Xena nodded and sighed sadly as they rode on to Apollo's temple. Jett rode quietly beside his brother. Joxer glanced over in his direction. "If you're going to say something, then say it, but I'm not backing out."
Jett turned his head to face his brother. "I'm proud of you, Jox, and I believe that Father would be too," he said in a low voice.
Joxer gave his brother a goofy grin in thanks but said nothing else. They arrived at Apollo's temple some time later, where they were greeted by one of his followers as they entered the main altar room. "Why are you here?" the man demanded in a harsh voice.
Xena stepped forward. "My friend here - " indicating Joxer, " - is here to play Apollo's harp and rescue the Princess Meliai."
The follower looked at Joxer and sniffed. "Ah, another fool trying to be a hero." The man rolled his eyes and sighed. "Please come with me." He led them down a long corridor that took them to a large chamber. In the chamber stood crystal statues of young men, each holding an instrument. "These are the ones who failed. Do you still wish to try?"
Joxer approached one of the frozen men, touched him, and then backed away. "I thought you said encased in ice! These guys have been turned into crystal!"
Xena rolled her eyes. "Well, I guess that it's different now." She gazed at the transformed men curiously. "But why are they each holding a different instrument?"
"Because the great God Apollo does have feelings and gave them their own instrument before the spell finished its work. If you still want to do this, then come with me." The follower pointed at Joxer. "You only, musician. Your friends must remain here."
"I'm going with Joxer!" Gabrielle exclaimed.
The follower's eyebrow rose at Gabrielle's words. "Do as you wish, but if he fails, you also will be turned into crystal," he warned.
Joxer stepped in front of Gabrielle. "If you are coming, then let's go." He turned to the follower. "Okay. We're ready."
Xena and Jett both walked over to Joxer. "We're coming too, Joxer - just in case," said Xena.
Joxer only nodded as they walked behind the follower, who led them to another chamber. The man opened the door and Joxer walked in, but before anyone else could follow him, he quickly closed and sealed the door shut.
"Joxer! Open this door now!" screamed Gabrielle.
"I'm sorry, but I can't put you guys into any danger!" Joxer's voice was muffled behind the door.
"Joxer, please let us in!"
"No, Xena. I feel that I can do this, but if by chance I fail, it'll only be me as a statue, not any of you!"
"JOX, OPEN THIS DOOR NOW BEFORE I BREAK YOU IN HALF!"
"I love you too, Jett. Xena, please take care of Gabrielle."
Gabrielle continued pounding on the door. "Joxer! Let us in!"
Xena gently pushed Gabrielle aside. "Joxer, you said that we had no faith in you. Well, it seems to me that you have no faith in us either, or you'd let us in to at least support you."
Suddenly the door opened and Joxer stood in the doorway, gazing at them.
Gabrielle rushed inside and struck Joxer hard on the chest with her fist.
The warrior wannabe yelped and bent forward a little, rubbing where the angry bard had hit him. "Gabrielle, that hurt!" he whimpered.
"If you ever do something like that again, so help me, Joxer...!"
"I'm sorry, okay? Jeez! I wish you'd make up your mind! First it seems like you like me, then you act like you can't stand me!"
Gabrielle sighed. "Joxer... Look, I'm very fond of you, but I hate it when you do certain things."
"Yeah? Well, I kind of hate it when mortals come into the main chambers of my temple without being invited. So, what's up?" a handsome, tanned, and arrogant-looking young man with blond hair asked. He was dressed in gold pants and a vest. A gold necklace that had a large sun pendant attached to it was around his neck. He gazed at the mortals with contempt in his eyes as he sprawled on his throne.
Xena automatically placed her hand on her chakram. Apollo stood up from his throne. "Oh no, missy! I'll have none of that." He pointed his finger at the chakram and it turned into a snake. Xena moved her hand away, but the snake was too quick and bit her. She managed to get it off her and threw it across the floor where it landed and became her chakram again. Apollo looked at Gabrielle, who was looking at Xena's hand. "You, girl! Go pick up that weapon."
Gabrielle ignored him as she continued looking at Xena. "I'm okay, Gabrielle. Go get my chakram and hold onto it for me. I can't hold it right now. It will turn back into a snake if I touch it," Xena said, her voice sounding as if it were coming from far away.
Gabrielle grew alarmed as Xena's face became pale and her eyes unfocused. "Xena?"
"The snake was poisonous, Gabrielle, but I'll be okay." Xena suddenly sank to the ground. Joxer and Jett quickly came to their friend's side, kneeling down next to Gabrielle.
"I knew I shouldn't have opened that door," said Joxer sadly.
"Never mind! We've got to get her out of here," said Jett.
Gabrielle watched as he rose to his feet after he carefully lifted Xena up in his arms. "Gabrielle, get her weapon!"
Gabrielle rose to her feet, but didn't move.
Jett snapped, "I said, get her weapon!"
Gabrielle rushed over, picked the chakram up and carefully attached it to her belt. She then stared at Joxer with scared green eyes.
Joxer smiled at Gabrielle sadly. "Go, Gabrielle. Help Xena," he said softly. The bard was devastated. She wanted to be with both of them. Joxer sensed that he knew how she felt. "Gabrielle, I'll be all right. Xena needs you."
Gabrielle rushed over to Joxer and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Please be careful."
"I will. Now go with Jett and help Xena," Joxer whispered.
Gabrielle ran back over and followed Jett out of the chamber with Xena. Joxer turned back to Apollo. "You didn't have to do that! Xena wouldn't have thrown it."
"I couldn't take that chance."
"Will she die?"
"I don't know."
"You're a God and it's your poison!"
The blond God rolled his eyes. "Why are you here, mortal?"
"I'm here to play your harp and rescue Princess Meliai."
I see. So, you want to play my harp, huh, mortal? You do know what happens if you fail?"
Joxer looked at the God and nodded. "Yes, I know."
Apollo left his throne and walked over to Joxer, draping his arm around Joxer's shoulders. "Hey, you're the moron Ares told me about! Jerkster, right?"
Joxer shook Apollo's arm off. "The name is Joxer and I'll play your harp. As a matter of fact, not only will I play your harp, but I'll play it better than you!"
Apollo stood there for a moment looking at the warrior wannabe and then began to laugh. "Let me get this straight! You're saying that you can play better than me with my own harp?"
"Yes. I can play better than you and I challenge you."
"Brave words, mortal." Suddenly, two harps appeared. "Both of these harps are mine. I accept your challenge, but we will play for the other Gods and they will choose the winner."
"If I win, you'll let Princess Meliai go, save Xena and free all those guys that didn't free the princess before."
"And if I win?" Like I'm NOT going to win over this mortal jerk! the God silently gloated.
Joxer swallowed hard, but his voice was steady as he replied, "I will be your loyal servant until the day I die, with no will of my own."
"You know, it might be fun to have a servant... Okay moron, you're on!" Apollo answered as he waved his hand and a moment later, Joxer found himself in a big room.
"You will remain here until I get everything ready, so if I were you, I'd do some practicing, Jerkster!" Apollo's voice said. Joxer looked around, wondering what he managed to get himself into.
Jett carefully placed Xena on the cot. He then looked up at Gabrielle. "We need to get the poison out before it travels thought her body. Do you have a knife?"
Gabrielle nodded as she took it out and gave it to him. Jett stared at it for a minute then took it. "This may make you queasy."
"No, it's okay. Just do it!"
"Okay. Now you need to go get that follower. He might know what the antidote is for the type of snake that poisoned Xena."
Gabrielle stared at him. "Look, I know that you're scared, but it's got to be done before it's too late for her!"
"Do you really know what you're doing?"
"Yes."
Gabrielle stared at Xena for another moment then ran to get the follower. She returned with the man shortly afterwards to find Jett putting a bandage on Xena's arm. "I think I got the poison out," he said to them in a soft and raspy voice.
The follower went over with a bowl in his hands. "She must drink this. This will help her," he explained.
Gabrielle took the bowl and sniffed it, her nose wrinkling at the smell. "What will it do?"
"As I said, it'll help her. She'll sleep for the rest of the day, but by morning, she should be all right," the follower said.
Gabrielle lifted Xena's head up and she gave her the medicine. "I hope this works."
"I'm sure it will. Xena's a strong person."
Gabrielle looked at Jett. "Are you worried about Joxer?" she asked quietly.
Jett nodded slowly. "Yeah. I'm worried about him," he admitted.
"Maybe one of us should've stayed with him," Gabrielle said as she turned away to gaze around the room.
Jett was silent for a moment, taking in her words. "I can stay with Xena if you want to go to him," he said finally.
"Did I say I wanted to?"
"No. I just thought you did. Sorry for making assumptions."
Gabrielle sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "No, I do, but I also want to be with Xena."
Jett stared up at the bard, frowning. "Look, Gabrielle. There's not much you can do for Xena except to wait. Maybe Joxer's the one who could use some support."
Gabrielle nodded slowly. "I guess you're right. Okay. I'll go back to Joxer. You look after Xena."
"I will. When she's back on her feet, we'll join you."
"Deal."
"Great! Then we better get a move on! Mom's fit to be tied!" another voice broke in.
Both of them turned around as Cupid appeared in the middle of the room. "Cupid, what's wrong and why are you here?" the bard asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"What's the matter? I'll tell you what's the matter! Joxer challenged Apollo to a musical duel," the winged God informed them.
Gabrielle's eyes blazed with anger at Cupid's words. "He did what?"
The God raised his arms in the air as Gabrielle approached him. "Look! I don't have time to repeat myself! Let's go."
Gabrielle suddenly found herself in a room. Cupid pointed over to where Joxer was sitting on a bed tuning the harp. "Maybe you can talk some sense into him! He hasn't bothered with listening to me!" the God sighed.
"Joxer... What were you thinking?"
"Oh! Hi Gabrielle," Joxer replied with a weak smile as the bard approached him.
"'Hi Gabrielle?' Is that all you've got to say?"
"Oh, sorry! How's Xena?"
Gabrielle sat down on the bed next to him and barely managed to keep herself from bopping the warrior wannabe hard on the arm with her fist. "She's resting. Joxer... Gods, why did you challenge Apollo? He's the God of Music!"
"I know. I can beat him, Gabrielle."
"How? He's the one that gives you the ability to play."
"Gabrielle, if he takes that away from me then he's cheating, and I don't think the other Gods will allow that," Joxer pointed out.
Suddenly a pink flash of light appeared and when it dissolved, Aphrodite stood in front of the two sitting on the bed, looking rather ticked off.
"Mom! It's about time you showed up!" Cupid exclaimed. "Maybe you can talk some sense into Joxer. I give up!"
"Studmuffin..." The Goddess' blue eyes lit upon Joxer, who shrunk back a little at the angry look on her pretty face.
"Uh... Hi, 'Dite," the warrior wannabe mumbled.
"Are you out of your cotton picking mind challenging 'Pollo to a musical duel like that!" Aphrodite scolded Joxer as if he were a naughty child, wagging a perfectly manicured finger at him.
"Hey! I'm here for a good cause!" Joxer's lips pursed up stubbornly. "It's not right what he's doing, holding a girl prisoner and trapping all those guys!"
Aphrodite's scowl softened and she sat down on the opposite side of Joxer. "True, but still... Hi, by the way, Miss Bard."
Gabrielle nodded and rolled her eyes.
Joxer's face grew serious. "Aphrodite, I have to try," he said softly. "It's the right thing to do."
Aphrodite sighed and shook her head. "I know... Sometimes, I wish you weren't such a dorky but cute goody-goody, Studmuffin."
End of Part Two
