() Part 2: Confusion Among Friends & Enemies ()

Gabrielle dashed back to camp and quickly looks around for Hercules, spotting him by the fire she sits down next to him and blurts out, "Do you know what the 'Anbreasia' Stone is?"

Hercules looks up, surprised to see Gabrielle back so soon. "The Anbreasia Stone? Why?"

Gabrielle rolls her eyes, and repeats herself. "Do you know what the Anbreasia Stone is, Hercules?"

Hercules thinks for a moment, "I once heard of the mythical Anbreasia Stone… I never saw anything to prove it though."

Gabrielle pulls out a scroll and begins to write, "What was the myth?"

Hercules sighs and launches into the tale. "I heard that the Anbreasia Stone is a powerful amethyst, one of the most powerful stones on Olympus."

Gabrielle quickly interrupts, "What's it do?"

Hercules shrugs, "I don't know, neither did the bard who told the story… Anyway apparently the reason no one's heard of it was that years ago the stone disappeared from Olympus and the gods have been searching for it ever since."

Gabrielle laughs, trying to hide all the questions she has. "Hercules, don't ever become a bard!"

Hercules laughs as well, his own question having not been answered. "Gabrielle, why are you so interested in a bard's tale?"

Gabrielle leans close to Hercules and says, "What if it wasn't a myth?"

Hercules looks puzzled, "What do you mean, Gabrielle?"

Gabrielle bites her lip for a second, "You know that stone that Xena lost?"

"Yeah?"

Gabrielle explains, "Xena and I had a fight and I was coming back here when I heard voices, that stone Xena lost? It's the Anbreasia Stone! And Ares is involved in it somehow."

Hercules says nothing for a moment, digesting this news, before he exhales and says, "How do we trust Xena now that we know this?"

Gabrielle looks to the ground, setting her writing aside unhappily. "We don't."

Joxer walks out from the forest, trying not to show how hurt he is by what he heard. "Hey guys, I got the firewood like you asked."

Gabrielle nods, barely sparing Joxer a glance, "Good, set it down and I'll get ready to start dinner."

Hercules stands up and starts to walk out of the campsite. "Since Xena's probably still swimming, I'll go hunting tonight."

Joxer sets down the firewood and walks to the side of the campsite miserably thinking, 'They don't trust me with anything!'

Gabrielle gets up and starts the fire, ignoring Joxer because she's so lost in her thoughts.

Athena appears in a flash of gold, and takes her seat as one of the twelve Olympians, she was followed by Aphrodite, who appears in a flash of pink, Ares, who appears in a flash of blue, and Artemis, who appears in a flash of green. Zeus stands up, "You're late, all four of you!"

Artemis speaks, glaring at her siblings, "We were discussing a war of Ares and Athena's that had spilled into Amazon lands."

Aphrodite adds, as Zeus sits in boredom, "They were so TOTALLY headed for one of my temples!"

Only slightly concerned with the problems of his siblings, Ares shrugs, "I fixed it Arte, Dite!"

Knowing from the look their father wears that he has long since stopped paying attention, Athena prissily notes, "The problem has been resolved, but is the reason for us being late."

Zeus stands again, "Very well, on to the meeting."

Sharp eyes noting the looks passed between the four younger gods, Hera looks at the four gods squarely and mutters, "They covered well."

Having overheard the Queen of the Gods, but not enough so as to understand her meaning, Hermes asks, "What was that?"

Hera waves her hand, noticing that the gods in question are all glaring angrily at her, it is, after all the only time they all get along, when planning a dual cover story. "It was nothing, proceed."

Knowing better than to get involved in minor family squabbles, Zeus sighs at the interruptions, "As most of you know, I've called this meeting about the Anbreasia Stone."

There is a mumbled, "Yes," from all the gods present.

Zeus chooses to ignore the lack of enthusiasm from his family and continues. "What most of you DON'T know is that it has been lost, again. It appears that the last mortal who had it, obviously not the culprit, has misplaced the Anbreasia Stone."

Apollo asks, some annoyance clear in his voice, "Why does this concern us?"

This time it's Hera who continues, "Because now is the perfect time to find the stone and restore it to Olympus!"

Hades, who has showed up as he rarely does, mutters. "Like… has… inter… stone… Olympus!"

Ever bored of these political and power-conscious matters, Poseidon asks, "What was that, brother?"

Hades repeats, louder this time. "I said: like she has any interest in restoring the stone to Mt. Olympus!"

Unable to resist adding to the squabble between his own siblings, Poseidon retorts, "I could say the same of you."

Zeus roars, getting everyone's attention, "ENOUGH!" lowering his voice he continues, "You wouldn't know where it is, would you, Ares? It was such a tragedy that we never could PROVE who took it."

A smirk contorting her otherwise pleasant features, Athena nods her approval, "Father's right, where is it Ares?"

To Zeus, Ares cockily points out, ignoring Athena, "Yeah, well, you couldn't father. Now, why would I know where it is?"

Hera breaks up this argument, completely ignoring her stepdaughter in favor of yelling at her husband. "Your father wasn't accusing you, son. We just were wondering if you had any leads. Isn't that right, Zeus?"

Curtailed from his favorite pastime, Zeus grumbles something. "Ysmamwifeomyn!" which roughly translates to, 'yes, damn, wife of mine!'

The children now conveniently forgotten, Hera casually asks, her eyes cold and accusing, "What was that dear, I don't think the others heard you."

Well aware that he will pay for any indiscretions later, Zeus forces a smile and says, "Yes, that's right Hera, dear."

Not to be ignored in matters of love, or lack thereof, Aphrodite giggles, "Didn't sound the same the first time!"

Through his immaculate golden features, Apollo sneers, "And what would YOU know, Ditzy."

Instantly aware of all insults to her person, Aphrodite complains in a tried-and-true method, "Hey! Daddy, he called me ditzy!"

Flipping a golden curl out of his face, Apollo shrugs, not even bothering to look apologetic, "Check your hearing, sis, I said 'Dity' you know like 'Aphrodite' without the 'Aphro.'"

One step away from a foot stomping, world-shaking temper tantrum, Aphrodite whines, "DADDY!"

Artemis laughs cruelly, siding with her twin as always, "Please, Aphrodite, keep your ditzy blonde head out of conversations that are above you."

Zeus sighs, sitting down wearily and sensing a headache forming as always when his children are forced to be in the same room. "That's enough, meeting adjourned. Go, all of you."

The assembled gods quickly get up and leave back to their own affairs, not waiting to be asked a second time.

Xena swung onto Argo's back gracefully and looked down at her sleepy companions. "C'mon, let's go." Noticing how reluctant her friends seem Xena adds, playing to Gabrielle's weakness for food. "Look, if we hurry we can make it there in time for lunch."

Gabrielle sighs but agrees anyway, "Okay, Xena, lead on… Hercules and I will follow you."

Joxer comes running from the woods, his hair still dripping wet and his armor on even more haphazardly then usual. "Hey! What about me?"

Xena has already started off riding Argo, and Gabrielle is quick to follow with only a small shrug in Joxer's direction. Hercules, ready to take off, but feeling slightly guilty for forgetting the only person who will put up with his stories about Iolaus, says. "Uh, we thought you had left already…"

Joxer rolls his eyes and shoves Hercules along ahead of him so as not to let his buddy see how angry he is. "I TOLD you guys I was going for a bath!"

Hercules shrugs, running to catch up with Gabrielle, "Oh, must not have heard you!"

During the trip, Xena steadfastly rides ahead, thinking over all her options and hardly noticing her friends at all.

Hercules and Gabrielle stay a safe distance behind Xena so as to discuss any suspicious behavior she might be exhibiting.

Joxer dawdles behind Gabrielle and Hercules, not because he wants to, but more because he believes that their whispering is about him.

The three traveling companions are, needless to say, very happy when Xena announces, "The town should be just over this hill." She sees a small spiral of smoke coming from that direction and says, "I'll ride ahead and check it out. Yah!"

It takes a good five minutes before Hercules and Gabrielle notice the smoke. Hercules exclaims, pointing to the skyline, "Look at the smoke!"

Gabrielle rolls her eyes, hoping the smoke had been there before Xena left and not after, "Damn it, Xena can never stay out of trouble!"

They both take off at a run and are over the hill and out of sight before Joxer can call their attention to him. Realizing that innocent people are probably being hurt Joxer puffs himself up, adjusts his armor, and runs after his friends calling out, "Joxer THE MIGHTY will save the day!"

While coming down the hill, his helmet blows down into his face due to the wind, covering his eyes, and he runs smack into Gabrielle while fixing it back on top of his head. Wondering why the bard is just standing there Joxer looks up and sees three flying snake-like creatures destroying the small village. There are another two creatures lying on the ground with, what one would assume to be their heads, severed.

The three would-be warriors' attention is diverted when Xena lets out her piercing war cry and throws her chakram, bringing down another creature without its head. "That's right, come an' get it!"

Finally seeming to realize that there is a battle going on, Hercules whispers something to Gabrielle and rushes into the fray, grabbing one of the creatures by its tail and swinging it around and around before tossing it a long way away with a hearty, "Mph!"

Gabrielle says, "Joxer, stay here." And joins the battle, whacking the last creature over the head with her staff, bringing it to the ground, she continues to whack it repeatedly until she is assured that it is dead.

Xena hooks her chakram and turns to her friends, "Took ya long enough."

The frightened villagers realize that the strange beasts are dead and run to the hero's to congratulate them. One villager, Anetta, announces. "Ya'll shall have free room and meals for as long as ya intend to stay here, as my thank ya for destroying those wicked monsters and saving our town!"

Hercules starts to object, knowing that Xena will be anxious to press on, "That's very kind, thank you, but my friends and I--"

Gabrielle exclaiming, "Would be delighted to stay in your wonderful town." cuts him off effectively.

Xena turns angrily to her friend and whispers in the bards ear, so the villager's can't hear, "I think we were led here by those- those THINGS!"

Gabrielle smiles and whispers back, "Too bad, your quest can wait a day… Besides, you promised me lunch."

Gabrielle puts one arm around Hercules, and one around Xena and drags them through the throngs of the village crowd. As an afterthought Xena adds, still angry with Gabrielle for diminishing her cause, "C'mon Joxer, we might as well settle in for the night."

Joxer follows drearily lamenting 'Xena can't be trusted with this quest that has something to do with the God of War, and Gabrielle and Hercules, who can be trusted, don't even notice me half the time!' however he only says, "Yes, Xena," and hurries to catch up with his so-called friends.

Joxer unpacks his things quickly, because he doesn't really own many things, and sighs, believing that the others are probably discussing everything right now and not including him. "Again, they never include me!"

Joxer wanders around the room, brooding, "Why did they have to keep me out of things?"

Callisto appears in a flash of fire with screams echoing in the background, she is smiling. She pitches her voice to a sympathetic tone, cocking her head in an, 'I'm thinking' posture. "But it's so simple, Joxer. They kept you out of the fight, because you're not 'hero material' and I'm inclined to agree with their decision."

Joxer frowns, trying to figure it out. "What do you mean by that..."

He looks up, not until just now fully realizing that this is the goddess Callisto here, "Callisto? What do you want?" He is instantly nervous and wary of her.

Callisto smiles and circles Joxer in a predatory manner, while trying to be sweet. "You promised me allegiance, Joxer, or have you forgotten?" She states, as if it is that simple. "I am here to command a follower."

Joxer gulps and looks nervously around the room, trying not to think about the lithe blonde brushing against him as she circles ever closer, "What do you want, goddess Callisto?"

Callisto pulls out a dagger, stops pacing so she is face to face with Joxer, puts the dagger to his throat and says, still smiling. "What I want? Why I would think it's obvious, Joxer," She pauses for effect. "I want YOU."

Joxer gulps again, backing away a little so the blade isn't quite so close to his throat. He manages to squeak, his voice just not cooperating, "Me?"

Callisto sighs and twirls the dagger absently. A disgusted look crosses her almost innocent looking face. "Yes, Joxer 'the Mighty,' you. I'm going to make a warrior out of you, make people fear your name."

Joxer manages to get his voice back to normal, by some miracle, looking at Callisto, innocent and confused. "Why? For what price?"

Callisto smiles, an insane glint in her eyes, "Well now that you mention it..."

Joxer feels the sweat dripping off his forehead and runs a hand over his head and through his hair to shake the sweat from there. "Well?"

Callisto simply giggles, ignoring his question she instead extends her hand, seeing his reluctance she says, "C'mon, it's not like anybody else cares about you."

Realizing how true that statement is, Joxer smiles weakly and takes the unstable blonde's outstretched hand, accepting whatever fate she has planned for him. Immediately both people are engulfed in fire, disappearing in seconds.

Xena paces her room like a caged animal; she has been unable to get her stone out of her mind since they have stopped. "Damn it, why did Gabrielle have to make us stop?"

Of course, she has been thinking of her stone before, except now she is worried about those strange monsters they killed. Knowing the only person who might know she will not call, Xena settles back into her pacing route, hoping that Gabrielle will be ready to leave the next morning.

A voice says, even before the god himself has appeared fully. "Hello, my dear."

Xena glares at the God of War, "What do YOU want?"

Ares grins, mischief in his eyes, "Do I have to 'want' something?"

Almost bitterly, Xena sighs, "You always want something..."

Ares' grin falters for a moment, and then it is back as usual. He moves closer to the warrior, "You know me too well..."

Taking the chance offered to her, Xena rolls her eyes, deadpanning, "Not really. You're just so predictable."

As she expects, Ares stops moving towards her, "Really? What do I want then?"

Xena taps her foot impatiently, "How am I supposed to know!"

Xena turns around and waits for him to leave. A voice right next to her ear says, "If you're nice I'll tell you..."

Xena spins around and finds herself face to face with the God of War. In one fluid movement she steps away and slaps him, hard but not hard enough to make him move. "Talk..."

Ares chuckles, rubbing his jaw, "Now, Xena, that's not nice."

Xena smiles, "How about this? Talk or leave before I cram my boot half way up your--"

Ares steps closer to her again, not deterred in the least, "Always so HOSTILE, my dear."

They stand a hair's breath away from each other; Ares raises his hand to Xena's face. Xena is about to say something, when Gabrielle barges in, "Xena! Joxer's-- XENA!"

Xena steps away from Ares abruptly before she faces toward Gabrielle, Xena's eyes clearly display an 'oops' look. She then turns to her blonde friend, walking away from Ares, "As I was saying... Get out before I--"

With a flash of blue light the God of War disappears, shaking his head almost sadly and not letting her finish her sentence. Gabrielle asks, staring at her friend suspiciously, "What was that, Xena? What was HE doing here?"

Xena rolls her eyes, supposedly at the God of War who left. "He didn't tell me, probably just bored and harassing me, like usual."

At Gabrielle's skeptical look, the warrior hastily changes the subject, "You mentioned Joxer?"

Gabrielle's eyes have a panicked look in them as she practically pulls her friend out of the room, "He's gone! I don't know what we're going to do! He's not in his room, you know how Hercules was depending on him with Iolaus... you know... gone..."

Xena focuses on the situation at hand, all other thoughts forgotten, "I know Gabrielle, it must have-- We'll get to the bottom of this."

Her eyes take on a feral gleam as she feels strongly that his disappearance is linked to her missing stone. "I promise, I won't let anything happen to Joxer."

Callisto absently leaned against a wall, watching Joxer eating some grapes from a bowl as he sits on her throne. Callisto casually strolls over to Joxer and places her hand on his, stopping him from picking up more grapes. "Stop that, Joxer!"

Joxer gulps and slowly removes his hand from under the goddesses, avoiding looking up. "I-I I'm sorry, g-goddess Cal-Callisto."

Callisto suddenly giggles and takes a grape from the bunch and eats it. "Call me Calli, Joxer. And stop looking like a whipped dog, I'm not mad."

Joxer finally looks up and sees Callisto smiling and dangling a grape from her long, petite hands right above Joxer's now open mouth. With a giggle, Callisto reaches down and places the grape on his tongue. Joxer nearly chokes with the unexpectedness of it. "Cal-Calli?"

Callisto smiles, picking up another grape and eating it, "Yes, Joxer?"

Joxer frowns slightly, trying to figure out exactly how to broach the subject without becoming barbequed. "W-what exactly do you want from me?"

Callisto giggles innocently, taking Joxer's hand and pulling him to a standing position. "Want? I don't want anything, Joxer."

She leans closer to the slightly trembling warrior, "You are mine; body," she runs her hand along his chest over the fabric of the purple shirt he is wearing, "soul, mind," Callisto runs her other hand through Joxer's hair, "and, of course, even in death…"

Callisto moves her hand that was on his chest back and a dagger appears. Joxer doesn't even notice that his shirt has disappeared until Callisto trails the cold steel of the dagger along his chest, causing the warrior wanna-be to shiver. "C-C-Calli,"

Callisto steps back for a moment, to admire her new acquisition. "Not bad, not bad at all…" resuming the dagger's previous trail Callisto comments, "Who would have guessed that behind the silly armor and bright shirt there are actually muscles…"

Joxer shakily tries to pull away from the psycho blonde, but finds that she has a vice grip on his hair. Willing his voice not to shake Joxer says, "I'm not sure about this…"

Callisto giggles again, a disturbing pitch to her cheerful voice, "Of course you are." Her voice turns deadly serious, "Besides, you took my hand, you're here, the deal has been made."

Joxer looks down and whispers, "Are you sure you want me?"

Callisto stares into Joxer's eyes intently before speaking. "Oh, yeah, I'm sure…"

Gabrielle waited a good five seconds for Hercules, before letting out a very annoyed scream, "HERC!"

Within seconds, the demigod comes skidding through the door, a worried expression on his face. "What is it, Gabrielle?"

Gabrielle instantly turns into the sorrowful maiden, acting out all those stories is good for some things. "Oh, Hercules, it's just dreadful! Joxer has disappeared! I went to find him and he was gone!"

Hercules looks equally distressed, 'Oh no,' he thinks, 'now who'll listen to stories about my poor Iolaus?' Trying to compose himself, Hercules suggests. "I should probably go find him, Joxer could be in trouble! Don't worry, Gabrielle, I'm sure he's fine."

Xena rolls her eyes, 'Always the hero first.' Gabrielle nods happily, 'Now I can find out what in Tartarus Ares was doing here.' She waits until she hears Hercules leave, before pulling Xena back into the room. "What was Ares doing here?"

Xena frowns, having expected no less from her blonde companion. "I already told you that I don't know, Gabrielle."

Gabrielle accuses sternly, ignoring the clear 'conversation over' warning in Xena's voice. "I don't believe you!"

Xena shrugs, annoyed, "Look, Gabrielle, we don't have time for this. We have to find Joxer and get back my stone."

Gabrielle irritably says, "Who cares about your stone or stupid Joxer! I want answers, Xena!"

"Well, get them from someone else!" Xena mutters crossly and stalks off.

Gabrielle sighs, wanting desperately to punch a wall or something, but instead she simply goes down to the main room of the inn to await Xena's return.

Joxer bursts confidently through the door and strolls up to where Gabrielle is sitting. He keeps his one hand behind his back and his voice holds no trace of the usual foolishness. "Hello, Gabrielle."

Gabrielle shrugs and pats the seat next to her, "Sit down, Joxer. You wouldn't believe how Xena is acting!"

"Oh really?" Joxer says, seeming more interested.

Gabrielle doesn't even notice that Joxer is carrying something, "You just can't trust Xena anymore…" Just then, she sees Hercules and waves, eyes glistening joyfully, "Ooh, Herc, over here!"

Hercules smiles, walks over, and sits down next to Gabrielle and Joxer. "Hey… well, I see you found Joxer, Gab!" Turning to Joxer he adds, "Where were ya, bud?"

Joxer pretty much ignores Hercules' question, in favor of asking more about Xena's strange behavior. "What's wrong with Xena, do ya think, Gabrielle?"

Gabrielle sighs, her earlier merriment gone. "Well Herc, Joxer, it seems that Ares is influencing her again. He was in her room when I went to tell her I couldn't find you, Joxer, and she wouldn't tell me why!"

Hercules frowns deeply when his half-brother and greatest enemy is mentioned, "Are you sure she didn't know?"

Joxer quickly interrupts, scooting closer to Gabrielle. "I think Gabrielle's right, Xena always knows what's going on…"

Xena walks in the door and looks for the petite bard, she sees her along with Hercules and Joxer. Xena is about to head to her room, still angry, when she sees something glinting behind Joxer's back. Xena quickly realizes that he's carrying a dagger and is about to stab Gabrielle, she yells, concern echoing in her voice, "What is THAT!"

Joxer, Hercules and Gabrielle turn to face the Warrior Princess, distress clearly etched on her stunning face. Joxer looks Xena square in the eye, and she can't help but wonder at his expression, "Who, me?"

Xena takes a few slow steps towards the group, careful not to loose them in the impending crowd. "What's behind your back, Joxer?"

Joxer turns slightly, obscuring Xena's view of the dagger, before pulling his hand out. Xena draws her sword, but all that's in Joxer's hand is an ugly flower. Xena exclaims, "What the-"

Joxer smiles, goofiness back in his boyish features, "Here, Gabby, I thought you'd like it!"

Gabrielle smacks Joxer in the arm and whines, "Don't call me that!" before glaring at Xena.

Xena puts her sword back in its scabbard and rubs her eyes wearily, sure that she's just hallucinated. She starts to her room, groggily muttering, "I think I need some rest…"