Chapter Thirteen

The two girls watched the goings-on through Cyrene's meat silver meat platter. Adora stared at Eve. "This is all my fault! I've got to help Papa."

"Help your papa with what, Adora?" Cyrene entered from the kitchen with breakfast for the girls. "Girls, where is Joxer?"

Both girls stepped aside and Cyrene saw that her meat platter was somehow turned into a mirror and when she looked at it, she saw that Joxer was cornered in a temple by a panther. "Oh my Gods! How? What's going on here?"

Adora looked at her, her dark eyes filling with tears. "I only wanted to help Uncle Jett but now I've made a mess of things. Papa's going to be killed and it's all my fault!"

Cyrene took Adora in her arms. "It's all right, Adora. But how is this your fault?"

Eve was still looking in the meat platter. "You better do something quick before he eats your father, Dorie," she said anxiously before Adora could explain what she had done.

Adora nodded. "Okay. I will."

Cyrene placed her hand on Adora's shoulder. "Adora, if you interfere now, it won't help your father. Joxer will find a way out of this. He's found ways to survive long before you were born."

"You don't understand! I've got to help him. That panther is Uncle Jett!"

Cyrene looked into the meat platter, her blue eyes wide. "Honey, there's no way I'm letting you go there. I'm sorry."

"But I've got to do something!" Adora protested.

"Yeah, Grandma! She's got to do something!" Eve agreed.

Cyrene knelt down in front of the girls and gazed into their eyes. "Have faith in Joxer." Both girls nodded and watched again, hoping with all their might that Joxer could get out of this mess.

Joxer watched his brother slowly circle around him. "Jett, I know you're in there somewhere! Try to remember who you are!" The panther growled and leaped again and Joxer struck him away with the stick. "Jett! Listen to me! I know you're there inside!"

Adora suddenly smiled and looked at Eve and Cyrene. "I've got an idea." She then closed her eyes. Papa? Can you hear me?

Joxer heard Adora in his mind and frowned. Adora, I'm kind of busy right now! He rolled out of the way as Jett leapt towards him again.

Papa, please listen to me! You're right! Uncle Jett's still in there, but talking won't reach him. You've got to telepath with him.

Adora, I can't - not without Jace.

I know, Papa. I'm sending Uncle Jace now.

Before Joxer could blink or protest what Adora wanted to do, there stood Jace completely out of makeup and very confused looking. The sudden appearance of Jace startled the panther as it leapt over Joxer and ran out the temple.

"What is going on here? How did I get here? I was just talking to Pierre!" Jace stared at Joxer. "And look at me! I have no makeup on. I look like a mess!"

Joxer grabbed his brother's arm. "You look great! The natural look is in."

Jace smiled. "You really think so? Was that a panther that just ran out of here?"

"No... I mean yes. No, not really. It's Jett. Adora turned him into a cat and Ares turned him into a panther and we've got to get him before he either kills someone or someone kills him," Joxer replied as he ran out of the temple

Jace thought for a moment. We were never able to stop Jett from killing before. Well, at least I was never able to. "Joxer, wait up! I'm coming!" The two brothers entered the woods just outside the temple searching for their transformed brother. Jace looked around nervously. "Joxer, where are Xena and Gabrielle?"

"In Sparta with Hercules. Jace, we've got to find him. Now help me look - and be careful. Jett doesn't know us."

Jace rolled his eyes. "Oh great! That's all I need."

Cyrene gazed at Adora with a worried look on her face. "Adora, find your Uncle Jett and lead your Papa to him."

Adora nodded. "Okay." She turned to her friend. "Eve, help me look."

Eve nodded and both girls stared hard into the meat platter and after a while Eve spotted Jett prowling through the trees heading towards a ruined stone building. "There he is, Dorie!" she exclaimed excitedly.

"Yes, I see him!" Adora closed her eyes and concentrated. PAPA! PAPA!

I heard you, Dorie, Joxer's 'voice' sounded amused and exasperated at the same time to Adora.

I found Uncle Jett! He's near the ruins of another temple, she 'said' breathlessly.

Joxer thought for a moment and then turned to Jace, who silently indicated that he had heard his niece too. "I think she means Strife's old temple."

Jace looked at him for a moment, frowning. "I didn't even know he had one."

"Yeah. Well, it wasn't much. Come on, let's go."

When they arrived at the temple, it was nothing but a pile of rocks with a doorway. "Not much left. It should be easy to find Jett in here," said Jace, looking around curiously.

"We still have to be careful. This place gives me the creeps. I believe that Strife's spirit is still here." Jace was just about to say something when suddenly they both heard the panther. They both looked up to see the panther looking down at them from above. "Jace, slowly give me your hand," Joxer whispered, his brown eyes wide as he stared up at the snarling panther.

Jace nodded very slightly and did as he was told, also keeping his eyes on the panther.

Joxer bit his bottom lip and concentrated hard, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. Jett, can you hear me? It's Joxer.

Joxer and Jace could hear a soft moaning in their minds before Jett's 'voice' rasped, Joxer, where am I? What in Tartarus is going on?

Ares turned you into a panther, Joxer explained.

Oh, that's just... Jett 'swore' viciously and both Joxer and Jace winced at his language.

Jett, you've got to concentrate so Adora can change you back! Joxer interrupted before Jett could continue.

I'll try...

Suddenly the panther growled and leapt at the two men, landing on Joxer before he could move away. Joxer kept the panther at bay by holding the stick at the panther's throat. His eyes grew huge as the panther's jaw edged closer to him. Jett, fight this! he thought desperately.

Jace suddenly grabbed a stick, striking the panther with it until the panther fell on its side and lay on the ground. Joxer got up and checked on the panther and breathed in relief that it was still breathing. He looked up at Jace, who hung his head. "I'm sorry, Joxer. I didn't know what else to do. He was going to kill you." Jace was so upset at what he had done to Jett that his accent disappeared when he spoke.

"I know, Jace. I almost got through. I know I did. Something or someone interfered, but I don't know what. I do know that we've got to get out of here." Joxer closed his eyes as Jace knelt down beside him and the still-transformed Jett. Adora, can you get us out of here?

I think I can, Papa, Adora's voice echoed back.

Suddenly Joxer and Jace heard a manic giggle. "What! Leaving so soon? But I never get any visitors these days! I insist that you stay for a while! Oh, ICK! I hate cats of any kind! What disgusting creatures!" A flash of bright light surrounded them and when it disappeared, lying in place of the panther was a naked, shivering and very confused Jett. Jace covered him with the robe he wore.

Joxer looked up at Strife's spirit. "Thanks for turning him back," he said suspiciously.

Strife smiled wickedly. "I've got plans for you three, yes I do! I haven't had fun in such a long time!" He jumped up and down, giggling hysterically as he rubbed his hands together.

Joxer and Jace stared at each other. This was not good, not good at all. "Jace, I wish Xena and Gabrielle were here."

"Yeah. Me too."

Chapter Fourteen

Jett looked at his two brothers blearily. "Well, they're not here. We're on our own and right now I need some clothes," he croaked as he slowly sat up.

Joxer walked over to Jett and placed his hand on his shoulder. Jett turned and stared at it but said nothing. Joxer looked up at Jace. "Jace, come on over. Maybe together we can make something for Jett to wear besides your robe."

"Hey! Are you making fun of my superior fashion sense?" Jace's lips jutted out in a pout.

Strife giggled and waved his hands. "Oh no! You don't have to do that - after all, you are my guests. Allow me!"

The wind began to blow hard as swirls of red, yellow, pink, and purple lights surrounded Jett before the Trio could do anything to try and stop him. When it went away, Strife waved his hands in a manic gesture. "Voila! See! Now he has clothes - and doesn't he look absolutely charming?"

Joxer stared at Jett, trying hard not to let his mouth fall open in shock. Jace tried without success not to laugh but it was impossible not to. Joxer gave him a look, silently trying to tell him to stop it. Jett stared at his brothers, blinking to get the spots away from his eyes. "Why are you laughing? Jace, you better not be laughing at me! What did that lunatic do to me?"

"Jett, you really don't want to know," replied Joxer.

Jett reached out and managed to grab Joxer by the shirt collar. "I want to see what I'm wearing, damn it!"

"Well, we don't want him to have a cow now, do we?" Strife hooted. "Take a good look at your new image!"

Suddenly, a large mirror appeared. Jett let Joxer loose and turned around to look at himself. "What the..." he muttered, not quite believing what he was seeing at first. Wincing from the headache he was starting to get, he slowly rose to his feet, teetering back and forth a bit until he got his balance. He stared into the mirror and got a really good look what he was wearing. He looked down to his feet, then up his body until he was gazing at what was on his head. He was wearing a pair of tan shoes with pink shoelaces instead of boots, a polka dot vest with no shirt underneath, striped boxer shorts, and to top it off, on his head was a big Panama hat with a wide brim and a purple hatband.

Jett glared at his reflection, shocked at first. Jace was still laughing. Suddenly, Jett moved quickly and grabbed Jace the same way he had grabbed Joxer earlier. "You stop laughing at me, Jace! Stop it now! Or I swear I will kill you, brother or not!"

Jace placed his hands over Jett's hands, trying to push them away. Joxer grabbed Jett's hands. "Let go, Jett! Come on! We've got to work together to get out of here. I don't think Adora can help us. I lost the connection to her."

Jett's eyes were boring into Jace's. "Tell him to stop laughing at me," he growled.

Joxer looked at Jace, who was now really scared. "Let go, Jett. He didn't mean to laugh. Did you, Jace?" he asked softly.

Jace shook his head, eyes wide in fear. Jett let out a heavy sigh and let Jace go. Jace rubbed his neck but said nothing. Jett turned to Joxer. "Now what?"

Joxer was a bit surprised that Jett had actually asked him for advice. "Well, first of all, let's change clothes."

Jett again stared at Joxer, but this time it was in surprise. "You would do that for me?" he asked, looking at his brother dressed in a simple white tunic, brown leather pants and boots.

Joxer shrugged his shoulders and looked down at the ground. "Yeah. I'm used to being humiliated. What's one more time where I get made fun of?" he sighed.

Jace looked at them. "Do you honestly think that Strife will let you change outfits?"

Joxer sighed again. "Why should he care who wears that ridiculous outfit as long as it amuses him?" He looked up at the spirit God of Mischief. "Well, do you mind?"

Strife sat on a partially crumbling throne hovering over the brothers. He tapped his fingers on the arm of the ruined throne, his blue eyes wide as he looked up at the sky with a deceptively innocent look on his face. "Ah gee, do I mind? Hmmm... Let me see... Yes, of course I mind! It will be no fun if you wear it, Joxie. My man Jett keeps it on!" He hooted with laughter and slapped a black-leather clad thigh.

Jett growled at Strife, "You son of a...."

Joxer stood in front of Jett. "Jett, don't! Calm down! Can't you see that this is what he wants? We've got to stay cool if we're going to beat him!" he whispered.

Jace glanced at his brothers. "How can we beat him? He's already dead. We can't beat him!"

Joxer turned to Jace with a determined look in his eyes. "We will beat him, Jace. I know we will."

Strife laughed. "You sure do have a way with words, Joxie! Just how do you plan to beat me, O Mighty One? I cut you off from that daughter of yours and Unc sent Xena, Jerkules and Gabby-brat off on a wild goose chase."

"You mean that there's no trouble where they went?"

Strife rolled his eyes and rubbed his hands together gleefully. "Nope! You see, Zeus needed to see how strong your God tamers powers were. So, he told me if I tested you to see how strong they were and if I won, I'd get my God life back again. So, I jumped at the chance. Do you know how incredibly boring it is in Tartarus?" he finished with a yawn.

Joxer glared at him. "Then all this was a set-up?"

"Boy, you catch on quick, Mighty One! Yeah! Unc figured that if he set Jett up, his niece would help him, although he didn't figure on her turning him into a - ick - cat, but it was so cool when he turned him into a panther! I kind of wish I let him tear you apart first, but when I saw you were getting through, I had to step in."

"So, what you're saying is that we have to defeat you?"

"Yeah Joxie! And if you do, I go back to Tartarus and if you don't, you all go to Tartarus in my place! So say sayonara, suckers!" Strife giggled madly.

Adora picked up the meat platter and banged it hard against the table, making Eve jump. "What happened to the picture? Why can't I see them? Why can't I contact Papa?"

Cyrene took the frightened child in her arms as Eve patted her back. "It's okay, Dorie. It will be okay. Joxer's gotten out of worse situations."

Adora pulled away, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You don't understand! Papa and my uncles could die - and it'll be all my fault! I don't know if they can beat a God that's already dead."

Cyrene pulled her closer and also gathered Eve into her arms. "I know, Dorie. I know."

When Xena, Gabrielle and Hercules arrived in Sparta, everything was peaceful. Men and women were going about their business and children were playing in the streets. In fact, it looked as if there wasn't any trouble at all. The three gazed at each other, puzzled. Xena grabbed at a man's arm as he walked by. "Say, are you having trouble here?" she asked.

The man stared at Xena with a frown. "No. Everything's fine."

"No warlord, monsters, or evil demons?"

"No." The man hurried away, glancing behind him uneasily.

Gabrielle looked at Xena, worried. "Xena, what's going on?"

"I'll tell you what's up, Blondie. Zeus wanted to test the Trio's God taming powers without you goody two shoes in the way," a smooth voice replied.

"Ares! I should've known, you bastard!" Xena yelled as Ares appeared before them.

Ares held his arms out before him. "Hey! Don't yell at me, Xena. We've got to know where we stand with them."

"You dirty scum bucket! You know they won't hurt the Greek Gods," Hercules growled.

Ares rolled his eyes. "Well, Zeus isn't too sure about that, Jerkules. So he's going to find out and don't try to go back and help them because I'm here to make sure you don't."

Xena took out her sword and grinned wickedly. "Come on, then! Bring it on!"

Ares sighed and rubbed a fist against his chest. "As you wish," he said mildly and waved his hand before Xena could attack him. He disappeared into the ether, laughing.

"This is not good," Hercules muttered.

Suddenly the ground stared to shake and opened up. The residents screamed and ran away in terror as soldiers from long ago wars climbed from the ground, all of them carry blood- caked swords. The three friends made ready to fight.

The three fought ferociously, but even as they destroyed the first round of corpses, more emerged from the ground. Gabrielle gagged from the smell of rotting flesh, twisting and turning, knocking them away as quickly as she could, but the dead bodies continued rising from the ground. "Xena! They don't stop! They keep coming back!" she screamed.

"It's because they're already dead, Gabrielle!"

"I know that! Uh.... So, do you have any idea on how to stop them?" Gabrielle ducked before an animated skeleton decapitated her with an axe. She dropped to the ground and kicked it in the shinbone, shattering it.

Xena plunged her sword into one of the dead soldiers and at the same time kicked another one in its gut. "Just keep fighting, Gabrielle! Everything has a weak point. We just have to find it!" she grunted.

Hercules, in the meantime, had his own problems as a group of dead soldiers attached to his body. He sent them flying only for them to get up again and reattach themselves to him. "GET OFF ME!" he roared as he sent them flying, but it was useless. They just kept coming back.

"WE'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE! WE NEED A PLAN!" yelled Gabrielle, even though she hated the idea of retreating.

"No! We can't! If we don't stop them now, Sparta will be doomed!"

"THERE ARE TOO MANY OF THEM, XENA! WE NEED A PLAN!"

Xena swung around, stabbing one of the dead soldiers in the gut. He stared down where the sword had plunged through his rotted stomach and kicked Xena, sending her flying across the street. Xena managed to land on her feet. The dead soldier charged her, ready to end her life. Xena readied herself for another round of fighting. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.

Xena stared in puzzlement as she walked over to him curiously and then reached out, cautiously poking his shoulder with a finger. He was completely frozen in place. She turned around and gazed at the other animated corpses. Not one soldier was moving. One even had his sword ready to plunge into Gabrielle, who slowly moved her body out from under him and rose to her feet. "Xena. Hercules. What's going on? Do you think one of the Gods is helping us?"

Hercules looked around. "I really don't think so. I think something else is going on here."

Suddenly the dead soldiers started moving again. The three friends got ready to fight once more, but the soldiers ignored them and as quickly as they came out of the ground, they returned to it.

"Come on. Let's get out of here before something else happens," said Xena as she ran over to Argo and jumped onto her back. Gabrielle followed and quickly mounted her own horse.

Hercules looked around, shaking his head. "You two go ahead. I'll stay and clean up."

Xena and Gabrielle looked around and both dismounted their horses. "We'll stay and help you, Hercules," Xena said.

"What about Joxer and his brothers?" asked Hercules.

Gabrielle gave him a half smile. "Let's hope they'll be okay."

Cyrene gazed at Adora, who was now sitting on the floor, shaking a bit. Eve was sitting with her. "Are you all right, Adora?" she asked, squatting down next to her.

Adora slowly looked up at her. "I helped them. Why can't I help Papa and my uncles?"

Eve took her friend and held her as she had seen her mother do with Gabrielle when she was frightened. "You're being cut off from them, but you did help them, Dorie."

"How?"

"By helping Mom, Aunt Gabrielle, and Uncle Hercules. Just as soon as they help get Sparta back to normal, they will go and help Uncle Joxer, Jett, and Jace."

Adora smiled at Eve. "Thanks, Eve."

The long mirror disappeared and Strife howled in anger. "Damn her for interfering!"

Joxer looked up at him. "Damn who?"

"Your daughter."

Joxer smiled. "Good for her."

Strife jumped off his throne and landed inches away from Joxer. His face turned ugly as he shoved it into Joxer's face. "You don't understand, you mortal moron! When you die, she dies. Adora is part of you. She can't exist without you!" With a scream of frustration, Strife then made a fireball, hurling it at one of the ruined walls. It bounced off the stones and landed right in front of Joxer, making a gaping hole. Joxer suddenly lost his footing and tumbled down into the dark, dark pit with a yell. The ground then closed up. Jett and Jace looked on, horrified. Strife smiled. "Ah! One down, two to go!"

Suddenly a pair of long, hairy arms grabbed Jace, who screamed as he was pulled away from Jett and pulled into the rubble, vanishing without a trace. Jett turned around and tried to attack Strife, but found he couldn't move from where he was standing. "You'll pay for this, you freak!"

"Nah. Don't think so. You see, I think I already paid my debt - but you still owe and payback's a bitch! Why don't you take a look and see?" Strife pointed and laughed as Jett looked down at himself and saw with horror that he was disappearing. Strife danced around him like a madman. "Oh dear! Are you losing sight of reality? Ohhh! Poor baby!"

"I'll get you for this, Strife!"

Strife watched as Jett disappeared before his eyes. "Yeah, you and what army? Bye bye!" he chortled with a wave.

Joxer slowly woke up. His head was pounding and he felt a warm, sticky liquid running down his right cheek as he rubbed his forehead. Wonderful, he thought to himself. He looked around, his eyes slowly readjusting to the dim light. He suddenly heard movement and looked up to see Jett standing in front of him. "Jett! Thank the Gods you're all right. Is Jace with you?"

Jett stared down at Joxer with an evil look in his eyes and a small smile on his lips. Joxer, not noticing this, stood up and brushed himself off. "Come on, let's find Jace." Joxer started to walk away when Jett suddenly jumped him from behind. "What are you doing? Are you crazy?" he managed to twist himself so that he faced his brother and his eyes widened in horror.

Jett grinned at him widely as he grabbed him by the shirt collar. Joxer's eyes grew even larger than they already were when he saw a long assassin's dagger in Jett's right hand. Jett's eyes glittered with malice as he drew the dagger back and aimed the blade straight at Joxer's heart. In a low, raspy voice, he growled in Joxer's ear, "Tonight, dear brother, you die."

Jace found himself crawling in the narrow space he was in. Jace hated and feared small, dark places and was trying to hurry to get out. He was almost at the end when he saw Joxer at the entrance. "Oh Gods! Joxer, I'm so glad you are all right. Here, give me a hand."

Joxer smiled, but it wasn't his sweet, slightly goofy grin. Jace's throat became dry and he began sweating. "You've been a very bad boy, Jace. A very bad boy and you must be punished," Joxer said in a low voice.

"Joxer! That's not funny! Come on! Give me a hand. Let me out, please!"

Joxer shook his head, continuing to block the entrance. "You are Jace, son of Judd and Jezda. You will learn this, and until you do, you will remain in there."

Jace felt tears start to roll down his cheeks. "No, Joxer! Please! It's dark in here! Please! I'll be good!" he begged.

Joxer only smiled evilly and rolled a large stone in front of the exit, closing out the only light in the narrow space.

"JOXERRRRRRR!" screamed Jace. He began pounding his fists against the boulder, screaming and crying in terror.

Jett was disoriented for a few minutes after he reappeared in a large room. When his senses finally cleared, he realized that he was not alone and he turned around. Jace stood over in a corner, looking him over. Jett had a strange feeling about this, but was also glad Jace was okay. "Jace! Good, you're safe. Let's find Joxer and stop Strife before that lunatic does something else."

Jace approached Jett slowly and began to talk in a very seductive voice. "I should have never laughed at you, brother. You look so sexy in that outfit. Real sexy and hot."

"What? Jace, have you lost your mind?" Jett's eyes grew huge as Jace reached out, grabbed Jett's face and placed his lips over Jett's, kissing him. Jett pushed Jace away from him. "What in Tartarus is wrong with you?"

Jace only laughed. "You know you want me, Jett. I can tell when someone wants me." Jace suddenly moved fast and had Jett in his arms before he could stop him. "You are mine, baby. You want me and I want you," he whispered in Jett's ear. Jace then lowered his head and bit Jett's neck. Jett knocked him away, slapping him across the mouth. Jace slowly wiped the blood from his mouth and licked his lips. He smiled lazily as he began approaching Jett slowly. "Don't fight it, Jett. You are just like me."

"No, I'm not like you! Stay away from me!" Jett yelled, backing away from Jace.

Ares appeared as Strife watched what was happening from three different mirrors. "So, how's it going?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Strife smiled. "I've got all three of them living their worst nightmare of each other. Hmph! If they're God tamers, we've got nothing to worry about."

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