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Thebes on the March

I'm fresh out of funny comebacks, but I might have Band-Aid

8

Callisto and Borias were careful to sneak around Hercules' large army. The backbone of the army consisted of the Army of Corinth itself, who now recognized Hercules as their king.

Even though they had be cautious, Callisto and Borias were suddenly pulled backwards and thrown against the ground. Callisto silently cursed herself, realizing that she'd grown rusty, as she stared directly up the sharp edge of a blade.

The blond man said, "I should have known that Callisto was working with Hercules."

Callisto maintained her eye lock on the blonde man in front her. She knew that he was good, but she was better, and that even in the old days he might be a dead man. But she preferred a different route choosing words above fists, "And who are you?"

"I am Iolaus," He answered.

Callisto asked disdainfully, "And who is that?"

Iolaus replied, surprised by Callisto's second question, "I traveled with Hercules before he was filled with the lust of conquest. What are you here for?"

"My friend Borias, his son was taken by Hercules. I'm just trying to help get him back,"

Iolaus couldn't help but doubt the blonde warrior's words, after all, it was Callisto. He answered sarcastically, "Really? You're not working with Ares to mislead Hercules and conquer the world. I can just take your word for it I guess."

Callisto had heard enough, she didn't have time for this crap, so fully resolved to move on she started back to her feet, but Iolaus shot sword back at her, "Oh no… you're staying right there.

Callisto's eyes narrowed, "You really don't want to get in my way."

"I won't let you rejoin Hercules."

Annoyed, Callisto shook her head. She kicked her feet up, knocking his sword away, then jumping to her feet, she drew her dagger and slammed Iolaus down to the ground, now with her blade to his throat, "How many times must I tell you that I'm not a part of Hercules army; I'm here to help Borias get his son back. Are you going to get in my way?"

Iolaus shouted, "I won't believe your lies!"

Callisto rolled her eyes pulling the dagger back from his throat, "Fine! Follow me and see for yourself!"

Iolaus nodded, he was going to follow her and get to the bottom of all this.

8

Xena and Gabrielle tailed the Theban army while keeping themselves out of sight. She was waiting for the moment when Xena could best execute her plan. Xena pulled the Yin Yang Chakram taking a moment to prepare it's deadly aim, once she was settled, she let it fly.

Xena's chakram emerged from the trees heading into the formation of the Theban soldiers. It ricocheted upon the helmets of several soldiers knocking each of them out, and then it sliced the throat of the lead commander of that platoon before making its way back to Xena.

Xena charged out on Argo catching her chakram. Her war cry echoed toward the horizon. Gabrielle followed closely behind with her staff in hand ready for action. Xena rode by slicing a soldier across the chest. Gabrielle knocked another soldier out with her staff, and then she twisted around bringing her weapon into direct contact with a soldier's knees, crippling him.

Xena jumped from her horse landed on a soldier taking him out. She battled a man kicking a sword out of his hand and grabbing him with her left. Xena smiled that smile of the joy of battle as now she had two swords in her hands. She deflected a blow from the right sword while she sliced a man on the left of her. A man charged from behind her as Xena flipped behind him bringing the hilt of the sword into the back of the skull the charging warrior knocking him out.

Meanwhile Gabrielle slammed her staff into the ribcage of a solder, breaking a few of his ribs. She then twisted her staff breaking the jaw of another warrior. Tripping another soldier with her staff she proceeded to beat him for a few seconds but finally she stopped so she could knock out a soldier who was charging at her from behind.

Xena was like lightning charging through the ranks. A soldier with a buckler tried to stop her. She hit the shield so hard that he stumbled backwards, allowing her to kick him in the face, knocking him out in one blow. Xena struck down another soldier who stupidly ran at her with his sword raised. Xena looked toward a rise to see a small group of archers preparing themselves to strike.

Xena grabbed her chakram throwing it. It bounced off a tree making a beeline for the Archers. From there it cut off the arrow heads before they could be launched. The unit commander tried to scurry away but Xena picked up a rock and chucked it nailing him in the back of the head. He flew to the ground groaning. Xena walked towards the downed commander when a soldier got up and charged at her from behind her.

Gabrielle seeing what was going down pulled out her dagger and threw it at him. The blade entered his shoulder as Xena threw him down to the ground. Xena removed the dagger from the man and gave a scornful look at Gabrielle.

Xena was shocked and upset at seeing Gabrielle do that, "What the hell are you doing?"

Gabrielle replied sheepishly, "What, I didn't kill him, did I?"

Xena held the blade of the dagger in her hand as she asked, "Since when do you stab people?"

Gabrielle's anger grew inside, she may have saved Xena's life and Xena would question her for that? Xena forcefully grabbed the dagger from the warrior princess nearly cutting her in the process, "Whatever."

Xena rolled her eyes, she returned to her original task, she needed to know who she was dealing with.

Xena grabbed one of the soldiers demanding, "Who leads the Theban army?"

The commander replied with an arrogant smile, "Maybe I'll tell, and maybe I won't."

Xena struck two points on his neck as she said, "Maybe you will."

The soldier could feel a drop of blood exit his nose as he said, "A warrior woman from Thebes named Selenta."

Xena replied in shock, "Princess Selenta?"

He replied, "The Warrior Princess Selenta." Xena took the pinch off of him and knocked him out.

Gabrielle asked, "Warrior Princess Selenta?"

Xena replied with a hint of regret in her voice, "Prior to my march on Corinth I solidified an alliance with the city state of Thebes. I needed their army for my efforts to take Corinth and Athens. Their army was supposed to cut off the retreat of Athens.

I had a plan to remove their leader eventually and place a puppet of my choosing in charge, but that would have been after I conquered Greece. Anyway, this girl, Selenta, followed me to Corinth, disguising herself as a male soldier. I wasn't even aware of her existence until after Solan was born. That was when discovered her among my ranks. She threw herself at my mercy.

I decided the best way to destroy her was to make her like me. Forsaken all love and hating all life. So I trained her. When I discovered she was the princess of Thebes, things were different. We fought and I removed her from my camp because she deceived me. I guess she started calling herself Warrior Princess after that. We have to stop the rest of this army.

A few minutes later Gabrielle had momentarily left Xena's side. Suddenly a woman in black leather lingerie appeared behind her. Gabrielle turned with her staff ready. It was Aphrodite. Aphrodite giggled a bit before becoming more serious, "You're doing quite well Gabrielle."

Gabrielle lowered her staff as she replied back, "Xena don't see it."

"Well now, you're still my chosen. There's a place in my army for you," Stated Aphrodite

Gabrielle shot back full of wrath, "I want nothing to do you gods! You destroyed my family, you took everyone from me!"

Aphrodite smiled as she grabbed the shoulder of Gabrielle softly, "I didn't stake your parents to a cross did I? I formed you into something more than a cheap sidekick. I still have a lot to offer, much you haven't learned. You only have to take my hand."

Gabrielle hit the hand with her staff, "I won't butcher innocents again."

Aphrodite replied, "You won't, instead you can target those who do, who better to rule than one who understands the value of life?" Aphrodite teleported away. The idea appealed to her, but she shook it out of her head and rejoined Xena as they went after Selenta the warrior princess of Thebes

8

Nine years ago, north of Athens

Selenta watched as Xena struggled north. They'd suffered a great defeat. Xena had agreed to withdraw from Corinth. The Centaurs and the Corinthians had honored the truce Xena made with them. But the Athenians had not. Xena and her army had already vacated southern Greece by barge and were know trying to escape back into friendly territory.

Selenta struggled to keep up with the others, after all this running, she'd become tired. Being the pampered she was he was not used to this life. She thought back to what she used to do at her home in Thebes. Swordplay, horseback riding, wrestling, all avoiding her daddy's watchful eye. She had heard of Xena's campaigns, Adventures in the Far East. So when Xena came through Thebes and demanded Theban support for a campaign south Selenta begged her father to support them. He gave in of course, she always held sway over her father.

So Xena with Theban support marched toward Corinth and then Athens. So two weeks later after Corinth, there they were retreating north, the army was at a quarter of its strength, poorly armed, and disillusioned. Xena's 'great victory' had become a foul taste in their mouths. But they followed her anyway. Something about Xena inspired what remained of the army even then. The way she strode on her horse, the air of confidence. The fear she inspired. Xena was awesome. Selenta was obsessed with being like her.

Every day she trained, mimicking her. Spending every day trying to be her. One day they were encamped on the Macedonian shore. Xena seen her training hard away from the camp. Selenta saw her and stopped training, imitating her man voice, "I am at your service."

Xena unsheathed her sword as she stated, "Prepare to defend yourself!" Selenta unsheathed her sword.

Xena jabbed at her once. Selenta deflected it. Xena said "Again." Xena jabbed her again. Selenta deflected it. Xena then said, "Alright now for the real thing." Xena charged as Selenta barely deflected it. A fury of blows from Xena compounded as Selenta backed away keeping her sword in front of her. Xena screamed, "Are you weak soldier!" Selenta angered, suddenly charged as Xena knocked away her sword and took her to the ground.

Xena knew instantly as she was on top of her body. Xena said to her, "I knew it. You're a woman."

Selenta said, "No I'm the son of…"

She suddenly twitched as Xena grabbed her groin. Xena stated coldly, "Don't ever lie to e again!" She let her go.

Selenta asked pleadingly, "What are you going to do with me?"

Xena replied with a cold smile, "Nothing, you did well for yourself. Need some training. So where do you come from?"

Selenta replied, "I'm a peasant from Thebes."

Xena doubted her as soon as she had answered, she asked, "Really." Xena let her suspicions go, "Ok you're going to be chosen warrior. Since Borias betrayed us and Dagnine left us I have no one whom I can rely on any more so I will train you in the ways of the warrior and the ways of the conqueror."

Nine years later

On top of her horse sat a woman with jet black hair and powerful green eyes. There was strength in her face. A kind of damnable strength that soldiers would rally around and fight against innumerable odds to claim a victory from the jaws of defeat. She was not as big as Xena, but her athletic body made her a real threat on the battlefield.

She drew a gleaming long sword from its sheath and held it in the air. The scene before her was a rag tag company of Athenians who had the misfortune of running into the bulk of the Theban army.

With Hercules heading the Corinthian army from the south and Selenta with the Theban army from north, Athens was doomed. At least that the way Ares and secretly Aphrodite planned. Selenta shouted the charge and the army charged forward. The Athenians were no match as the Theban Army cut them down the men with ease. Selenta smiled as the blood flowed on the ground. Selenta would show them all, especially Xena, that she Selenta is the new warrior princess.