Quick and Simple? Quick and Simple+ACE-? Quick and Simple+ACEAIQAhACE-? Yeah right+ACE- So

much for my quick and simple plan. Look at what I had gotten myself into

this time. Callisto hid her face. I think she was crying. I was definitely

crying. Xena was dead. I mean, she was right there, dead in front of me.

When Ares ran his hand through her, she closed her eyes and collapsed. Hope

had untied me and Callisto and we were sitting against the post Callisto was

tied up to before. Hope was talking to Ares. Their voices were too low for

me to hear but I know they were talking about Xena because they kept

glancing at her and laughing.

Call: Why?

Me: I don't know. Maybe because Ares is an idiot.

Call: How could you not have known?

Me: Callisto, I'm sorry. I was sleeping, I guess.

Call: Yea, you guess. You guess+ACE- You might have been drowsy-eyed and if you

were, you could have been doing something to stop this+ACE-

Me: Don't blame me, Callisto.

Call: I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry.

I started crying louder. I think Ares and Hope heard me because when I

looked up, they were staring at us and Ares couldn't help to snicker. I

yelled.

Me: Shut-up+ACEAIQAh-

Call: What are you, crazy? They can kill us with the lift of a finger+ACE-

Me: Callisto+ACE-

Call: What?

I stopped crying and started to whisper.

Me: I just realized, you have amnesia+ACE- That doesn't take away your Goddess

powers+ACE- You can still use them+ACE-

Call: But I don't know how to use them+ACE-

Me: Oh, Callisto. I know how to use them, okay? Focus.

Call: On what?

Me: Shhh.

Call: Okay.

Me: Okay, I'm done thinking. Your powers are stronger than Hope's, because

she's only a half-god. All she has is mind powers, got it? If you break us

free, you could easily kill her, but don't.

Call: Why?

Me: Because I want to get back at her.

Call: O.K.

Me: Go over there---

Call: You come with me.

Me: Fine. Now, go over there, I'll do the talking, and when I say, shock her

a little.

Call: Won't Ares strike back immediately?

Me: Not if I have this,

I pulled out the Hind's Blood Dagger from my boot.

Call: Where'd you get that?

Me: When Hope took it, and saw Xena was dead, she dropped it. When I was

free, I picked it up and came over here to untie you.

Call: Aha.

Me: Now, C'mon.

Call: Okay,

We went up to Ares and Hope ---none of them taking their eyes off us--- and

I talked.

Me: Hi, guys.

Hope +ACY- Ares: Hi.

Me: We were thinkin' and we thought somethin'.

Ares: Whatcha think?

Me: Actually, it was more of a fact that we had realized.

Hope: And?

Me: We realized that Callisto has amnesia.

Ares: Keep going,

Me: And so, amnesia doesn't do something that would help us alot.

Hope: 'Us' as in whom?

Me: 'Us' as in......Me and Callisto+ACEAIQAhACE- Go, Callisto, go+ACE-

Callisto shot Hope and gave a her a shock, knocking her to the ground. Ares

got up and was ready to...kill me...when I pulled up the Hind's Blood

Dagger.

Me: My time ain't up yet, buddy.

Ares: Have you ever heard of payback?

Me: Oh Yeah.

Ares looked at me and disappeared.

Call: What do we do with her?

Me: The last time I heard that, I ended up keeping it. I really hope she

doesn't have amnesia.

Callisto laughed. Xena was gone. She was a ghost when Ares..uh...ran his

hand through her, and disappeared after she collapsed.

Me: C'mon. We're going to the underworld.

Call: WHAT???

Me: You heard me. Move it.

Before I knew it, we were at the entrance of the Elisyan Fields.

Call: They won't let me in, Gabrielle.

Me: Yes they will. You have amnesia, you've changed, okay?

Callisto sighed. We entered the Elisyan Fields in search of Xena. We stopped

by a couple of people talking about Hera.

Woman: I really hope Hera doesn't come looking for me, after what I did and

all.

Man: Ahh, they won't let her in. She's pure evil.

I looked at Callisto and smiled. She frowned and I saw what she was looking

at.

Woman (looking at Callisto): Don't be too sure of yourself, Almaden. Look,

there's Callisto.

Man: Your right. if they let her in they'll let anyone in.

The two walked away. Callisto looked at me.

Call: I was a very horrible person, wasn't I?

Me: Let's go.

The next few people we passed all looked at Callisto and backed away. Some

even came up to me. They said things like :+ACI-Hey, Callisto's behind you+ACE-

Watch out+ACEAIg- or, +ACI-Poor you, Callisto is stalking you.+ACI- or even +ACI-Get out of

here+ACE- Your evil if your friends with her+ACEAIg- Pretty soon, we sat down. It was

very, very, late. Hades came to us.

Hades: Your, looking for Xena, right?

Call: Yeah.

Hades: Callisto?+ACE- What are you doing here+ACE- Get back to Tartarus+ACE-

Me: I'm not dead, she's not dead, she's got amnesia. Now where's Xena?

Hades: Amnesia, huh? Well... your friend..is...well, kinda...

Call: In Tartarus?

Hades: Uh, yes.

Me: Whoa+ACEAIQAhACEAIQ-? How good do you have to be to get in here+ACE-?

Hades: Pure. Like you.

Me: Gee, thanks. Can we get to Xena?

Hades: Yeah. Come with me---hold my hand, people.

Callisto and I held his hand and we were automatically in Tartarus.

Immediately we saw Xena sitting in a corner watching men burn each others

faces in boiling lava, hoping she wouldn't be dragged over. I ran to her.

Me: Xena+ACE- Xena+ACE-? Xena+ACEAIQAh-

Xena: Oh, Gabrielle+ACE- I've missed you much. Is Callisto here? Did Ares get

you here? If not, how'd you escape? What did I miss? And mostly, what time

is it?

Me: Huh?

Xena: Well, I'm afraid to sleep because I'm afraid I'll never awaken. And it

might just be my body saying, 'Go to sleep. It's night outside'. But you

can't tell in here.

Me: It's okay..it's quite late, outside. Sleep.

Xena fell asleep. So did me and Callisto. It was my first night ever spent

in Tartarus. I slept on and off. Xena, slept all night, though. The next

morning we were in Tartarus and it was time for me to explain everything to

Xena. I did, and well, she was very proud of me. And Callisto of course.

Xena: I'm very happy, now. Knowing your safe and all.

Me: Xena, why did you die? What horrible living thing possessed you to,

well...

Xena: Gabrielle, I...did it for you.

Me: How?

Xena: Easy. But, you have to understand tha---

Me: I mean how could Ares do that? What in the world?

Xena: What I was trying to say, was that I wasn't murdered. I died. I didn't

kill myself either, I wasn't even expecting to die so soon.

I was getting teary-eyed.

Me: What?

Xena: I..I..I don't know what happened. When I was taking you and Ares to

Hope and Callisto, I just, like, fell off Argo.

Me: Xena, you never fall off Argo.

Xena: Yes, but when he jumps, it's because I make him and I'm expecting him

to. This time...

Me: You weren't prepared and he jumped?

Xena nodded. Callisto was just listening and also becoming very sad. I

looked at Xena, and got up. I stretched and started to do some searching.

Me (to myself): Hades, Hades, where in Tartarus are you? Hey, ya know? That

just made alot of sense. Where in Tartarus are you? Hmm.

Pretty soon, Hades appeared right in front of me.

Hades: You rang?

Me: Yes, actually. Give Xena her life back.

Hades: Now, Gabrielle, you know I can't do that.

Me: I know, but just this once. She wasn't even supposed to die+ACE-

Hades: Yes, she was. If she was murdered, then maybe I could let her go. But

since she died by her horse, well...

Me: Please,

Hades: I can't, Gabrielle. And your time is almost up. You cannot stay here

much longer.

Hades disappeared. I went over to Xena and Callisto who were talking.

Me: Callisto, I was talking with Hades and he said we'd better be leaving

now.

Callisto got up and sighed. Xena got up to.

Xena: I'll miss you two.

Me: Xena, I'll be back. Your going to be sick of me.

Xena: I'm counting on it.

I smiled and started to cry. Callisto and I both left Tartarus. We decided

to head on without Xena, we knew she'd be back eventually. It had been a

couple of weeks. We were free of Ares and Hope for a long while. We hadn't

moved for three days. We were living in the same place. A big, maybe even

gigantic, cave. Kind of like the one we were in before, but bigger. Much

bigger. There was a hole in the top of the cave which was the only thing

letting in the light. It was morning, early morning. Callisto was sharpening

a sword she didn't know how to use. I was finishing breakfast.

Call: So, How ya doin'?

Me: Good, you?

Call: I don't know. I kinda feel sick in my stomach. Like something big is

going to happen.

Me: Oh, the usual?

Call: Bigger. I'm getting visions or flashbacks. I'm not sure. They could be

visions of me having flashbacks of having visions.

Me: Uh-huh.

Call: Watever it is, I'm in the picture, you are too but we're fighting each

other. I'm worried about that.

Me: Ahh, don't worry. Relax. We have time-off. Like that ever happens.

Call: I guess your right.

Me: I'm always right.

Call: Right.

Me: Have I ever been wrong?

Call: I suppose not.

Me: I'm never wrong. Always right.

Call: I see.

Just incase your wondering, we've been having alot of these +ACI-No-Sense+ACI-

coversations.

Call: I was wondering, do you think Hope is okay?

Me: Do we care?

Call: Nope.

Me: Then there's your answer.

Call: so, she's not okay?

Me: Does it really matter? I'm trying to eat breakfast, here+ACE-

Call: Sorry.

Just then, a centaur trotted into the cave. A harmless male..it seemed.

Centaur: Ares said I'd find you two here.

Me: He's right. Excuse me, but who are you? How did Ares know we were here?

How do you know who we are? What do you want?

Centaur: I'm Andrew. He knows where everyone is. I've been spying on you. I

need to ask a favor of you.

Call: Huh?

Andrew: I just answered your questions.

Call: Oh.

Me: What's the favor. Why were you spying on us?

Andy: Because my town is under attack. When I saw your fighting skills, I

knew you'd help my family and I.

Me: You work with Ares, don't you?

Andy: Used to. Not anymore. I quit when he told me where you were.

Call: You used him?+ACE-

Andy: Yes.

Call: I like your style.

Me: No way. I'm not as stupid as I look. You're a liar, Andrew.

Call: Gabrielle?

Me: No one quits working for Ares without paying a price. Like, dying.

Andy: I did pay a price. No, I didn't die. I would have rather died than

what happened.

Callisto was very interested.

Call: What did happen?

Andy: Ares killed my 2 daughters.

I gasped.

Me: I'm sooo sorry.

Call: What were their names?

Andy: Amelia and Audrey.

Me: Wait, you said you had a family.

Andy: I do. The rest of my family was able to escape. My wife, Andraea. My

son, Alexander. And my youngest daughter, Kymber.

Call: Andrew, Andraea, Alexander, Amelia, Audrey, and Kymber.

Me: What was so different from Kymber?

Andy: My other children, were centaurs, but they were all 19. My little

Kyber, was my adopted daughter. A human.

Me: I've seen that before.

Call +ACY- Andrew: You have?

Me: Solan...

Call: Oh.

Andy: Solan?

Call: A friend's son was---

Me: It's a long story.

Andy: Okay... So, can you help?

Me: Sure.

Andy: Thank you. Would you like to meet my family?

Callisto and I nodded.

Andy: It's alright, kids+ACE-

Soon after, three young centaurs and one 15 year old human girl came into

the cave. Callisto and i greeted them. Pretty soon, we found ourselves

talking about food.

Call: No way+ACE-

Alex: Yes way+ACE- It wasn't for a long time until I discovered it was abrosia.

Me: The food of the Gods?

Andraea: Yes, the Gods. And to top it off, Kymber almost ate it+ACE-

Kym: I did eat it, mother.

Andrae: Oh yes, you did.

Me: Doesn't that make you a God?

Kym: If it tasted so horrible that you spitted it out, no.

Call: wasn't abrosia supposed to be sweetened enough to fit everyone's

mouth?

Kym: Aparantly not.

Andy: So...

Kymber seemed to be very rude. Not the loving, gentle, person she looked

like.

Me: So, you said you needed help. When should we start?

Kym: Now...

She got up and stomped out of the cave.

Me: Follow her.

Everyone did as told. When we got t othe village, it was like nothing I had

seen. Skeletons of horses, and centaurs. No humans exept one.

me: Was this like this when you left?

Andraea: No, it was fine. They must've attacked already+ACEAIQ-

Kymber: NO+ACEAIQAh-

Kymber ran to the human I had seen dead.

Andrew: Leon?

Call: Who?

Andraea: Kymber's fiancee'.

Call: Oh.

Me: I see.

Before we knew it, we were in battle with a bunch of warriors. I was beating

this, ugly-looking, different, idiotic, person. Callisto wasn't fighting.

She was comforting all the kids. Once in a while, she'd throw a fire ball at

a warrior if he crossed their path. After a long time, the fight was over.

Everyone was staring at me and Callisto.

Me: What+ACE-?

Andy (whispering): Everyone here thinks humans are our enemies and you two

just saved us.

Call: Oh. (to everyone else) They'll be back, I warn you+ACEAIQAh- (whispering to

Andrew) Who sent them?

Andy (still whispering): Ares.

Call (to the centaurs): Ares doesn't give up without a fight+ACEAIQAh-

Me: Enough Callisto.

Call: But I'm on a roll+ACE-

Me: You see that girl over there?

I pointed to Kymber.

Call: Yeah.

Me: If you don't shut-up your going to be her dinner roll.

Call: Why?

Me: Because I think she's the human-heroine around here.

Call: Oh.

Just then, Kymber jumped. Like she was startled or something. Then she

relaxed and looked over her shoulder. She sighed. I was too far away, but it

looked like she was talking to herself.

Me: Anyway, we'll be going now.

I saw Kymber nod her head and walk out of the crowd. I walked over to

Andrew.

Me: Where is Kymber going?

Andy: I didn't see her go anywhere.

Me: Alright, nevermind. Callisto+ACE-

Call (from a few meters away): What?+ACE-

Me: Come here+ACE-

Call: Alright,

Callisto ran to me and looked at me like she was trying to hypnotize me.

Me: If Ares knows were in on thi----let's go inside.

Callisto followed as I took her into a pub. I looked around. No one was in

the bar, not even the bartender.

Me: Now that we're away from all human contact, As long as Ares knows we're

in on this, he's going to give up, so--

Call: How does he know?

Me: Callisto, why would Andrew ask Ares where we were and then quit?

Call: Okay. I get it.

Me: So, all we have to do is stay here a while, and he gives up.

Call: We're talking about Ares, here. Why would he give up on us? We are

flys with no wings and broken legs to him.

Me: You are wrong. You have powers and I....

I took out the Hind's Blood Dagger.

Me: have this.

Call: We rule.

Me: We rule like flys with four wings and the legs of a millipede.

Call: So, where will we stay?

Me: Let's get our things from the cave and we'll take it from there.

Call: Let's go.

Me and Callisto went back to the cave. Nothing was there. But...Ares was.

Me: To make my day better, right?

Ares: Definately. You want your stuff back?

Call: Not if it's been within your pesky little hands.

Ares: Fine.

Ares was about to disappear when I stopped him.

Me: That stuff you have has my scrolls in there. Give it back.

Ares: Not without a toll.

Call: Mother of Zeus.

Ares: Oh, don't worry. It's a small toll.

Call: Whatever toll it is, coming from you, it's bad news.

Ares: Come back, both of you.

I raised an eyebrow.

Me: Come back where.

Ares: To Hope and I. Rejoin. Hope forgives you for knocking her out,

Callisto. I forive you for threatening me, Gabrielle.

Call: We didn't ask for forgiveness.

Ares: I know, I'm forgiving in advance because you will ask for forgiveness.

Me: When Tartarus freezes over.

Ares bit his lip.

Ares: I think I can change your mind.

Call: Just try.

Ares: Happily. Hope?

Hope came in from the backway of the cave. Only...she was holding Xena's

armor.

Me: Hope.

Hope: Mother.

Call: Hope.

Hope: Callisto.

Ares: Ho--what am I doing? Let's get down to business. We have Xena+ACE-

Me: Aparantly.

Call: What do you want from us?

Hope: The Hind's Blood Dagger to begin with.

Ares: And secondly, the two of you.

Call: So basically, if we join you, you let Xena live, and we never see her

again?

Hope: No.

Ares: If you choose not to join, we make your lives a living hell, give your

stuff back, and get the Dagger anyway. Or, you join, give up the Dagger, and

get to visit Xena.

Hope: On a regular basis.

Callisto and I stared at each other.

Ares: So, how about it?

Hope: Xena, or your dumb old scrolls.

Callisto and I ran over to Hope and Ares. We looked at each other, them, and

then the floor.

Ares: Welcome back.

...To Be Continued...