It's been almost a year now since Ceryndip had arrived in this ancient land. She sat on an outcropping of rock, overlooking a small valley. She watched the wildlife down below play and frolic, she thought about home and the life she had left behind., but she was still enjoying the endless adventure with her new friends. She was then brought out of thought by a hand on her shoulder, she turned to look up , it was Iolaus.

Ceryndip jumped up and wrapped her arms around the blonde Greek's neck, and hugging him.

"What's this all about?" exclaimed a surprised Iolaus.

She then jumped back realizing who it was, "Sorry, thought you were someone else."

"Oh, who's the lucky guy?" joked Iolaus.

"Where's Hercules?" the red haired warrior goddess asked looking around.

"He's down at the road,"

Ceryn saw him and waved.

"I saw you as we were coming over the hill . We stopped to see if you wanted to join us, were headed for Nespa."

"Sounds kewl."

In a small unnamed village a tall lithe man in homemade armor was walking toward the inn when he heard a disturbance around the corner, he went to investigate and discovered a group of rowdy bandits harassing a shopkeeper. He stepped into the street and pulled his sword and proclaimed

"Not to fear Joxer the Mighty is here!"

He ran out and struck one of the men, he turned revealing a devious grin, he then proceeded to grab Joxer by the collar and lift him off the ground ,the skinny warrior swallowed with a gulp.

Then out of nowhere a person came cartwheeling across the street, landing behind the bandit. It was a white haired amazon, she grabbed the back of his tunic with both hands a and threw him to the ground, while Joxer dropped with a thud. She reached down to help him up

"I almost had him you know," Joxer said.

"Sure," his mysterious rescuer said as she kicked out behind her landing a boot to the face of the guy she had just thrown drown.

Another bandit jumped her from behind but she threw him over her shoulder landing him flat on his back. The third came swinging, she knocked him completely off his feet with a palm to the face. She brushed off her hands as the three bandits scurried for cover.

"And who might you be?" the stranger asked.

"I'm Joxer the Mighty, and I could've taken those guys myself."

"Oh really, didn't look like it to me, by the way my name is Jane I'm looking for a friend, her name is Ceryndip."

"I know her , I saved her life once, and now she cannot keep her hands off me," Joxer smiled as he straightened his helmet.

"I've been here a day now and have yet to find her."

"I'll help you look."

Hercules ,Iolaus and Ceryndip reached a large village just as the afternoon sun was about to set, they knew they didn't have enough dinars for the inn so, they opted for the stable. Ceryndip stowed her gear and they went to find some dinner.

The three heroes entered the tavern. They found a table and ordered three bowls of hot stew. A group of armor clad goons entered and spotted Ceryndip "There 's the one he wants ,get her boys!"

They then overturned the table spilling the stew.

"Hey!, that was my last dinar!" Ceryndip exclaimed, as the three jumped to there feet. Two of the bandit wantabees grabbed for Ceryn but were blocked by Herc and Iolaus who then threw them across the tavern. Another swung on Hercules , but missed and he got his blade stuck in the table, he was then grabbed and his head broke the same table.

Iolaus delivered a wicked roundhouse to another, knocking him into two others bowling them over. Ceryndip grabbed her chair and broke it over the head of one who was about to skewer Iolaus from behind.

Realizing their mistake the men jetted for the open door, nearly running over Jane and Joxer who were just entering.

"Jane!" Ceryndip exclaimed as she maneuvered around the broken furniture to meet her longtime friend, "you're back!"

"Told you I would, what was all that about?" Jane looked toward the street.

"Beats me, maybe someone out there doesn't like me...come in, you have to tell me all the latest news from home."

The sun shone through the window of the small castle. A warlord was reprimanding his men. "How could you let her get away, she's only one girl, you fools."

"But, she wasn't alone , she was with Hercules and Iolaus," the soldier lowered his gaze nervously.

"Hercules is formidable, but he's not undefeatable. I don't care how you do it , I want that girl," the warlord slammed his fist on the table rattling everything on it. "Don't fail me again, or else!!"

After leaving his sires chambers the soldier made his way to one of the many temples of Hera, Queen of the gods.

"Oh great Hera, show me the way to get rid of Hercules."

"Who needs Hera ,when I'm here," came a voice from the shadows.

"Who's there?" The mysterious figure steeped in to the light.

"Ares!?" said the kneeling soldier ,with a look of shook and surprise.

The four intrepid heroes were on there way to the small village of Nespa. Ceryndip and Jane had stayed up all night talking about home and what both had been up to.

Joxer listened and hung on every word of this very odd conversation. Then from the trees and bushes came a group of bandits and surrounded them before they could act.

"Hey, aren't you the guys from last night, are you back for more?" asked Ceryndip.

"I'm here to deliver a gift, from Ares and the warlord Braxton." he stepped back and reached in to a leather pouch , and pulled out a handful of what looked like teeth. He then threw them to the ground and they began to burrow in. The ground started to tremble

"What's happening Ceryn!?" asked Jane.

"I don't know, and I don't like it."

Then skeletal hands and arms began to push through the road surface. Soon came skulls and then whole bony bodies. The were soon surrounded by a skeleton army.

"Attack them!" yelled the bandit leader, and with an unholy yell the skeletons advanced with weapons raised and eyes glowing like fire.

The first to be attacked were Hercules and Iolaus , one skeleton swung on Herc with a large rotten club, he caught it in mid-swing and with the other hand punched it in the chest. It exploded in a shower of bones.

Iolaus was sword fighting with the other. Ceryndip struck one of the skeletons with such might, it broke off his sword arm, it flew off and stuck in the ground . Then a quick strike to the to the head, broke his neck, he fell backwards. Jane delivered a well placed punched, but nothing happened. The bony warrior the swung on her, she threw up her arm to block and shut her eyes tight. The sword struck her wrist but glanced off. She opened her eyes, "it worked!" She then kicked back the skeleton, smashing him against a tree.

Iolaus sliced off the head of one while Herc put his fist through the face of another, the headless body staggered backwards. Jane then delivered a well placed jumpkick and decapitated another. Soon all that remained of the once undead army was collection of scattered bones.

"Are you alright Jane!?" asked Ceryndip.

"Sure," Jane pulled back her torn sleeve. "body armor! , yep, I came prepared this time."

"And, where did you learn to fight like that?" asked Ceryn

"I got a hold of Gregory McLeod, remember the commercials for his martial arts studio? and took a crash course in martial arts. Impressive, don't you think?" Jane giggled followed by a big smile.

"So ,where did they come from?" asked Ceryndip.

"The Hydra's teeth, they have a multitude of uses it would seems." answered Hercules.

"Oh, kewl,...like chia pets, just add water"

"So who's this warlord Braxton?" came Iolaus.

"He's a petty tyrant who was running a protection racket in a local village. I put a stop to it," Ceryndip replied.

"Where's our host?" Jane asked looking around.

"I don't know but were going to play his boss a little visit." said Ceryndip.

"And speaking of disappearances, where's Joxer?"

Then from overhead a branch creaked and the skinny warrior want to be fell to the ground. "Hi, I, uh, ..was protecting your flank." he stood up and dusted himself off.

The trip to Braxton's' castle was short and uneventful. It was a small dank looking pile of rocks.

"There 's something odd here Herc, there should be sentries or something around," said Iolaus.

Joxer and Iolaus pulled there swords while the others were ready for the first sign of trouble. There wait wasn't long , shortly after entering they were set upon by a horde of soldiers and bandits.

The fight was fast and quick "I'm going after Braxton!" yelled Ceryndip

"We can handle these guys," boasted Joxer, who was actually holding his own, barely.

She fought her way through the mob, past Jane, Herc and the valiant Iolaus who was making short work of the army. By the time she had reached the warlords chambers she had taken care of the stragglers.

The warrior goddess was now standing just inside the door of the makeshift throne room/quarters.

"It's only you and me now, nobody else to fight your battles." She took a few steps then stopped , she saw him reach for something, she then looked down, and in an instant backflipped as the floor beneath her dropped away. "I've seen that movie can't you do better?" She looked over the edge to see an impaled body at the bottom. "So that's what happened to him"

She then pole vaulted over the open pit and ran to were the warlord was standing, being sure to avoid any other bobbytraps or pitfalls along the way.

Their eyes locked for a few seconds, then Ceryn noticed his gaze sifting slowly to the dagger beside him.

"Go for it!" Ceryndip dared him "but, first ask yourself do you feel lucky..., well, do you?"

In a flash he lunched for the dagger, but jut as quick the red-haired warrior swept his feet from under him with her staff, he hit the floor with a resounding thud. She stepped forward

"Not your lucky day, now get up and fight like a man!"

"I don't fight women!" thunder Braxton

"No, you just shakedown and harass old women and children!"

"You alright?" yelled Joxer from behind, who was also being saved from walking in to the open pit by a quick thinking Hercules.

"I'm fine, watch that first step, it's a killer" Ceryndip stepped back

"I'm just having a little talk with our gracious host here."

She could see the fire building in his eyes, "but this little worm isn't worth my time!" she then turned to leave.

Braxton the jumped up a retrieved the dagger and lunged, Ceryndip spun around and her mighty staff instantly disarmed him nearly breaking his wrist.

"Now, we're even." Ceryndip then dropped her staff . She balled up her fist and with all her strength and mite she delivered such a blow that Braxton spun around, his eyes rolled up and he fell, crashing through the table.

"OW!!" she shook her now throbbing hand. "You guys make it look so easy." Ceryndip said to her friends on the other side of the room, she wiggled her fingers.

She picked up her staff and found the control that raised the floor back in place. Her friends rushed to meet her.

"Nice work kid." said Iolaus.

"Is that all of them?" asked Jane

"Yes, I think we've sufficiently taken out the garbage," said Ceryndip, with a big grin.

"We still have a birthday party to attend." said Hercules.

"I had forgotten about that, lets get out of here."

THE END?

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