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These pages were last updated: November 24, 1998
ŠNovember 1998
URL: ../../STO/hell/hell52.htmlThe following is a bit of alternative fiction based on certain characters from the Xenaverse. It is not meant to infringe on anyone else's rights. If you don't agree or disapprove, please go read something else.
It as the niggling sense that timing was everything, that kept Izacon from turning her head and looking back. She thought, 'If I can just hold out long enough. If I can just catch that first glimmer of the temple's light, before the night sky takes over, we'll make it. We'll make it.'
Despite herself, where the fates were concerned Izacon retained her superstitions. Even here, in Tartarus, one didn't tempt the triune. Though sometimes it seemed to her that avoiding their temptation felt a bit like she was clinging by the bloodied tips of her fingernails. Still, as the sun pulled its black cloak closer to its bosom, Izacon knew the time would come, when she must face what lay behind them. Night always came early to the world's farther edges, no matter where you were from.
She breathed a long sigh of relief when she caught sight of the first flicker of white marble and she quickly pointed it out to her lover. "Look, Xena, There! There it is." She gasped the words out with a voice full of warm possibilities. For the first time since their ride began she dared to look at her lover with gentle eyes, much to Xena's astonishment.
The warrior, after gathering her thoughts with a shake of the head, determined that she would ask later and *do* now. She looked and her expression turned to one of awe. "By the Gods," Xena uttered. The Elysian, who was obviously impressed, reigned her mount to a full halt, just so she could absorb the details.
The golden spires of the temple sparkled almost as brightly as the white glistening walls. Greenery, dabbed with flowering rainbow colors dared to overspill the confines of the walls, but that only added to the image of lush beauty. Colorful eggshaped towers pillared into the sky, like humongous torchlights. Buildings, tall, wide and generously covered with decorative holy Tartaran images, were carved right into the rocky face of the mountain. There seemed to be a glow, emanating from the very heart of the temple that surrounded the city and that goldenwarm light pushed the boundary of the sky and land, staving away the darkness of night.
A thick row of the dark menancing monoliths, placed end to end, stood some distance away from the main entrance. They blocked the view of the bottom portion of the carved walls of the city-temple. There was only one path that could be seen and it was guarded on the sides by giant frightening looking Tartarans that easily matched and overcame the height of the monoliths. They were dressed in white flowing robes and silvered armor, with their red clawed wings partially opened, ready to spread themselves. They held swords before them that were longer and wider than Izacon's body twice over. There was no doubt to their gleaming edged deadly sharpness.
The giants' heads turned as one, seemingly summoned to action by Izacon and Xena's gaze, and the rest of the tribe which had rambled to a stop to gawk at the site before them. There were more murmurs of astonishment, even from Hope, who while she'd heard of the place, had never dared believe it.
Salmoneus' awed and cheery voice wafted forward, "Well, this was definitely worth the wait. Is this Tartarus? I better check my tour guide." There was a yelp from Penho, and Izacon turned just in time to see a guilty hand get snatched away from an obviously pinched thigh. Salmoneous grinned and started to chatter, "Yep, this is Tartarus alright....Izzy you never..."
Izacon wasn't paying attention anymore, nor was she smiling and his conversation drifted off into the twilight. The red Tartaran's expression paled and her grip tightened on the reins of her steed. Of the choices that arose for her in that moment, there seemed only one thing for her to do.
The Tartaran nodded at Penho, saying, "It's time." The trihorned beauty blanched and returned the nod, then grabbed the reins of her partner's Striger.
Izacon quickly skittered her Striger closer to Xena's. The warrior, who was suddenly worried, asked, "What's wrong?" But Xena's lips were covered before anymore could be said in a soul searing kiss and she was let go, breathless and slightly stunned.
"Remember I love you. I will always love you." Izacon's emotions made the words into liquid honey. She touched Xena's face tenderly and her hand slid gently away.
The warrior blinked.
Then Izacon slapped the rear of Xena's striger with an arm built into strength by years on Tartarus. The creature screamed and bolted towards the open pathway. That scream was followed by several other offended striger voices and hollers from Penho to "RUN for your lives Damn IT!"
The beautiful red Tartaran saw in a blur that Melosa turned her head and looked back, but only heard the shout of terror from the Amazon queen. Izacon's steed, normally a sturdy fellow, reared and tried to turn around to follow its mates. The Tartaran held her mount firmly in place as the others rapidly flowed around her. Then, when she realized he was going to fight her too much, she let go of the reins and leapt up. Her wings grew out from her body and spreads into the air. Her sword flashed the last bit of sunlight behind her as she prepared to defend the passage of her friends.
In front of her, where twilight had given way to the moons' and stars' dominion, the monoliths stretched like winged living whirling tornadoes into sky for miles and miles and miles. The sound was like an ocean wave that could barely be heard yet, but soon the combined noise of those wings and those voices would be heard. It would be almost overpowering to anyone outside the city walls. One could be swept away and destroyed by the tide of sound alone, if one weren't ready.
'Gods let them make it,' Izzy prayed.
Then she smiled grimly, as her wings flapped lazily, keeping her in the air. The Tartaran followed her friends, backing slowly, but keeping her gaze as forward as possible. She used quick glances to note where her friends were. They were tiny dots on the road, and she could tell that Xena had yet to pull her Striger to her will.
This was good.
Izacon had planned it that way. The Tartaran took a deep breath and let herself grin and be carried by the wind. Xena would be so pissed.
Well that was fine. If the warrior could run roughshod over *her* life in the namby assed name of the greater good, then Izacon was allowed a few inconsiderate priveleges herself. Maybe the next time Xena would think to *talk* to her about making arbitrary decisions...next time..
There would definitely be a next time.
The problem was the when.
Izacon's years as part of the great entity weighed on her...even now she could hear the seduction of the sirens, begging her to surrender to them, to join them. Once she'd not had the will to resist..but now..Now she was an authority, given her own voice and abilities. One did not survive Tartarus without gaining ...something.
*IF one was willing to learn and pay the price..to wade through the garbage to find the truth...
and the truth was that there was more to her than met the eye. And in this moment...
She would do everything in her power to make sure they were safe. When they'd first been given to her as a responsibility She'd planned for this eventuality. And despite her earlier anger, she'd planned for their survival.
Even now, given Xena's love, knowing Xena's love..she questioned that decision..the why of it escaped Gabrielle Izacon. Only, it must be that seeing Xena brought out the best in her. Xena made her strive for goodness...even when she didn't want to. At first, when she'd just come to know Xena, it was because she thought she had to set an example...and now..
Now the air droned and wailed about her. In front of her was a tide of black wings and bodies rushing their way toward her, blocking out the sister moons' light. Urging her to turn and join them in crushing the light before them and behind her.
All she had to do was stay focused. If she avoided getting caught up in the storm of bodies that made their way towards the temple...and that was an absolute requirement...she would throw herself on her sword before surrendering to that particular madness again. Then everything would be fine. She'd meet her lover in minutes.
And if she should gain death as a reward, then she'd meet her love in days and months. Well, she didn't mind starting over, she'd done it often enough. She wasn't worried about that. Izacon knew where her friends would be. All she had to do was remember...remember. All she would have to do is remember, and if the marking on her body carried over, well..that would be easy enough. The markings, one in the shape of an "x" told her that her lover was here.
But if she should lose. If the song and the forceful pull of the other souls were too much for her.... Would Xena wait?
Izacon hoped so. But it was bound to be a LONG wait. What would Xena look like in a century? Gabrielle hadn't counted the time as part of the monoliths when she'd given her age. Another thing for Xena to be upset at...
But she'd not quite known how to tell her lover what it was like.
How does one describe...Tartarus.
It was so personal.
Inside her, Gabrielle knew what she needed to do in no matter the case. In that eventuality, there was a key. In her heart of hearts, she sought the images that had kept her going through Tartarus during her long lifetimes. There *she* was, firmly in place. Xena. In all her glory, and now with fresh new memories to add to the song that always played in Gabrielle's heart.
Xena. Warrior Princess. Her beloved.
Her reason for living and continuing.
Even when she was mad at her.
Even when Izacon hated her.
Always she loved Xena.
and if Sometimes sacrifices were necessary...well...that was life. She would give hers freely. But not easily.
Izacon hadn't survived the nine levels without gaining a few tricks. And a few truths.
The flying horde wouldn't like the sting she would give them. If she was lucky, it would buy her the time she needed..and she wouldn't have to show her next face.
If she wasn't...well..Xena would learn a few things wouldn't she.
Izacon chanced a glance down at her hands, cupping one hand as if she held a ball. There was a small flash of light, a little nothing, but maybe something that would make this journey easier. It was a start. She was expert at that. Izacon closed her eyes and when she opened the lids, there was nothing but fire in the sockets and a real and true love in her heart.
Katrina's Fan Fiction | Fan Fiction Site | Home Page
These pages were last updated: November 24, 1998
ŠNovember 1998
URL: ../../STO/hell/hell52.html