() Part 1: Search For The Amethyst Stone ()

Gabrielle and Xena are catching breakfast in a lake they are camped by, though Gabrielle isn't having much luck. Gabrielle laughs as one brushes by her leg, tickling her, but she still can't catch it. Xena waits till the fish gets close to her and grabs it. Gabrielle sighs happily, "Finally! I was afraid I was gonna catch pneumonia before you caught a fish!"

Xena laughs, handing the fish to Gabrielle and climbing out of the lake and onto the shore. "So, it's my job to catch the fish now?"

Gabrielle laughs as well, setting the fish down and grabbing a towel when she reaches the shore, "Well…. yes. You catch it, I cook it!"

Xena rolls her eyes, drying off, "So why did you come with me?"

Gabrielle smiles, getting dressed as she talks, her stomach is rumbling. "That's what best friends do, Xena!"

Xena just rolls her eyes again, suppresses a laugh, and starts getting dressed as well. She has just put on her shift, when she notices something of hers is missing. Trying to remain calm Xena asks, "Gabrielle, did you move my stuff or anything?"

Gabrielle looks up from lacing her boot, "What? No, Xena, why?"

Xena carefully shakes out her leathers, making sure it hasn't fallen in with her armor and, finding that it hasn't, starts to search the immediate ground to see if it has rolled. "DAMN it!"

Gabrielle finishes lacing up her boots and comes over to find out what her friend is searching for, Gabrielle is drying her hair with a towel, "What is it, Xena, can't find a dagger?" Her attempt at a joke fails miserably.

Xena looks up just long enough to glare and state, "No." before continuing her search.

Gabrielle, seeing that Xena is almost… well… distressed, asks seriously. "What is it, Xena? What did you lose?"

Xena, after searching the whole bank area, sits on the ground dejectedly, she looks up at her friend. "It's gone, Gabrielle!"

Gabrielle squats next to her friend, "What, what's gone, Xena?"

Xena sighs, somewhat mad at herself, "My amethyst stone, I can't believe I would lose it!"

Gabrielle offers, wondering what stone Xena is talking about. "Maybe you left it at the campsite?"

Xena shakes her head, still just sitting there, "No… I had it with me before we went fishing…"

Gabrielle questions, thinking all the possible places Xena could have a stone hidden. "Where do you keep it?"

Xena looks up, finally moving to finish getting dressed, "Somewhere that I'd know if it was gone."

Gabrielle questions, "Really? How come I've never seen this amethyst of yours?"

Xena sighs, now putting on her gauntlets, "I guess I never thought to show it to you… So you didn't move my stuff?"

Gabrielle shakes her head, no, and then asks the next question on her list. "How long have you had this stone?"

Xena shrugs and starts back towards the camp, Gabrielle following her, "I forget exactly how long."

Gabrielle gives up, "Shouldn't we get moving to that town… Pirayhe?"

Xena nods slowly, "I have to find it, you understand, Gabrielle?"

Gabrielle shakes her head in wonder, frying the fish, "Sure thing, Xena…"

Hercules sits in the corner of an inn, eating some soup and watching the door. Joxer is sitting next to him, patting the hero on the back and drinking ale. "It'sss alllrightt, Herculeees, I'm suuure it's his timmme."

Hercules sniffles slightly, taking the drink away from Joxer, "Uncle Hades will be hearing from me! No more of this for you, Joxer, have some water."

Joxer looks after his lost glass of ale sadly; this demigod has a lot of sad stories to tell. A voice right next to them startles the men, "Hercules! Joxer! Oh it's so great to see you guys!"

They look up to see that while they were dealing with the offending cup of ale Gabrielle has bolted through the crowd, with a somber looking Xena behind her. Hercules immediately jumps up, clasping hands with Xena and hugging Gabrielle. "Ladies! It's great to see you two… Have you heard-"

Xena smoothly interrupts Hercules, sitting down, "Yes, Hercules, we heard. I'm so sorry for your loss, Iolaus was a good friend."

Hercules venomously states, "I'll get him back! Uncle Hades won't have a choice."

Gabrielle, a little uncomfortable, nods unsurely, "I'm sure you're right, Hercules. Argh, Joxer!"

Joxer had reached for his ale, in anticipation of yet another round of 'poor Iolaus' stories, and spilled it on Gabrielle. Jumping up Joxer grabs a cloth and starts to wipe the offending liquid, Gabrielle snatches the cloth and pushes Joxer away from her, whacking him on the head as she does so. "I'll get it, gods Joxer, we just got here and you've already stained my skirt!"

Joxer blushes, realizing that wiping ale off her skirt wasn't really smart, while rubbing his injured forehead with a hand. "Oww, gee Gabby I'm sorry!"

Gabrielle moans and smacks Joxer on the head with her staff, taking no notice that she could have actually hurt him, "Don't CALL me that! Xena!"

Xena looks up from brooding in the corner, with a sad Hercules, "Yes, Gabrielle?"

Gabrielle starts to walk off angrily, "I'm going to get us rooms!"

Hercules nods to show he's listening. Xena turns to Hercules and Joxer, who is moaning and rubbing his even more injured head, and leaning across the table says. "Boys I have an offer for you…."

Joxer, finding it hard to ignore Xena the way that she is leaning, asks, "Yessss, Xeeeennaaa?"

Xena smiles, noting that Joxer is very drunk, and Hercules is very depressed. "I lost something of mine,"

Hercules looks up, thinking that Xena did seem a little unhappy when she walked in. "Sure, Xena, what did you loose?"

Xena smiles sweetly, sitting back down, "An amethyst dagger, it means a lot to me."

Joxer cocks his head, "An amethyyyyst dagggger?"

Xena nods, and Hercules asks, always practical when there is a mission. "How big is this?"

Xena sighs, leaning back in her chair, "About two inches long. I think someone took it."

Hercules looks unsure, "Good luck, I'd help but I have to get Iolaus back."

Joxer shrugs, "Whattt heeeeeee saiddd."

Xena gets up and jogs out, past a confused Gabrielle. Hercules gets up and goes after her. When he finally catches up to Xena she is sitting on the ground, leaning against a tree. Hercules stands above her and sighs, "Xena, I can't help you…"

Xena looks up, dejected and angry, "You don't understand I have to find it!"

Hercules sighs, slowly considering his options, he reaches a hand down to pull Xena up. "All right. I'll help, so will Joxer, but after we find this stone of yours I have to go for Iolaus, okay, Xena?"

Xena nods, hope in her eyes, she takes the offered hand and stands, "That's right, we will find it! Thank you, Hercules."

They walk back to the inn together as Hercules wonders what it is about this stone that got Xena so upset.

A hooded figure watches this all with interest through some sort of pool. A hand snakes out of the cloak and wraps around a small amethyst dagger, "Guardians Aleathias come forth, bring these travelers here."

Fire breathing, flying snakes fifty feet long appear and float off through a solid rock wall in the cave. The cave is small and covered with shelves of potions and concoctions, with a fire burning in the corner, stalagmites hang from the ceiling and there are two passageways into the rock, between the shelves that line the walls.

The hooded figure swirls a finger in the pool, the image of the tavern wavers, then disappears and in its place a still life of Xena is visible. "Now, pretty, you will come after your precious stone. And when you do you will unlock it for me."

The figure cackles, the hacking sound vibrating through the cave, through the entire mountain.

Xena ran out of the inn at a speed faster then most mortals could go, leaving a sleepy Gabrielle grumbling about being woken. She looks up in the sky, searching for the creature she saw from her window, she spots the large snake type thing flying towards the east, barely visible and too far to be caught by the chakram. "Damn it!"

Xena stands there for about five minutes, putting on her armor that she carried out with her, before Gabrielle and Hercules join her. Gabrielle asks cautiously, "What is it, Xena?"

Xena looks up, obviously shaken, "A creature headed to the east, and that's where we're going. Start packing."

Hercules cautiously asks, "Why type of creature?"

But Xena is already walking through the town muttering, "I'm gonna need help with these!"

Gabrielle sighs and walks back into the inn, dragging Hercules with her. "Get Joxer up and pack your stuff, I'll pack Xena's and my things. You just watch, she'll be waiting for us at the stables in about fifteen minutes I bet…"

Hercules shrugs and follows Gabrielle to the inn and up the stairs, until they reach their rooms, he then turns away and goes to wake up Joxer. Gabrielle walks in her room and starts packing her things, once that is done she then proceeds to pack Xena's things… Briefly letting her mind wonder to what ELSE Xena has never showed her. "I shouldn't look… I should think about the trip instead…"

Gabrielle continues packing in a sort of daze until her stomach growls and she is forced back to reality, "Damn it! Xena forgot about breakfast! Well… She'll just have to wait a little until we get on the road."

Grabbing her dinar pouch Gabrielle heads down the stairs where she finds that Hercules and Joxer have already ordered food, four places are set. "Thanks guys I'm FAMISHED!"

Joxer moans and holds his head, taking another spoonful of soup. Gabrielle questions, "What's wrong with him?"

Hercules laughs, gesturing Gabrielle to sit down with them. "The meal's on me. Joxer has a bad headache this morning," He pauses not mentioning that most of it is probably from the staff blow to his friends head. "I'm sure one of your stories would cheer him up though?"

The small group laughs and goes back to their meals. A while later a nervous and somewhat angry Xena walks in and demands, "What are you doing? I've been waiting for you."

Hercules laughs, "We were eating, Xena, come join us?"

Xena sighs and sits down, still visibly agitated, "Fine."

Joxer cautiously asks, speaking for the first time that morning, "You all right, Xena?"

Xena rolls her eyes, "Of course I am…. I just want to get a move on, it's a two day walk at least."

The four quickly finish their meals and make a quick trip upstairs to grab their things.

Ares is pacing in his castle, running the situation over in his mind again and again. "Damn it! I can't believe… DAMN IT!"

Discord appears in the corner of the room, watching Ares pace for a few moments before speaking. "Ares…?"

Before she has time to react, a bolt is hurtled her way followed by the roar of, "GO AWAY!"

Discord ducks just in time as the bolt puts a hole in the wall behind her. "Now come on… I just want to help you release some pent up energy."

She saunters up to Ares, who picks her up in one fluid movement and tosses her across the room. "What part of Greek don't you understand?"

Discord sneers, getting up off the floor and dusting herself off. More than a little angry at being ignored. "What's so important…" she pauses as realization sinks in, "It's something to do with that little bitch isn't it!"

Ares turns, a warning in his voice, "DISCORD!"

Discord sighs, her anger deflating, "Yeah, yeah, sorry!"

Ares continues to pace, not even noticing Discord. He mutters, lost in his thoughts, "I can't believe it's gone! She had it…"

Discord slyly questions, curious and plotting, "Had what?"

Ares sighs, "The stone…" He looks up and sees Discord still standing there, grinning, "Discord, I said to GO AWAY!"

Discord pouts, like a spoiled child and stomps her foot. "You're no fun anymore!"

Ares glares, "Discord…"

Discord continues to pout, "Fine, I'm going to see someone else then!"

Ares waits until she is gone then goes back to his plans about where the stone could be.

Callisto opens her eyes, a feeling of life spreads over her entombed body. Slowly fingers regain feeling, then legs, as her brain struggles to comprehend the situation, she wonders what was missing… she finds she can move her body and does so, seeing a light above her. Callisto climbs through the lava and to the surface, where she takes a much-needed breath of fresh air, standing uncertainly on shaky legs. Discord smiles cattily. "Welcome to the living, Callisto."

Callisto cocks her head with distain; feeling steadier on her legs, out in the sunlight. "I was sleeping… Slut, what are you doing here?"

Discord sneers, "Have a little respect, Blondie. I just freed you from your tomb. So shut up and obey me!"

Callisto laughs, throwing her head back, "YOU freed ME? Please! You don't have that power!"

Discord rolls her eyes, not ready to divulge that information, "Do you wanna know why… or I could just send you back?"

Callisto stretches, stifling a yawn. "I'm still here, aren't I?"

Discord sighs, Callisto always was more trouble then she was worth, "Okay, so here's the deal. There's this stone thingy that everyone's after."

Callisto smoothly interrupts, "Who's everyone?"

Discord rolls her eyes again, "Don't interrupt me Blondie!" she pauses and then utters one sentence sure to do wonders to her case. "Xena, and others that we can discuss later."

Callisto glances up with a look of interest and disgust on her face, "Xena?" she spits out the name.

Discord nods, "Yeah, yeah. Anyway, I hear this stone thingy is really powerful. It's called the Ambro-Amre-Ambra…Oh screw it! The something-sia stone--"

Callisto interrupts again, "The Anbreasia Stone? The one missing from you gods' palace?"

Discord wrinkles her forehead, "I'M TELLING THIS!"

Callisto shrugs, casually chewing on a nail, "Fine, go ahead, slut."

Discord screams and throws a bolt that Callisto easily dodges. "Don't CALL me that! Anyway I freed you 'cause I need someone to serve me, someone to help me get the stone from whoever took it!"

Callisto throws her head back and laughs. "I'll never help YOU."

Discord is so angry she is trembling, "BITCH! I saved you, I OWN you!"

Callisto laughs and sends a bolt Discord's way, knocking her out cold, "Yeah, right!"

Stepping around Discord, Callisto looks at her surroundings, thinking aloud. "So Xena's after this… Hmm… I've been asleep much too long…"

Callisto stretches again, before disappearing in shards of light.

Gabrielle sits next to Xena, both watching a waterfall, she questions. "C'mon Xena, where did you get this stone?"

Xena exhales loudly, "We've had this conversation already, I'm not comfortable discussing it."

Gabrielle sets her face angrily, "You won't even tell me? Some best friend you are Xena!"

Xena looks over to Gabrielle, silently pleading for her to drop the subject. "It's just not something I feel like getting into now."

Gabrielle refuses to let it go, "That's right, keep your secrets until I absolutely HAVE to know! Or until it slips out, isn't that your theory, Xena? Well you know what? I ABSOLUTELY HAVE to know!"

Xena shakes her head, "You don't need to know where I got it to help me find this stone. If we're such good friends, why can't you trust me on this?"

Gabrielle gets up abruptly and storms off into the trees. Xena sighs and stares woefully into the waterfall, watching the water in its steady current, trying not to think about how she could have lost this. She's so absorbed in her thoughts that Xena doesn't even notice the other presence, until he speaks. "Somehow I don't think sitting here depressed is going to help your cause, sweet. What happened to that fire?"

Xena states, her face deadpan as Ares sits down next to her, "I'm really not in the mood for your games, Ares."

Ares gives a mock look of hurt; "I would think you'd know me better then that, my dear. I am just as worried about this as you."

Xena sighs, turning away from Ares to watch the waterfall again, "Sure, and I'm a hydra's aunt."

Ares shrugs, also looking at the waterfall, "Your family, not mine."

Xena suppresses a laugh and rolls her eyes, "Seriously, Ares."

Ares gently turns Xena to face him, "Princess, this is as much on my head as yours…"

Xena nods, still cautious, "I know… Don't call me that!"

Ares half jokes, "It's true though… So you believe me this time?"

Xena, in a rare moment of weakness lays her head on Ares' chest, letting him hold her. "I can't believe I lost the Anbreasia Stone!"

Ares offers, stroking his princess's hair, "I'll help you find it."

Xena nods, accepting his help. Unbeknownst to the warriors, a pair of green eyes has been watching the whole thing.