Rating: PG13 for language, violence, and love scenes that may be to mooshy.
Summary: Since childhood, Joxer has always kept his anger deep inside himself, only to have it brought out in a horrible way.

It was so cold as the rain poored down against his body, but he could care less. He wanted to get away. He needed to get away from it all. He needed to get away from them so he couldn't harm them, so he couldn't harm....Gabrielle.

It was only five days ago that he was a normal human being, a normal mortal. But those five days ago, he became something more. He became from a gentle mortal....to a monster of destruction. The only weird thing was that the monster saved the world.

He had been on the road now for two days, non-stop. He was so determined to find a cure, to rid himself of the beast from within. The hard part was that he knew there might never be a cure out there, and that would mean he would never see his beloved bard again.

These past five days were truly the hardest for him, for....

"JOXER!"

The lanky man in his home-made armor jumped at the sound of his name. He looked over his shoulder, only to see Xena, the Warrior Princess, and Gabrielle, the Battling Bard, glare right at him.

He flashed his famous goofy grin. "Um...hey...Xena...Gabrielle." He stuttured.

Xena's hard expression had softened. Leave it to Joxer to make ya like the big dope. She started walking up to him and said, "I was just talking to that guy behind the table over there. He said that the greatest and mightiest of all warriors and heroes in the world had just registered to take place in the "World's Mightiest" tournament. Wanna explain?"

Oh shit, he thought. His face started to turn pale.

"Um..well uh..ok. Well...I...." He looked at them. Both were waiting for an answer. "Well, you guys have been teaching me all this self-defense stuff lately, so I just figured I'd go and....test my skills. That's it, test them."

Gabrielle shook her head. "Joxer you could get killed! It's best if you disqualify yourself now before it's too late."

His eyes were wide and full of anger. "Wha...why?"

"Joxer, " Xena began. "Gabrielle and I are taking place in this tournament too. Along with Hercules, Iolas, and...well...who knows."

Joxer looked puzzled. His own two best friends, his only family, and they were discouraging him...as usual...unless...

Joxer's puzzled expression changed and his goofy grin was back on his face. "You're affraid I'll embarrase you in this tournament."

"Exactly." They both replied, only they didn't mean they would be embarrased if he beat them, just embarrased that they would look like they knew him.

Joxer thought for awhile, or so it looked like.

"No."

With that, he walked away.

Xena rolled her eyes and Gabrielle groaned. The bard turned to her best friend and said, "You really should've told him about the non-humans entering the tournament."

"That's not what I'm worried about." Xena replied. "I should've told him you have to face three opponents in your first fight."

"One drink of aile, my good man." Joxer said in his hero-like tone.

The bartender only shook his head as he gave Joxer his cup of aile. Joxer, though, only looked down into his drink.

Gods, how great it would be to win this tournament. The I could prove that I'm not the loser people think I am, and I can prove Xena that I am a good warrior. Who knows, maybe Gabrielle will actually have some feelings for me. Better yet...even lust for me!

Joxer was too caught up in thought, he didn't notice a pare of cold eyes, flashing with pure hatred and anger watch him.

"So that's the little runt?"

"Indeed." Ares with a smooth tone replied, taking a sip of red wine from one of his temples. "I'm sure you'll find killing him more easier than you think, especially in the tournament...in front of Xena and the little blonde."

"Yeah, and then it'll be the end of my greatest enemy in my world."

Joxer walked through the waiting room of where all the tournament qualifiers were. His eyes were wide when he saw how big all the warriors were. Compared to them...he was child a five-year-old child.

There goes my hope of winning Gabrielle's heart.

Joxer was so busy looking around the room, he didn't the largest of all the warriors in his way until...BANG!

"HEY YOU LITTLE SHITHEAD!!" The big man growled as he lifted Joxer up by his colar. "WATCH WHERE YER GOIN'!"

"S-sorry...my mistake....I was..I was just..." Joxer began to tremble in fear. He knew he would never make it in the tournament now, not after being beat up like a rag doll by a guy bigger than Hercules.

"Aw look...the little baby said he's sowwy." A guy next to the big man mocked, and the entire room burst with laughter.

"What a weakling."

"What's he doin here?"

"Little shrimp."

Joxer heard all the voices in the room. All were mocking him, laughing at him. Gods, there so much anger built up in him. So much anger that he was ready to slit everyone's throat in the room right now.

"Drop him, Megos!" A voice called from the back of the room. To Joxer's relief, it was Hercules with Gabrielle at his side.

Joxer's smile faded when he heard Hercules say, "He's not worth getting your fist all bruised up before the tournament."

Gabrielle walked up beside Joxer, who was still in the clutches at the very tall man. She glared right at him. Second time today.

"Joxer, what have you gotten yourself into this time?"

His anger was back. His blood begin to boil. He wanted to tell her fuck off...that he was not a baby, and that she could be a real bitch some time. But he didn't. He loved her too much to even say those things. She was his only reason to be calm...sometimes.

"It-I..It was nothing. I accidenlty bumped into this guy and we had a misunderstanding." He replied.

Gabrielle shook her head and sighed. Leave it to Joxer, she thought. She then turned and glared at the large man called Megos.

"He said he was sorry. Let him go...now." She said in a cold tone.

Megos looked at the blond girl beside the pest. She was very beautiful, very masculine as well. There was no doubt that she must be a skilled warrior as he noticed the two sais in her boots. Then again, Megos and her both knew she was no match for him.

"Not after I rearrange his face, sweet thing. Besides, why waiste your time with the geek here?"

"Maybe it's for sexual reasons?"

"Or maybe he's paying her to protect him and sleep with him?"

"Nah! He's probably paying her to protect and him and act like their just friends. What girl would want this little trash?"

Almost half of the room laughed. Those that didn't laugh just pittied the poor guy.

Joxer's blood was boiling hot. First, they'd dare to mock his beloved friend, and now again they mocked him.

Suddenly, something in him almost snapped. He felt of his anger locked almost completely in his eyes, which it was...in a strange way.

Megos noticed. Joxer's eyes became a soft, yet scared look to a way-over-the-edge look.

"Put...me...down." Joxer snarled. His tone sounded more colder and more violent than Gabrielle's earlier.

"WHAT IN HADES IS GOING ON??!! THE TOURNAMENT IS NOW STARTING PEOPLE!! WHERE IS THIS GABRIELLE?!"

Everyone turned to the refferee of the tournament. Megos let Joxer down, as Gabrielle walked up.

"That would be me."

"Ok lady. You're up! Get out there and good luck!"

The tournament began a few minutes ago. The first round was a survival match, that is, a four-way battle. The second round was a one on one dual, and the last round was a sudden death, which really didn't please Joxer to well. No weapons were allowed through out the tournament.

Gabrielle was first, and easily won, which was a huge shock to Megos.

Second was Xena, pitted against Iolas and two other fighters. Xena won after a long and exhaustive hand-to-hand battle with Iolas.

Third was Hercules, who got the biggest ovation from the crowd, more than anybody, including Xena. Hercules won win all three his opponents charged at him, and he moved aside as they hit the wall.

Next up was Joxer...against Megos and two of his buddies. By now Joxer thought he would gulp at this, but for some and uknown reason, he didn't have one bit of fear in his mind....only anger.

A man covered in a black cloak walked up behind Xena. He was about to tap her shoulder, but then whined in pain as Xena grabbed his finger and pulled it back.

"What do you want?" She hissed.

The man quickly pulled of the hood of his cloak, and snatched his finger away as Xena's eyes grew wide and her jaw dropped.

"A-Ares? What...?"

The man shook his finger, trying to rid some of the pain. He then looked up at the Warrior Princess.

"Woah! Easy, warrior babe. I come in peace...and love."

He looked like Ares, but his beard was gone, and his black leather was replaced with white leather!

"Ares? What in Tataurus?"

"Easy on the T name, babe. I'm Ares, the god of love. I'm not from your world." He replied.

"I'll say. The Ares I know...

"Sorry but I didn't come here to talk to you about my counter part. There's something you should know. Do you remember a guy called the Sovereign?"

Xena nodded. "Hercules' evil twin from another world, killed by Ares, the god of war. So?"

"Well...just thought you know that bad Ares resurrected my evil half brother, and he's promising the Sovereign that he will kill the Joxer in your world so he can kill my world's greatest hero. And in return...the Sovereign will help Ares overthrow Zeus and become the new ruler of the universe."

Xena didn't look the bit impressed. Leave it to Ares, the evil Ares, to always do something up his sleeve...if he ever wore a long-sleeved shirt.

"Joxer's match is up next. I'll go stop him before it's too late." With that, she walked away from the god of love as he yelled "good luck" to her, and vanished.

"Hey, buddy?"

One of Megos friends who was to participate in the next match turned to face the direction the familiar voice came from, and suddenly a hand grabbed his jaw and turned it sharp to the side as it made a loud crunching sound from the man's neck.

The man fell dead to the ground, and the Sovereign smiled to himself.

"Hey, runt! I hope you've said your good-byes!" Megos laughed as Joxer entered the arena.

Gabrielle and Iolas watched the waiting room.

"For some reason, I have a feeling he's going to win." Iolas said.

Gabrielle bit her lip, affraid for her friend's safety. "He just better come back alive."

They both noticed that Joxer had removed his hat, thank the gods. He had also removed his armor. Advice from the ref who told Joxer that his armor would slow him down. So he was completely bare chested. His small muscles were revealed, much to Gabrielle's approval.

"Guess those self-defense lessons are paying off." She suddenly let out.

Iolas looked at her. "What?"

She shook her head. "Nothing. I was just...wishing him good luck." She lied.

Please don't fantasize to him. He's Joxer for Zeus's sake! An idiot. A clutz. A worm. A...a...very...handsome...mortal man.

Gabrielle shut her eyes tight. For some reason the past few days, she would always start to have these sudden fantasies about...Joxer.

They would come so unexpected a lot. Sure she had feelings for the clutz, but...what the hell was up with these stirs. Like last night's dream.

She was alone with Joxer, in a room only lighted by thousands of candels which brought out a scent of sweet vanilla in the air. He was dressed up in that sexy suit he wore when put under the whole warrior-bell spell by Aphrodite.

He suddenly grabbed her and kissed her with so much love in passion that not even a god could bare. They melted into each other, and then...

When she woke up from the dream, she suddenly noticed that her skirt was lifted up, and her hand was....

"Gabrielle!" Xena rushed in.

Gabrielle snapped from her chain of thought to her companion.

"Where's Joxer?"

Before Gabrielle could answer, the entire crowd of the arena gasped in horror. Both Xena, Gabrielle, and Iolas looked down at the center of the arena. There, standing tall, was the Sovereign with a murderous grin, looking straight dead at Joxer.

"Hey, what happened to Lafen?" Megos asked.

"Nevermind! Look, I'll pay you a hundred dinars to help me in...torturing the little runt here." Sovereign snarled.

Megos looked at his friend. They both grinned at Sovereign. "Make it two hundred dinars and you've got yourself a deal."

Sovereign smiled, knowing they wouldn't enjoy the money soon. "Deal." He lied.

"Oh shit!" Joxer cried. With that, Joxer began to run around the arena as Megos and his friend starting chasing after him.

"That's it, Joxer! Run! RUN FAST AS YOU CAN JOXER! WE'RE COMING!!" Gabrielle cried from the waiting room. Soon her and Xena barged out as fast as the could, only to be haulted by a ferocious crowd.

"C'mere ya little runt!" Megos growled.

"Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit!!" Joxer cried running as fast as he could.

"Herc!"

"Right here, Iolas."

"Herc, you gotta come quick!"

"What's wrong?"

"It's...well...I don't know how...but it's the Sovereign!"

Without question, Hercules ran past Iolas and back to the arena, faster than any living mortal or immortal.

Joxer began to feel tired. His legs just wouldn't work with him at all.

"Guess...I'm not..in good shape...as...I thought."

Joxer didn't even see the huge fist that slammed against the back of his head, knocking him to the ground so hard.

It was Megos.

Megos grinned, and nudged his foot hard against Joxer's side, turning the small wanna-be on his back and facing the three figures that stood over him.

Sovereign grinned so evil and violent at the fallen man, rubbing his knuckles.

"Now...let's have some fun."

The third man slammed his foot against Joxer's stomach, making the small would-be warrior groan in pain.

"JOXER!" Xena cried, trying to push her way through the vicious crowd. She knew she could probably just jump and flip into the arena, but if only the crowd wasn't so damn huge.

She looked over at the bard, and watch see saw could never be explainable after all the years she had known her friend. Gabrielle was fighting her way through the crowd, throwing people around everywhere, even punching and kicking them, all so she could get to Joxer.

"Pick him up!" Sovereign demanded.

Megos and his friend grabbed both of Joxer's arms, lifting off the ground, but still on his knees. Megos grabbed a strand of Joxer's hair and lifted his face up so he was facing the Sovereign.

He was bleeding so badly, and the bruises....gods, even his ribs were on fire.

What did he do to deserve this?! He only wanted to show Gabrielle he was not a coward! Why was he getting beat up to death?!

His anger returned, ten times over this time. It was no longer locked in his eyes. He was ready to just jump up and shout his throat and lungs out.

Sovereign cubbed Joxer's chin hard.

"Little shit eating worm. You should no better than to ever cross me." Sovereign hissed.

Joxer began to speak, but Megos jabbed him so hard against his cheek, and felt blood poor from his lips.

"What's that? Can't hear ya?" Sovereign mocked.

So many things ran through his mind. Would he ever see Gabby again? Would this truly be his end right here and now? What was...this strange headache in the back of his head?

"Ah well, time to go to Hades."

Sovereign pulled his fist back so far, and swung it directly to Joxer's face. Joxer flew back far against the wall, only to crash through the wall and land hard on hard stone.

"NOOOOOOOO!!!!" Gabrielle cried.

"JOXER!!" Xena shouted.

Sovereign laughed, proud of his work on the defenseless man called Joxer the Mighty.

Megos dusted his hands off. "Well that takes care of the runt. So," He turned to Sovereign and said, "how 'bout our money now?"

Sovereign glared at Megos and his friends. "Oh yes, your reward. Well..." Sovereign began to walk towards the two men.

"YOU BASTARD!! DAMN YOU, SOVEREIGN!! I'LL RIP YOUR HEART OUT!!!" Gabrielle roared as she charged into the arena.

"Gabrielle, NO!" Xena cried after her friend.

Iolas paused as he saw the view down the center of the arena.

"Oh gods."

Hercules rushed up next to him.

"I think we're..." Iolas continued, but stopped when Hercules rushed down to the center of the arena.

This ends here, Sovereign, He thought to himself.

"So c'mon already! Cough up the dinars!" Megos ordered.

Sovereign stood in between Megos and his friend, and only smirked. "Did you...."

"RRRRR..GGRRAAAAAGGGHHHH!!!!!"

A huge and loud scream pierced through the sky from the arena, from the hole in the wall which Joxer's impact made.

Everyone turned to the hole, even Sovereign, Megos and his friend, Gabrielle who was just right behind Sovereign, Xena who was far behind Gabrielle, and Hercules who was almost the center of the arena.

Without warning, a badly beaten and bruised up man jumped through the hall, falling to the dray and sandy ground. It was Joxer. He put his head in his hands, indicating that his head was hurting him.

"Gods, it...it...hurts!" Joxer cried.

Sovereign tried to gain back his posture. "Of course it's gonna hurt you numbskull. I just bashed your brains out! It must be that yer dying slowly!"

"Yeah, that's right!" Megos replied.

At the sound of his voice, Gabrielle grabbed Sovereign by his hair, and jabbed him so hard that his jaw could have fell off. To her worst fear, he only smiled as he was unfazed by such a blow. She tried to fight back, but only found his hand tight around her throat.

"If you wanted to join him, all ya had to do was ask!" Sovereign laughed.

"GABRIELLE! I'M COMING!" Xena cried out to her companion.

"GABRIELLE!" Hercules shouted as he began to run to the center of the arena again.

The bard gasped for air, but her struggle became more useless as he lifted her in the air.

"You shouldn't have done that..."

All eyes were now on Joxer, still on the ground but glaring so horribly and violent at the Sovereign. He was pissed. Pissed off that Sovereign had the woman he loved on the brink of death.

"...cause now you just made me...angry!"

Joxer groaned in pain more. Suddenly, his body begin to stretch out, his skin started turning green, and his form starting growing bigger and more muscular than any of the warriors in the waiting room of the tournament and Hercules.

In the blink of an eye, the metamorphasis stopped, or in other words it was finished.

A small growl came from the newly formed Joxer. Joxer slowly leaned up on his hands and knees, his eyes still their normal color, but red around the dark orbs, and flashing so much hatred towards Sovereign and the two men beside him.

Joxer roared a deep toned human yet beast-like tone and slammed his large fists to the ground, causing a huge shake under everyone's feet, and causing Sovereign to lose his grip on Gabrielle as the bard fell to the ground ,gasping for air and with all her strength, pushing herself away from the three men. Her gaze then fell onto Joxer...if it was Joxer.

It had to be Joxer! This green and muscular powerhouse creature has his eyes, HIS eyes. Infact, his face, only it's face was green.

The creature suddenly got to his feet. Gods, he had to have been eight feet tall!

"RRRAAAGGHH!!!" It lifted it's masculine arms in the air and roared to the sky.

The green creature then back at a overly shocked Sovereign, and two very frieghtened barbaric men.

"Hulk...Smash! Hulk smash puny Sovereign!!"

...More coming soon!

Please take the time to write to KScott2112 at KScott2112@aol.com, and let him know how you like the story so far!

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER:
Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena, Gabrielle, Joxer, Hercules, Iolaus, and all other characters who have appeared in either series, together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of StudiosUSA and Renaissance Pictures. "The Incredible Hulk" is the property of Marvel Comics. No infringement of copyrights or trademarks is intended in the writing of this fan fiction. This story is copyright © 2001 by KScott2112 and is his sole property along with the story idea. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.