Weight of the World

Xena and Hercules observed Corinth in the distances as they dismounted their horses. Xena asked, "What do you plan on doing after we're done with Corinth?"

Hercules lowered his head, a wave of sadness and guilt seemed to wash over him, "I don't really know. Most of Greece wants my blood. My legacy has been destroyed. Chaos did more harm to me than Ares or Hera ever could. I would like to visit the ruins of Athens. But after that, I'll help you with Chaos."

"And when that is over?"

"I guess I'll leave Greece. For good probably, it's not that I'm running away. It's just my presence would only cause more harm. There is no explaining my crimes."

Xena sternly replied, "There not your crimes."

Hercules turned back to her and said "Yes they are. It was my body, my words, my sins."

Xena stared at the demigod, the man who once saved her soul, and now the man who had seemingly the weight of the whole world was upon his shoulders. Now this great hero would be remembered as the worst of villains.

This was the worst crime of Chaos. He took the best of mankind and turned him into the worst in the eyes of the world. The sun was setting as they approached Corinth. The Army of Callisto was maneuvering around Corinth in preparation for the final battle. Xena could also see groups of Centaurs getting into position. Xena figured they were probably patrolling both the north and south walls.

"From our position we can go through the north wall. The Spartans are marching on the south side. You do know secret ways in don't you."

Hercules smiled at her playfully.

A few minutes later, they were crawling in a sewer drain.

Xena said in a growling tone, "I take it back. I wish I had killed you back there." Hercules laughed as he splashed the water, deliberately getting some of the disgusting water on Xena, who scowled at him. "C'mon Xena, it's just the waste of man."

"I really hate this crap sometimes."

Hercules mused, "It could be worse. They usually flush the system around five. Course they have been known to change the times once…" a noise was heard "In a…damn." The waste water flowed down the pipe covering them with more urine and fecal matter.

Xena groaned, "I really, really hate this crap."

Hercules shook his head. "You know what, I hate this crap to. I have a place with some extra clothes, kind of an out of the way spot for me to go but... Of Course, no skirts or anything. To be honest, I think you're not quite my size. So I guess, um. Well, I guess you're shit out of luck." Hercules chuckled. Xena groaned at the demi god.

Several minutes later while still in the sewer drain.

Hercules sighed, "You know something that no one ever appreciates."

Xena, who was getting tired of staring at his ass while going through the drain, asked, "And that would be?"

Hercules continued. "No one ever realizes just how much crawling in a pipe on your hands and knees really hurt."

Xena sighed, "Yea I know, but we always wind up doing it for some crazy reason. Being a hero can really suck."

"Yea, like those Sunday afternoons after several days of dealing with the world's crap, someone shows up, no appreciation that you might want to just kick back and relax, maybe spend time with those you care about, as he shouts, 'Hercules, we need your help'. Then I say 'can't it wait' and they always say no.

"You nod your head, 'alright let's go'. You get there; it's a damn cat in tree. So your like 'hey jackass, I haven't seen my kids in a week and you want me to climb a damn tree and get your damn cat out of the said tree because your too damn lazy to do it' course you don't say that, because your Hercules and" Hercules' takes on a mocking tone. "And you're on you legendary journeys and you can't say that. You know what I mean Xena."

Xena smiled, "Yup, that's why a carry a chakram, gets the cats out of the tree nice and easy and they don't ever ask again. Oh this one time, I had Gabrielle poke the cat with her staff, came right out. The villager just stood their horrified. The cat wasn't harmed, and it was worth a good laugh." They both chuckle but then stop as they here a sound.

Xena rolled her eyes, "I'm getting tired of this crap."

Hercules waits just a split second, and then asks, "What did you say Xena!"

The Warrior shouted, "I said I'm getting tir… *cough*"

Hercules laughed as Xena is spitting sewage out of her mouth.

"Dammit Hercules!" Shouted the Warrior Princess.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help it, it happens usually only once in the morning and once in afternoon."

Xena asked still spitting the wastewater from her mouth. "Been here before?"

Hercules replied "Yup, perfect for sneaking in to deal with warlords or out to deal with attackers, and of course your run of the mill annoying cousin. They usually do it once in the morning and once in the afternoon. But then again I hadn't really thought about what 15,000 extra men might do to the system. I had been told of an outbreak of stomach problems, probably makes it worse"

Xena wiped poop off her chakram as she says "Terrific."

After a few minutes and one more flush they finally slip out a manhole in an isolated alley in Corinth. After that is was a simple less than a minute trot to Hercules' place in town. They both took time to clean themselves up a bit after grabbing some water from a nearby well.

Xena preferred to stick to her leathers, which she'd managed to clean off some while Hercules grabbed a new set of cloths.

Xena looks at Hercules astonished as she asks "Are those the same pants from before?" Hercules looked down at his classic Hercules pants and asks "What?"

Xena couldn't hide her astonishment, "How many pairs of pants like that do you have that look like that?"

"Here, or at my old cottage?"

She strapped on the chakram, as they were prepared for the next aspect of the mission. Suddenly a loud crash was heard, as the trembling sent Xena to the floor. Getting back to her feet, she stated. "Looks like the siege has begun. We need to hurry."