Rated: PG-13
Timeline/Synopsis: AU. Ten years after the events chronicled in "Together, We Are a Family". This is the final story in the Trio Series.
Xena, Gabrielle, and Joxer have semi-retired from the road to allow Eve and Adora to attend school, although they still travel during the off-season to allow Eve to continue her training. Joxer teaches a music class at the local school. Gabrielle has opened a shop called "The Golden Scroll" that specializes in selling writing supplies.
Jace and Pierre have retired their dance troupe and opened a dance school in the same town. Jett has made parole and makes a living as a bounty hunter. He has a wife named Melody and a young child named Andreas, Andy for short. He also lives in the same town as his brothers.
Authors' notes: The names of the gods and goddesses for Gaul are a combination of Gaulish and Celtic names.

The tall brown haired girl sat on the stoop of the school waiting for her friend to get out of detention. She shook her head and sighed. It was the third time this week Adora had gotten detention and this time it was from her own father.

"Hey Eve, thanks for waiting for me!" Eve looked up to see Adora bouncing down the stairs. "Man, can you believe it? My own dad giving me detention..."

Eve stared at Adora. "Well, you should've been paying attention instead of passing notes to Ioannes."

"Oh, music is boring. Besides, it's not really important and Ioannes is so cute!" Adora exclaimed, dismissing her friend's scolding with a wave of her hand.

Eve shook her head and groaned. "Adora, I swear! You've got to learn to pay more attention during classes!"

Adora made a face. "I pay attention in school!"

"Yeah right," Eve snorted.

"Hey, I can prove it! Ask me anything," Adora said, crossing her arms over her chest.

Eve's blue eyes twinkled as she said, "Anything, huh? Okay, then. What are the music scales?"

"Eve!" Adora groaned, "anything but that!"

Eve giggled and placed her arm around her friend's shoulders. "You better be learning them soon. They're gonna be on the test."

"So, are you and Stephanos going out tonight?"

"No, and don't change the subject! I told Aunt Gabrielle that I'd watch Andy tonight. Jett and Melody want to go out."

"Why are you watching him instead of me?" Adora asked with a frown.

"Well, because you got grounded for that stunt you pulled at Jace's dance studio," Eve reminded her friend.

"How was I supposed to know that my stink bomb would actually work? It was kind of funny, though..." Adora's dark eyes shone as she thought about what had happened that day in the studio.

Eve's lips twitched but she managed to keep a straight face. "Uncle Jace and Uncle Joxer didn't think so," she pointed out to her friend.

"Well, they just don't have any sense of humor. I mean, for crying out loud! The way all those girls ran out screaming when it went off and then Uncle Jace tripped and fell over that long gown he was wearing... Come on, Eve! Even you thought it was hysterically funny!"

Before Eve could retort a response, a cheerful voice interrupted. "Hey! Adora!"

Adora turned around and smiled at the auburn-haired young man who came down the steps. "Hey! Hi, Ioannes."

Ioannes returned the smile as he stopped in front of Adora. "Can you go to the dance Saturday night, Adora?"

Adora's eyes sparkled as she gazed up at Ioannes. "Sure I can...."

"Oh no you can't!" Eve interrupted. "She's been grounded! Again!"

Adora's face fell. "Aw Evie, come on! You can cover for me," she pleaded.

"No! Not this time! We've got to get home before both of us get into big trouble. You've got to help in the dance studio in case you've forgotten, Dorie."

Adora looked at Ioannes and then she winked at him. "I'll see you on Saturday!" She then got up and started walking towards home.

Eve rolled her eyes, shrugged her shoulders, and followed after her longtime friend.

The two girls arrived at Adora's house shortly after leaving school. Eve was staying at her friend's home until Xena came back from visiting a sick friend in Chin. Gabrielle looked up and pushed her hair away from her face as the girls walked inside. "Hello you two," she greeted them. She then turned to Adora and sighed. "I guess that you've had detention again, young lady."

"Yeah, Papa gave it to me. You'd think since I was his daughter he would cut me some slack! Mom, what's for supper? I'm starving!" Adora exclaimed.

"Adora, I've been busy all day in-between taking care of things at the store and having Andy under my feet all day long. There's some ham, cheese, olives, and bread left over from breakfast if you want to fix something for yourself."

"Okay Mom," Adora replied and went out into the kitchen to fix herself some supper.

"Hey, Aunt Gabrielle. I'll take Andy off your hands now," Eve went over and stooped down in front of a little boy with light blond hair and dark brown eyes. "Hey, Andy! Want to come and play with me?"

Andy looked up at her and grinned happily. "Oh boy! Come on, Eve! Let's go play soldiers. I can be the captain and you can be the head guard! Gonna do some 'nspections!"

"Okay, then. Let's go." Eve took Andy's hand and they went outside to play.

Gabrielle went into the kitchen and saw that Adora was eating. "As soon as you're finished with your supper, your Uncle Jace is expecting you," she reminded the teenager.

"Okay," Adora said and nodded in agreement. After finishing her meal, she went next door and walked inside the open doorway. "Uncle Jace, I'm here!" she called out.

"Hello Adora!" Jace said cheerfully as he came from another room dressed from head to toe in pink satin.

Adora's eyes nearly popped from her head at the sight of her uncle's outfit. "Uncle Jace, you can't be serious!" she exclaimed, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

Jace whirled around so his niece could get a full view of the outfit. "I was trying a new look. You don't like it?" he asked, his face falling.

Adora shook her head. "I'm sorry, Uncle Jace. Pink's just not your color."

"I told you so, my love," a deep voice interrupted the two before Jace could reply.

Jace turned around to face Pierre, who was smiling at him. "Okay, okay, Pierre. You made your point. I won't wear pink." Jace then turned to face Adora. "You can get started by sweeping the floor. I've got to change."

Adora and Pierre watched Jace leave. Pierre laughed a little. "He's a little strange, but I love him."

Adora rolled her eyes. "A little strange?"

Pierre chuckled as he gave Adora a broom. "All right, young lady. You heard your uncle. Start sweeping."

Adora grumbled under her breath, but began sweeping the room as she was told.

Mount Olympus:

"Why did Daddykins summon all of us for this totally grody council anyway? I'm missing some majorly bitching waves off Crete because of this stupid meeting!" Aphrodite exclaimed grumpily, holding her hands up to inspect her manicure.

"Always thinking about yourself, aren't you? What a bimbo!" Discord sneered.

Aphrodite gasped. "I'll bimbo you, you skanky, no-class and fashionably clueless bi...!"

"Mom, knock it off!" Cupid broke in before Aphrodite could finish the insult.

Discord drew back and hissed wordlessly at the blonde Goddess, who stuck her tongue out at her defiantly and then laughed throatily.

"Oh, just let them zap each other off the planet. It might be fun to watch," Ares said mildly as he rubbed his fist against his leather vest and then inspected his fingernails.

"Dad, stop trying to help, because you stink at it!" Cupid growled. Psyche put a hand on the young God's shoulder to try and calm him down. Bliss fluttered next to his parents with a very upset expression on his face. The little godling didn't understand what was happening but he knew that something was wrong and it was bad - really bad.

"For once, I have to agree with Aphrodite. I've got a whole bunch of new inventory to sort out because of that clash in Sparta that you just had to start-" Hades pointed at Ares, who rolled his eyes, "and Strife's been slacking off again!" he growled.

"Enough!" Hera roared as she appeared inside the Great Hall in a flash of bright white light. "Zeus will be arriving here shortly after he completes his consultation with The Fates."

"Oh, great! More words of doom and gloom from the Three Weird Ones," Apollo mumbled. He ran his long tanned fingers through his blond hair and sighed.

Hera fixed an icy glare on the God of Music and the Sun. "I said enough of this nonsense," she reminded Apollo softly, her eyebrow rising. Apollo saw the look on Hera's face and gulped nervously. He sat down on a marble bench and crossed his arms over his chest.

The silence grew uncomfortable as the entire Olympic pantheon awaited Zeus' arrival in the Great Hall. Ares, leaning up against a marble column nonchalantly, decided to amuse himself by making tiny fireballs and juggling them. Hades mumbled and fussed over a huge scroll that extended halfway across the floor once he opened it, making notes on the parchment while Artemis sharpened a spear and Aphrodite idly filed her nails. The rest of the Gods either paced back and forth or sat around waiting for Zeus to appear.

After quite a bit of time had passed by, the sound of footsteps could be heard echoing in the long corridor outside the Great Hall. Hermes stuck his head outside the door to see who was coming and then faced the others with a nod, silently confirming that it was Zeus and not a servant that approached. The rest rose to their feet as Zeus walked inside the Hall with a troubled expression on his face. He didn't say a word as he walked past the others and finally came to a halt in the middle of the floor.

It was a long time before Zeus raised his head and spoke, and when he did, he spoke in a slow and thoughtful voice. "As Hera informed all of you previously, I've been consulting with The Fates regarding some troubling signs that we have been seeing these past five mortal years or so. We are potentially facing our greatest threat, even worse than the Titans..."

Aphrodite rose to her feet and raised her hand to stop Zeus from continuing. "Whoa! Wait just a sec! What 'troubling signs' are you like talking about? Everything's been pretty radical up to now! What makes them say otherwise?"

Zeus' eyebrow rose as he turned to face the Goddess of Love. "My daughter, if you had been paying attention during council meetings or actually attending them instead of neglecting your duties and body-surfing somewhere, you wouldn't be asking me that question in the first place!"

Aphrodite rolled her eyes and made a rude noise. "Like whatever, already! So what did the Three Cryptic Chicks say, anyway?"

"You are all aware of the prophecy that there will be a great war between us and the Gods that rule over Gaul," Zeus continued, taking a moment to gaze at all assembled inside the Hall. The rest murmured in agreement. "The time draws near."

Several voices immediately rose up in protest and dismay, but one voice easily rose above the others. "That's fine with me. It's been getting too quiet around here for my liking anyway," Ares observed casually.

"Only you would think that something like this would be wonderful, Ares!" Athena snapped in response before Zeus could reply. "In case you've forgotten, brother, the prophecy states that if we are defeated, they will take over Mount Olympus, we will be exiled, and chaos will rule the mortal realm!"

Ares' dark eyes flashed dangerously. "Are you questioning my loyalty to the family, Athena?" he asked in a deadly soft voice.

"Need I remind you about Dahak, brother?" Athena replied, tossing her head back proudly.

"Why you...!" Ares snarled, raising his arm to throw a fireball at Athena. She did the same thing, but before either one could attack each other, Zeus lifted his hands up in opposite directions and fired huge blue-white bolts at the two of them. Both of them were knocked off their feet and they slammed into the walls with loud thuds. The two blinked several times as they tried to recover from their father's disciplinary zap.

"I HAVE HEARD ENOUGH OF THIS!" Zeus bellowed at the top of his lungs. His shout was powerful enough for several delicate decorative vases and urns to fall from their pedestals and come crashing to the floor, shattering into tiny shards.

Bliss immediately burst into loud tears and both of his parents shot dirty looks at Zeus. "Nice job, Grandpops!" Cupid shouted. He turned to Psyche, who was holding a very upset and frightened godling in her arms. "Shh. It's gonna be okay," he said soothingly to his son. He then turned back towards Zeus and glared at him angrily.

"My brother, what event could possibly have happened here or on Earth to make the prophecy come to light after all this time?" Hestia asked in her quiet and gentle voice.

Zeus put a hand to his forehead, closed his eyes, and sighed. He then raised his head and waved his arm. An image appeared before the assembled Gods and Goddesses of Joxer walking towards his and Gabrielle's home with a concerned expression on his face.

"STUDMUFFIN?" Aphrodite screeched in outrage. "What does my boy Joxer have to do with all of this?" she demanded, putting her hands on her hips.

"The mortal named Joxer is an extremely important thread in the tapestry of this prophecy," Zeus replied. The image then changed to Jace, Jett, Gabrielle, Xena, Eve, and finally to Adora. "Remember that both of these children were born under extremely unusual circumstances and have now come of age. This one-" he indicated Adora's image sweeping the floor, "-has exhibited great powers in the past, although she has not used them over the past ten mortal years."

Zeus gestured again and the image changed to that of Eve standing perfectly still, holding a long stick against her arm as Andy walked around her with a scowl on his face before he started giggling and they watched as Eve picked him up and whirled him around, laughing merrily. "This other one has no powers that either I or The Fates are aware of, yet she is the One."

The others kept silent as they took in everything that Zeus had told them. "I never thought that this would actually happen," Psyche said finally, shaking her head. She looked up at Cupid, who shook his head and sighed.

Zeus turned to gaze at Hephaestus, who nodded. "I have been working on weapons ever since the prophecy was first mentioned," the God of the Forge murmured.

"Good," Zeus replied with a sigh. "We will need everything that you've created - and much, much, more."

"I understand." Hephaestus bowed slightly and turned to gaze at Aphrodite, who looked very worried. He reached out for her hand and squeezed it gently. The Goddess returned the squeeze, but her distress only increased tenfold.

"There is one last thing before this council is dismissed," Zeus said.

Hera's head shot up at Zeus' words and her unusually light ice-blue eyes lit up in sudden fury. "I know exactly what you are thinking, my husband, and I forbid it! That - abomination-" she spat out - "has nothing to do with the affairs of Mount Olympus!"

Zeus' eyes hardened and then a shadow of weariness passed over his features. "Whether you like it or not, my wife, Hercules will be needed for this battle! So, put your petty jealousy aside for once and get used to the idea!" he snapped. He heard a wordless growl from the opposite side of the Hall and turned to face Ares, who scowled fiercely at him. "And as for you, Ares, you will need to work with him."

"WHAT?" Ares bellowed. "That goody-goody half-brother of mine? No way!"

Zeus' lips suddenly curled up into a half-smile. "Too bad, my son, but you have no choice in this. The Fates have decreed it so."

Ares snarled at his father and disappeared from the Hall in a flash of bright-white light.

Zeus then turned to gaze at Aphrodite, who raised a questioning eyebrow in return. "Aphrodite, you will just have to convince the two of them to cooperate - and you'll probably end up keeping them from trying to kill each other in the process."

Aphrodite rolled her eyes. "Wonderful. Baby-sitting duty," she sighed.

Zeus shook his head. "It will be much more than that, I'm afraid."

Aphrodite nodded. "I better go find Big Bro and Curly and give the two of them the scoop then, huh? Ciao for now!" She then raised her hand, snapped her fingers, and disappeared from the Hall in a rose-scented spray of pink and gold sparkles.

There was a long pause before Zeus said, "This council is now dismissed." Without another word, the rest of the Olympians left the Hall with the exception of Hera. Zeus gazed at the stiff form of his wife for a long time, watching as her fists opened and closed. Finally, with a sigh, he disappeared from the Hall with a lightning flash and a loud clap of thunder.

Gaul:

In the sky at the top of the highest mountain in Gaul, a great marble castle hidden from the sight of mortals' eyes stood. Normally, the castle was quiet as the Gods and Goddesses who lived inside it readily accepted the sacrifices and prayers of the mortals that resided in their lands.

Today, however, the castle buzzed with activity as the Gods and Goddesses gathered together. Taranis, God of Thunder, stood up and faced the others. The rest watched him curiously as he walked to the center of the room. He raised an eyebrow and began to speak. "The time finally has come for us to start our long-awaited war against the Gods of Mount Olympus. The Norns reported that they have started weaving the threads of their destruction into the tapestry." He waved his hand and the image of Adora scowling as she swept the floor appeared before the group.

"This girl that you see is Adora, Teutales' daughter. She was supposed to start this war for us, but because the wrong vessel was chosen for her coming to Earth, instead she is now the protector of this girl, named Eve, who is prophesied to be the messenger of peace." The image changed to that of Eve playing tag with Andy.

Taranis waved his hand again and the image disappeared. "Adora's powers have remained dormant for the past ten mortal years, but there are signs that they will manifest themselves hundredfold against us unless she is stopped." He turned to a young, tall, and very beautiful Goddess. "The girl must be destroyed before this happens, and I know that you are more than capable of doing this, Aer."

Aer smirked at Taranis' words. "I can do that right from here. One wave of my hand, and she will be reduced to ashes."

Taranis shook his head. "No. Adora must not be killed, for we need her in this war. What I want is this instead: corrupt her mind. The seed of rebellion is growing strong inside her already. All it needs is time for it to grow and flower," he said.

Aer considered Taranis' words for a moment. "And what better way to corrupt the mind than to appear to be someone that's completely harmless? I will go down to Earth tomorrow, disguise myself so I can pretend to be a new student at her school, and befriend her. With a little bit of time, I will be able to destroy the friendship between her and the girl named Eve."

Taranis nodded in approval. "I am pleased by this. You may leave, Aer."

Aer nodded and disappeared in a flash of hot-white light.

Taranis then turned to Teutales. "Prepare your armies for attack," he ordered.

Teutales bowed slightly. "I will need sacrifices to ensure a successful outcome." An evil smile appeared on the War God's face. "Many sacrifices. I want the rivers to run red with mortal blood."

Taranis returned the smile. "Then speak through your priests and priestesses so that you will get the sacrifices that you need to ensure our success." He turned to gaze at a huge and burly-looking God. "Kai, continue preparing weapons at your forge so that Teutales' armies will have all the weaponry needed."

Kai nodded and disappeared into the ether without a word. The rest of the Gods and Goddesses assembled cheered hoarsely and disappeared from the room with the exception of one Goddess - Teutales' mother, Brigandu. She stayed in the room for a long time by herself lost in her own thoughts before she too disappeared into the ether.

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