Oh yeah...This was quick and simple. Sure it was. Uh-huh. Now, with Callisto

back on her evil side, I couldn't help but to laugh in terror. Sydni

practically clung to me. She was scared and I could feel it. I felt her

heart beat in her stomach and her throat fall in her lungs. She was scared

and so was I...

Me: Callisto? What are you doing?

Callisto winked at me...Whew+ACE-

Call: Killing you, idiot.

Ares: If your going to kill her, fine. But don't touch Sydni.

I sighed thankfully.

Hope: Why? She'd be the perfect sacrifice+ACE- My sister+ACE- Dehak would be so

proud of us.

Ares: No..I'm not going to let Dehak have my daughter, for lunch.

Hope: Your what?

Ares: My...slaughter+ACE- I'll kill her myself...later....when no one's around.

Hope: You said daughter+ACE- Sydni is your daughter+ACE-

Ares: Alright, yeah. She's my daughter, think what you want, Hope.

Hope: My husband is my stepfather? But...if your Sydni's father...and

Gabrielle is her mother...Aaaaah+ACEAIQAh- Oh Dehak, save me now+ACE-

Ares looked at the roof. I looked down in the lava pit and Hope madly cried

a meaningless cry. Callisto laughed.

Call: This is great+ACE- Talk about entertainment+ACE-

Hope: Great? great?+ACE- You call this GREAT?????+ACEAIQAhACEAIQ- Aaaaaaaah+ACE-

Syd: Oh shut-up, Hope.

Hope: You shut-up+ACE-

Syd: No+ACE-

Hope: Well I'm not going to+ACE-

Me: Girls, girls. Stop fighting.

Hope: Ya know Ares? Your one sick little man...dating your daughter-in-law+ACE-

Call: I love this+ACE-

Me: Callisto, do you know how embarrassing this is?

Call: Nope..but it's still fun+ACE-

Me: Zeus,

Ares: Okay, listen. Hope, shut-up. Callisto, shut-up. Gabrielle, shut-up.

Sydni, shut-up.

Sydni gasped.

Call: I figured out all our problems. Ares wants Sydni...Gabrielle wants

Sydni...Hope wants Sydni...we'll just cut her in three.

Hope: Perfect.

Ares: What? Are you crazy Hope?

Me: I'm not letting her get cut into three+ACE-

Hope: Callisto, your not getting anywhere+ACE-

Call: So much for my King Solomon act...

Hope grabbed the knife out of Callisto's hands and threw it at me. Bad aim.

It hit my leg and I fell back almost falling into the never-ending pit.

Hope: Yes+ACE-

Syd: No+ACE-

Sydni grabbed me and almost fell in herself. Callisto grabbed Sydni before

the both of us fell.

Hope: What are you doing, Callisto?

Call: What does it look like? I'm saving my friends+ACE-

Hope: You lied+ACE-

Call: Really? I couldn't tell+ACE-

Callisto lifted Sydni and me up and out of the pit. Ares ran over, lifted

Sydni and disappeared.

Syd: NOO---

Me: Sydni+ACE-

Hope: Sydni+ACE-

Call: Why would you care about Sydni?

Hope: She was my sacrifice+ACE-

Me: Oh Zeus.

Hope: Well, at least I can kill you in peace+ACE-

Call: Not in this life time+ACE-

I took the Hind's Blood Dagger out and handed it to Callisto.

Call: Uh, uh, uh, umm..

Callisto wasn't sure what to do.

Me: Stab her+ACE-

Callisto looked at Hope and Hope smiled her mean smile.

Hope: Just try it.

Call: Fine. I will just try...

Callisto actually had to chase Hope. Hope didn't run though. She would dodge

in all different places. Finally, Callisto had had it. She threw out the

dagger. To everyone's suprise, it hit her+ACE- Right in the stomach. Hope fell

to the ground and Callisto started dancing.

Call: I did it+ACE- I did it+ACE- I really really did it+ACE-

Just then, Xena walked in.

Xena: Am I interrupting something? If my schedule is correct, today I get to

visit again.

Me: Thank the Gods your here+ACEAIQAh-

Xena looked around.

Xena: Hope's dead, Ares is gone, your leg has a knife sticking out of it,

and Callisto's dancing. What's going on?

Call: I killed Hope+ACE-

Xena: Congratulations.

Me: Ares has Sydni.

Xena: Sydni as in, 12 year old missing daughter Sydni?

Me: No, Sydni as in 14 year old found daughter who is missing again.

Xena: What? You found Sydni?+ACE-?

Me: Ahh,

Callisto and I sat Xena down and explained everything to her since the last

time she was here.

Xena: How is Sydni?

Me: I don't know.

Xena: O.K.

Me: I'm sorry Xena...I just...miss her.

Call: Well, you'll see her again. I mean, Ares is too full of himself to be

able to raise a child, Gabrielle.

Me: Your right.

Xena: Well, does this mean we're back?

Me: Back where?

Xena: Back in the group. Our normal life.

Me: You call defending villages, stopping armies, and killing powerful

warlords normal?

Xena: Well---

It took us all a while to realize Xena drew her sword and got up being that

she did it in a New York minute.

Me: What is it?

Xena: Sydni's back...with her self-loving father.

Ares appeared with Sydni and Sydni ran to me.

Syd: Mom+ACEAIQ- Oh, Mom...he's a crazy, crazy, person+ACEAIQ-

Me: Huh?

Syd: His temple is so, dark and dreary.

Me: Don't be suprised.

Ares: Hey, Xena.

Xena: Ares.

Call: Why are you here, anyway.

Ares: Sydni was getting on my nerves. So, I thought I'd let Gabrielle take

over for a few hours.

Call: What'd I tell ya, Xena?

Xena: Heh.

Me: Oh, Ares. You are pathetic.

Ares: I'd figured I'd hear that from you.

Sydni was holding on for dear life to me. I was wondering why. I looked at

Sydni curiously and then I looked at Ares.

Me: What did you do to my daughter? She seems scared of you.

Xena: Maybe she is.

Ares: Oh thanks.

Xena: Shut-up.

Call: Nope. We will not let you guys fight again.

Ares smirked.

Ares: I don't know why my Sydni is so scared. She's old enough to know I can

kill her if she makes any smart comments.

I felt like punching him when he said +ACI-my Sydni+ACI-. I felt like crying when he

said the second part.

Me: Ya see, that's why she's so scared+ACE-

Ares: Oh, shut-up+ACE-

I just rolled my eyes.

Xena: C'mon Gabrielle. Let's just go, okay?

Ares: Wait, wait, wait. If your gonna go, I want my Sydni back.

I sighed and blew the hair out of my face.

Me: Stop calling her +ACI-my Sydni+ACI-. She's not your Sydni. And no, she is not

going with you+ACE-

Ares: Let her make that decision.

Me: Syd?

Syd: Guess, mom. You+ACE-

Sydni hugged me tighter. I looked at Ares and smiled sarcastically.

Ares: Sydni? Are you sure?

Syd: Get lost, Ares.

Ares: Fine.

He disappeared.

Xena: You...called him Ares.

Syd: And?

Xena: Nevermind.

Syd: Ya know, Aunt Xena...I'm 14, I don't have to call that bastard +ACI-dad+ACI- or

+ACI-father+ACI- or anything but is bone-chilling name.

Xena (to me): I like the way your daughter thinks+ACE-

Me: She probably has been around you too long.

Xena: It's been about 10 minutes+ACE-

Me: Long enough.

Xena wanted to say something, her mouth was opened and ready to say it...but

she looked at the roof, sighed and shut her mouth.

Call: Well, let's hit the road already, huh?

Me: Xena?

Xena: Where are we going to go? Getting here was a pain, for about 80 miles

in all directions are woods, woods, and more woods+ACE-

Xena rested her hands on Sydni's shoulders and Sydni looked at her.

Syd: So, let's stay here for the night. Look outside, the sky is already

turquoise. Isn't it beautiful? With the blades of grass shining from the

shadow of the sun and the way the soil looks blue.

Call: She's got some of you in her too, Gabrielle.

I smiled.

Me: Then let's stay here.

Xena: Fine.

Call: You guys sure we want to stay in Dehak's temple?

Everyone looked at everyone. We ran to the exit of the temple and then ran

away. Xena on Argo, me and Callisto on Fabiano, and Callisto had zapped a

colt for Sydni. Once we were in the middle of the forest, we stopped. The

horses were tired and the sky was navy blue.

Call: Why are we doing this? I can get all of you where we want to go in

seconds+ACE-

Xena: No. You can't. There is no specific place we want to go.

Me: Don't we want to go to the next village?

Xena: Yeah, but there could be trouble along the way.

Syd: Like that?

Xena: Like what?

Sydni pointed to men up ahead.

Syd: Like those men chanting weird languages and hanging Joxer.

Call: Hanging Joxer?

Syd: Over there, are you people blind???

Me: Excuse us+ACE-

Xena: I'll go. Stay here, all of you.

Xena ran ahead to the men.

Syd: Heh,

Call: What?

Syd: Nothing. I've just never been important to her. Now, it's like...

Me: You were always important to her.

Syd: Something's been on my mind, lately.

Me: What?

Syd: How did Xena know I was your daughter when you first found me?

Me: I don't know, I wonder why....How did she know?

Callisto seemed cool about everything.She was brushing Fabiano.

Call: Maybe Ares told her.

Me: Callisto+ACEAIQAh- Your right...that's the only way she could have known.

Syd: Well, I'm glad that got out.

Sydni ran after Xena.

Me: Sydni+ACE- Xena said wait here, and when she says wait here, she means wait

here+ACEAIQAh-

Syd: Don't worry+ACE-

Sydni went up to Xena, told her something, and they both came back.

Me: Don't scare me like that.

Xena: We're going to have to stay out here for the night, okay? And Sydni,

that wasn't Joxer. Those men were travelers worshiping Zeus.

Syd: Ooops. Sorry.

Xena: It's still okay to stay out here, right?

Me: Yeah.

Syd: Fine with me.

Callisto nodded.It was night. I was under the blankets as was Xena,

Callisto, and Sydni. I slept and my mind became a dream. I was in a dark and

cold place...music was coming from another room. I looked around and

Petracles, Strife, and some other dead villains were there. Amongst them

all, was Hope. She walked over to me.

Hope: Mother, come join us. We've been waiting for you.

Me: What?

Hope: Sweet Sydni, mother. She, killed me.

Me: No, Callisto killed you.

Hope: Ahh, but if Sydni had never been born, I'd still be alive.

Me: How?

Hope: She would have not come to the temple, and we'd still be welcoming my

father.

I shook my head.

Me: Well, it's not my fault she was born. Go complain to Ares.

Hope closed her eyes and winched.

Hope: Don't remind me.

Me: Leave me alone.

Hope: Mother, your dreaming.

Me: I thought as much.

Hope: Everything here is all in your mind...exept me. I'm dead and the only

way I could communicate with you was through your mind. So mother, come

back.

Me: If I'm dreaming.....I can control you.

Hope: No, no, no. Haven't you heard? I'm real+ACEAIQ-

Me: But I can wake up...

I closed my eyes and focused.

Hope: No...

I woke. I was soaking wet+ACE- I looked up but it was hard because it was

raining and the water was in my eyes. Callisto and Sydni were up too.

Syd: And you just realize now that is was going to rain, dear Callisto?

Call: Hey, I'm not the weather girl, over here. That's your mom.

Me: I am not...

Syd: Hey, your up+ACE- Rain get to ya?

Me: No,

I was still a little drowsy.

Me: My dream did though.

Call: Bad dreams?

Me: Mmm. Yeah.

Syd: What did you dream about?

Me: No one.

Call: So it was a person?

Me: No.

Syd: Mom,

Me: What?+ACE-

Syd: Forget it.

Call: Tell me--us--about your dream.

Syd: Was it bloody and gory?

Call: Was it scary and spooky?

Me: No. It was difficult.

Syd: Huh? What kinda phrase is that?

Me: An adult one.

Call: Then am I 10 years old? Because I didn't understand it either.

Me: It means it was a very tough dream.

Call: yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. Let's just get out of this rain+ACE-

Me: And where might we go?

Syd: Under the blankets.

We got all the blankets and gathered sticks. We were able to make a tent. By

the time we were done, everyone was so sick of the rain, no one volunteered

to bring Xena in. We slept the whole night through. In the morning, we woke

up to find Xena awake in the sunshine pitying herself and making burnt fish.

Xena: Morning brats.

Call: It was raining and we were cold+ACE-

Xena: It was raining and now I'm sick.

Syd: Of what?

Xena: Just plain ol' sick. I have a cough, runny nose, sick I tell you,

sick+ACE-

Me: I'm sorry.

Xena: Haa Haaaa Hah ah hahah hahaa+ACEAIQAhACEAIQAhACEAIQAhACEAIQ-

I winched. Sydni laughed under her breath. Callisto widened her eyes and

backed away. Xena sneezed. Soon, we were traveling again. The sun shined

bright and the wetness of everything made the Earth look beautiful. When we

got near the next village, Xena stopped.

Syd: What is it, Xena?

Xena: Nothing. I'm very, very tired.

Call: Can we pleeeeeeease be zapped?

Xena: No.

Me: Fine.

Syd: Does anyone realize how early it is?

Xena: Live with it, kid.

Me: It is a little early, Xena. Don't you think we could rest a while?

Xena: No.

Call: I hate you+ACE-

Xena: Love you too,

Xena: Well, fine. You guys rest and meet me at the next village.

Syd: Which is called...

Xena: Actually, the next village is Piraievs.

Me: Tell my aunt I said hello.

Xena: What is her name, anyway? I'm not going to know who she is+ACE-

Me: Well, I call her Aunt Tanna. But if you want her full name, it's

Tannalis.

Xena: Okay.

Me: Oh, and if you ask a kid, her name is Granny Tanny. She's real nice and

is like a Grandmother to them.

Xena: Okay.

Me: And also, If your asking everyday people, her name is Ms. Tannalis.

Xena: Alright+ACE-

Me: And if your asking salesmen-----

Xena: I GET IT+ACEAIQAhACEAIQAhACE-

Me: Sorry.

Xena trotted off on Argo. A couple minutes later, Ares stopped by. Whoopi...

Me: It's a time like this when we need Xena's instincts.

Syd: Zeus, why now+ACE-

Callisto (who was sitting on her knees) fell back and sighed.

Ares: Hello to you, too.

Syd: What do you want?

Ares: To visit. I'm lonely.

Call: Pathetic+ACE-

Ares: Anyway...

Sydni cocked her head and narrowed her eyes at Ares.

Ares: What??

Syd: You really are desperate, aren't you?

Ares looked at Sydni sarcastically.

Me: Wipe that look off your face, Ares. There isn't anything to be suprised

about. She's got Xena's personality.

Ares: Should've known. 5 minutes is enough for it all to sink in.

Call: Pathetic+ACE-

Syd: There's nothing bad about Xena.

Ares almost fell.

Ares: What have you done to her?+ACE-?+ACE-?

Me: Nothing. Really, nothing.

Ares: Then she probably gets it from Xena. Where is she, anyway?

Syd: Oh, don't act stupid, Ares. You know damn well where she is+ACE-

Normally I would've told Sydni not to use that language, but I was pretty

proud of her this time. So I smiled and Ares stood there dumbfounded.

Call: You go girl+ACE-

Sydni bowed.

Ares: Where do you learn this stuff, Syd?

Syd: It's SYD-NI...And I picked it up around the centaurs.

Ares: Good for nothing centaurs.

I felt like crying for joy. My own daughter was picking on the God of War,

this was sooo great. I mean, would you say this stuff to your father?

Call: Here's what I think,

Ares: We don't want to know what you think.

Syd: Speak for yourself, Ares.

Call: Thankyou+ACE- As I was going to say before I was so rudely interupted, was

that Sydni is just the most down-to-earth girl I have ever met+ACE- With a

mother so...peaceful, and a father so...disgusting. I think she places the

both of you in the +ACI-Loser+ACI- section. She's awesome. With a mouth from her

father, which she uses against him, and a mind like her mother, she rocks+ACE-

Syd: Flattered.

I smiled and hugged Sydni's shoulders.

Me: That's my girl.

Ares: Ugh,

Syd: Got a problem?

Ares: Yeah, ya know Sydni? Let's take a look at Gabrielle and Hope.

Syd: Let's.

Sydni said that with a growl and a bit of sarcasm.

Ares: Rivals. Enimies you might say. Mother and daughter. Isn't that harsh?

Yes. Quite harsh. I don't want to turn out like that. Father and

daughter...C'mon+ACE- Friends?

Syd: When Taratarus freezes over.

Callisto sat up.

Call: I LIKE YOUR STYLE+ACEAIQAhACEAIQAh-

Sydni smiled.

Syd: Thanks.

Me: Sydni, I haven't said much but uh.....your really, really cool.

Ares: We aren't going to agree are we?

Sydni looked at Ares and narrowed her eyes. He disappeared.

Call: How'd you do that??+ACEAIQ-??+ACEAIQ-??+ACEAIQAhACEAIQAhACE-

Me: The only person who's ever been able to do that was Xena...well, I did

it once.

Syd: See mom, I have many skills.

Me and Callisto looked at each other in shock. Cool kid, huh? We started on

our way to Piraievs.

...The End...