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Dark Hercules

Day 2

In a town south of Athens the army of Hercules was tearing up the local militia. They tried bravely to resist, but the might of Hercules and his army was too great for them as Hercules seemly possessed with something, demolished everything in sight.

Then behind him a greyish-blue eyed woman appeared in stunning black leather. Hercules turned facing her as he said, "Aphrodite. What brings you here?"

Aphrodite placed her hand on the hilt of a jeweled sword as she said, "Checking on your progress Herc. Ares already had Xena coming this way from the north. Callisto is coming from the southwest. You need to be ready for them." Aphrodite smiled as she felt pleasure in the fact she had duped both Ares and Athena. Ares thought he was the one beyond Hercules. The War God was so clueless. It was Aphrodite, the self-proclaimed Goddess of Conquest. Aphrodite then stated, "I just need you to keep Ares fooled into thinking he is only God in your life."

Hercules smiled as he turned to his men. The majority of his army were soldiers of Corinth, where Hercules had just deposed his brother and seized power himself. But there were mercenaries among them as well.

He shouted, "I need a detachment of men to hold this town as I move the rest of us to capture the last siege position. Then we will batter the walls of Athens until they surrender." Hercules turned to Aphrodite "Is the army Thebes moving from the north?"

Aphrodite replied with a smile, "Yes."

Hercules asked, "What of Rome's intentions?"

Aphrodite replied, "They'd like to invade Greece to take advantage of us, but Pompey is fighting the Gaul's and still trying to secure his power. Caesar and Brutus maybe dead, but their supporters remain. Yes, and Pompeii is too distracted to do anything in Greece right now."

Hercules said "Very well. I will make Greece and Macedonia mine. After that. Rome!"

Aphrodite then said "And my brother thinks this is all his doing. What a fool." Aphrodite looked overjoyed.

8

Chaos sighed as he moved Anarchy's body through the air. His search wasn't over, but he had other things in his mind. Anarchy may no longer have control of his body, but he could still communicate with his master as he said, "Lord Chaos. What about the…" Chaos shushed him saying, "I'm thinking. Duty calls, we'll be back"

8

Xena and Gabrielle headed towards Athens from the north on horseback. Xena said aloud as they moved south. "See that." She pointed to tracks in the ground. "It must be Thebes. They are the only ones this close to Athens on its northern side to have an Army of this size. This smells of Ares' manipulation. He probably wants me to take out the warlord and command this army and take Athens."

Gabrielle asked, "What makes you think he wants you?"

Xena looked back at Gabrielle, "We are talking about Ares you know."

Gabrielle then asked, "What if we are not?" Xena raised an eyebrow as she considered the thought.

8

The name Pompey the Great hung on the wall above the front entrance of the imperial palace. The chaos the erupted from the God Chaos entering the world had given Pompey an incredible opportunity to take power. He assassinated both Caesar and Crassus, blaming their deaths on the chaos that gripped the country side and then declared imperial powers under the guise of bringing calm back to Rome.

Pompey however was not fully prepared for what was required of him as leader after he took charge. Pompey said a Roman who kneeling before him. He said "So governor of Gaul. It seems you could not stop a few primitive barbarians from overthrowing Roman authority. Very well traitor." Pompeii drew out his sword and lopped off his head right there.

He then turned to his advisor asking "What news from Greece, Gilitus?"

Gilitus, an advisor of Pompey replied "The army of Thebes marches on Athens."

Pompeii replied, "Small matter. Let them fight, after Gaul is secure will make a push through Illyria and then Epirus, when that is done, we'll take Greece. What else?"

Gilitus answered, "Sumeria is strengthening its army in Anatolia, The Gauls are taking control of Gaul and preparing to cross the Alps."

Pompey then replied, "For now, Gaul. Then expansion."

8

After a couple of hours Callisto and Borias approach the position of Hercules's army. Athena appears as Callisto goes off by herself. Callisto looks at Athena as she say's "No!"

Athena states as her eyes bore down on the young blond woman. "You think that everything begins and ends here Callisto?"

Callisto answered with anger, "I don't care. I'm here for Solan and No one else."

Athena replied with a commanding voice, "No you're not. The world is Collapsing. The champion of Athena has to stand against this."

Callisto answered "I'm not your champion. I took out Chaos, I've done my part."

Athena then replied with a coldness, "No, you are my chosen, just as Achilles before you. Like him you have no choice."

Callisto stated angrily, "Achilles suffered because of you. I know, it was Xena and I that beat him."

Athena said, "That is irrelevant. I need you to fulfill your destiny."

Callisto replied with clinched fists "This wouldn't even be my destiny if Chaos had not interfered."

Athena got face to face with Callisto as she said, "It does not matter, this is your destiny now."

Callisto turned from Athena, "No! I will never follow your will!"

Athena answered, "We'll see." She disappeared.

Callisto was determined that after she rescued Solan that she was done and she would go back to the centaur village and live out her life in peace.