Part Seven:
Hercules stared at his friends who were all staring back at him with
their mouths open in surprise. "Hey, what's up? Do I have something stuck
in my teeth? Why does everybody
suddenly seem a heck of a lot taller too?" Hercules ran his tongue
across his teeth, still looking at them. Joxer shook his head slightly to
clear it then turned to Adora, who was
beaming from ear to ear.
"Look Papa! Now Hercules is closer to my age!"
"HUH? What's she talking about?"
"Uh, Hercules... Well, you see..." Joxer stammered.
"Come on, out with it and why do I sound so young?" Hercules looked
down at his small hands and his eyes grew huge. "AWWWW MAN!" Hercules
jumped up and looked at
Adora. "What happened to me?"
Adora beamed at the youthful demigod. "Don't worry, Hercules. Now we
can be together!"
Hercules stared at her. "What did you DO to me?"
Adora was all smiles. "I changed you into a kid so we could be
together."
"But I don't *want* to be a kid again! Once was enough and I didn't
really like it the first time around! Change me back!"
"Oh Hercules, you'll learn to love it, I promise. This time around you
have *me*!"
Joxer suddenly had enough. "I have had it, young lady! A crush is one
thing but *this* is going too far! You're only a child, not a woman!
Change him back NOW!" he roared.
Adora stared at her father in surprise. She had never really seen him
angry before but she was stubborn and folded her arms across her chest.
"No! I won't change him back and
you can't make me."
Hercules stood up. "He may not be able to but I sure can."
"You stay out of this, Hercules. I can handle my own daughter!"
"But..." Hercules started to protest, but Joxer cut him off.
"I said to stay out of it! Adora, you come with me NOW, young lady!"
Adora stood up and licked her lips nervously. For the first time in her
life she was scared of her father. "Yes Papa," she said in a tiny
voice.
Joxer turned to his friends. "We'll be back soon." And with that, Joxer
and his daughter walked away.
Hercules sat back down and turned to Xena. "When did Joxer get a
backbone?"
Xena smiled at the young Hercules. "Since he gave birth to Adora. By
the way, did anybody ever tell you that you're a really cute kid?"
"CUT THAT OUT!" Hercules shouted and Gabrielle had to hide a smile
behind her hand.
"Sorry, Hercules."
"Uh huh." Hercules rolled his eyes and then he frowned. He stared up at
Xena, confused. "Wait a minute! JOXER gave birth to Adora? Am I missing
something here?"
Gabrielle sighed. "It's... complicated."
Hercules raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms over his chest as he
leaned against a large boulder. "Does it look like I'm going anywhere
anytime soon?"
Gabrielle nodded and began her story. "Jett escaped from Maramis Prison
to save his brothers from their father. Joxer stood up to his father.
We met Joxer's mother. She was
still afraid her husband would still hurt her sons, so she kidnapped
them and took them to their uncle in Gaul. There we met an old 'friend'
of Joxer's, the Bacchae bitch!"
Xena placed her arm on her friend. "Whoa! Take it easy, Gabrielle."
Gabrielle scowled and breathed a few times before she was able to
continue speaking. "Thanks, Xena... A *friend* who just happened to be in
the service of the Gaul's God of
War, Teutales, who turned Joxer into a girl and knocked her... uh, I
mean got him pregnant. He gave birth to Adora soon after that. Joxer and
his brothers defeated
Teutales. Then a demon came and Adora defeated him after a huge battle.
Adora's powers seemed to have vanished until a few days ago. She turned
you into a child. End of story."
Hercules thought for a moment. "Wow. There's never a dull moment around
here. So, when is she going to turn me back?"
Xena shook her head. "We'll just have to wait and see if Joxer can get
through to her."
Eve looked up at her mother. "He will, Mom. I know he will."
Xena smiled and ruffled her daughter's hair. "If you know he will, Eve,
then that's good
enough for me."
******
Adora sat down on a rock as she watched her father. She had seen her
uncle Jett last month at Cyrene's tavern and right now her father
reminded her of him. "Papa? Eve told
me that I hurt you. I'm sorry, Papa. Please talk to me."
Joxer turned to his daughter and sighed. "Oh Dorie, I knew someday I'd
have to face you having a crush but I thought you'd at least be
sixteen, not six!"
"Papa, that's why I made Hercules little again so it would work."
"But don't you see? It's not fair to Hercules. You just can't do things
like that!"
"But I *love* him, Papa!"
Adora, you don't even know what love is between two people."
"Papa, I do know! It's like when you eat too much and your tummy
hurts."
Joxer laughed. "I know that feeling all too well, but there's more to
love than that, and even though you're special, you just can't do things
like what you've done. Adora, you
have to turn him back."
"Papa, you just don't understand," Adora sighed.
Joxer sat down beside her and stroked her hair. "This is really
important to you, isn't it?"
"Yes Papa, it is."
Joxer thought for a moment before he spoke again. "Dorie, your
grandfather never let me do anything and when I tried... Well, let's just say
it wasn't good. I won't be like him. I
need to talk to Hercules, and then we'll see."
"See what, Papa?"
"Wait and see. Come on. Let's go back." Joxer and Adora returned to the
camp shortly after. The three friends were staring at him anxiously.
Joxer walked over to Gabrielle and
Xena. "Would you ladies please leave me and Hercules alone? We need to
talk."
Xena nodded. "Come on, guys! I think the fish are biting."
"Okay Mom! I love to fish!" Eve agreed eagerly.
After Joxer watched Xena, Gabrielle, Eve and Adora walk away to make
sure that they wouldn't hear him, he turned to Hercules. "Okay, let's
talk."
**********
An hour later, Xena and group returned with plenty of fish. Adora ran
over to her father. "Well, Papa? Did you talk to him?"
Hercules ran up to Adora, knocking her on the ground. "Tag! You're it."
Joxer smiled. "He agreed with me, so you've got yourself a boyfriend."
Adora jumped up and down and threw her arms around Joxer. "Oh thank
you, Papa! You are the best papa in the whole world."
"Hey! Come on, you! Chase me! You're it!" Hercules yelled.
"Yeah, Adora!" Eve chimed in.
"Okay! You two you better run because here I come!" Adora yelled.
Xena walked over to Joxer. "Joxer, I thought you were going to get
Adora to change him back!"
Joxer smiled at her slyly. "I am. Just let Nature take its' course."
Both Gabrielle and Xena stared at him but neither said a word.
Gabrielle's eyes lit up in sudden understanding and
she grinned. Joxer returned the grin and he quietly walked away.
****
Hercules was now chasing the girls after Adora had caught him once.
Adora giggled as she ran around the tree. Hercules reached out and caught
her by the arm. "Oh you
captured me, Hercules! You can kiss me now!"
Hercules made a face. "Why would I want to kiss *you*? YUCK! You've got
cooties!"
Adora was stunned. "I don't have cooties!"
"Oh yes you do! They're in your hair! See?" Hercules then pulled
Adora's hair.
"Hey, you stop that!"
"Cooties, cooties, cooties!" sang Hercules.
"Stop saying that!" cried Adora. "You're mean!"
Hercules laughed and began singing louder and very off key. Eve was
also getting mad. "You stop laughing at my friend or else!"
Hercules turned to her. "Or else what? Nyah, nyah, nyah! You've BOTH
got cooties!"
"ENOUGH! I've had it! You don't deserve to be a child anymore - and you
don't deserve me!" For the second time that day, Adora raised her arms
and a bright light shone around
the area, and when it was gone, a grown up Hercules stood in the place
that the child stood just moments before. Adora stood in front of him
with her hands on her hips.
"You're just mean and my Papa could've handled that bully without your
help! You're not even fit to tie his bootlaces! Come on, Eve! Let's
leave this loser behind. My papa's twice
the man he is."
Hercules watched as the girls walked away. Eve turned around and gave
him two thumbs up. He returned the gesture. Joxer stepped out from where
he had been watching in case
things got out of hand. Hercules smiled and clapped his hand on Joxer's
shoulder. "Well, it worked. I think she officially hates my guts now."
Joxer shook his head. "Nah, not really. By tomorrow, it'll be in the
past."
Joxer was right. The next morning, Adora had forgiven Hercules. They
were now all ready to go and see Iolaus and his new bride. Eve looked at
her mother. "Mom?"
"Yes, Eve?"
"May I please ride Spirit? I promise I will stay close to you."
Xena brushed Eve's hair from her eyes. "All right, but stay close to
me."
"Thank you, Mom." With those words, the family began their journey to
Corinth, Hercules leading the way.
*******
Hercules stared at his friends who were all staring back at him with
their mouths open in surprise. "Hey, what's up? Do I have something stuck
in my teeth? Why does everybody
suddenly seem a heck of a lot taller too?" Hercules ran his tongue
across his teeth, still looking at them. Joxer shook his head slightly to
clear it then turned to Adora, who was
beaming from ear to ear.
"Look Papa! Now Hercules is closer to my age!"
"HUH? What's she talking about?"
"Uh, Hercules... Well, you see..." Joxer stammered.
"Come on, out with it and why do I sound so young?" Hercules looked
down at his small hands and his eyes grew huge. "AWWWW MAN!" Hercules
jumped up and looked at
Adora. "What happened to me?"
Adora beamed at the youthful demigod. "Don't worry, Hercules. Now we
can be together!"
Hercules stared at her. "What did you DO to me?"
Adora was all smiles. "I changed you into a kid so we could be
together."
"But I don't *want* to be a kid again! Once was enough and I didn't
really like it the first time around! Change me back!"
"Oh Hercules, you'll learn to love it, I promise. This time around you
have *me*!"
Joxer suddenly had enough. "I have had it, young lady! A crush is one
thing but *this* is going too far! You're only a child, not a woman!
Change him back NOW!" he roared.
Adora stared at her father in surprise. She had never really seen him
angry before but she was stubborn and folded her arms across her chest.
"No! I won't change him back and
you can't make me."
Hercules stood up. "He may not be able to but I sure can."
"You stay out of this, Hercules. I can handle my own daughter!"
"But..." Hercules started to protest, but Joxer cut him off.
"I said to stay out of it! Adora, you come with me NOW, young lady!"
Adora stood up and licked her lips nervously. For the first time in her
life she was scared of her father. "Yes Papa," she said in a tiny
voice.
Joxer turned to his friends. "We'll be back soon." And with that, Joxer
and his daughter walked away.
Hercules sat back down and turned to Xena. "When did Joxer get a
backbone?"
Xena smiled at the young Hercules. "Since he gave birth to Adora. By
the way, did anybody ever tell you that you're a really cute kid?"
"CUT THAT OUT!" Hercules shouted and Gabrielle had to hide a smile
behind her hand.
"Sorry, Hercules."
"Uh huh." Hercules rolled his eyes and then he frowned. He stared up at
Xena, confused. "Wait a minute! JOXER gave birth to Adora? Am I missing
something here?"
Gabrielle sighed. "It's... complicated."
Hercules raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms over his chest as he
leaned against a large boulder. "Does it look like I'm going anywhere
anytime soon?"
Gabrielle nodded and began her story. "Jett escaped from Maramis Prison
to save his brothers from their father. Joxer stood up to his father.
We met Joxer's mother. She was
still afraid her husband would still hurt her sons, so she kidnapped
them and took them to their uncle in Gaul. There we met an old 'friend'
of Joxer's, the Bacchae bitch!"
Xena placed her arm on her friend. "Whoa! Take it easy, Gabrielle."
Gabrielle scowled and breathed a few times before she was able to
continue speaking. "Thanks, Xena... A *friend* who just happened to be in
the service of the Gaul's God of
War, Teutales, who turned Joxer into a girl and knocked her... uh, I
mean got him pregnant. He gave birth to Adora soon after that. Joxer and
his brothers defeated
Teutales. Then a demon came and Adora defeated him after a huge battle.
Adora's powers seemed to have vanished until a few days ago. She turned
you into a child. End of story."
Hercules thought for a moment. "Wow. There's never a dull moment around
here. So, when is she going to turn me back?"
Xena shook her head. "We'll just have to wait and see if Joxer can get
through to her."
Eve looked up at her mother. "He will, Mom. I know he will."
Xena smiled and ruffled her daughter's hair. "If you know he will, Eve,
then that's good
enough for me."
******
Adora sat down on a rock as she watched her father. She had seen her
uncle Jett last month at Cyrene's tavern and right now her father
reminded her of him. "Papa? Eve told
me that I hurt you. I'm sorry, Papa. Please talk to me."
Joxer turned to his daughter and sighed. "Oh Dorie, I knew someday I'd
have to face you having a crush but I thought you'd at least be
sixteen, not six!"
"Papa, that's why I made Hercules little again so it would work."
"But don't you see? It's not fair to Hercules. You just can't do things
like that!"
"But I *love* him, Papa!"
Adora, you don't even know what love is between two people."
"Papa, I do know! It's like when you eat too much and your tummy
hurts."
Joxer laughed. "I know that feeling all too well, but there's more to
love than that, and even though you're special, you just can't do things
like what you've done. Adora, you
have to turn him back."
"Papa, you just don't understand," Adora sighed.
Joxer sat down beside her and stroked her hair. "This is really
important to you, isn't it?"
"Yes Papa, it is."
Joxer thought for a moment before he spoke again. "Dorie, your
grandfather never let me do anything and when I tried... Well, let's just say
it wasn't good. I won't be like him. I
need to talk to Hercules, and then we'll see."
"See what, Papa?"
"Wait and see. Come on. Let's go back." Joxer and Adora returned to the
camp shortly after. The three friends were staring at him anxiously.
Joxer walked over to Gabrielle and
Xena. "Would you ladies please leave me and Hercules alone? We need to
talk."
Xena nodded. "Come on, guys! I think the fish are biting."
"Okay Mom! I love to fish!" Eve agreed eagerly.
After Joxer watched Xena, Gabrielle, Eve and Adora walk away to make
sure that they wouldn't hear him, he turned to Hercules. "Okay, let's
talk."
**********
An hour later, Xena and group returned with plenty of fish. Adora ran
over to her father. "Well, Papa? Did you talk to him?"
Hercules ran up to Adora, knocking her on the ground. "Tag! You're it."
Joxer smiled. "He agreed with me, so you've got yourself a boyfriend."
Adora jumped up and down and threw her arms around Joxer. "Oh thank
you, Papa! You are the best papa in the whole world."
"Hey! Come on, you! Chase me! You're it!" Hercules yelled.
"Yeah, Adora!" Eve chimed in.
"Okay! You two you better run because here I come!" Adora yelled.
Xena walked over to Joxer. "Joxer, I thought you were going to get
Adora to change him back!"
Joxer smiled at her slyly. "I am. Just let Nature take its' course."
Both Gabrielle and Xena stared at him but neither said a word.
Gabrielle's eyes lit up in sudden understanding and
she grinned. Joxer returned the grin and he quietly walked away.
****
Hercules was now chasing the girls after Adora had caught him once.
Adora giggled as she ran around the tree. Hercules reached out and caught
her by the arm. "Oh you
captured me, Hercules! You can kiss me now!"
Hercules made a face. "Why would I want to kiss *you*? YUCK! You've got
cooties!"
Adora was stunned. "I don't have cooties!"
"Oh yes you do! They're in your hair! See?" Hercules then pulled
Adora's hair.
"Hey, you stop that!"
"Cooties, cooties, cooties!" sang Hercules.
"Stop saying that!" cried Adora. "You're mean!"
Hercules laughed and began singing louder and very off key. Eve was
also getting mad. "You stop laughing at my friend or else!"
Hercules turned to her. "Or else what? Nyah, nyah, nyah! You've BOTH
got cooties!"
"ENOUGH! I've had it! You don't deserve to be a child anymore - and you
don't deserve me!" For the second time that day, Adora raised her arms
and a bright light shone around
the area, and when it was gone, a grown up Hercules stood in the place
that the child stood just moments before. Adora stood in front of him
with her hands on her hips.
"You're just mean and my Papa could've handled that bully without your
help! You're not even fit to tie his bootlaces! Come on, Eve! Let's
leave this loser behind. My papa's twice
the man he is."
Hercules watched as the girls walked away. Eve turned around and gave
him two thumbs up. He returned the gesture. Joxer stepped out from where
he had been watching in case
things got out of hand. Hercules smiled and clapped his hand on Joxer's
shoulder. "Well, it worked. I think she officially hates my guts now."
Joxer shook his head. "Nah, not really. By tomorrow, it'll be in the
past."
Joxer was right. The next morning, Adora had forgiven Hercules. They
were now all ready to go and see Iolaus and his new bride. Eve looked at
her mother. "Mom?"
"Yes, Eve?"
"May I please ride Spirit? I promise I will stay close to you."
Xena brushed Eve's hair from her eyes. "All right, but stay close to
me."
"Thank you, Mom." With those words, the family began their journey to
Corinth, Hercules leading the way.
*******