TITLE: Secrets 5 - Mechanisms
SERIES: Shifting Tides (part 4.5)
AUTHOR: Scorpio
ARCHIVE: To anyone who archived the other stories in this series.

FANDOM: Herc/Xenaverse
PAIRING: Cupid/Strife
RATING: R (adult themes - see warning)
CATEGORY: Mpreg, Angst, Darkfic

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters. They belong to various myths, legends and Ren Pics/Flat Earth Prod.

WARNING * WARNING * WARNING * WARNING
This series deals with an Mpreg that resulted in a Miscarriage due to gross negligence and cruelty. The story-tone is very dark and angsty and the subject matter is one that is extremely sensitive. Please don't feel obligated to read this if it is not something you are comfortable with.

SUMMARY: Events are furthered by dark mechanisms and former enemies become allies.

Shifting Tides
Secrets 5 - Mechanisms

Zeus scowled at his mirror as he watched the Spartans systematically destroy yet another town. He was torn. Part of him wanted to go and confront Ares and force him to stop with this viscous cycle of death and destruction that he was perpetuating across the face of Greece. The other part of him wanted to continue to concentrate on discovering the location of the still missing God of Mischief.

Somehow, he needed to find a way to distract Ares sufficiently that he wouldn't *have* to do more than make a token effort at controlling his rage filled Heir. Ideally, his distraction would also effect Eris and Aphrodite as well. While not as brutally effective as their brother, the two Goddesses were definitely making the weight of their displeasure known.

He needed something that could fill their attentions, be seen as a surface show of support for their Houses in this time of woe but would in actuality be a punishment for their insolence. Zeus frowned at the ceiling and paced for a long moment as he considered all that he wanted, rejecting idea after idea. Finally, he stopped, a nasty smirk forming on his face.

"I've got it!"

*

After long days of travel, Hercules and Xena finally reached the city of Corinth. They had sent on messengers to request that Iolaus and Gabrielle met them there. The two heroes rushed through the reception dinner and then, finally, Iphicles led them all to private conference room. To Hercules' annoyance, Gabrielle had brought along Joxer. He knew that the man was a friend to the two women, but he tended to irritate Hercules after a while.

"So, what is this all about. Your message sounded urgent." Iphicles gestured for everyone to take a seat around his large polished conference table.

Hercules sat down between his half-brother and Iolaus with a sigh. "It's bad, Iph. Real bad. I'm sure that you heard about the fact that Cupid took another Consort since his divorce of Psyche."

Both Iphicles and Gabrielle nodded. "Yeah. I didn't hear who it was, though."

Xena grimaced and glanced over at her lover. "It was Strife, Gabrielle."

The bard was shocked. "Strife! But...but...he's one of Ares' flunkies! What's the God of Love doing with *him*?"

Iolaus nodded. "I gotta agree with Gabrielle here. I'd take Strife over Discord any day, but still, the combination of Love and Mischief just seems a little bit odd to me."

Hercules shook his head in confusion. "I know. It is weird, I'll admit. However, from all accounts, they were insanely happy together. In fact, from what Hephestus told us, Strife was pregnant with Cupid's child. No one even knew that Strife could bear children, but he found a way."

It was Iphicles that picked up on the one word that was most important. "Herc...you said *was*. Did Strife have the child all ready?"

Hercules and Xena exchanged pained looks and Gabrielle gasped slightly. "What? Xena, what is it?"

With a sigh, the warrior woman told them in a voice that was harsh with pain. "According to Hephestus, Strife gave birth too early. The baby, a girl named Glory, was in serious distress and he went into labor. Aphrodite and Hera tried to save the infant, but they couldn't. She was born dead."

Four shocked gasps echoed around the room and Iphicles covered his mouth with his hand as he gaped in horror. It was finally Joxer who was able to speak, "Why? Did...did Hephestus know why she was born so early?"

Hercules swallowed, his face a mask of pain and uncertainty. "Yeah. He said it was because Zeus denied Strife enough Ambrosia to carry the baby to term. Apparently, he wasn't strong enough to do it without the extra Ambrosia because he's only a minor God."

"But, but..." Iolaus' voice was strained with shock. "He wouldn't do that. Would he? I mean, I mean...I know that Zeus doesn't exactly like Strife, but...the baby was innocent. Right?"

Hercules shrugged. "I don't know, Iolaus. Once Glory was born, she'd be untouchable due to the laws in place, but before she's born? I don't know if they would cover her. The only thing I know for certain is that Zeus has never been kind or supportive of any child that is a descendant of Hera's. Eris was hidden away during her pregnancy with Strife, and Cupid wasn't known to be Ares until after his birth and even then it took a long time before Ares felt safe enough to claim him. It could be that Zeus didn't realize that it would end with such drastic consequences. I just...I don't know."

After a moment of silence, it was Xena that broke it. "The thing that we have to worry about is that both the House of War and the House of Love blame Zeus. Whether or not he is responsible for Glory's death, Ares and Aphrodite think that he is. And they are taking it out on the Mortal Realm. I don't think that we can stop them from exacting revenge, but maybe we can stop them from punishing innocent people."

Everyone considered that for a moment and then Iphicles nodded in agreement. "Yes. That's a good idea. But how? We would need to know what it is they are doing and then suggest something that would give equal satisfaction with a lot less suffering."

Hercules opened his mouth to explain all that they had seen and heard about Ares' violent march across Greece when a shimmering of sparkling light caught his attention from the corner of his eye. He turned his head, expecting to see one of his godly relatives dropping in unannounced. Instead, he was surprised to see the shimmer envelope a quickly panicking Joxer. The man squeaked in fright and turned two wide eyes on Xena. "Help! Xena!" Then, with a flash of light and a soft popping sound, Joxer was gone.

*

Zeus sat on his throne before the assembled Gods of Olympus. Hera sat next to him, a fierce and angry scowl on her face. Finally, when the last of the gods arrived, he cleared his throat and all attention swung to him. He took a brief moment to smirk at his dark and deadly War God son.

"Thank you for coming so quickly. I realize that you are all busy with varied duties, so I'll keep this quick."

There was a few quiet mutters and a bit of shuffling robes, but then silence descended once more and he continued.

"As many of you have noted, Strife and Cupid are no longer performing their duties. Due to the nature of their personal loss, I have decided not to strip them of their godhoods for abandoning their jobs. However, their temporary leave of absence is creating a loss of help in both the House of War and the House of Love. This cannot continue."

Zeus' smirk grew wider even as the muttering began again. Ares' scowled at him darkly and Aphrodite blew out a gust of air through her nose inelegantly.

"I have decided to fill in their spots with replacements. One for the House of Love and one for the House of War. They are brothers and although they themselves are not demigods, their maternal grandmother was a daughter of Hypnos and their paternal great grandfather was a son of Phonos."

A shimmering cascade of sparkles formed in front of Zeus. When it faded, a young man in wildly clashing clothes stood before the throne of Olympus. "Hail Jace, the new God of Passion. He will work with Aphrodite in the House of Love." Zeus reached out and touched the young man on the forehead and a blinding flash of light filled the hall. Jace swayed and then dropped to his knees with a low cry of ecstasy. Almost immediately, everyone could feel the power of a new God emanate from the kneeling man.

A second shimmering cascade of sparkles formed next to the God of Passion. When it faded, an identical looking young man wearing homemade armor that rattled and clanked stood before the throne of Olympus. Zeus paused and smirked at the glaring War God once more. "Hail Joxer, the new God of Calamity. He will work with Ares in the House of War." Then, Zeus reached out and touched Joxer just as he had Jace. A flash of blinding light, a cry of ecstasy and Joxer fell to his knees beside his brother. The unmistakable feel of a new God became known to all.

With one last nasty look, Zeus chuckled at the expression on Ares' face. "I was going to chose their other brother Jett for you Ares, but he's too...well, too something offensive to mention in public. You'd probably like him." Ares simply growled low in this throat.

Zeus turned to face the throng of Olympian Gods snickering up their sleeves. "Dismissed." One by one, they began to disappear. Zeus turned back to Aphrodite and Ares. "Oh, and don't forget your new little helpers." Then he too disappeared in a shower of sparkles.