Interlude

Joxer kicked the stone away from him, but only managed to stub his toe. "Ow!" He lifted his foot up, lost his balance, and crashed onto the eathern floor. He smacked the leaves with his fist and sighed heavily. This wasn't quite what he imagined.

Artemis said that he would be rewarded for his good job helping Jonus find her way to the Amazons. He had yet to see any reward.

But the compensation wasn't what was troubling him. He crossed his legs and picked up a small stick, breaking it into pieces. No, what really bothered him were his emotions, his feelings about Jonus. Almost two weeks had gone by and he still thought of her constantly. He remembered seeing her early in the morning, when she wasn't looking, as she brushed her hair. The soft light reflected through the strands making them glow. Only after that night they "spent together" did he begin to notice the things about her. He saw how radiant her face was when she smiled or laughed, how the fit of her bodice was just perfect for her, how her face wrinkled when she thought about something deeply. Those were the things he missed. Those were the things he longed to see once more.

So much like Gabrielle.

He smacked his fist again in disgust. Two women, now, had rejected him.

Jonus never did. It was Artemis that pulled you away, a voice called inside.

But she would have eventually. Look at yourself! What in Tartarus is that breastplate supposed to be, and those things on your shoulder? The vendor never did give the name of that thing you wear on your head. But he smirked a lot when you got it.

Joxer pulled off his helmet and looked at it, turning it and finally throwing it into the bushes. Better off there, he thought with disgust. He put his head in his hands and pulled his legs to his chest. When will someone love me?

"Aw, Mom. Will you check this out?" Cupid called his mother over.

"Not now, Cupid. I'm kinda in the middle of something here," she called from another room in her home.

Cupid rolled his eyes. "Lay off the temple guards, Mom. This is something you gotta look at."

A slight scuffle was heard, whispering and finally the goddess of love appeared, adjusting her lace bra and wrapping her see-through cover around her. "What?"

"Take a look at this." He pointed to a portal sitting on the only table in the large room. The image in it was of Joxer, sitting forelorn in the woods after having just thrown his helmet away.

"Who's that loser?"

Cupid sighed. "Don't you keep track of anyone's life you mess up?"

"Oh, and like you do when your kid, Bliss, scoffs your bow and arrow." She looked annoyed at her son.

"That's Joxer." Cupid ignored the comment. "Remember him?"

Aphrodite thought a minute, then snapped her fingers. "Oh, yeah. He's the dude I totally made into a heart-throb." She laughed. "That was so cool to watch."

"Yeah, and into a monkey. Remember that too?"

The goddesses smile widened even more. "Now that was excellent." She looked back at the portal. "So, like, what's his problem?"

"Women."

"Duh. Tell me something I don't know. What's that annoying sidekick done now."

Cupid shook his head. "In case you haven't been paying attention the last month, Zeus let Jonus go." He looked from his mother back to the image of Joxer. "He loves her and now she's gone."

"Wow. The old guy finally broke the curse, huh? Too bad. She was kinda fun to hang out with. In a nerdy way. Never understood what Artemis saw in her." She shrugged. "Then again, can't understand that, like, stupid rule she's got against havin' sex either." She faced her son. "So what's the prob?"

"The prob is that I like Joxer."

Aphrodite stared unbelieving at her son.

"Okay, okay. Persephone likes him. She wants him to get the girl."

Aphrodite blinked. Cupid raised his arms. "What can I say? I'm a slave to my wife."

The goddess rolled her eyes. "No kidding." She sighed. "So just zap him with a love arrow and get this over with." She grinned and pushed up her bra. "Dude's waitin' for me."

"I can't do that, Mom. Persephone promised me that no gods would zap him or do anything to him."

"Uh-huh. So?"

"So, I was wondering if you'd talk to Artemis about it."

"You've got wings. You go do it."

"Artemis and you get along better."

"Oh, yeah. We're like, you know, sisters." She stopped. "Huh, guess we are." She slumped her shoulders. "All right. All right. If it'll get you off my back..." Her face changed to that of a sly fox. "And me onto someone else's..."

"Mom!"

"Geez, Cupid, take a pill." She then disappeared, leaving her son to wonder how in Olympus Aphrodite had come to be his mother. He then raised an eyebrow. Persephone is going to be happy with him. Very happy.

The first thing Joxer noticed was that the sky was getting dark. The second thing he noticed was that his neck ached and his arm had fallen asleep. The third thing he noticed was Artemis standing at his feet. The fourth thing he noticed was that he was hungry. When the realisatioin of the third thing finally sunk in, he shook his head and scrambled to his feet. He ran his fingers through his hair and tried to straighten out his clothes. Difficult task with only one arm because the other was still asleep. "Uh, hi!" He gulped. He hoped he hadn't done anything to upset the goddess. "Hi." He repeated.

Artemis stood before Joxer, hands on her hips and a stern expression on her face. She sighed lightly, looked him up and down and sighed again. She tapped her finger on her hip. "This is going to take some work," she finally said.

Joxer looked around, wondering who she was speaking to. He finally looked at the huntress. "Me?" He pointed at himself.

"Mmm." She brought her hand to chin, still staring intently on the warrior wannabe.

Joxer gulped again, completely at a loss. Is she mad at me? Did I do something to offend her? He panicked. Is this the sacred forest and she's going to kill me, or worse?

"Relax, Joxer," she finally said. "Nothing bad is going to happen to you."

He breathed out his relief. "Um, if you don't mind me..."

"Why am I here?" she interrupted. She smiled. "To give you your reward for helping Jonus." She stepped in closer. "Truth be told, I kinda forgot about it, until Aphrodite showed me how lonely and upset you were."

"Aphro...the goddess of love was worried about me?" His voice cracked at the end.

"Sort of. Look, I'm here to grant you what you've always wanted. You ready for it?"

Joxer half laughed. "Uh," he gulped, "what exactly is it that I want?" His eyebrows went up and Artemis laughed.

"Hey, I'm not the goddess of love. I won't be doing anything like that to you."

Joxer bit his lip. "Then, uh, what...exactly?"

"You want to be a warrior, well, I can train you. But be warned. This won't be easy. You're going to go through some difficult times, but if you're willing to learn and listen to what I have to offer, than you'll do okay." She put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

Joxer's mind went wild with excitement. Finally, he was going to become a real warrior. Like Xena! He could just see himself leaping over danger, sword swinging, as he battled evil warlords, kings and thieves. A slow smile spread across his face.

Artemis promptly slapped him. Hard.

"Listen to me because I'm only going to say this once. I am not doing this to satisfy your ego. Got it?"

Joxer nodded his head, in shock over the goddess's actions.

"I am going to teach you how to defend yourself. That's what a warrior does." She softened her voice. "A true warrior knows that to attack, to begin the offensive, is not the true way. The warrior must be above those he is fighting and never, ever become that which he repels. Understand?"

Joxer sort of did, but nodded anyway. He didn't want another slap like that one.

"Good. Now come. We have much work to do." She slipped her arm across his shoulders and pulled him along. They walked past the tossed helmet without even glancing at it.

The sword went flying through the air and landed on a pile of leaves.

"No, no, no! You've got to parry up to get his sword to go flying, not your's." Artemis sighed with frustration. "Right?"

"Yeah," Joxer said glumly and retrieved his weapon. Three weeks and still he was caught every time with a downward parry instead of the upward one. He picked up the weapon, examined it, then sheathed it. "But it just seems so natura..."

"No but's, Joxer. This isn't excuse time." She walked over to the warrior trainee. "You've to concentrate, think about what you're doing, what you're opponent is going to do and how you will respond. Fighting is a thinking man's sport." She stared into Joxer's eyes, hoping for some sign of understanding. She breathed heavily when it didn't come. "All right, take a break and we'll start again."

Joxer nodded and went over to the stream, filled his flask and took a drink. He enjoyed feeling the cool water slide down his hot and dry throat. The sacred forest was a warm place in the middle of the summer and with the workouts that Artemis forced upon Joxer, it was even warmer. He wiped his mouth and face with his hand and looked around. He understood why Jonus had loved this place so much. It looked like a regular forest, but when you really looked at it, the place changed. It had the same kinds of trees and animals, but they were more special here. All the creatures knew that they were protected by the goddess and that gave them a security they wouldn't otherwise have. Sure, Artemis did hunt some of them, but they knew that it had to be done. In her own way, the huntress had explained to them the purpose of hunting and the sacrifice the animal made did not go unnoticed.

This was what Joxer learned in his off time, when Artemis and he had quiet times. And in those times, Joxer was allowed to ask questions. She didn't answer all of them, but enough to keep him happy.

"So, why didn't you ever train Jonus?" Joxer had inquired one day after a good session.

The goddess sat on a log and sighed. "I've thought about that one for a long time." She paused. "I wanted to, I really did, but the consequences I thought would be too great." She faced Joxer. "She could have become the greatest hunter and warrior with my guidance."

"Except for Xena," Joxer interjected.

"Better."

Joxer's eyes went wide. Someone better than Xena who wasn't a god?

Artemis smirked. "Yes, she has so much potential in her. That's why I sent her to the Amazons when Zeus released her from the deal he made. They know how to harness that potential and expand it. She's a natural."

"Then why didn't you bring it out?" He munched on some fruit.

"Because...well, I was selfish I guess. When she first came here, she was scared and alone. I gave her company and tried to help her through everything. It was at that time when I realised the strength she has." Pause. "She asked some time later to teach her how to hunt like the occassional man she saw roaming around here. I said no, that I didn't want her to become like them, killers who never appreciated what exactly they were doing. She let it drop, but every now and then, she would ask, and I would say the same thing." She sighed. "But when I really think about it, I didn't want her to leave me. I was afraid that if she learned how to hunt and become a real "person" that she would forget about me. That she would be able to survive on her own and not need me anymore would have been too difficult for me. Especially after I grew to love her. The thought of her not needing me was too much." She looked over at her pupil. "Do you understand that?"

Joxer thought a while. "I think so," he finally said. "I remember when I finally left home and the look on my mother's face. I thought she was going to cry, but warlord's wives don't do that, not in front of anyone anyway." His brow furrowed. "So how do you handle it now that she's gone?"

The goddess smiled. "Well, she's not really gone. I can see her whenever I wish. But it's getting easier. And I know she's doing well. More importantly, though, I know she still loves me. Her anger over me forcing her to leave proved that to me. That's something that will never change."

Joxer nodded his head slowly. If only she would have loved me the same way, he thought. He stared at the ground.

Artemis saw Joxer's body language and knew what the problem was. She may not be the goddess of love, but she recognised it when she saw it. She wanted to say that Jonus did love him, but that would have broken the concentration she was desparately trying to instill in Joxer. He needed to be focused on this training. Jonus would be a distraction.

"Okay, that's enough of a break. Let's work some more on the crossbow, shall we?" A crossbow magically appeared before them, just finished by Hepheastus himself.

Footsteps. Soft, quiet footsteps through the underbrush were what the hunter saw. He watched those feet move, stop, move again on their journey. He waited, making sure his weapon was ready. He barely breathed.

The feet moved into a clearing. Now was the hunter's opportunity! With a noiseless rush, he stood, aimed and fired with one fluid motion. The arrow from the crossbow met its target with deadly accuracy and the animal fell, it's feet now limp.

Joxer's face went into a wide grin. "I did it!" he shouted. "I really did it."

"Yes, you did," Artemis answered. The animal vanished with a shimmer. "You did very well. I'm proud of you, Joxer." She placed an immortal hand on his shoulder. "Good job."

He beamed at the goddess. "Wow! That was something." He looked back to where the deer was and frowned. "But I didn't get to give it the proper ritual, thanking it."

Artemis raised her other hand. "No need. I know what your heart said. If this had been real, you would have and I know it would have been sincere." She stepped back. "Now for the second test..." She disappeared, leaving Joxer alone.

He stopped moving and listened. Birds chirped and the wind was light through the trees. Suddenly, an attacker came, swinging his sword wildly. Joxer pulled his sword and easily deflected the blows, remembering to parry down then back up to loosen the sword from his opponent. It went flying. The attacker then charged with a ferocious yell, and with a swift kick, was felled. He groaned, got back up and charged again. When he was close enough, Joxer twisted his sword and butted the opponent in the face with the hilt. He fell down unconscious. Joxer then began to breathe.

"You've got to remember your breathing," Artemis scolded coming into view again. "You hold your breathe and you'll pass out, getting yourself killed."

Joxer nodded.

"But you did well again." She smiled broadly. "You are learning this. I'm surprised Xena hasn't tried to teach you some things."

Joxer scratched his head after sheathing his sword. "She tried a few times, but I just wasn't getting it. She's not a teacher like with formal lessons or anything. She's better at doing and having people learn that way." He half grinned. "Not exactly my style."

"No, I don't think so." She tossled his hair playfully. "Next time, though, there won't be one attacker."

Joxer nodded. Next time might be for real.

He knelt down at the stream's edge and watched. He loved the early morning when the forest was beginning to wake up, or go to sleep depending on your perspective. The early rays filtered through the forest with an orangey-yellow glow that filled his heart with happiness. Joxer never thought of himself as a philosopher, but these times had a profound effect on him.

He watched the small animals begin their day. A rabbit hopped into view, looked at Joxer, stopped, then continued on its mission to the stream. Joxer watched it intently.

"The animals here know what's what," Artemis had said. "They're not magical or anything, but they have senses that humans don't. Watch them and learn from them." She gazed into the sky. "When you see a flock of birds suddenly leave a tree, something's coming. They can be good warning signals, if you listen."

"Oh, I get it," Joxer had answered. "Like footprints tell you what's been, the birds can tell you what's coming."

"In a way, yes. But not just the birds. Listen to the forest and you'll understand what I mean."

And now Joxer listened. He heard the morning chirps, the babbling water and the rustle of squirrels looking for nuts in the leaves. He closed his eyes and listened again. To his right was a fox coming out of its den. He raised an eyebrow when he heard its pups crying out for their mother. To his left was the squirrel searching among the leaves. He heard it find something, crunch on it, then scamper up a tree to hide it in its nest. And behind him, he heard...

Footsteps. Quiet ones, but there nonetheless.

He opened his eyes, wheeled and pulled his sword just as another came crashing down. He blocked it and struggled to keep it from coming onto his head. With a deep breathe, he pushed and the opponent fell back. A look of evil crossed his eyes.

"Tough one, eh? Fix that now." He lunged again and Joxer stepped to his right, but the opponent was ready and instead of falling forward, quickly stopped turned and made a right hand slash at Joxer. Joxer had to quickly jump back.

Something was wrong here. This guy was talking to him. All the other tests were silent, save for the war cries. What was going on here? He didn't have time to think as another attacker lunged at him. Without thinking, Joxer sidekicked him and he went flying. If he'd had the time, he would have marvelled over the strength he had. But his first opponent was on him again. He kicked Joxer hard in the stomach with a solid front kick and Joxer doubled over. The sword again came down, but Joxer anticipated it, dropped and rolled out of the way. He took a breathe, concentrated on forgetting the pain and jumped up, sword in hand.

The opponent raised an eyebrow. "Ah, finally some competition. This is going to be good." His smile revealed yellow and rotten teeth. His laugh sent a shiver up Joxer's spine.

Focus, Jox. Focus. He took a deep breathe and waited for the attack.

He didn't have to wait long.

The attacker twirled his sword in front and then to the side in a display of sword prowess. "Heh, the fun's just beginning." He stepped forward, forcing Joxer back one. Another step, another retreat. "Come on, boy! Fight me!"

Joxer gulped. "Never make the first attack unless you absolutely have to," Artemis had always repeated. "Never let him know what you've got." He waited.

"Rrrrr," the man yelled and rushed Joxer. His impatience got the better of him and he brought his sword low, attempting to slice Joxer in two at the waist. Joxer quickly blocked the move and twisted his sword up in a circle motion. He leaned in and put two hands on the hilt as his attacker put more pressure on. "I'm gonna eat you alive!" he hissed, his breathe dirty and hot.

"I think your breathe will knock me out first," Joxer replied.

His opponents eyes widened in fury. "Rrrrahhh!" With an added push, he knocked Joxer back. Joxer stumbled and almost fell, but quickly regained his balance. He brought his sword up and held it in the defensive ready position. Breathe calmly, Jox. Just keep breathing.

The attacker stood there and watched for half a second, lowered his sword and smiled. "You're too much for me, boy." He relaxed his stance and half turned. "You beat me." He turned around fully.

Joxer's face was full of confusion. What in Tartarus was going on here? This guy was ready to kill me and now he's given up? Something's wrong. He tightened his grip.

"Yes, I've been beat by the likes of you."

His left hand slowly went into his breast pocket. "Can I at least have your now, boy, so I know who defeated the great Pterachus?"

He slowly reached inside...

Joxer's sword was beginning to fall. He didn't know what to believe here. Who was Pterachus? Why was he here in the first place? And where was Artemis? This was not any test of her's, he knew that.

A disturbance in the bush at Joxer's left distracted him and he lifted his sword again. The second attacker came at him, trying to knock him over by sheer force. Joxer planted his feet, ready for the onslaught, but before he could get a firm grip, was bowled over. Both men landed with a heavy thud, Joxer getting the wind knocked out of him. The second man was on top of him and began to punch his face. Joxer tried to lift his arms, but the attacker had his knees on them. Joxer's breathing came in short spurts now. His mind began to panic. Gotta get out. Gotta get out, he kept repeating in his head. He took a hard blow to the jaw and heard something crack. He wasn't sure if it was his jaw breaking or his head hitting the ground from the force of the blow. Gotta get out...

With renewed determination, Joxer concentrated on lifting one arm from underneath his opponent's knee. He struggled without any progress. His face was beginning to swell. The attacker laughed as he saw the bruises start and the blood flow. Joxer tried again, but nothing. His head hurt and the world was beginning to spin around. I'm going to pass out, he thought. Can't keep going like this...

His body relaxed and this gave the impression that he did pass out. The second man's smile broadened and he got off Joxer. He was about ready to kick him, when he suddenly rolled out of reach and lay panting on his stomach. His vision was a hazy red from his own blood and his jaw was incredibly sore. He forced himself to his hands and knees.

The first opponent watched with morbid fascination as his partner pummeld Joxer, encouraging him on with taunts and chants. He was surprised and confused by Joxer's play, but then angered. He pulled out the dagger hidden in his breast pocket and prepared to aim.

"Nooo!" an inhuman scream rang out.

The attackers looked about wildly, never feeling such fear as they did with that scream.

"What in Tart...?" the first attacker tried to say.

With a flash, the second man was thrown into a tree. A jarring crunch was heard as his spine snapped at the neck. He lay dead at the base of the tree.

The first man's heart began to throb in terror. He continued to look around, but saw nothing. His hand still gripped the dagger. He spied Joxer on the ground not far from him and aimed the dagger. He threw it with a laugh, then stopped.

The dagger stopped in mid-air, turned and went straight back at the man. It lodged itself in his neck. His eyes went wide and he gripped his throat, staggering back. He couldn't breathe and air gurgled through the opening the dagger made. A blaze of fire consumed the man and within seconds, he was nothing more than smoldering ashes. The dagger dropped softly onto the ground.

"Joxer!" Artemis called as she ran to her student. She knelt down next to him, wrapping her Olympian arm around his body. "Joxer! Can you hear me?"

With concerted effort, he was barely able to nod his head. Artemis closed her eyes and thanked Zeus. She helped pull him up and looked at him. He was a complete mess. Blood covered his face and ran down his neck. One eye was swollen almost shut and his jaw hung limp. His hair was splayed wildly across his head. He made a soft groan as the goddess lifted him up.

"Come on, Joxer. Let's get out of here." They both shimmered away.

He remembered being on the ground and having a large body on top of him pounding his fists through his head as if he was trying to dig to the centre of the earth. He remembered rolling away and struggling to stand. Something happened and the next thing he knew, Artemis was there next to him.

He opened his eyes, the good one anyway, and looked around. He appeared to be in some temple and saw a delicately dressed woman pass by. He could see all kinds of statues of a hunter with a bow and arrow and of various animals. He could smell the incense burning and found it relaxing. He sighed softly and then felt the pain.

His whole body ached, his jaw most of all. He wanted to rub it, but his arms felt like deadweight. He couldn't hardly move.

"Shhh," a soft voice said. "Just relax. You're safe now."

Jonus?

Joxer tried to say something but the voice commanded silence. "Rest." She put a cool hand on his forehead. "Rest," she said again.

"Ahhh!" Joxer screamed. His body convulsed with the pain.

"Easy, Joxer. It's over now." Artemis sat at his side. She put a calming hand on his cheek. "They put the bone back in place. It's going to hurt for a while, but it'll be okay."

He looked over and saw the huntress next to him. He gazed around and realised that he was still in the temple. He looked back at Artemis.

"Your in one of my temples. Do you remember anything that happened?"

He tried to speak, but it hurt too much.

"Okay, just relax." She held his hand. "You're probably not going to be able to talk for a while until your jaw heals. It wasn't broken, in case you're wondering, just dislocated." She smiled. "That was quite a fight you had."

The fight! Yes, now he remembered it clearly. Two men jumping out at him...

"You did very well. You held your own for a long time." She continued to hold his hand. "You should be proud of yourself."

He nodded weakly. Yeah, proud. He nearly got killed, once again.

"Hey, go easy on yourself, Joxer. I've never really trained you on how to deal with more than one before." She looked at the altar nearby and swallowed. "I'm sorry for that." She looked down at him.

His good eye widened. Sorry? For what?

"Oh, Joxer," she sighed. "This is my fault. I should never have let those two get into the forest, let alone attack you. But I was called to one of my temples. I should have made sure you'd be safe. Some teacher."

Joxer squeezed Artemis's hand. He couldn't believe that he was trying to comfort a goddess, and one that was apologising to him. He slowly shook his head and tried to say "Not your fault", but only mouthed the words instead.

The goddess half grinned. "Thanks." She stood up. "I'm going to go for a while, but the temple guards and healers will look after you. They say you'll be okay in a day or two." She smiled then disappeared.

Joxer breathed heavily and closed his eye. Artemis, the goddess of the hunt and the moon, said that she was proud of him. He grinned, not the grin of arrogence, but the grin of appreciation.

Onto Chosen One II - chapter One

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