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Guilty Party

Hercules and Gabrielle finished hugging, pulling back from one another, their eyes met. Each one understanding what the other had been through. Both had been taken against their wills by an evil force, and made to do unspeakable evil, one had a force inside him, the other had her mind altered. To both, this was a violation of their own very being.

Hercules turned his eyes to see a very cautious Xena and Callisto staring at him. Hercules got to his feet, helping the bard up as well. Hercules extended his arm out, "Xena.."

Xena very cautiously grabbed it, "Hercules." Xena put her sword away first, and then Callisto waited another moment, and then finally, she followed Xena's lead and put her own sword away.

Hercules stood up, "Xena…I was taken over in Tartarus, by a creature of Chaos."

The memories came over Hercules in a rush, especially those of Athens, the city that he burned to the ground, and population that he relentlessly murdered. Hercules sunk to his knees, putting his hands on his face, he had done this. He killed those people. "I am a monster."

Gabrielle approached his side, "No, you were taken over, as I was."

Hercules knew what she was saying, "I know. It's just the memories."

The Warrior Princess approached him, but Callisto choose to stay back, ever cautious of the demi god. "Hercules…"

Hercules raised his head up, "My mother? She's imprisoned in Corinth. I have to go to Corinth."

The demi god stood to his feet, and started to take off, but Xena grabbed his arm, "Whoa? Where do you think you're going?"

"Don't try to stop me Xena."

"Do you know what you're about to try to do?"

Hercules groaned, "Yes, I'm going to Corinth to free my mother, and my brother."

Callisto approached him, "Hercules, think for a second. The whole of Greece is out for you blood. Your army has been defeated, they are retreating for Corinth. There will be a siege, you won't be able to get inside."

Hercules forced his tears away, "That doesn't matter, I left Selenta in charge. I can get inside, and end this war!"

Xena grabbed his arm again, as Hercules started walking off again, "Oh no big guy, it's not that easy. Chaos is behind this, he'll support Selenta."

Hercules turned towards the warrior princess, "You think I don't know that? If I remember Athens, you think I don't remember Chaos's involvement? He was probably the one who changed Aphrodite into what she is now. But she was the won directing the army, not Chaos, at least not overtly."

Xena replied in surprise, "Aphrodite? She's been missing since Callisto killed, or so I though killed, Chaos. We didn't hit you too hard in the head did we?"

Gabrielle interjected, "It's true, I was there. Aphrodite is behind this, in part at least."

Xena shot a look of irritation at Gabrielle. "What do you mean you were there?"

Gabrielle had a guilty look on her face, "Ares asked me to learn who was behind Hercules. So I switched sides to find out."

Xena shot Callisto a dark look. "You knew about this?"

"You had already left. And I didn't know at the time."

Xena groaned in irritation 'that bastard God of War.' Xena turned her attention back to the bard, "What were you thinking?"

Gabrielle replied sadly, "I'm sorry."

Hercules sighed, "Are we done here? Selenta is a monster and she will kill my mother and Iphicles as soon as she learns that I'm not returning to the army. Plus there are reinforcements coming from Thebes. If Corinth isn't taken before they arrive, your victories will be for nothing."

Xena interrupted "And if we do that, we will destroy Corinth..."

"Exactly. We have to go now, end this war, capture Selenta, and kill her if necessary."

Callisto raised an eyebrow in a Xena-like fashion, "You could command the surrender."

"With Chaos being behind this, they will know that I've changed sides already. They'll attack me as a traitor."

Xena continued "And our Army won't go along with you either."

Xena turned to Callisto, "I need you to retake control of the army. Iolaus needs to know about Hercules, but no one else. If we fail, it is the army that will break Corinth and end this war. I need a cool head in control of this army so that Athens won't be repeated. Gabrielle, go with her."

Gabrielle suddenly shouted with anger. "Stop casting me to the side!"

Xena looked stunned and turned towards Gabrielle, giving her a somewhat cold tone, "What?"

The bard could feel tears welling up in her eyes, "From the beginning of this war you have cast me to side. You're going on missions, you're leading the troops. You're doing everything. Gabrielle, go mind the wounded, Gabrielle, stay in the rear, don't get hurt. Stop treating me like a child."

Xena could have reacted better but her emotions took off with herself, "And you act childish! Going over to the other side on some stupid mission. Always having to be rescued, always in trouble."

Gabrielle's face was red with rage, but it melted away into hurt, as she ran away from Xena, tears in her eye.

Xena put her arms across her chest as Callisto asked, "Don't you think you were being a little mean?"

Xena sneered at the Warrior Queen, "Can't you see I'm trying to protect her? And you have no right to talk, you let her go? Some watching out you did."

Callisto balled her fists, "Xena. You are the one who's causing the trouble. You are treating her like a child. Don't worry about the Army, I've got that. And don't worry about Gabrielle. I'll go do your job, and take care of her."

Xena paused, "What do you mean?"

"Only that you're not paying attention, and I am. Haven't you noticed that she's struggling? The land of Chaos, and killing Brutus?"

Xena replied, "That's why I'm trying to protect her."

Callisto shouted, "Don't you get it? Things happen. Let her be her own self, and stop trying to control her. She made a mistake, trusting Ares, but you made a mistake and put her in that position. Wake up!"

With that, Callisto stormed off to go talk to Gabrielle. Xena just stared at her wordlessly, Callisto was right, and Xena knew it.

She jumped as she felt Hercules' hand land on her shoulder, "We need to go, they'll be fine."

Xena looked once more at Gabrielle, when this was over, she would make it up to her later. But for now, she had a war to end. With that, she and Hercules took off, to infiltrate Corinth, and finish Selenta, once and for all.

8

Callisto approached Gabrielle, placing her hand on her shoulder. Callisto had to admit, she wasn't good at this kind of thing. "Gabrielle, are you okay?"

The Bard replied, "I just wish she'd treat me with the respect I deserve. Ever since I killed Brutus, she's been acting like I'm a glass vase, about to break at any second."

"Xena has a lot of her mind. It wasn't the best time to push her, but I think cares for you deeply. She's afraid of losing. She almost lost you in the land of Chaos, and she almost lost you again, with Brutus. She's worried about losing you for real."

Gabrielle nodded, "I know… and I'll talk to her, after this war is over."

Callisto helped the bard back to her feet, "C'mon. Let's go join up with the army. We can end this war right here and now."

Gabrielle nodded, as the pair walked to their horse, and rode off, towards Callisto's army.