground, almost dead. She stared at the blood covering her hands and felt sick. As Xena glanced down as saw the mask had come loose. Termin, a close friend of hers lay there.

"Termin?", Xena asked, what? Why?" Termin shook his head.

"It was a losing battle, I did what I could. Xena, why did you kill me? I was your friend…", Termin choked and broke off. He was dead. She had never killed anyone before and found it easier than she had ever envisioned. But this was not the time to be sick. Two soldiers were coming towards her full tilt. She backed away at the last minute and the two warriors crashed into each other. With two slashes with the her sword they lay dead on the ground. Three people had died at her hand. Xena fought back the urge to throw up. In a matter of minutes she had rushed into the thickest patch of battle. In a short hour Xena had killed more that everyone else put together. Her blood innocence was gone for good.

*****

Part IV

It was midday and Xena was leading the villagers. With Lyceus at her side the Amphipolis residents had driven Cortese's army right back to their camp. They seemed unstoppable. Xena had killed many and her outfit was stained with blood. More blood spurted onto her as she drove her sword into another assailant. A kick sent him flying, right into Cortese's tent.

"What in the name of Ares is going on here?", Cortese asked. His eyes flitted over the scene in front of him. He did not like what he saw. Most of his warriors lay dead, their masks at weird angles on their faces, and the villagers were already starting to burn his camp. His gaze rested on the only woman fighter. Her small, slim figure caught his eye and as she turned he noticed her intense blue eyes. She was beautiful. His gaze swept along and saw a fair-haired man who was obviously a leader. He reached for his spear and let it fly. Moments later it hit its target, Lyceus.

"NO!!!!!", Xena screamed. The cry echoing through the whole camp. A look of pure hatred washed over Xena's face as she rushed toward Cortese. She cut down and brushed away soldiers in her way as if they were flies. When she finally reached Cortese she immediately thrust her sword at him. He parried and said, "Not even going to tell me your name?" Xena looked a him grimly.

"No", she said, her voice low. Cortese and Xena fought. He was suprised at her skill. But she was inexperienced, it was only a matter of minutes before Xena was disarmed and Cortese had her arms pinned behind her back. He signaled for guards to take her away.

"Get her to wash that outfit. Don't kill her. I want her in my tent tonight.", Cortese commanded his men. Xena struggled but it was fruitless. She was outnumbered one to twenty. Glaring at Cortese she allowed herself to be taken away.

*****

Part V

Later that night in Cortese's tent Xena refused to even speak to Cortese. Cortese spent ten minutes trying to coax Xena out of her mood but nothing seemed to move the young warrior. She was sitting on his bed and even the rich silk spreads and goose down pillows failed to impress Xena. Cortese finally walked over to Xena and draped an arm over her shoulders. She flinched but otherwise did not move. Cortese picked Xena up as if she were weightless and set her down on his lap. He wrapped an arm round Xena's slim waist and kissed her neck several times. When he stopped he turned Xena around so that she faced him.

"Who are you?", he asked, "I still do not know your name." Xena hesitated.

"My name is Xena", she finally said. Cortese nodded. Suddenly Cortese grabbed Xena and kissed her full on the lips. Xena neither stopped him nor encouraged him. It was like having a stone statue sit on your lap. No reaction at all. Xena had changed out of the skirt she was wearing during the day and Cortese had dressed her in a sexy and also practically transparent robe that barely reached her knees. Slowly Cortese inched his hand towards the hem of the robe and Xena flinched. All of a sudden Cortese opened the robe and flung it off Xena and she sat naked in his lap. She look startled. Cortese seized his chance and threw her onto his bed and moved on top of her. Suddenly Xena bucked him off with one fluid movement and hit the side of his head. Cortese was stunned and Xena snatched her chance and dashed out of the tent without bothering to put anything on. As she ran toward the woods on the border of the camp. Many soldiers turned and stared lustfully at the warrior but dared not touch her fearing the wrath of Cortese. Cortese raced after Xena but stopped when Xena disappeared into the woods. Xena grew up in Amphipolis. She knew the area a lot better than he did. Cortese gave up and headed back to camp. 'Maybe another time', he thought.

Meanwhile Xena dashed through the forest and stumbled into the clearing where she and Lyceus used to play as children. She collapsed onto the soft grass when Ares suddenly appeared. He sat down next to Xena and tenderly stroked her cheek. He sat her up and cradled her head in his arms. He tilted Xena's face towards his and before Xena knew it their mouths had met in a passionate kiss. Ares laid Xena down on the velvety grass of the clearing as the continued to kiss. Xena felt deliriously happy as Ares caressed her back and breasts. Their tongues were intertwined now as Ares thrust into Xena. Xena spent the night is total bliss. In one day, she had lost her brother, blood innocence and virginity.

*****

Part VI

Xena woke with the sun shining on her face. She blinked and sat up.

"Where am I?", she asked no-one in particular. She sat up and realized that she was wearing armour. She fingered the bronze and leather armour she had on and looked around. Ares stood before her.

"It suits you", he said and handed Xena a sword a round thing studded with gems. Xena held up the round thing.

"What is this?", she asked Ares. Ares laughed.

"It's called a chakram.", Ares answered, "It's razor sharp. You throw it." He demonstrated. The chakram cut down a few saplings, careened off a couple of rocks and it ricocheted back into his hand.

"You try", Ares pressed the weapon into Xena's hand. She lifted and as she threw it in a perfect arc something clicked. It was perfect. This chakram was destined to be Xena's, and she could throw it like nobody else could. Ares disappeared.

"My dearest Xena, one day people will tremble at your name, I grantee that.", Ares whispered as he disappeared. In spite of the balmy atmosphere, Xena shivered.

*****

Xena entered the village from the west end just as Cortese's army rode in from the east. Xena squinted into the morning sun and saw them trampling stalls, goods, animals and even people under the hooves of the horses. Xena reached down towards her chakram. She gently lifted it off the hook on which it hung and threw. The metallic weapon caught the early morning sun as it zoomed to the soldiers. Nearly two dozen fell dead before the chakram came back to Xena. The leader looked around wide-eyed. It was as if some invisible force had come and taken destroyed his cavalry.

"Retreat!", he ordered in a bellowing tone. His horse reared as the army ran out of town. Xena smiled, it was a good day.

*****

Cortese slammed a fist onto the hard wooden table in his tent.

"WHAT???", he bellowed, "You RETREATED???" The commander bowed his head.

"Half my legion was wiped out even as we rode in, what could I do?", the man asked weakly. Cortese nodded.

"Hmm, Amphipolis is more of a challenge than I thought. Anyway, no sense in losing my army on one little village. You have woken me to reality Archlen. I will seek conquest somewhere else. Amphipolis I will leave for another time. Come help me pack up!" Archlen nodded weakly as he ran out the tent taking in long gulps of air, screaming for people to pack up and get ready to hit the road.

******

Epilogue

"They've left!", an excited villager burst into town. Cortese has abandoned his quest to take Amphipolis!" A deafening cheer went through the town. Cyrene hurried out of the inn and gave Xena a hug.

"We did it!", a burly man cried, "And all thanks to Xena!" Xena looked up suprised.

"Everyone helped", she stated, but no one was listening. The cries of triumph had changed. The hamlet now echoed with shouts of, "Hail Xena!" Xena basked in the glory. She had never felt so good. She may have lost a lot in this battle, but she knew this was her destiny.