Rated: R for violence and language
Summary: Twelve brave warriors have been chosen to find a legendary sword of power called the archangel sword. Joxer, with his luck, happens to be one of the twelve warriors.

"JOXER BEHIND YOU!!" Xena had cried.

Joxer, once the biggest klutz anybody had ever seen, looked over his shoulder, and in a split second, sliced his sword right through the belly of the vile demon that leaped at him.

His armor and cheek were covered in blood, mostly from the demonic monsters he and his friends were fighting, and killing.

Another demon charged at Joxer, club swirling in the air. Joxer jabbed the monster right in it's jaw with his bare, cold fist. Blood smeared from the demon's lips as it feel to the ground, Joxer lifting his sword nearly above him and dived the cold blade into the creature's chest, his ears filled with the horrid and dying scream of the demon.

Joxer took a rest and watched the battle before him. He watched as Xena cut through the blockade demons in front of her with both her chakram and her sword. Not to far was Gabrielle, using no sais but a sledge hammer to fight off her adversaries.

It was just them three: Him, Xena, and Gabrielle. They traveled with nine of the best warriors, and throught this damned journey, lost eight. The ninth one was Kromus, son of Achilles and a good friend to Joxer. Unfortunately, Kromus received a mortal wound from saving Xena's life. Now, this whole journey was to save him. To get that damn sword, heal Kromus, and go home.

It all happened three years ago. Three years ago, everything was normal. It was just goofy Joxer with Xena, Gabrielle, and little baby Eve.

Xena nursed Eve as Gabrielle watched like she was taking in mental notes of motherhood. Xena noticed her gaze, and grinned.

"Relax, Gabrielle," Xena spoke, "You already had a taste of this last night."

The bard grinned more wicked. "You wanna go for a round on mine?"

Xena laughed at her friend, he lover, her soulmate. Everything had changed, maybe for the best. Besides...this was all Joxer's fault of all people. He gave up on Gabrielle and decided to play matchmaker with them after seeing the undying attraction between the two.

The Warrior Princess had to admit, she was happy, and so was her beloved bard/amazon queen. And they both had Joxer to thank.

Speaking of the third member of their family, a familiar sound of clanky pots and pans could be heard from a distance. Gabrielle looked up to see Joxer with his goofy smile as he waved at his friends. Gabrielle waved back.

He sat down across from the two, not wanting to get in anyone's way of their love, or Xena breast-feeding Eve. In his hand as Gabrielle noticed, was a very tiny scroll tied with a red ribbon. "What's that, Joxer?" She asked.

"Huh? Oh! Um..just..er...uh..just some message some old guy gave me. You guys are not gonna believe this! He had this huge grey beard and long, long hair and..."

Xena interrupted him as she took the tiny scroll out of his hand and handing Eve to Gabrielle. She pulled the red ribbon off, and unfolded the tiny scroll, and started to read. In a few seconds, her face turned hard concentration to pure seriousness.

"Xena?" Gabrielle touched her lover's arm.

Xena looked upon the center of the camp. "I've been chosen."

"Chosen?" Gabrielle asked. "F-for what?"

Xena didn't reply.

"Xena!" Joxer called and snapped his fingers in front of her.

She snapped up. "Oh, uh...it's...it's nothing really. No biggie. Just a normal adventure to go on, that's all."

With that, Xena reclaimed Eve from Gabrielle and walked away from her two friends. Gabrielle was very worried, as well as Joxer. The bard noticed that Xena had dropped the tiny scroll, and picked it in her hands for her to read. When she did, she too gasped.

"What is it, Gabby?"

She looked at the would-be warrior. "It's a message from the Elders."

"Elders?"

"Mortals with unique power and magic." She replied.

"What do they want?"

Gabrielle tossed the tiny scroll back to the ground. "They wanted to tell her that she and I are one of the twelve warriors they have chosen for a important mission."

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