The extreme humidity shot through her body like an oppressive cloud.  Truly, she felt asthough she was walking in the midst of a cloud because of the fog.  She shuddered asshe reflected on the red glow that crept along the path with her.  "It's just the reflection ofthe moon on the water vapor in the air.   The moon is only blood red due to the moisturein the air and the recent sunset," she spoke aloud trying to sound as logical and scientificas possible.  Somehow, she thought it would ease the terrible sense of forebodingtrembling through her.

It was no wonder she jumped when she heard the terrible screech ripping the fabricof her control.  She picked up her pace until she was just outside the Temple compound.Her heart quickened as she approached the sound of strange music and rhythms.
She heard laughter coming from a great campfire.  She grinned when her mind correctedher. .. oh yes a bonfire?  So, she pushed aside her fears and anxieties and strode intocamp. She couldn't believe her senses.

Yes, it invaded every part of her being in the midst of that sticky fog.  She thought shemust be dreaming because what she saw was surreal.  The music quickened to matchher heartbeat in an enticing call to her heart.  The air was thick with the odor of burning
olive branches and jasmine leaves.  The smoke from the fire curled around her brain andpulled her closer to the seductive lullaby.  She blinked hard to bring into focus thesight swirling in front of her. There were the Guardians in some sort of dance around
the fire.  The fog made it almost impossible to make out for sure; so, she stepped closerto the flames.

She gasped as she saw that it was indeed the Guardians engaged in some sort ofritualistic sensual dance.  The laughter shocked her senses even more as sherecognized the individuals.  Jane twirled around as her long silver hair slippedfrom the ribbons that tried to restrain her glory.  Chrysim's brilliant blue chitonmoved with her as she spun around arching her back.  Storm's red leathers were
replaced with a soft burgundy short skirt with a deeper wine colored halter.  Herfingers moved gracefully through the air as she raised her hands high toward the sky andswayed back and forth to the music.  Queen Nanaea was equally stunning in herteal satin gown.  She smiled to a figure reclining on the ground near the steps ofthe temple.  Others joined them in the dance around the fire.  The screech jolted
the watcher out of her trance, and she looked to the Amazons playing the music.A beautiful golden owl circled the musicians twice then landed by a harp.  Theowl then transformed into a young woman in a pair of gold silky pajama type pantswith a matching short top.  The engaging raven haired woman picked up the harpand played an exquisitely unearthly melody.  The music guided the observerto the steps of the temple where giggles joined in the lyrics to the strange song.

She recognized Iolaus laying back on the steps trying desperately to decide whereto direct his attention.  He had been watching Nanaea and Jane in their bewitchingdance.  But his focus was demanded by laughter from someone else.  The watchergasped as she recognized BonaDea.  This young Amazon was not bringing waterto Iolaus this time.  This time she was pouring a deep red wine down his throat.
Her giggles were joined by Iolaus this time as they both looked to another Amazonsitting on the steps.  She had  quill in hand along with a scroll.  Bwell sat writingquickly and reading the result of her muse Erato's calling.  Her bright red hair wasworn loose around her shoulders, and the gown she wore matched her flashing greeneyes.  The watcher grinned in amusement when Iolaus remarked, "Bwell! You usually
are so innocent.  I never thought you'd write a story like THAT!"  They all blushed anddisintegrated into more giggles.  "Hey!  Who's in my mind now?  Paks, is that you?Stop!  That tickles."  Paks sat opposite BonaDea  stroking Iolaus's golden hair alongwith his golden mind.

The spectator inhaled an incredibly spicy scent then held her breath.  He walked throughthe arches of the Temple and moved toward the dancing Amazons.  The humidityleft his bronze body sparkling in the moonlight.  He wore a cranberry colored satinvest with black satin pants.  Hercules shook out his honey hued hair, and droplets ofsweat baptized the Amazons.  They turned from their dancing around the fire to dance
around this blaze of glory.  His shy demeanor slipped from his being and was replacedwith a captivatingly hungry grin.  He slowly swayed along with the Guardians circlingaround him.  He took one then the other in his arms and moved gracefully with them
individually.  When he took Storm in his strong arms, she reached up and engaged him ina deep kiss.  Suddenly she broke off the kiss, jumped back, and shouted, "NOW!GUARDIANS!"

The spectator unconsciously cried out as she saw all of the guardians pull knives fromtheir garb and strike out at Hercules.  He was on his knees as they thrust again and againin his golden body.  He looked weakly to his friend and cried out, "Iolaus! Run!"

His friend was shocked out of his drunkenness and started to rise to help Hercules.However, Bwell overpowered him easily and trapped his arms behind his back.BonaDea had dropped the wine cup and now straddled Iolaus holding a curveddagger to his throat.  Along with being held down by Bwell and BonaDea, theGolden Hunter's mind was held down by Paks.

"What is your pleasure, My Lord Ares?" shouted Nanaea.

Kendaa spun around from her observations and saw Ares standing just behind her.In a low growl, he whispered, "Kill him."

Kendaa jerked herself out of her nightmare.  She was breathing heavily, and her heartwas racing like the lead car at Le Mans.  The Barbarian Librarian had broken out ina cold sweat as that terrible cloud of foreboding  descended on her again, just likein the dream.  She blinked hard at her alarm clock and saw it was just 2 am.

"I wonder what time it is in the States.  Wonder if it's too late to call MsMoo, gaea,Chantal, and Baucis?  Nah, it's just a bad dream.  Too many Tim Tams before bedcan do that to you, or so I'm told," she rationalized.

Meanwhile in a small town in Tennessee, gaea leapt to her feet trembling from headto toe. "It was just a nightmare.  It had to be!  I wonder what time it is in Sydney?"

When Kendaa walked into work the next day, the head of the physics department rushedup to her.  He was taken aback by the dark circles under her eyes, but he thought twicebefore mentioning it to her.  After all, he'd seen this Barbarian Librarian in action.

"Kendaa, I've received this urgent notice.  I was supposed to inform you of thisyear's symposium; however, the registration packet has been buried for weeks under mydesk.  I wasn't sure that you'd want to go since it's in Madison, Wisconsin, such a
far off place.  But the Dean insisted that you should go.  I'm sorry, and I hope youcan find hotel space at this short notice.  Here's the packet along with a round tripticket and the university's credit card for expenses.  I'm late for a meeting so I must be off.  You're so good at these last minute things; I know you can handle it.  Call when you get there."

Kendaa stood there stunned at first as she saw the department head literally run out ofthe building.  Her brain was too exhausted to react during his quickly spoken litany,but when the fog in her mind cleared, she was furious.  "Good at last minute things!"
she spoke aloud.  Kendaa stood in the middle of the library and spoke up, "All right!How many of you knew about this?  Just how long did he have that packet?"  All thephysicists in the room scrambled out of the library.  It hadn't been cleared that quickly
since that bomb scare in the 70's.  "Just how on earth am I going to find a hotel room in Madison, Wisconsin at such a late date?"  A thought flashed in her mind as shesaid, "Moo!"

A single mild mannered gentleman who was lurking in the stacks approached her.He cleared his throat and said, "I believe you'll find that in the biology section, Miss."

MsMoo was thrilled to hear from Kendaa.  She had wondered why the Aussie Librarianhadn't returned her calls or emails.  It appears someone was intercepting the messages.Someone who didn't really want her to be a part of the symposium.

"Of course, Kendaa, you can stay with me.  Now understand that the place is a bit of a mess at the moment with the move and sending out invitations and such.  But I think it would be great fun.  A last hurrah, if you will."

Ms Moo smiled as she picked up her Hoolie Scepter and gave it a twirl.  Yes, it would belovely to see all of the Barbarian Librarians together again.  "Has it actually been a yearsince our great battle?" she marveled.  At that moment, her doorbell rang and *gaea*,
Chantal, and Baucis appeared on the stoop grinning broadly.

"We thought you might need some help picking up Kendaa from the airport," volunteered*gaea*.

MsMoo grabbed her keys from the table and said, "Let's go!"  She suddenly became awareof how exhausted her companions appeared.  Surely they haven't been having  the samedream she was constantly plagued with these days.  Just as quickly as the thought entered
her mind, she pushed it aside.  "This is crazy," she thought.  "Must be pre-symposiumjitters, still.....," she thought.

Later that night, the five Barbarian Librarians were sitting around in MsMoo's living roomlaughing and telling stories.  Each one had a story of some frustration they faced fromtime to time in their efforts to impart knowledge to the world.  No one could top Kendaa's
story of how she learned of this year's symposium.   They laughed at the remembranceof their first battle as Barbarian Librarians, and cringed at the tale of the evil MotticusDavidicus, but when Baucis brought up Ares, they all fell silent.  Chantal was the first
to recognize the brooding spirit of the group.

"You've had it, haven't you," she whispered with her eyes downcast.  When she raised hereyes she was almost shocked at the affirmation of recognition.

"The dream," muttered Baucis.

Tears slipped from Kendaa's eyes as she nodded.  "It was so real that it terrified me.  It still does!" she managed to choke out.

MsMoo took a deep breath, "But how could they do it?  I was intoxicated by the scene at first.  Man! Hercules looked so...so...."

"Watch it, Moo!  You're an engaged person now," reminded *gaea* trying to lighten up the atmosphere.

"Hey, I'm engaged, not dead.  Anyway, there he was so beautiful; when they fell on him,  Ithought my heart would stop.  Then there was poor Iolaus with that knife," MsMoo stopped.

"I know what you mean.  I stood there screaming; I didn't know what else to do," sniffledBaucis.

Kendaa turned around and pulled out the scroll from her bag.  "You know exactly what wemust do."

Gathering their weapons, they all nodded and circled around MsMoo's coffee table.  Just as they were about to all touch the scroll, Moo turned and headed for the medicine chest in her bathroom. They all grinned when they noticed what she returned with.  A glass of water and some Dramamine tightly clasped in her hand.

"Hey!  You all know what time travel does to me!" she exclaimed before she gulped downthe pill.  They all touched the scroll and time, space, and perception all shifted once againfor them.

As MsMoo picked herself up off the ground, she tried to adjust to her surroundings.  Shesaw *gaea* first and wondered how she was standing on her head.  Then it dawned onher that it must be her own equilibrium that was confused.  She shook her head and
realized that was a mistake.  "How do you guys bounce back so quickly from this?"she muttered under her breath.

Chantal laughed as she helped Moo to her feet.  A look of terror first  crawled over herface as she desperately looked for her whip.  She saw it in the shrubs a few feet away.Chantal scrambled for it, but when she bent over to retrieve it, she saw a booted foot firmly planted on the handle. She half expected to see Storm with a smug look on her face.  However, as she straightened up, she came face to face with a fierce looking Amazon.

As the Amazon moved forward, Chantal backed up along with her other barbarian friends.While they retreated, *gaea* sensed another presence behind her.  And before they knew it, the five librarians were surrounded by these warrior women, none of whom they had ever met.

"Where's a guardian when you need one?" mumbled Baucis.

They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Jane striding toward them.  "What on earthare you doing!!!!!" she said to the Amazons.  "Don't you realize who these people are?And even if you didn't recognize a Barbarian Librarian when you saw one, we don't
have a policy of killing strangers then asking questions later.  Kind of hard to do unlessyou're Iolaus!"  She turned to her friends and sighed, "Novitiates!"

HerKbabe turned to Melisande and whispered, "They're the Barbarian Librarians?!  Don'tlook like much to me."  Any further comment was squelched by a glaring look fromJane.  The Novitiates were always amazed when they came in contact with Jane'sincredible hearing.

"What brings you here?  Not more trouble with Ares?" she asked extending a hand toKendaa.  Kendaa almost lost it as she clasped her wrist in a warrior's greeting.

"Well, now that you bring it up....Maybe we'd better go back to the temple.  I alwaysfeel safer there," she whispered.

Jane looked at her curiously and turned with them to go back to the temple.  "HerKbabe?I believe Chantal would like to have her whip back.  I'm curious, MsMoo, how muchtime has passed in your world since your last visit?"

Moo focused on the path, finally free from the vertigo she had been experiencing.  "Abouta year has passed.  It's already time for the next symposium.  In fact that's why we're alltogether.  We were to go to the symposium..." she began.

WildKat and Locita stopped dead in their tracks.  Locita slowly turned to WildKat andwhispered, "The Barbarian Librarians are hetairai?"
 

"Hetairai?" mumbled Chantal.   "Where have I heard that term before?"  She continued to walk along with the novitiates though she was a little wary of anyone who would stick aspear at her back.  Locita and WildKat were joined by Shawnee, Melisande, , and Sybyll.  They stuck their heads together as they dropped behind the small group.  Their insistent whispering became a distraction to HerKbabe so she stopped and joined her friends.The Barbarian Librarians were preoccupied with something else; therefore, theydidn't notice the slight giggles slipping out of the novitiates; Jane, however, was growingmore and more annoyed at the rude behavior of her trainees.

"Hetairai!" gulped Sybyll  "But that's not how Bwell portrays them in her stories."

"Come on," whispered Locita.  "Haven't you ever heard of artistic license?  You knowhow these bards are. ...always elaborating."

"Yeah, but you'd think she wouldn't leave out something like this," whispered Shawnee.

"Well, I don't know, Locita and WildKat.  They don't exactly look like hetairai," remarkedHerKbabe.

"And how would you know what  hetairai looks like, anyway?" WildKat spoke a littletoo loudly.

With this, Jane spun on her heels and marched right back to the small warrior band.  "Do you think you could insult our guests just a little bit more!  I mean... please!  First youtry to kill them, and now you've got them holed up in some brothel!  Haven't you
read the epics Bwell wrote?"

"Well, I'm a little behind on my required reading," Locita spoke up.

"Silence!"

"Hetairai?" asked *gaea* wondering where she too had heard it before.

Jane turned crimson at the thought of having to explain what the novitiates had justcalled them.  "They're well....um....entertainers of sorts," she replied hoping thatthey'd be home before the term was more adequately defined.

"Hetairai!!!!!!!!  Now I remember!" exclaimed Chantal turning to the other  BarbarianLibrarians.  "Yes, I guess you could call them entertainers.  They were courtesans...Call girls...high priced hookers....Wait!  You thought we were common prostitutes?"she shrieked.

The other barbarians turned slowly to the novitiates.  They had hung their heads atthe dressing down they'd received from Jane.  Now they slowly looked into theeyes of the brave women.

"Well," began Locita, "you were going to a symposium.  And everybody knows thatthe only ones invited to that kind of drinking party are hetairai, and by the way," shecontinued boldly, "there's nothing common about hetairai.  They are intelligent and
creative women trying to make it in a man's world."

MsMoo walked unsteadily into the camp and explained, "In our...country..."

Jane turned to Moo and informed her, "It's okay.  They know; in fact, your two adventuresare now required reading for anyone joining the Guardians."

The Barbarians turned to each other and laughed.  MsMoo continued, "Well, okay, in ourtime, a symposium is a conference filled with experts on  certain topics.  We learn fromeach other through discussions, panels, and workshops.  Our symposium had to do with libraries, but they are offered on just about any subject.  Quite different from the one you're familiar with.  However, they tell me that some drinking does go on after the conferences."

Melisande turned to WildKat and said, "I don't think the men I've known would wantto go to one of their symposiums!"

Queen Nanaea rushed out to greet the visitors.  She had heard the laughter from thecourtyard and met them with mixed emotions.  While thrilled to see her friends, she waited with a bit of anxiety to hear of the challenge they must face together. They never came unless there was a problem.

"Greetings, friends.  As you can see our fine Temple has many more novitiates sincethe first time you found us.  I'm sure they're dying to learn firsthand from you insteadof just reading of your exploits.  Come into the dining hall.  I've been cooking for the
longest time.  I'm a bit nervous though I can't explain why, but you're presence herecould only be confirmation that I have something to worry about," she said sadly.

"Yes, well....we do have something to talk about.  By the way, where are Hercules andIolaus?  Are they in the dining hall as well?" asked Baucis.

"Surely you don't think they live here with us?" asked Chrysim with a grin.  The healerwalked up to the group as well.  It always did her heart good to see the sisters whohelped them defeat Ares and Motticus.  However, she wasn't without her misgivings
as well. She tried to downplay the growing anxiousness and tried to be very upbeat."Bwell will be disappointed that she missed you.  She just had to go to Athensto see a new play," she laughed out loud.  "She's thinking of branching out, so to speak, andbecome a dramatist as well.  She even has this bizarre idea that we would willinglyparticipate in a play she's writing at the moment.  Murder, mayhem, mystery...you know,
things such as these, as if any of our lives need a reminder of disaster.  But to answer yourquestion, no.  They left two days ago; they agreed to accompany Bwell to Athens beforeheading north.  She's gonna drive them crazy!"

"I really wanted to go with Bwell, Hercules, and well, okay, Iolaus, but I had to help withthe new cistern," muttered BonaDea.

All five Barbarian Librarians breathed an audible sigh of relief.  After all, if they weren'tthere, none of what they feared could take place.  Kendaa leaned over and whispered,"Maybe we saw Bwell's play."  A smile replaced the tension written all over her face.

Storm walked in with BonaDea, CJ, and Paks she grinned to see the BL's, as she'd grownfond of calling them, standing in the dining hall.  "What about Bwell's play?  I've heardit will make someone with the hardest heart weep like a baby."

"I'll say!" sighed *gaea*.

"Had me screaming like a baby as well, " joined in Chantal.

"Hey!  Wait!  How on earth could you have  known anything about Bwell's play?  Is it like this really famous work that you have to study in your academies?  Have they made a 'movie' about it?"  asked CJ.
 

"Well, actually, we saw it in a dream.  It was pretty scary  considering what you didto Hercules and Iolaus!   I'm surprised actually that Bwell would write thatterrifying part," admitted Kendaa.

"Wait!  What terrifying part?  She's barely sh...shown it to me, and I didn't see anythingthat scary in it? " gasped Chrysim.

"What's scary?" asked a short dark haired Amazon swinging her sword back and forthas a baton.  She sliced the air above her as she began stretching from her rigoroustraining period.

"Would you please watch what you're doing?  I've had to patch up two patrons whowalked into your stretching,"  grumbled Chrysim.  "Besides, I've warned you thateventually you'll put your eye out!"

"Don't worry about me, and those two creepy 'patrons' were trying to catch a peek under my skirt. They deserved what they got.  Anyway," she continued as she unconsciously played with her lapis necklace, "who've we got here?" She immediately caught sight of Chantal's whip and narrowed her eyes.   Klio propped her feet on the table to whichJane quickly made a move toward her.  She grabbed Klio's feet and nudged them off thetable.

"What do you think you are, a barbarian?  Oh, sorry, guys.  Just because we're half sistersdoesn't mean that I'd be any easier on you than I'd be on the other novitiates. Show alittle dignity, Sister!"

"I don't expect nor want any special treatment from you, Sister," returned Klio.

"Sister?" whispered MsMoo to CJ.

"Yes.  Klio showed up a couple of months ago wanting to continue her training.  She saidshe was fed up with the wars their father caused, and she wished to be linked witha god who only sanctioned just wars," CJ replied.

The Barbarian Librarians were distracted to see the beautiful golden owl glide intothe dining hall.  The owl shimmered until it transformed into the raven haired womanfrom the dream.  "Greetings from Athena herself, Barbarian Librarians. I'm Owlharp,
special guardian of the Guardians you could say.   Queen Nanaea, I know why they're here."

"I have a bad feeling about this," said Chantal.

Just as Owlharp was going to explain, Hercules, Iolaus, and a very upset Bwell burstinto the temple.  The demigod had the bard slung over his shoulder trying to keep herrelatively still.  "Bwell!  Enough! Stop squirming," he sighed as he plopped her intoa chair.

"I'm fine; I don't see why I couldn't go on to Athens!  I really wanted to see Lysistrata,but noooooo, you've gotta play rough!  Sheesh! Iolaus, I thought you'd be on my side.You haven't said a word."

The Guardians and Barbarians dashed to the entrance to see what the fuss was about.The visitors turned noticeably pale as they considered what might happen now thatthey were all together.  The look of shock was not lost on Jane when she looked to
them as well.  She commented to Queen Nanaea, "Did they eat any of your food? Ouch!"She smiled and cowered in mock terror.

After Nanaea pulled her already weak punch, she made eye contact with Iolaus.  Thesight of him turning equally white astonished her.  The look of apprehension wascoloring his normally golden complexion.  She moved to his side, placed a soothinghand on his forearm, and gave it a gentle squeeze.  "What is it, Iolaus?"

Before he could answer, Chrysim rushed toward her sister. "By the gods, Bwell, whathave you done?" she nervously asked her sister.   Bwell was surprised that Chrysimsaw it, but she shouldn't have been.  When the wayward bard finally quit squirming,the others could see it as well.

"It's just a small wound.  I barely notice it anymore.  See, I can almost bend my elbow,"she said with a slight gasp.

Chrysim looked to Hercules and Iolaus and questioned them, "What happened?  I thoughtyou two were going to watch out for her."

"Wait a minute, Sister!  I don't need anyone to watch out for me.  It was just a stupidaccident.  Nothing much, I was just showing Iolaus this new stretching techniqueKlio taught me, and well.....it just got away from me," she said defensively.

All eyes turned to Klio.  She turned their accusative gaze back on them, "Look! She wantedto see how to do that move, and I showed her.  That's all.  It's not my fault she tried witha real sword before she was ready."

"Sword?  Where did you get the sword, Bwell.  You normally carry a bow or a dagger,but I've never seen you carry a sword," remarked Storm carrying the bandages toChrysim.

"Well...." she hesitated; however, before she could find a way to divert the attentionelsewhere, Iolaus spoke up.

"I gave it to her.  It was my sword," he looked anxiously at Bwell and Chrysim.  "I'msorry; I should have never asked to see the technique she was describing.  As soonas she started, I remembered that was Klio's move.  I couldn't stop her.  I feel soguilty."

Chrysim stopped bandaging her sister's elbow long enough to reach out and touchIolaus's hand.  "It's not your fault if my wicked sister wanted to show off.  She knowswho is really responsible for this accident.  Don't you?" she asked looking back toBwell.  "And what do you mean causing Hercules and Iolaus so much trouble inbringing you back?  Sometimes, I could just..."

"Pat me on the head and roll your eyes to the heavens, and say, 'Sisters, gotta love em?"Bwell said hopefully.

"Oh, hold still will you, I'm almost done," Chrysim said trying not to grin.

"Looks like we're not in trouble after all, Iolaus," Bwell said with a wink.

Iolaus just put his hand over his face, sat down on the bench, and shook his head.As he turned toward the large crowd surrounding them, he tried to smile with ease, but he felt strangely uneasy to see the Barbarian Librarians standing there.  It was too much like his dream.

Hercules moved quickly to give a warm hug to them all.  He smiled broadly as hehugged MsMoo and then heard *gaea* say, "Watch it Hercules; she's spokenfor now."

He pulled back and laughed gently, "Oh, MsMoo, I'm so happy for you!  I hope youwill truly find all the joy possible in your world and ours combined."  MsMoo duckedher head back into his chest and blushed deeply.

"However, Hercules," began *gaea*, "I'm still available."  She clasped her hand overher mouth as she realized everyone heard it.  The hall erupted with good naturedlaughter as Hercules scooped her up in his arms and gave her a very tender, lengthyhug.

"We'll talk later," he said with a grin.

"Can anyone come to this conference," giggled Baucis.  "Because if it's open, I'd liketo sign up too."

Chantal and Kendaa rolled their eyes and walked over to join in the warm embrace theirfriend was engaged in.  Chantal noticed, though, Iolaus being very quiet.  So after herobligatory love scene with Hercules, she slid next to him on the bench.  "I see I'm
ignored again," he sighed.  "No respect, just no respect," he muttered.

"I promise, I'll respect you, Iolaus," she whispered as she gave him a sweet kiss on thecheek.

"Humph!  That's what they all say....," he said before flashing a weak grin.

"Oh, Please," interrupted Jane.  "Don't encourage him."  She sat on the other side ofhim and held his hand.

Owlharp cleared her throat and softly said, "I don't mean to dampen this reunion, butwe still have a problem."  All eyes turned to her as she continued, "Athena wants youto be well informed before the trouble starts.  Please, can we go into the war room?"

Queen Nanaea gave a nod and all Guardians and novitiates started moving to the largewar room.  The Barbarian Librarians started in, but Kendaa held back when she heardIolaus tell Jane, "Yes, Please, Jane.  I'm all right.  Don't worry about me; I'll be just
fine."

"Are you sure?" she said resting her head on his shoulder.

He reached out and touched her silver hair and gave it a gentle kiss.  "I'm just notsleeping too well.  It's just a couple of stupid nightmares, but it scares the Tartarusout of me."

Kendaa spun around and looked into his clear blue eyes, and recognition of terror spokeacross the room.  He rose pulling Jane along with him and walked up to Kendaa.

"You, too?" was all he said.  She tearfully nodded her head, and he replied, "We'lltalk about this later."

Hercules helped Bwell to her feet, and Chrysim helped to steady her.  "I can't wait tosee what we're up against this time," she said eagerly.  Hercules and Chrysim lookedincredulously at one another.

"I don't think you're coming to the meeting, Bwell.  I think Chrysim is about to ordercomplete bedrest for you," Hercules said quietly.

Chrysim held up her hand to staunch the arguments about to erupt from her injured sisterand insisted, "Hercules is right.  We're going to march you right down to your room; youwill crawl into bed, and you will stay there until supper time.  If you behave yourself,
which I've begun to believe is contrary to your nature, I'll let you join us in the dininghall."

Bwell looked to Hercules, Iolaus, Kendaa, and Jane for support.  They just shook their heads and started for the war room, and the bard sighed.  "Okay, you win.  I guess I'm a little more tired than I originally believed," she volunteered.  Chrysim and Hercules quickly got her to her room, gave her some foul tasting medicine for the pain, and hurried to the war room.

Bwell felt strangely dizzy and decided that she liked this medicine after all.  She closed hereyes.  When she opened them again, she was aware of how terribly humid it was.  She walked through the familiar forest as she had countless times, but somehow this time was different. The music seemed to beckon her draw her forward to some strange seductive evil. She felt herself almost dancing toward the melody played by their guardian Owlharp.

The incense fire, used for only one special occasion, burned brightly. She couldn't believe it was lit at all.  It was an ancient ritual she was vaguely familiar with, but its importanceslipped by her conscious thought at the moment.    Bwell only knew that she felt strangely excited and afraid at the same time.  As she glided into the courtyard, she felt the heat even more. She couldn't decide if it was the heat or the humidity that made her feel uncomfortable. She finally came to the revelation that it wasn't the heat, it was the humidity.

She was surprised to see Queen Nanaea in a teal satin gown, but Bwell thought that it wasa very good color for her.  The queen danced in what seemed to be an invitation tosomeone, but Bwell wasn't sure whom the entreaty was for.  She looked to the steps
where she saw Storm slowly stroking her fingers through Hercules's hair.  He wasleaning back against Locita and letting Paks feed him grapes.  Bwell drew in a deep breath when he reached for the grape and captured her fingers as well with his mouth.  Sitting on
the other side of Hercules was HerKbabe; she was fanning him with a large feather.A warm honey giggle escaped his throat as HerKbabe stroked his shoulder withit.  Locita grinned as she worked out the tension in his shoulder by applying ancientmanipulation of the muscles she'd learned in the east.

Bwell's gaze was directed back to the fire as she watched Chrysim dancing in a wildfrenzy around the fire.  She'd never seen her sister like this and wondered where shegot the blue chiton.  BonaDea spun around Bwell as if she wasn't even there.  She hada short purple tunic over skin tight leggings of gold.  She carried a wineskin hoistedhigh above her head stopping occasionally to share her burden with the thirsty participants.
Klio stood off to the side twirling her sword in a beautiful rhythmic motion.  Bwellthought it looked much like a dance in itself.  She heard CJ's wild cry as she flippedover the fire and landed on her toes.  Bwell couldn't help but laugh at the lightheartedness
of the group. Sybyll started singing the heartbreakingly beautiful melody of the music played by Owlharp.  Owlharp's voice greeted the novitiate's offering in glorious harmony.

Suddenly she was aware of a golden presence.  She almost stumbled when Iolaus slowlywalked out of the Temple.  He wore  dark satin  pants and a light blue silk tunic that had fallen open and exposed his chest.  The beads of sweat glistened on his smooth chest illuminated by the warm fragrant fire.  The sultry grin spread across his face as smoothly as honey over hot bread.  He skipped down the steps two at a time, stopping once to procure a grape from Paks.  He continued on his magnetic journey to the fire that pulled him.  First
Melisande engaged him in a slow dance; then, WildKat slid right behind him, andplaced her arms around his waist.  She felt the giggle as she found a ticklish spot, andhe spun around to face her.  Just then BonaDea swooped in with the wineskin and
offered her wares to Iolaus.  Bwell noticed all of the Guardians at the fire begancircling around Iolaus.  He laughed as he took turns spinning one then the other aroundhim.  Shawnee pulled him into a deep passionate kiss, and then she pulled back andshouted, "Now, Guardians!!"

Bwell cried out as she saw the guardians pull out daggers and repeatedly stab herhero.  His eyes spoke of hurt and betrayal as Nanaea and Jane delivered the finalblows.  He looked to Hercules and cried, "Herk! Run!"

Hercules tried to get to Iolaus, but the wine and the grapes had been poisoned.  Hewas easily overpowered by the guardians surrounding him.

"What is your pleasure, My Lord Ares," shouted Nanaea.

Bwell spun around and came face to face with a terrifying presence.  In a low growlhe said, "Kill him."

"Noooooooooooo!" gasped Bwell.  She rose carefully and placed her hand over herracing heart.  She had woken up in a cold sweat and shook uncontrollably for a fewmoments.  Bwell was horrified at what she had dreamed, and her mind screamed
in denial of the occurrence of any part of the dream.  "It was just a dream....just adream."  She moved out of her room, and toward the war room leaning against the wallfor support.

"What are you doing here?" whispered Iolaus at the doorway.

"Thank goodness you're okay.  Then it was just a dream; thank the gods," she said weakly. Iolaus quickly got her a chair, and helped her ease into it.  This slight commotion caused a distraction, and Chrysim looked behind her to witness the scene.  Bwell avoided her eyes astutely and continued to whisper to Iolaus.  "See, I had this awful nightmare.."

Queen Nanaea spoke up, "Anything you'd like to share with the group?"

"Um...no; I'm sorry Queen and Owlharp.  I was just still trying to get over this dream..."

"Dream?!" the Barbarian Librarians shouted in unison.

Kendaa rose from where she was sitting and moved to Bwell's side.  "This can't be goodif we're all having that terrible dream," she mumbled.

Storm said in exasperation, "What dream?"

Kendaa continued, "The dream in which you and the other Guardians kill Hercules!In fact, you're the one who gives the signal to fall on him with their swords."

Storm moved to Kendaa and stood toe to toe with her in a warning, "If you think I wouldharm one hair on this man's head, you don't really know me very well.  These Guardianswould never injure this beloved friend of our Temple.  Where was Iolaus?  Was he
in on the murder as well?"

Chantal continued from across the room, "Actually no.  He was being held captive byBwell, Paks, and BonaDea.  BonaDea was the one who held the knife to his throat."

BonaDea gasped, "Never.  I'd never do that, Iolaus.  Please believe me."

Iolaus sadly grinned and nodded his head.  Just as he was about to say something, Bwellinterrupted, "But that's not what happened in my dream.  In my dream, you guys holdHercules captive and kill Iolaus.  See, there's all this dancing, and ..."

Jane narrowed her eyes and said, "There's no way I would ever kill that man."

"But you did!  You and Nanaea struck the final blows.  And Ares was behind itall!"

Queen Nanaea spoke quickly, "Guardians and Barbarians, these are just terrifying nightmares that have no basis on truth.  Please, everyone just sit down and relax.Owlharp has something to tell us."

"Actually, the dreams are important to what I have to say," she whispered as she movedto stand next to Iolaus.  "You've had them too, haven't you Iolaus?  Please, these dreamsare sent as a warning; you must tell us what is in your dreams as well, Iolaus.  Athena
has let you see into the mind of the one great evil."

Iolaus looked very pale as he began, "Well, it always starts off with me walking throughthe forest.  The first thing I notice is it's very hot and humid.  Oh yeah, there's thisstrangely haunting music..."

As Iolaus related his story, there was a hint of recognition in the air.  All eyes wereon him, and he began feeling quite uncomfortable relating this bizarre tale.  He shudderedas he closed his eyes and recited the dream.

"I seemed to be pulled toward the music, and my body moved to the strange rhythmsoaring through the night air.  When I came into the courtyard, I couldn't believewhat I saw," he stopped to catch his breath.  His vision was so sharp and clear as
if he were experiencing the dream as he spoke. "All of the Guardians and Novitiateswere dancing around this sweet-smelling smoky fire.  It was unlike any fragranceI'd ever encountered.  There was a certain seductiveness in the way each of you
were dancing.  I could see small droplets of sweat on you, and with the reflection ofthe fire, you seemed to be sparkling with lights.  I wanted to join in the fun and dancewith you all. I wanted to hold you, sing with you; I felt totally and completely in lovewith all of you.  There was a joy I couldn't explain in my heart.  Then I saw Herculessitting on the steps and laughing.  I was sure he was laughing at me and my dilemma
as to which one of you I would...well... be with first. All of a sudden, a rage ran through me.  I was angry at everyone I saw, and before I could control myself...I...I,"  Iolaus buried his face in his hands and a slight sob escaped his shaking frame.  Nanaea and Jane quickly flanked him and put reassuring arms around him.  He took a deep breath and composed himself before continuing. "I took my sword and cut through the Guardians.  The looks on your faces stabbed at my heart, but I couldn't seem to stop.  The faster the music played, the wilder I got. After I'd cut you down, I ran to Hercules with my sword drawn.  He just sat there on the steps and grinned at me.  I was furious that he was looking at me; so...I...struck; oh gods. I blinded you, Herk.  I turned to see the Barbarian Librarians surrounding Ares in a loving embrace, and his laughter is the last thing Iheard as I forced myself to wake up," he said still ducking his head in his hands.

Hercules walked over to his tortured friend and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder."Iolaus, why didn't you say anything about this dream to me?  No wonder you've beenso quiet for days.  But friend, it's just a dream.  It's no more reality than Bwell's dream or Kendaa's dream. It's just a dream," he said as he comforted Iolaus.  Iolaus looked up at him, desperate to believe him.  However, his dream was just way too real.   Owlharp
walked over to him, knelt in front of him, and placed her hands on his knees.  Shelooked into his warm blue eyes and saw his agony.  The guardian hesitated to deepenhis fear even more.

"I'm afraid not, Hercules.  Each of these people have experienced a similar dream.Some were sent the dream through the portal of time.  Athena knows who is sendingthe dreams.  It's not Ares; he's just as innocent as you all are," she insisted.

"Innocent?" Hercules frowned.  "There are numerous words I can think of to describeAres, but innocent isn't one of them!"

Owlharp ignored Hercules's outburst and continued to focus on the extreme guilt Iolausfelt.  "The dreams could all be part of a reality that will occur.  The question is whichone will be the valid one.  There are several factors that are similar in each dream.
The incense fire, the dancing, the music, and the wine all seem to play a part in the story.Wait!  Iolaus you didn't mention the wine.  Was it in your dream?"

Iolaus closed his eyes again and tried to focus.  He felt Paks tender request to help himremember, and he agreed.  She walked alongside him through the forest.  She wasshocked to see the lascivious behavior of all of the Guardians.  She winced when she
saw herself flirt shamelessly with this hero.  Paks saw Iolaus's dream in a more detailedmanner than he'd described, and it was decidedly more explicit. Nanaea's teal gown was much shorter than it was described in the other dreams.  In fact, Paks thought they all looked like hetairai. She saw Iolaus clap wildly for Chrysim's exotic dance and CJ'senthusiastic flip.  She felt herself blush deeply as Iolaus ran his fingers through BonaDea's hair.   Just as BonaDea leaned into him, she pulled back and splashed coolwine on his lips.  Then she rushed in for a kiss of great passion; Paks gasped andshook free of the dream and Iolaus's mind.  She knew the guilt he was feeling wasn'tjust for the way he killed them all.

"Yes, Owlharp, wine was involved in my dream," he whispered as he looked in humiliation at Paks.  Paks just shook her head and smiled as if to reassure him that his secret was safe with her.

"Okay, Iolaus," Owlharp said as she gripped his strong hands.  "You are not responsiblefor what you dream!  Especially when the dream has been sent by the one true evil.Athena recognized him when no one else could.  She's sent me to tell all we know ofhim."

Klio and Jane trembled as they felt a troubled presence among them.  Sybyll walked overto the two half sisters and asked, "What is it?"  Iolaus rose as he felt the tiny hairson the back of his strong neck stand straight up.  He pulled the novitiate tightly in hisarms as he looked to Hercules.

All those who had experienced the dream felt it too.  Bwell started to her feet when shefelt BonaDea support her.  She felt herself moving toward Hercules and Iolaus.  Baucis,*gaea*, and MsMoo slowly walked to the side of the room where Hercules stood.
Chantal and Kendaa trembled at the doorway.  Locita ran to the weapons' room andretrieved her spear and stood by the door.  Melisande and Shawnee looked to Owlharpand Nanaea for reassurance, but none was forthcoming.  Chrysim drew in a ragged breath
and walked to the door.  She pulled the the door open, and everyone took a step backas Ares walked into the room supported by a young woman.  Her eyes were the colorof opals, and she had hair almost as silver as Jane's with one exception.  Down one side,she had a pale blue streak that was luminescent.

"I'm White Raven, and I found this man crumple outside your Temple," she said cautiously.  "But I really journeyed here beyond the great sea to warn you of the onegreat evil.  It appears he was responsible for this man's condition."

Klio and Jane instantly knew something was wrong as their father stumbled into the room.When he didn't materialize in their midst, they thought it was just some ruse to get intoAthena's temple.  However, they recognized deep despair in his warm brown eyes.For the first time, Jane felt something other than disgust for him.  Klio had already knownthe other side of their father but knew that he seldom showed it.  The went to him
and eased him from White Raven's support.  They eased him into one of the Temple'ssoft chairs and brushed back the dark curls from his face.

Kendaa and Chantal moved instinctively to him and knelt in front of him.  He didn't havethe steamy seductive power over them that he was used to, and he sighed in hisdespondency.  He didn't realize that the dark circles under his eyes pulled them ever
closer to him.  He considered, momentarily, that perhaps this was the way to entice them,with the hurt little boy look.  He tried to grin, but failed miserably in his hopelessness.

Hercules had never seen his brother this way.  He couldn't shake the feeling that thiswas just a trick to disarm their resolve.  But there was something in Ares's eyes thattold him his pain was real.  He moved to his brother and put a hand on his shoulder.

"I don't need your pity, fool!  I need your help," he sneered.  Now this was the war godHercules knew so well.

Owlharp gently silenced Hercules before he could say anything else.  Ares continued.  "Aaah!" he spat out.  "I don't understand what's happening to me.  I have little if no powers whatsoever, and I'm haunted by this strange dream."

Iolaus stepped forward, "I've had a dream as well, Ares.  It's a frightening dream, andyou're part of it."

"Yes, yes, yes.  I know you've been dreaming, as well as the Barbarian Librarians, andthe bard brat.  But this is different.  Gods don't dream!"  he said with a slight tremorran through his voice revealing a note of fear.

"It's Producersious!  He's brought on all of your dreams," White Raven whispered as ifby speaking the evil name would invoke his control.

Ares shrugged his weakened shoulders at the name of this god, "I'venever heard of him.  All I know is this dream is driving me out of
my mind.  It all starts in this hot and humid forest.  I materialize at theedge of the woods and watch this incredible sight. My good sister's
Guardians are dancing around the incense fire, so I know this is gonnabe good.  The music is quite intoxicating enough, but suddenly I'm
surrounded by Barbarian Librarians.  They each have a small silverwine flask that looks to have been chilled.  Beads of sweat on the flasks
seem to mirror that on the Barbarian Librarians.  One by one they dribblewine into my mouth, and I'm really starting to enjoy this.  Then Kendaa
spills the wine down my chest.  I'm amazed that I can feel the cold winetrickle down the inside of my vest.  Chantal laughs at the sight of me
squirming; then, she takes her wine and pours it over my head like she'sanointing me with oil.  Before I know it, *gaea* has a sponge, and she's
giving me this sponge bath with the WINE.  MsMoo massages the coldthrough my hair.  It was as if she was trying to coat each strand with
the spirituous drink.  I half expected to smell like a mortal on a threeday drunk, but weirdly enough, I smelled like the incense fire.  Baucis
held up her flask, and I opened my mouth eagerly to drink in the coldwhen my senses are given a jolting shock.  She has water, just plain
water, in her flask.  I choked on it and became furious to hear her lightgiggle.  The Barbarian Librarians start spinning around me faster and
faster until they become a blur occasionally punctuated by a beautifullydangerous looking face.  I remember feeling dizzy, realizing it was due to the water, and going down on my knees.  Through the continual blur, I hear music and laughter.  Onevoice is a smooth tenor while the other is a honeyed bass mixed in withthe supple harmony of the Guardians.   I realized that the male voices aremy half-brother and his annoying friend.  Everyone is pointing and laughingat me on the ground.  I tried to send out a bolt of energy to zap Hercules andIolaus, but all I could muster was a little fizzle."

"Like we're really feeling sorry for you about that!" mumbled Iolaus.

"Watch your mouth!  I plan on getting my powers back sometime in the future,and I know where you live, Blondie," Ares sneered.  WildKat instinctivelymoved between Iolaus and the god of war.  Ares just grinned and tried to looksmoldering, but he just didn't have the energy.  "Anyway, I found myself tobe completely..."

"Impotent?" snickered Iolaus.

"You've just had your last warning.  I'm gonna kick your...,"  Ares tried to get tohis feet but felt himself stumble and fall to one knee.  Kendaa caught him before hefell totally on his face.  He clung to her as he had in the past; only this time,he was trembling.  He whispered in her ear, "Just help me up.  I can't look like thisin front of them."  Kendaa looked stunned as she gave her support to this formerly
dangerous god.  Chantal reached out and grasped his hand to steady him and feltthe tremor as well.

"Look, Ares, I'm sorry...I know it must be difficult to find yourself...," Iolaus saidas he looked to the ground. Suddenly he threw his hand up to his forehead and exclaimed, "Am I apologizing to Ares because he didn't havethe power to destroy us?!  What am I saying?!"

"I know he looks helpless, Iolaus, but watch your back," Hercules stated.  "What happened in the rest of your dream?"

Ares placed a hand over his chest and took a deep breath.  Closing his eyes, hecontinued, "The Barbarian named MsMoo touched me with that scepter, and I feltlike a lightning bolt shot through me.  This time I couldn't fight it like I did the firsttime.  I felt my jaw clench; then, *gaea* pulled out these strange looking sticks, numchuksI think she called them, and began to beat me with them.  The Guardians joined
the Barbarians in their twirling around me.  Only they were going in the oppositedirection.  I felt something strike me and dig into my once invincible flesh.  Chantalwas flogging me with her whip.  I felt my hair being tugged on, and Bauciswas pulling my hair back with these stars while Kendaa...," Ares stopped andlooked to Kendaa pathetically, "cut all it off to my scalp with her breast dagger.
When I thought I couldn't be humiliated any more, Hercules moved in and tookthe dagger from her hand and plunged it into my heart.  I remember feeling confusedand then clouded with rage that my 'brother' who helps everyone else was killingme.  That's when I wake up.  This last time when I woke up, I found myselfweak, and I'd lost all of my powers."

White Raven stepped forward and placed one hand on his head and closed hereyes as well.  "Producersious is trying to destroy you, and he will destroy you allif you give him a chance.  I find it particularly disturbing that you've lost yourpowers like in your dream.  It's only a matter of time before you all start experiencingelements of your dreams."

"I don't mean to be rude," remarked Locita, "but how can we know to trust you?I mean, for all we know YOU could be this Producersious.  Just who are you,anyway?  And who is this Producersious that he could have this power over us?

"I am an immortal from across the great sea;  I've seen many centuries come andgo, and yet this danger is beyond anything I've ever had to deal with.  You see,I'm Producersious' caretaker...," began White Raven.

"But wait!" halted CJ.  "Producersious is a Greek name; you said you were fromacross the great sea.  Don't tell me you are known by a Hellene name as well?"

"True, I simplified his name so he would be known to you.  I'm afraid you couldn'tsay what we call him.  You'll just have to know him as Producersious.  He's a childgod."

"Whoa!" gasped Iolaus.  "A CHILD god?  You're saying that this bizarre dreamingwe've experienced even across time, Ares losing his powers, our general feelingof doom is all caused by some child?  How on earth is that possible?"

Owlharp glided to Iolaus and laid a gentling hand on his shoulder, "It is more thanpossible; it is the truth.  This was what Athena has been trying to alert you all to.And as White Raven understands, this is more dangerous than we thought."  Iolausreached across with his other hand and placed it over hers.  As if to encouragethis special guardian, he tenderly squeezed her hand.  She looked to him with an honestythat took his breath away, and Iolaus suddenly felt a shiver of fear travel through hissoul.

"I'm afraid Owlharp is right.  Producersious is not truly the one great evil, but heis a selfish, greedy, precocious child.  He wants what he wants when he wants it,and it matters not who gets hurt in the process.  To amuse himself and his friends,he would cause the death of a friend, the Guardians, Barbarians, and yes, a demigod,or a god himself.  He's not doing it to be cruel really, but he's thoughtless as to
the eternal consequences that might occur from this toying with you.  He got away from me by pretending to be frolicking with his new playmate.  I turned my back but once, andnow...I've got to find him and put a stop to this before anyone is hurt," White Raven
sobbed.  Hercules moved behind her and surrounded her in an embrace.

"It's not your fault.  I have a feeling he would have gotten out of control even if youkept your eye on him every moment.  What we need to do now is find him before heputs any more of these dreams into action.  And we need to figure out why these
common elements of the nightmares are important," he said resting his chin ontop of her head.  Perhaps if we go to the common setting of the dreams we cancome up with a solution.  Shall we?" he suggested to the company.

Jane and Klio moved to help Ares out of his chair.  Kendaa and Chantal lookedto each other and marvelled at the outpouring of sympathy they felt for thehelpless god.  They followed silently behind the family reunion.

All walked slowly out of the Temple and out into the courtyard.  All except Iolaus, thatis.  There was something stirring inside him that was shouting a multitude of warnings tohim.  His instinct forbade him to leave the temple, but Iolaus also knew theothers were counting on him as well.  He released a huge sigh and discovered that he wasn't alone.Just behind him stood BonaDea.  He flashed a grin meant to encourage, but she
felt all he was going through and knew that he was in need of a little encouragement.She walked up to him and placed her arms around him.  Snuggling close to him,she whispered, "Don't worry, Iolaus.  I'd never hurt you, and I know you'd neverhurt me.  Here, take a little wine.  It'll help you relax," she said as she produceda wine sack and put it to his mouth.

  As the other Amazons slowly walked outside,  Storm stood on the steps.  She felt something oddly familiar.  The courtyard had been prepared for the ancient incensefire.  She remembered vaguely the significance of the fire, but somehow, she couldn'tshake the fogginess in her memory.  It was incredibly hot and humid as Helios wascompleting his drive across the sky.  Chills ran up and down her spine in spite of
the oppressive heat.  None of them had prepared it.

Storm quickly moved to Hercules's side and grabbed his elbow.  "I have a really badfeeling about this.  Let's go back inside," she said as she insistantly pulled on thedemigod's elbow.  He turned to look her in the eyes, and he instantly put his arms around her and pulled her into a hug.  Storm wasn't complaining even though hischest hairs tickled her nose.  "Um, Hercules, this is nice and everything, but I think
we ought to save this until later."

"Shhh!  Storm," he whispered in her ear, "can't you hear the music?"  Suddenly thecedar and jasmine pile ignited spontaneously.  "Quick!  Everyone inside!"

White Raven turned slowly and her eyes froze on Hercules.  It seemed as if hewas moving in slow motion.  His eyes spoke of a terror she knew too well.  Yet,his body language spoke of confidence and strength.  Sweat from the night clungto him as if he was in a dream.  "The Dream!  Move it!  He's here!    Everybodydo as Hercules said!"  She spun around in a protective stance trying to feel the
presence of the petulant imp god.

Ares went down on one knee as he tried to move on his own.  "I may not have mypowers, but I ought to at least be able to walk across the stupid courtyard! TheBarbarian Librarians surrounded him, and the god's eyes grew wider.  As MsMootouched his shoulder, he closed his eyes in resignation.

Bwell stood on the steps with her mouth open.  The Barbarian Librarians weren'ttrying to hurt Ares; they had lifted him high on their shoulders and began to moveas quickly as one could carrying a god.  Klio and Jane took over as the group madeit to the arches of the temple.  They grabbed him under his arms and dragged himinto safety.  By the time they deposited him back in the chair, Ares was visibly
shaken.  He couldn't fathom why the Guardians or Barbarians should care about him.

Klio spoke first, "Are you okay?"

"And you care because.....?" he asked bitterly.

Klio and Jane just shook their heads and headed back out into the courtyard to help theothers.  "You're hopeless!" Klio shouted over her shoulder.

Hercules grabbed Sybyll  and called for Iolaus.  He couldn't remember seeing him leavethe temple.  Then novitiate understood and began searching for him as well.  However,the demigod knew that the only "safe" place at the moment seemed to be inside the Temple of Knowledge so he took her by the shoulders and pointed her in that direction.

Locita was standing mesmerized by the fire.  The familiar yet lost fragrance curled insideher brain and heart.  She could have sworn that she heard music and began to dance.  Somewhere in the back of her mind, a warning was screaming to her, but the music made
her forget it all.  It seemed as if her body was moving independently of rational thought.She heard someone call her name, but she couldn't respond.  Melisande grabbed herelbow to try and pull her away from the fire, but immediately, she heard the music as well.
It was a siren's call to her soul, and she picked up the tambourine laying on the benchnear the fire and began playing.  Owlharp felt the rhythm reach inside and touch her soul.She transformed into her familiar form and glided around the fire.

CJ and Paks stumbled on the steps and almost joined their Amazon sisters in the dance, butthey felt Hercules's hand on the small of their backs easing them into the temple.  Theyturned to see the demigod glistening with the sweat of his current labor. They sighed as
they reluctantly entered the temple.

Queen Nanaea screamed to the novitiates dancing around the fire, but they couldn't or wouldn't hear her.  Storm, White Raven, and Bwell stood at the temple doorway.  Bwelllooked frantically for her sister, but couldn't see her.  Then she saw a new figure  dancing
around the fire.  Hercules, exhausted, sat on the temple steps to clear his mind. WildKatgiggled as she joined the others around the fire.  Bwell shuddered to see Locita leavethe fire and sit by Hercules.  HerKbabe joined her next to the demigod.  When Owlharp
landed and picked up a harp to play the unearthly music, Bwell screamed, "NO!!!!  Thisis my dream."

Queen Nanaea had a premonition that it wouldn't belong before sheentered the fire.  Summoning all of her strength, she pulled the harp from the guardian's hands and dashed it against the bench.  The discord in the strings seemed to break the mood, and the fire extinguished itself.  All those left outside the temple were stunned into reality.  Hercules quickly jumped up and called to the others to run to the temple.
The BL's each grabbed the hand of one of the novitiates and pulled them into the temple.Klio and Jane started out the door, but Hercules stopped them by putting both arms aroundthem.  "Where's Iolaus?" he asked desperately.

Jane and Klio cried out as they saw a very drunken Iolaus and BonaDea heading acrossthe courtyard.  As a shaft of red sparkles engulfed Iolaus, White Raven ran for him.  "That's Producersious!"

Hercules turned and started to run with the immortal; somehow, he knew that if thischild god got ahold of his friend, he might never see him again.  They both hurriedin anguish because even though White Raven and Hercules felt they were givingall of their best efforts, they knew they were moving slowly.  Producersious saw to it.Suddenly Chrysim sprang from the other side of the stacked cedar and knocked Iolaus
clear of the sparkles.

Iolaus rolled over and looked to Chrysim in time to see her and a red mist disappear.

  "No!!!!!!!!" shouted Bwell.  She ran to the place where her sister hadbeen taken and grasped the beaded necklace left on the ground.
Bwell was sure Chrysim had been disintegrated and wept uncontrollably at the groundwhere her sister had vanished.  Her heart-shattering cry
brought those still outside to her kneeling form.  Those inside rushedto the temple archway.

Iolaus moved closer to her.  He was feeling suddenly quite sober ashe had seen his Guardian friend obliterated.  Iolaus put his hand on
Bwell's shoulder to comfort her, but she jerked it off as if where ithad touched scorched her.

"Don't YOU touch me!" she screamed irrationally at Iolaus.  "If youand little Miss "Oh, Let Me Get You Some Water, Iolaus" had been inside or at least out here battling this beast, this wouldn't have happened.  Chrysim would still be alive if you weren't stumbling around like someone on a three-day binge.  This is all your fault!"

Iolaus looked stunned and quite guilty at her tirade.  He hadn't beenaware that he was stumbling or drunk at all.  He looked around to
see those surrounding him drop their eyes in supposed agreementor embarrassment.  He looked pleadingly at Jane in the doorway,
and even she turned from him.

Ares stood weakly at the door but managed a smile as he whispered,"Oh yes, this is getting good.  I'm beginning to feel a little better."

Hercules moved to Bwell, and he put his arms around her as shesobbed into his shoulder.  "It'll be okay.  I know it doesn't feel
like it now, but it will be okay.  We all loved Chrysim, and shegave herself  freely so someone else could live," he said as he
glanced over to Iolaus.

Iolaus tore his eyes from the scene and stood up slowly.  He walkedaway with the weight of reality on his shoulders to the woods.
Locita moved from the temple to follow him.

BonaDea ran inside  the temple and crashed into the god ofwar.  "That's okay, little one.  You can be my water girl," he murmured as he held her
tightly on the floor.  She just pulled free from him and ran sobbing to her room.

White Raven kicked a bench and split it in two.  She was veryannoyed at having missed the child god again.  In her frustrated
haze, she suddenly became aware of the despair permeating thecourtyard as the others tried to console Bwell.  Looking up, she
walked over to where Hercules held her and knelt.  Graspingthe bard's hands White Raven urgently said, "But, Bwell, she's
not dead!"

Bwell looked up confused, "But I saw the red light, and here's hernecklace our father gave her.  She's gone; I saw it!"

"Yes, she's gone, but she's not dead.  Producersious has her.  He'skidnapped her, and while she's not out of danger yet, she's still
alive," White Raven reassured those around them.

"Oh gods, what do we do now?" muttered Storm.

Hercules stood and supported Bwell by her good elbow.  "Wefigure out a plan to get her back; right, Iolaus?"  Hercules turned
to notice his friend had left.  Assuming he was back inside thetemple, the demigod said, "Let's all go inside to figure this out."

Queen Nanaea met them at the temple door and guided them to theconference room.  Klio and Jane steadied their father and took him
there as well.  Both daughters were getting more than a little annoyedat his smirking over what had happened.

Klio turned to him as he was seated and said, "You know of course,that could very well have been you.  If everyone hadn't made sure
you were back here safe, Producersious would have taken you!"

Jane looked to him and said, "She's right!  So stop your little sarcasticremarks and be of some help here."

CJ moved quietly next to Jane and whispered, "Iolaus isn't here; Isaw him walk out into the woods.  Locita followed him, and I'm
a little worried about them both."

Jane sighed and excused herself from the conference.  Queen Nanaea slipped out of the room as well to see what was going on.  Jane quietly remarked, "Iolaus must be feeling really bad right now.  I'm not so sure that he shouldn't.  Anyway, he's out in the woods with  one of the novitiates, and I'm going after them.  That brat god is still probably out there, and as angry as I am right now at Iolaus, I don't want to see Producersious snatch him up as well.  Don't worry about me.  I have a feeling that the child god doesn't know about my powers."

Nanaea nodded and replied, "I know what you mean.  I'd better checkon Bona Dea as well.  She needs to be in on this conference too."  The two Amazonqueens parted company to attend to two very guilt ridden people.

Jane came up silently on Iolaus and Locita and heard the shattered conversation.  "She'sright.  It should have been me.  It was me that he was after, and Chrysim pushed meout of the way.  Now she's dead, and it's all my fault.  I wouldn't blame Bwell if she
never spoke to me again."

"Wait a minute.  Bwell never said that it should have been you.  She's just letting thegrief do her talking at the moment.  She'll get over it; I'm sure.  Once she figures thisout, Bwell will feel pretty bad about what she said to you and to BonaDea.  Everyone
knows this really wasn't your fault," Locita said as she laid her hand on his shoulder."Good night, Iolaus! Your shoulders are full of knots. Let me get them out for you."

Locita started to massage his tight shoulders when she felt Jane's presence behindher.  With a nod from the former queen, Locita continued to work out the tightness.They both listened to Iolaus facing his own demons, "You're wrong there, Locita.  They
do think this is my fault.  You didn't see the look in their eyes.  Even Jane," he mutteredfeeling completely defeated, "my J...even she turned away from me.  You andBonaDea are the only ones who don't hate me."

With tears in her eyes, Jane motioned for Locita to go back to the temple, and Jane slippedher hand where Locita's had been.  "Iolaus," she said simply.  He spun around andcaught her hand in his.  "Iolaus, I don't hate you.  I'm trying to understand what you did, and where you were instead of being in the battle.  But I don't hate you," she whispered as she brought his hand up to her lips.

He felt the tear slip down his cheek and saw one that mirrored his own on her face.Reaching up with his other hand, he brushed the tear away.  "How can I ever expect Bwell  to forgive me?  How will I ever forgive myself for Chrysim's death?"

Jane's eyes snapped up and looked into his tear filled eyes.  "But Iolaus, she's not dead!Producersious has kidnapped her, but Chrysim's not dead!"   She Offered him ahand up and motioned for him to follow her.  Before he did, though, Jane gave him
a huge hug which he returned with great enthusiasm.  She whispered in his ear,"You're not off the hook yet.  You still have to explain where you were with BonaDea."

Iolaus pulled away, dried his eyes and managed a smile.  "Okay,  I'll try, but everythinggets a little fuzzy once I start on that wine."

The two strolled back to the temple and entered the archway to the conference room.  The heavy wooden doors were closed, and Iolaus and Jane hesitated before entering.Suddenly they heard a large crash inside the room and threw the doors open.  Hercules
was holding Bwell back as BonaDea crouched in the corner on the floor.Chairs had been overturned, and Queen Nanaea, Storm, Locita and WildKat stoodbetween the two amazons.  The fighting stopped as Iolaus rushed over to BonaDeato help the stunned guardian.  Bwell's face was contorted into something almostunrecognizable as anger turned her face as red as her hair.

"Bwell!  What are you doing?"  Iolaus shouted to her.

"Don't you dare start with me, Iolaus.  I don't think I have to explain myself toanyone, let  alone you.  You're the reason she's gone. You both are!  Now, Let GO of me, Hercules.  I'm only giving that ...woman...what she deserves!" Bwell shoutedbreathlessly.

"Bwell, you don't know what you're saying," WildKat said trying to reassureand calm the bard down.

Bwell tried to push out of Hercules's grip, but he held tightly to her.  "You thoughtthe Barbarian Librarians were hetairai; well, as far as I'm concerned there's onlyone acting like a hetairai around here!"

"Enough, Bwell.  Stop before you say anything else you'll end up regretting.  Thisisn't going to help Chrysim, is it?" spoke Hercules very firmly.

"How do we know what will help Chrysim?  Let go of me now!"

"Bwell, Hercules is right; this is quite enough.  Why don't you go to your room andmeditate.  This might help you regain your wits.  We need all of you to be thinkingclearly," stated Queen Nanaea.

"Oh I see, you are taking her side.  Poor little BonaDea.  Poor Iolaus...they both feelbad; so, let's forgive and forget.  Too bad we lost Chrysim, but what's one moreGuardian in the scheme of things...What do you say, Barbarian Librarians?" weptBwell.  "Are you willing to be trapped here because Iolaus and BonaDea can'tkeep their hands off each other?"

Storm moved in front of Bwell this time, "I think it's time to go to your room."She grabbed Bwell's arm and escorted her out of the room. Melisande and HerKbabehad to step between the amazon and BonaDea and Iolaus.  The two were still
crouched on the floor having a difficult time looking into each other's eyes let alonethe rest of the eyes in the conference room.

They felt her presence before they felt her hands on their shoulders.  Owlharpsteadied her voice as she tried to steady their hearts.  "Perhaps it would be bestif you told us where you were.  You need only speak with Queen Nanaea,White Raven and myself; if you wish," she whispered.  Iolaus and BonaDeanodded with their eyes downcast.  Owlharp stood and motioned for themto go to the small chapel.  The rest sat in the conference room too disturbedby the chain of events that unfolded to talk.  *Gaea* was quietly tapping on thetable.   Klio reached out and stilled her fingers' rhythm.  "Do you mind?  It'sbad enough that we're all going daft here, we don't need any of your torturing
techniques from the future.  I'm sure you'd like to employ this method at sometime, wouldn't you, Father?  Father?"  Klio looked anxiously around her.  Defensivelyshe pulled her dagger she usually kept hidden and took a stance while searchingdesperately through the room.  "He's gone."

"Ares is gone?" asked Kendaa.

He slipped quietly through the hallway, ducking into the shadows.  He turned thedoorknob and entered the small living quarters.  He grinned weakly as he sawthis guardian pacing around the room in a murderous rage.  Ares loved it whena plan came together.
 
 
 
 

  Chrysim felt as if a hundred ants were crawling over her.  "I wonder if this is what the Barbarians feel when they go back and forth." Chrysim woke in a room of stark white.  Its brilliance caused her to wince as her eyes tried to adjust and focus. The healer slowly tried to stretch the kink out of her neck which was extremely difficult as most of her body had very little feeling.  "I'm not sure I'd come back if this is how it feels.  If
only I could get some feeling back in my limbs, I might be able to get out of here,"
she thought.

"I don't think you could even in tip top condition," giggled a small voice.

"all right you sniveling little brat, show yourself to me, and we'll see just what I can
do."

"There's no need to call names, you know," he stated matter-of-factly.  "If youcontinue, I'll just go away and leave you in here alone."

The feeling was beginning to come back in Chrysim's arms.   Shading her eyes andfighting against the hundreds of little pin pricks as she did, she slowly raised herselfinto a seated position. "Great.  That would just be peachy."  Suddenly the roomshifted from its brilliance to complete darkness.  Chrysim found herself screamingas many curses at the child god as she knew.  Her eyes protested in pain to the drastic
change in light, and she shuddered to consider what it would be like once he returned.

"I know I've got to get under control here, but where exactly is here?"  With no lightto guide her, she sat alone in the darkness and tried to figure out a way to turn achild god over her knee.

Iolaus and BonaDea walked reluctantly into the chapel and sat together on a benchbefore an altar to Athena.  Owlharp and White Raven walked silently into the roomas well.  Owlharp began, "Now, I know this is going to be awkward, but we needto know what exactly, to a point mind you, what happened between you two."

"For some reason, Iolaus, Producersious seems to be very interested in you," saidWhite Raven.

"Aren't we all," whispered BonaDea who immediately turned crimson as she realizedthe others had heard her.

Iolaus ducked his head and was unable to control the embarrassed grin that spreadacross his face.

"Yes, well...Anyway, Iolaus,  perhaps if you could tell us what prevented you fromjoining in the battle, we might be able to get a glimpse of his plan."

"Well..," began the hero, "I remember having this awful feeling about going out intothe courtyard.  Now, I wasn't afraid...well, maybe a little.  Okay, I was terrified thatmy part of the dream would be coming true.  I sort of felt the hair on the back of my
neck stand on end, and I knew something was terribly wrong.  It was like I was havingto remember to breathe when BonaDea came up to me.  She was carrying thiswinesack and offered a drink to me."

"Honestly, at first I thought it was water; I really did!" cried BonaDea.  "I was feelinga little bit anxious and thirsty.  So, I picked up my water bag and took a drink.  Only, itwasn't water in it.....It  was the wine.  It was so hot in the temple, and the wine was
so cool that I couldn't resist.  Iolaus looked tense, and I just decided to share a littlebit with him.  I didn't know what would happen really I didn't."

"Okay, so you drank the wine.  What happened from there?  Drinking a little wine isusually not a problem around here," murmured Owlharp.

"Didn't you hear her, Owlharp?  Wine was in HER water bag.  Producersious has thepower to change one material into another with just a thought.  He can create, wipe out,or even change one thing to something else without the owner realizing it.  They have no
power over what he does to them.  And, worse yet, they generally have no memoryof what has occured. Whole families have  been known to disappear into oblivion under his hand.  Those who were left behind didn't even remember they had a family.  He's young, but very powerful.  I believe he replaced her water with his dangerous wine," said White Raven.

"All of the dreams had wine in them.  What is his obsession with wine?" wonderedOwlharp.  She started giggling in spite of the serious situation.  "I'm sorry, I justgot this image of Mother and Father god hiding the key to the liquor cabinet.  Whathappened, White Raven?  Did Producersious find the key to the cabinet?"

"Well.....that is one thing that's missing," she mumbled.  "Hey! I couldn't watch over himevery single second.  Anyway, back to the story, what happened next?"

Iolaus looked over to BonaDea and took her hand.  Looking back down at the ground hebegan relating the story again, "The wine was of exceptional quality.."

"Of course, the gods get all the GOOD stuff," muttered White Raven.

"Anyway, I had more to drink than I should and started to feel a little dizzy.  BonaDeaoffered to let me lie down in her room.  She helped me down to her room, and by the timewe got to the bed, I guess I stumbled.  Somehow we both ended up on the bed," he said
clearing his throat nervously.  "It was really a funny situation at the time."

"Yes, we could hardly contain ourselves," interjected BonaDea.  "I don't think I've everlaughed so hard in my life.  I know now the humor partly had to do with how much wineI'd had to drink.  I was laughing so hard that I couldn't breathe. Iolaus started lightly
blowing in my face, and I suddenly felt very...serious."

"Serious, well yes, that's it.  We felt very serious, and I looked into BonaDea's eyes andI just melted.  I was so relaxed, and she was...well...so beautiful.  I couldn't keep from..."

"Yes, well spare us the details.  Did you?" asked Owlharp.

"Did we what?" asked Iolaus innocently.

"Do the hokey pokey?" asked White Raven.

"Hokey Pokey?" choked BonaDea.

"Yes,  Surely you people...do the hokey pokey.  That's what it's all about, you know," shegasped.

"Oh you mean...well, we don't exactly call it the hokey pokey, but we do...wait we didn't, Imean..we almost, but," Iolaus looked to BonaDea for a little support.  "Before we got..."

BonaDea took a deep breath, "Well, see, we were so relaxed on the bed, and we heard thisreally...inspiring...music.  One thing was leading to another when we heard this discord.The music stopped, and we heard shouting.  So, we jumped out of bed and...went out to
the battle."

"I was having a difficult time standing up, and I think I was stumbling around...The nextthing I knew, I was lying face down on the ground, and I heard Bwell screaming something.I feel so bad.  I think she hates us," Iolaus said looking at Owlharp.

"Hmmm...this is interesting," White Raven mumbled.

"What?  Are you planning on writing a Romance Scroll or something?  What has BonaDea and Iolaus doing the Hokey Pokey have to do with Producersious?" asked an exasperated Owlharp. She was feeling a bit disturbed at the reminder of her harp being smashed against a bench.

"It's about control, his obsessions, proving himself...I don't know, but he definitely had arole in this.  It's no accident that the incense fires are burning again," stated Hercules fromthe doorway.  The two guilty parties spun around to face the demigod standing there.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but Ares and Bwell are not in the temple.  And I have this reallyuneasy feeling  about it."

The five people rushed into the main conference hall to see anxious pacing from all of theinhabitants.  Klio had her sword in hand in spite of the no weapons in the temple rule.  Queen Nanaea was trying to calm down Jane, and Melisande, Sybyll, and HerKbabe were discussing where to begin the search.  "How on earth did they leave without us noticing," asked Melisande.  She was looking at the plans to the temple noting that the underground tunnel to the arsenal had never been reconstructed after the fire.  "But they couldn't have used that! It was destroyed," she whispered.

"Used what, Melisande?" asked Iolaus as he slipped quietly behind her.  She felt a chill runup and down her spine as she felt his breath on the back of her neck.  Her sigh was quiteaudible, and Jane and Nanaea looked at Iolaus and shook their heads.  Mel felt a taller
presence behind her as well as Hercules leaned across her shoulder to look at the plans.

"The underground entry from the old arsenal.  I mean...it was never repaired, right?  Theycouldn't get out that way, could they?  I mean if it's repaired then..." Melisande stopped.

"Then someone could get in as well as get out," finished *gaea*.

"But who could have cleared the tunnel?  I mean, it's not like Ares had the strength to doanything," replied Kendaa.

"You don't think that...no he couldn't...There has to be another way out!" said Chantal.

"What do you think Nanaea?  Is there another way out of the temple?" asked Hercules.

"Not that I know of.  Unless they climbed out of Bwell's window, and while I can see Bwellslipping out that way, somehow it doesn't fit with the reputation the Big Bad God of Warhas.  Klio! Put that sword away!" commanded Nanaea.

"Look, all this talk is getting us nowhere.  I KNOW my father, and I KNOW the state of mind Bwell is in.  We can't afford sitting around discussing strategy.  I'm going out to look for them.  Don't try to stop me!" Klio shouted over her shoulder as she ran out of the temple.

"Great! This is all we need...novitiates going awol," muttered Jane.

"Hey! I agree with Klio...Who's with me?" shouted Locita.  In a blink of an eye Sybyll,HerKbabe, Locita, and WildKat ran from the temple stopping only to gather their weapons.

Storm rolled her eyes, shrugged, and said, "Novitiates! I'd better go after them."

"Wait!  No!  We need to stay together,"pleaded Hercules.  He covered his face with his hand and sighed as no one was listening to him.  "Come on.  I think we'd better try andget these people under control."  He grasped *gaea*'s hand and pulled her with him.  "Wait, I think Iolaus had better go with me.  *gaea*, you and the other BL's stick with Jane and Nanaea...and BonaDea."  Iolaus grimaced at the implications being made.

"Yeah, right!  You know if you leave me alone with one of these Amazons, I turn immediately into a pervert.  Huh?  Is that what you're implying?"

"If the perversion fits...," grumbled Hercules as he grasped his friend by the scruff of the neck and dragged him out of the temple.

"Do you mind?!" The hunter shouted as he shrugged out of Hercules's hands.

Inside the temple, Kendaa had pulled the other BL's together, "I don't like this. Ares missing, Bwell at BonaDea's throat, Hercules and Iolaus arguing...I have a really bad feeling about this.  Make sure we stay together on this one."

Baucis said, "I agree; things are getting a little bit spooky around here.  Hey!  You do stillhave the scroll, don't you?"

"Yes, I've got it.  It's right...Oh NO!  I must have dropped it outside," Kendaa said desperately.

"No...No..Kendaa, I saw it when we came into the temple.  You had it," MsMoo reassuredher trying to keep her own panic down.  The possibility of being trapped in this timewhen her wedding was so quickly approaching terrified her.  "Oh gods, I haven't even
sent out the invitations yet."

"What?" asked Chantal.  "Moo's right, Kendaa.  I saw it....just as you helped steady Ares... Oh no!  I think it's time to change into our leathers folks.  Time to Rock and Roll all over that god of war!"

They made their requests known to Nanaea, and in minutes they were dressed for battle.

Nanaea, Jane, a distracted BonaDea, and the BL's left the temple to engage in the search while leaving Melisande still staring at the plans.

Alone, she walked to the secret tunnel.  Taking a deep breath she pushed open the panel inthe scroll room and entered the passage.  Melisande only stopped briefly to light a torch.After all, it was quite dark at the entrance.  She shuddered as she walked along the underground corridor trying to avoid the cobwebs.  She stopped dead in her tracks as shesaw a light at the end.  Someone or something had cleared the passage way, and a gatewayinto the temple was opened.

Chrysim was waiting in the dark thinking of a million ways to dole out punishment to a wayward child god.  The flash of light was blinding as the brat's presence was made known.She tried to shield her eyes against the pain as she rose to her feet.  "Okay, ready to face
me now, or are you going to disappear again, you sniveling little coward?  Afraid to facean Amazon, huh?"

"Oh stop your posturing, and I'll show you something," Producersious said.

"What could you show me that would possibly interest me?"  muttered Chrysim.

"Just this," He whispered as he disappeared again.  This time he didn't leave her totally inthe dark.  A small window had been presented in front of her.  In the window, she couldsee the events unfolding back at the temple.  She gasped as she saw her sister, Bwell,
following Ares through the forest. Chrysim almost choked when she realized thatthe bard was holding Ares' hand.

"What on earth are you up to, Bwell!" she growled.
 
 

Bwell was following Ares so intensely that she could barely hear her Amazon sisterscalling for her.  To the confused bard they were as tiny mosquitoes buzzing aroundher ears.  The only thing she truly heard was the angry roar of rage searing through
her heart.  An irrational hatred whirled all about her.  Suddenly the god of warstopped and transformed.  He was no longer weak, helpless, or impotent.  His powerswere fully restored to him, and when he stretched back into his immortality, Bwellfelt a jolt.  He had never been her "type" before.  She always felt drawn to the heroesof this world, those like Iolaus or Hercules.  The thought of Iolaus kindled the
angry fire in her confused mind.

"Yes, bard.  Rage against what he did to your sister.  What they all did!  Did anyoneof them try to lift a finger to help her.  No, they didn't.  And after all she's done tohelp them.  How many times has she healed Iolaus, the betrayer, in the past?  What are you doing with them in the first place?  Come with me to my temple.  I'll protect youbetter than Athena ever could.  I just might even be able to get Chrysim back," hissed
the hypnotic voice of Ares.

Bwell just stood at the crossroads of her destiny and turned back to face the temple."Yeah, you're right.  I'll go with you if you promise to get my sister back."  Shethen spun around to face the god.  "Lead the way.  I'm all yours."

An evil smile spread across Ares face. "That's one," he thought as he pulled her alongto his temple.

Melisande walked carefully towards the light.  Just as she stood in the newly repairedstairway to the old arsenal, she felt a presence.  Mel gripped the torch tighter and steeledher nerves to greet whatever force that hovered behind her.  In the moment she twisted
around, a bright light engulfed her, and she disappeared leaving only her torch behind her.  A malevolent small laugh echoed down the corridor as a tiny spark made its wayto the supporting beam of the temple.

The Novitiate screamed as she was dumped unceremoniously into a dark cold room."Watch it!" muttered Chrysim.  "Hey!  Melisande! Thank the gods I'm not alonehere anymore.  How did he get you?"

"Chrysim!  Oh Chrysim, you're okay!  Bwell will be so glad to hear you're okay!"

"I'm not so sure because when I get out of here, I'm gonna kick some little sister butt!What has gotten into her to mess around and follow ARES?!  And if that...that...big bad god of war hurts her...I'll," started Chrysim.

"Wait!  Ares?  She's with Ares?" whispered Melisande.  "Ares and Producersiousmust be working together.  When we were battling the child god outside, Aresmust have opened the old passageway to the burned out arsenal."  Mel stoppedas she became conscious of Chrysim's shudder.  The novitiate remembered herrequired reading about the original Guardians.  Feeling quite brave and compassionate,she put her hand on the healer's shoulder and asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just a little bit stressed at the moment," she said with an eerie chuckle."What about that passage?  It had collapsed in on itself.  We left it that way asa monument to those brave Amazons who lost their lives."

"Producersious can move freely into the temple now!" gasped Melisande.

"He doesn't have to.  Looks like our child god has been playing with fire. No,"Chrysim whispered as she choked back a strangled cry. Her eyes remained rivetedto the mystical window's revelation. "Not the temple. NOT THE TEMPLE!"  Melisande and Chrysim watched in horror as the fire started to spread even further.  It seemed to be snaking its way to the entrance to the sacred scroll room.

Storm walked stealthily through the woods and grimaced a time or two when anovitiate would giggle or boast a bit loudly of what they were going to do withthe god of war.  "Yeah, right," she thought.  She didn't like being out there in thedark.  The humidity was stifling.  She soon found herself shocked as she walkedinto the courtyard of the temple.  "I know I was leading you all away from the
temple!"

"Hmmmm.  Well, it seems that even original Guardians get lost, huh?" mutteredWildKat.  The novitiate was very disappointed to have not entered some sort ofmassive battle, and she felt a little on edge.  WildKat kicked a loose rock as she walked.
Suddenly she felt herself walk right into the stone wall that was Storm.

"If you have something to say, novitiate, say it for the whole group please," she saidsneering.

"What's the problem here?" a relieved WildKat heard Jane say.

"I believe this novitiate had something to say about my tracking skills," Storm said.

"Did you try to leave the compound and head out into the forest?" asked Jane anxiously.

"Yes, I know I headed away from the temple.  Frankly, I don't have any idea how I ended up here at all," Storm groaned.

"It's happened to all of us!  White Raven believes that this is Producersious keeping uson the grounds," sighed Jane.  "Do you smell smoke?"

"Don't tell me that blasted incense fire has started up again!" growled Storm.  "Wait!That doesn't smell like the incense fire!  It's the temple!"  Storm, Jane, HerKbabe,Locita, and WildKat ran straight to the temple.  "Where's Melisande?"

Chantal ran up to them completely wild eyed.  "The Temple is on fire!  The scrollswill be burning in a minute!" she shouted.  The other Amazons followed her quicklyto the front of the temple.  Looking anxiously about for water, Jane screamed incoherently.

Iolaus was pulling Queen Nanaea from the temple archway.  She fought him totry and get inside and burned her hands in the process.  He picked her up andslung her over his shoulder to carry her away from the smoke and flames.She wept bitterly into his vest in pain and frustration.

Storm started for the temple as well, but Hercules grabbed her by the waist.  "No,Storm, there's nothing you can do.  You'll only be hurt yourself.  The Guardianscan't lose you too," he whispered in her ear as he held her tightly.

"Too?  You mean Melisande?  Oh gods, she was my responsibility.  I let her down.I should have made sure she was with the rest of us.  Oh Hercules!" she crieddespairingly.  Hercules turned her around in his arms and drew her close to him.
He knew for this strong Amazon to be reduced to tears was a sign of her completemental distress.

Klio screamed, "NOT THIS TIME, FATHER!!!!!!!" and ran into the woods.She thought she knew where he was heading, and she was just trying to waitfor the others to become so preoccupied as to not see her drift away.  Nowshe didn't care if they saw her go or not.  She would deal with her father.

Chantal, *gaea*, Baucis, and Kendaa ran up to the temple carrying buckets of water andtried to dowse the fire, but it was too overwhelming.  They would not relent tothe demand that the battle was over, and they returned to the well to get morewater.  MsMoo put a gentle hand on Jane's shoulder as she could tell the formerqueen was about to run blindly into the temple.  "I think Iolaus needs help with
Nanaea," she whispered.  "I'm sure she could use some water, BonaDea.Why don't you help too?"

Against the pandemonium, Jane walked as though her soul was as scorched as thetemple.  She knelt next to the injured queen and saw the tears in Iolaus's eyes.Jane gently took Nanaea's wrists and turned her hands over gingerly.  Iolaus andJane gasped at the angry blisters already forming on the queen's shaking hands."If only Chrysim was here, she could help her."  Jane snapped her eyes up to
see Iolaus's eyes overflow.  BonaDea looked at Jane, Nanaea, and finally Iolaus.Her own guilt caused heart torn tears to spill down her face as well."It's not your fault.  No one blames you two, but we need to focus on helpingNanaea right now.  Was Chrysim training anyone in the healing arts?" Janecalled out.

From the corner bench in the courtyard rose Paks silently.
 

Paks had been hiding in plain sight.  Of course that was a gift she had; she was able tomanipulate the others' minds to believe she was not there.  This had given her theopportunity to observe all that had transpired.  The lighting of the fire, Iolaus and
BonaDea stumbling in, Chrysim's capture, Bwell's tirade, the fire, even an appearanceof Producersious himself did not escape her view.  She was on her feet now movingquietly toward Iolaus and Nanaea.  She knelt on the ground and gently touched her shoulder, "Chrysim keeps a plant in the garden specifically for burns.  It must be boiled, and once the water has cooled, she can bathe her hands in it.  It should bring comfort and speed the healing process as well.  Now as to whether or not we have the power to bring about a different kind of healing, I don't know."

Hercules  released Storm and strode over to where Iolaus held Nanaea.  He just stoodover them.  Iolaus was confused by the shadow falling over them.  He tearfully lookedup to see his friend frowning deeply at him.  Instinctively, the Golden Hunter knew his
friend wanted a word with him.  Handing the Queen over to Paks and Jane, Iolausrose to his feet and walked with the demigod out of hearing range.  Kendaa stoodblinking away the dryness in her eyes.  She couldn't believe what she saw.  "Hercules!
No!!!!" she screamed.  Hercules had his hands around his friend's neck and wassqueezing the life out of him.  Kendaa and Chantal reached him and wrapped two handsaround each bulging bicep and tried to drag him away from Iolaus.  The noisewas astounding as their shrieks echoed in the courtyard.

"Ohh...n-n-no," Nanaea weakly groan.  BonaDea looked to the raucous noise andyelled herself.  Jane was on  her feet immediately.  With a look born of protective rage,Jane allowed her powers to strike out against Hercules.  The demigod's hands were
wrenched from Iolaus's throat, and the hunter went to his knees coughing and choking,desperate to drag some air into his lungs.  Hercules found himself flat on the groundshaking from the aftershocks of Jane's flaming blast.

"Oh NO YOU DON'T!" shouted Storm as she recovered.  She somersaulted through theair and landed with her feet firmly planted on the ground between Jane and Herk.  "Keep your Half-Ares, Amazon-deserting, traitorous Iolaus-loving hands off Hercules.  I know you're half god yourself, but I'll kick your  demigoddess's rear into the future with the BL's!"

BonaDea ran to Iolaus's side and helped him stand.   Clinging to him for support, shegasped when she heard Hercules say in disgust, "Isn't that how we got into this mess in the first place?  You have the morals of a rabbit, Iolaus!"

"I can't believe you said that to your brother, Hercules.  How petty can a demigod be! Youhave all this power, and what have YOU done to find out anything?  The strongest manin the world couldn't brave a little smoke to save Mel?  So, don't go blaming that onIolaus," she spat out bitterly then quietly whispered, "Or me."

"Oh, Bwell was right," sneered HerKbabe as she joined in the line being quickly drawnin the sand.  "Just Iolaus's personal Hetairai, huh?"

Iolaus released BonaDea and hoarsely said, "This is between Hercules and me.  Stay outof it,  HerKbabe, and leave BonaDea out of it as well.  She did nothing!  On the other handmy best friend just tried to kill me...How's that for loyalty?!" He craned his head around Jane and Storm to glare at the demigod still on the ground.  Locita and WildKat moved to flank Iolaus and took a defensive stance.  Shawnee and Sybyll slowly walked from behind the smoldering temple to see Storm and HerKbabe squaring off with Jane, BonaDea, Locita, and Wildkat.

"What in Tartarus is going on?" shouted Shawnee.  "We go looking for Bwell and end up back in the compound again, and you guys are going nuts!  What did you do to the temple?I thought you guys were supposed to set an example for us?"

"Shhh!  Be quiet Shawnee!  Can't you see something disastrous is going on?  Don't makejudgements before you even know what's going..." Before Sybyll could complete herrebuke, she vanished just as Chrysim had.

"Look you guys have got to stop this fighting!" Baucis insisted.  "Can't you see Producersious is behind this all?  You're distracted, and he gets rid of someone."

MsMoo and *gaea* went to Hercules's side and helped him get to his feet.  They felt instantly angry with the events transpiring.  They found themselves standing toe-to-toe with the Iolaus faction.  "Look, we just lost another novitiate, and her 'queen' is more concerned with Iolaus than she is protecting the others.  Storm's right!" growled MsMoo.  "If Iolaus had been where he was supposed to be, Bwell would be here, and the others would be too.  That way Kendaa and Chantal would have been paying attention when Ares stole the scroll!"

"Wait just a minute," started an annoyed Chantal, "How do we come into this blame picture? Are you saying that we were lusting so much after the god of war that we didn't even notice him stealing our scroll?  I can't believe this!"

Kendaa blinked as she felt an irritating exasperation crawl over her like angry army ants."MsMoo!  You just told the world the scroll was missing.  If Producersious is hanging around, he knows about it now."  Kendaa strolled over to Moo and gave her the slightest
push.

"Kendaa, don't do this," Hercules said grabbing both of her arms.  "He's not worth defending."

"Wait!  Just whom do you think I want to defend?  Do you think I'd sell my way back tomy time to become Hetairai to Ares?  Is that what you all think of Chantal and me?"shouted Kendaa.

"I'm sure he didn't mean it like that, Kendaa," stated an irked *gaea*.  "We don't haveall of the facts right now.  Perhaps if you calm down and give the demigod a chance tospeak, we could come up with a plan to defeat Ares and Producersious.  Everyone knows
he's the brains of the partnership...Let him come up with an idea.  We all know what Iolaus thinks with, and Ares....well, Ares, doesn't think at all, right, Hercules?"

"That's right *gaea* baby!" Herc whispered as he grabbed her around the waist and planted a deep kiss on her willing mouth.

"Oh, well, yes...talk about me now!" sneered Iolaus.

Queen Nanaea and Paks sat stunned on the ground listening to the badgering and name calling. Before, it had only involved the Guardians and their Novitiates, now it spilled over into the Barbarian Librarians.  "Paks, what's happening?  We're divided; we'll...never defeat Producersious if we're divided.  Can you project peace into their minds?"

Paks looked at the escalating tension and sent her mind out to the others.  Suddenly she screamed and turned deathly white.  Her screams jolted the others' attentions,  "I...I feel like my mind hit a stone wall at full gallop," she whimpered as she held her head.  "You all have to get away from the compound...The presence...his presence is trying to divide you...He wants you splintered..."

They all stood around awkwardly at the revelation.  Each one felt the embarrassing sting ofreality, but no one wanted to admit to anything.  The irrational anger laid just under thesurface like an itch that couldn't be scratched.  Hercules and Iolaus kept their eyes from
seeking each other out.  It felt strange for both of them to be avoiding each other, but thatis exactly what they did.  Iolaus helped Paks get Nanaea comfortable, and Hercules worked to get the dying embers under control with Storm.  The others, while not attacking each other, managed to stay out of contact with the others.

Paks spoke, "Queen, we really must leave this place.  It's full of his evil, and I'm afraid once the incense fire starts again, we won't be able to stop the carnage."

WildKat sat sharpening her dagger on a rock muttering to herself, "I don't see why everyone is so bent out of shape about the fire.  I thought it had a nice aroma to it.  Not like burning scrolls."

Jane sighed as she and Iolaus finished applying the tincture and bandages to Nanaea's hands. "No, I don't suppose you would know.  It's a very ancient ritual going back to a day when the Amazon nation was a little more brutal.  I know of very few tribes that still burn the fires.  Some have even gone so far as to ban them completely."

"Oh!  Forbidden Fires, huh?  I'm there! Tell me more," said Locita eagerly.

Nanaea continued in her pain, "It was a barbaric practice the Amazons used to populate their tribes. .."

"Sh, Nanaea.  Save your strength," whispered Iolaus into her hair.

"Yeah, stop her at the good part," grumbled WildKat.  "So, you tell us Jane...We want to know every last detail, don't we BonaDea?" WildKat wriggled her eyebrows up and downwhile BonaDea just stared into space.  She was feeling confused by her feelings for Iolaus, and his obvious history with Nanaea and Jane.  WildKat nudged her, and the young Guardian almost fell over.

"Huh?  Yeah, sure.  I think I'm thirsty...anyone else want some water?" She said out of habit.

Iolaus looked up and nodded.  Jane and Nanaea looked at him incredulously, but he repliedsoftly, "We have some things to discuss.  I'll be back."  He quickly gave both of them atender kiss on their cheeks and took BonaDea by the elbow.  "We really need to talk."
And the two walked toward the stream together.

"Ahem!  Jane?  You were telling us about these forbidden fires?" encouraged Locita.

"Yes, well," she started as she watched the two walking away arm-in-arm.  She remembered wistfully that she had been the one to turn Iolaus away.  Turning back to the anxious Novitiates, she continued, "The Amazons would invite men of a village to a great feast. After the feast they would sit around the campfire listening to music and such.  The smoke was said to have been quite intoxicating, and the men  grew more...serious as they surrendered to their senses. The Amazons would dance seductively toward them until the
warriors had chosen a specific male in which to ...well, let's just say there was a lot of...Hokey Pokeying going on that night."

"Wow!  And what's so wrong with that?"  asked WildKat.

"I can't believe you'd ask that!" smirked Storm from across the compound.  "Because, Novitiate, besides drugging a potential father of your child, the fires made  you slaughter your donor after the deed was done!"  She rolled her eyes, trying to keep the frustrating rage from welling up again.

"Whoa!  So how did we get the incense fires going again?  No, wait, it was Producersiouswho started them flaming.  Maybe that's why we're so angry towards each other now," said Shawnee.

"Yeah! Right!  Except one thing....the fires didn't make you turn on your fellow Amazons, and it NEVER made the men aggressive," sneered Jane as she looked across at Hercules.  She fought the urge to shoot out a blast of fire for every time she felt HerK took Iolaus for
granted.  Closing her eyes, she regained control.  "So this is like an incense fire, but notlike one, too.  Where's Owlharp when you need her to explain things?" she mumbled.

Suddenly Hercules looked straight into Jane's eyes and whispered, "Where is Owlharp?And White Raven?"  Standing up he searched the compound with a frown.  "Where's Klio?" The others started to look worried as well.  Narrowing his eyes, he hissed, "And where are BonaDea and Iolaus?"
 
 

Chrysim and Melisande were 6 inches from the magic window when the fighting had begun."Oh man, I can't comprehend how this is happening.  Hercules and Iolaus are like brothers.They love each other, but look at Herk trying to kill him!"  Chrysim was on her feet pacing
back and forth by the light of the strange window.  "We've gotta get out of here, Mel!  We've got to stop this right now.  These Amazons have NEVER been divided, never!  Come on, Melisande.  We're gonna find a way out of here!"

Just as Mel and Chrysim started trying to move around in the darkened room, a blinding flash flooded the room, and Sybyll landed with a thud at their feet.

"Welcome to the party," muttered Chrysim as she helped Sybyll to her feet.  "You wanna tell me what you know about what's going on down there?"
 

"I don't really understand.  Shawnee and I had left to search for your sister, but we apparently kept going around in circles.  Well, I'm a little bit on the stubborn side, and Ikept insisting that we try one more time.  By the time we gave up and gave in to theurge to return to the Temple, the Temple was in ashes, and everyone was split into thesegroups wanting to kick each other into the future.  The next thing I knew....well, here I
am.  Sorry, Chrysim, we still haven't found Ares and Bwell," she said as she dropped herhead.

"Don't worry, I know exactly where she is, and if I could get my hands on Ares, god or nogod, I'd tear him limb from limb.  Bwell might have something to worry about as well. Come on!  We're outta here!"  Chrysim started fumbling around again until she tripped over a small box. "By Ares' Beard!  That hurt!"

"Look Chrysim!  What's that?" asked Melisande pointing to a small cylinder that was rolling across the floor.  She slowly inched her way across the floor until she snatched up the object.  "It has a button on it...  What could this be f...AYE!" Melisande dropped the
cylinder as she had accidentally touched the button and a small bright light shone into hereyes.  She still had her hand over her eyes when Chrysim scrambled for the cylinder.

Being careful to point it away from her eyes, Chrysim slowly pushed in the button, andSybyll gasped when a small beam of light illuminated a patch of the room.  "Looks likewe're in business, Novitiates," the healer said with a grin.  "Now, let's have a look in this box.  What else will we be able to find, I wonder?"

"Oh wow!  What's this?" Melisande asked as she fished a small object from the box."It's got a button too.  I wonder what would happen if I pushed it."

"No!  Wait!" cried Chrysim.  She snatched the object just as a small blade sprang outof the smooth flat object.  The healer managed to keep from slicing her hand open, andChrysim looked in disbelief at Mel.

"I can't believe this!  A collapsible dagger!  What will they think of next?" gaspedSybyll.

"Yeah, well, all I know is that little brat better watch out now.  We're armed!" saidChrysim triumphantly.  "Hey, I wonder what this key is to?"

"I don't know, Chrysim, but I think we'd better hurry.  Look!"  Melisandecried as her attention was drawn back to the window.

Bwell was sitting in Ares' Temple dining hall.   She and Ares were at the head table whilethe lesser tables were filled with warlords, generals, and priestesses.   An advisor to Meneleus was talking rapidly to her, but her eyes were blank as she obviously wasn't
listening to the constant droning he was subjecting her to.  Ares smiled in a predatoryfashion as he observed her preoccupation.  Leaning over to whisper in her ear, he said,"I can make them all go away, you know.  Would you...like that?"  The god of war
took her hand, and delivered a chill message to her spine.

"Huh?  What?  Oh, yeah.  Get rid of them," she muttered.

Ares waved his hand, and the dining hall was instantaneously emptied.  Bwell jumpedto her feet and turned angrily to Ares, "What did you do to them?" she gasped.  He justnarrowed his eyes and grinned more.  Bwell, forgetting to whom she was speaking, grabbed the front of his vest and tried to shake him.  "I said, 'What did you do with them?'  Ares, tell me NOW!"  She yelled as an uncontrollable tremor danced over her being.

"I got rid of them.  That is what you said, isn't it?  I mean if you just had wanted meto ask them to leave, well, I would have done that.  But little one, your wish is my command.  And so, if you command me to get rid of someone....you are rid of that person permanently. Do you have a problem with this?" he asked innocently.

"Yes, I do.  And I'm beginning to wonder if coming here was a big mistake," she softlysaid.

"Oh, was a mistake to want to get your sister back?" He slyly asked.

"No!  That's not the mistake.  Oh Ares, you mix things up!  I meant that the Guardians andBL's would have helped me find her.  Hercules and...," she stopped herself as an annoyancetried to creep in, "Iolaus would have tried to help.  I'm s-s-sure of it," she whispered
as she felt the war god slip in behind her.  Reaching around her, he gently took her hand and turned it over until her palm was open.  Blowing across the palm of her hand, he seemed to open a small window for her to see an earthshattering scene.

"So," he whispered in her ear, "you think Iolaus and your precious Guardians care anything about finding Chrysim? Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but one should wonder about the concern in their hearts with this scene."

Bwell blinked back the tears as she saw Iolaus walking hand in hand with BonaDea downby a stream.  Anger was sown in her heart, and it blossomed into rage when she sawthe Golden Hunter cup BonaDea's face in his hands and give her a gentle kiss.  "AAAAH!"
Bwell screamed.  Ares was right!  How could he be right?  It didn't matter to Bwell;she just knew  that she and Chrysim had been betrayed.  Frenzy clouded her thinking, andshe took out a scroll Ares had given her.  She unrolled the parchment and read,

Ares fingers danced across Bwell's as she grasped the scroll.  "You can use it.  Chrysim'sin the future, you know.  All we need is four more people, and you can retrieve her.Once you're in the future, all you have to do is leave one of the warlords I send with you
behind.  He won't mind, and you'll be able to save your sister."  He sensed her waveringand leaned in again.  "It's your only hope, Chrysim's only hope.  They've left you alonein your pursuit, but you'll never truly be alone while I'm with you."

Bwell turned to look in his eyes, and immediately she knew she had made a mistake.

Owlharp and White Raven seemed to be having the opposite problem that the others hadin their tracking.  Whereas the Guardians and BL's always ended up at the temple, thesetwo immortals could NOT make it back to the sanctuary.  "I can't even contact Athena,"
complained Owlharp.  "Maybe if I transformed, I would be able to break free!"

White Raven watched as Owlharp transformed into a majestic creature.  The great owlspread her wings and let her spirit take flight.  Owlharp let out an ear-splitting shriekas the smoldering temple came into view.  She tried to fly quickly to the Guardians'
aid, but as White Raven looked on in horror, Owlharp hit an invisible border as strong as
any stone wall.  The magnificent immortal spiraled to the ground.  Fortunately the baby-sitter of the gods was able to catch her before the owl was injured.  White Ravenplaced the shaking bird on the ground, and Owlharp transformed to her human figure.
She breathed in deeply in order to calm herself and looked in shock at White Raven."You don't know how grateful I am that you caught me!  While Nemesis always wasmore vulnerable when she took human form, I can only be injured in my owl alter ego."

"No!" gasped White Raven.  "That must make it difficult when you get around hunters,huh?"

"You have no idea!" Owlharp returned.  "Someday remind me to tell you about the timeIolaus almost..."

"YIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Screamed a blur that bowled both immortalsover.

"Klio?  Would you please watch where you're going?!" said Owlharp as she picked herselfup from the ground.  "First, slow down; secondly, calm down and tell us what happened!"

Klio only stopped because she could feel Owlharp's power restrain her.  She slowlyturned around and sighed in exasperation.  "Can't you smell?  He burned down thewhole temple, and Mel was inside.  I have a feeling 'Daddy' was involved.  I'm gonnakick some fatherly bu.."

"Klio!  How do you know?" White Raven gasped.

"Because he's a son of a b..."

"Stop!" yelled Owlharp as she slapped a hand over Klio's mouth.

"Look, try to be civil, Klio.  I mean," began White Raven, "Producersious might belistening in.  After all, it's bad enough that we have to deal with a child god who's run amuck;  we definitely don't need a child god running amuck  with a FOUL  MOUTH!"

"Well, I was only going to call him a son-of-a-bacchae.  But now that you mention itGrandma is Hera," she said with a wicked grin.  Klio knew how Hera hated to becalled Grandma.  "Anyway, I had this uneasy feeling when Ares was playing this,
'Oh I'm so injured' act.  Now, I know with every fiber of my being that he's in leaguewith this demon child."

"God," stated White Raven.

"What?" asked Klio.

"That's child god....not demon...see demons serve a god, but Producersious isn't oldenough to have demons of his own.  You have to get a learner's permit before youcan use demons.  "Otherwise, he'd be a Minor in Possession," stated White Raven.

"Excuse me?  How did we get on this discussion?  Ares, yeah.  I have this bad feelingthat he's about to use Bwell's soggy brain to do something really stupid," mutteredKlio.  "Grief can do strange things to a person's mind," she said as she fingered the
necklace at her throat with a look of untold sadness in her eyes.  "At any rate wehave to get to Ares' Temple before it's too late."

Owlharp laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and said, "Klio, I understand how you feel,but how on earth can we break through this barrier?"

"What barrier?" she asked slightly distracted.

"Producersious has prevented us from going back to the temple.  I think it's to keep usfrom helping with some kind of problem they're facing.  Owlharp almost bit the dust,literally, by inadvertently flying into it.  How do you propose breaking through it?"
asked White Raven.

"By this!"  She lunged at a distortion in the air and tried to grab onto something unseen.Owlharp and White Raven looked confused as Klio seemed to be wrestling with thewind until a spark illuminated White Raven's thoughts.

"It's Producersious!  Quick!  Let's get him before he gets away again!" shouted the immortal baby-sitter.  White Raven and Owlharp joined in the melee only to be brought upempty handed.

"He's gone!  I can't believe he's gone again!  His parents are gonna fricassee me!" moanedWhite Raven.  Owlharp slung her arm over her new friend's shoulders and gave hera sympathetic look.  "Hey!  Test the boundary again!"

Owlharp flinched as she tentatively put out her hand.  Smiling, the guardian of the Guardians started waving her hand wildly.  "Hey!  We're free!  Quick, let's get on toAres' temple."  She moved quickly on foot only to feel a hand grasp her elbow.

"No!  You're not going with me this time.  Bursting in on Dad is something I usually doas a solo act," she mumbled.

"You're right!  I need to go back to the temple to help the Guardians and BL's.  Will yoube all right?" Owlharp asked the brave Novitiate.

"Oh yeah, I'll be fine.  Just give me some time; then get the others to come with you toAres' temple.  Something tells me this is all going to come to a head at that accursedplace," she softly said.

The warrior and immortal said their good-byes and headed for their destiny.

Meanwhile, Chrysim continued to search through the small box.  She laughed when shepulled out something that looked like a mask, but it was made of dark transparent materialand only fit over her eyes.  "This could definitely come in handy when that little br..."

Suddenly the room was filled with bright light again; however, thanks to the transparentmask, Chrysim could see the small figure very clearly.  She almost laughed out loud atthe vision.  He was small with wiry red hair and a devious smile.  This time, though,
he looked a little worried.  He sensed a change in the room.  Before he could react,Chrysim pushed the button on the collapsible dagger and grabbed him from behindto put him in a classic sleeper hold.  Quickly she placed the knife to his throat and
whispered forcefully, "Now, we play one of MY favorite games...pin the tail on thebrat god.  Bring down the lights so my friends can see you as well."

Producersious balked a bit, but when he felt Chrysim tighten her grip at his throat andapply more pressure to the dagger, he relented. "Ow!  You don't have to be so rough!"he whined.  "I was just trying to have a little fun, and Mommy and Daddy won't letme play with our people."

Sybyll stood bravely before him and said, "You're not allowed to play with us either!We won't let you."

Melisande joined in, "They're right, little one.  Take us back!  And ooooh are you gonnaget it from White Raven."

"Not before I give 'Mr. I Was Bored" a piece of my mind, among other things," sneeredChrysim.

At the mention of White Raven's name, Producersious turned deathly pale.  Feeling awkward at the trouble he'd caused, he simply nodded and averted his eyes.  In a flash, the four found themselves standing in the courtyard in the middle of a free-for-all.
 
 

Chrysim couldn't believe her eyes.  This little brat god had everyone bickering andthrowing punches at each other.  She barely had time to duck when CJ tossedwhat was left of Owlharp's harp.  Out of nowhere soared Owlharp to landjust in front of CJ.  As she transformed, her hands were firmly planted onher hips, and Owlharp  said, "I hope you can explain yourself."  Chrysim grabbedProducersious by the scruff of the neck and marched him directly over tothe guardian.

White Raven moved to his side in an instant and flashed him a deadly glare.Before she said anything to him, the child god quickly said, "I'm sorry.  I'llnever do it again.  Are you gonna tell Mom and Dad?"

"What do you think?" she said coldly.  Even Chrysim shuddered at the ice runningthrough the immortal's eyes.  "Put them back!  Release these mortals!"

He started to whine about not ever having any fun, but Producersious had secondthoughts when he saw how serious White Raven was.  The anger left theGuardians, Barbarian Librarians and heroes immediately.  However the suddenwithdrawal made them all feel like they had been at one wild party.

The luckiest participant was Iolaus.  Hercules had just broken free from Locitaand Shawnee in order to seek out his friend and give him a severe thrashing.The red flame of anger swirled in his eyes as he saw Iolaus giving BonaDeaa gentle kiss at the stream.  Marching to throw ice water on the couple, hestopped as if he'd hit a brick wall when the anger left him.  BonaDea and Iolauslooked to Hercules and then to each other and blushed deeply.

"We were going to do it again, weren't we?" she whispered anxiously.

"Well, my sweet," he said tenderly, "we never really DID anything the firsttime.  Which is not to say I didn't want to.  Hoooboy!  I'd better quit while I'mahead."

"Iolaus!" called Hercules.  The reality of what the demigod had tried to dowashed over him, and extreme guilt soaked in.  "Iolaus..I"

Suddenly a shout for help brought all three to the compound again.  Hercules, Iolaus, and BonaDea saw the child god being firmly held by the wrist by
White Raven.  She looked up to them and said, "We've got big trouble at Ares'sTemple.  Producersious said that he maneuvered things so that Ares would have theBL's scroll."

"And my sister is about to do something really stupid and dangerous.  Producersious, can you take the spell or influence off her from this distance?"asked Chrysim.

"No,  it's too far, and too hard to do right now.  I won't even try!" he said as anew wave of petulance crept through him.  He winced when his guardian reached out and pinched the back of his neck.  "Okay, but it's still too far.  I canstop them if I'm closer."

Kendaa spoke up, "Then what are we waiting for?  Let's go to Ares's Temple!"

Chantal firmly grasped her whip and muttered, "Why did I know she'd say that?And why did I know that I'd be right behind her?"

Ms.Moo grasped her hoolie scepter and mumbled, "I'd better get back in time tomail those invitations!"

Baucis and *gaea* shrugged their shoulders and headed off with their comrades.

Though they were a huge group, they moved quietly through the forest.  Storm smiled at how well the novitiates were doing and felt a sense of pride that she'dtaught them that particular skill.  Iolaus and Hercules walked along looking ateach other from time to time.  Iolaus knew that Hercules would never havepurposely hurt him, but he still felt the bruises as his amulet's leather strap scraped
against the purple fingerprints.  Hercules kept thinking, "Please forgive me, Iolaus.I didn't mean to; I....I'm sorry."  He almost said it aloud but knew they all had toremain silent in order to maintain an element of surprise.  When they arrived
at the temple, they were surprised to see Klio standing in front of the doors."I've tried...I've tried everything at my disposal, and I can't get IN!" she yelledas she kicked the door.

Iolaus slipped his arm around her shoulder and whispered, "We're going forsurprise here."  She just turned to him to glare.  The glare melted as he warmedhis smile up just for her.  Jane, Nanaea, and BonaDea looked at one another,smiled, and shook their heads.
 

The temple was massive with its rich mahogany doors.  They had intricate designscarved onto the handles, and the door knocker was a relief of Ares himself.  Thetemple looked to be three times the size of The Temple of Knowledge.  It was with
awe that they all approached the site.  However, Hercules was not impressed.Forgetting that they were going for surprise, the demigod grasped the twin knockersby Ares's noses and yanked the door off the hinges.

"No!" gasped WK as she had a clear sight into the temple.  Kendaa pushed her aside to see inside and blinked hard.  There was Bwell with her hand on thescroll on the god of war's altar.  Along with her, stood four vicious-lookingwarlords.

Chrysim screamed her name, and Bwell looked up in shock as the five swirledinto distortion and the future.  Ares's deep laugh reverberated throughout thetemple.   Klio flipped into the temple and landed flat-footed directly in frontof Ares.  She reached for her sword and slung it over her head.  Stopping ahairs width away from Ares's neck, she growled, "Bring Her Back!"

He only laughed more, and with a flick of the wrist, the warrior found herselflying several feet away from him.  Jane approached him next and focused herfiery glare on him.  As two fireballs shot out of her being, the war god waved
his hand again and froze the fire inside blocks of ice.  "Come on, kiddies, surelyyou can do better than this?"

"It's over, Ares!  Bring Her Back!" shouted Hercules.

"Oh yeah, like YOU can make me do anything!" snickered Ares.

"He can't, but I can." stated  Producersious calmly.  "I can even control what yousay or do, Ares.  Now, the game is over, bring her back."

He laughed wildly and then stopped just as suddenly, "Hey! Quit that you little squirt.  Nobody stops my laugh until I'm ready to quit laughing."  Ares tried overand over again to bring forth the laugh that usually sent chills down the spines ofa multitude of people.  Nothing came out.  "Well, okay, maybe you can controlsome things, but I still can't bring them back.  You should know that my little
love slaves," he cooed as he wrapped his strong arms around Kendaa's andChantal's waists.  "Come on, Kendaa; tell them."

She looked down at her boots and to her Barbarian Librarian comrades for support.Ms.Moo looked horrified.  Kendaa knew that she must be considering howshe would ever get back to her love.  The others looked equally worried.  Takingin a huge sigh, she said, "He's right.  They have to lay their hands on the scrollat exactly the same time.  But you remember that too, Nanaea.  It said so in that
poem in the scroll.  Only they can decide when they come back."

Chrysim went berserk and started tearing the temple apart.  "What is it with siblings and tearing up my temple?" asked Ares.  The Amazons and Heroessat staring at the altar.  They were baffled at what to do next.

Suddenly, there was a distortion again in the air.  Bwell and the four warlordswere at the altar once again.  Bwell, however, was the only one completelyupright.  The four warriors barely held onto life as they returned.  Once theywere completely solid, Bwell released the hands of the fearsome foursome,picked up the scroll, and punched Ares in the stomach.  He grinned with an
"Ooomph!" and released Chantal and Kendaa.  "Later," he whispered in theirears as they disappeared.

"I don't think so," sneered Bwell.  She handed the scroll over to Kendaa and said,"It might be a good idea for you all to stay in your own time for a while.  It's prettyrisky, you know."  She turned around gave her sister a hug, and walked out of the
temple.  They were all confused at her Stoicism, and so, they followed her backto Athena's Temple.

Owlharp gasped as she saw that the temple was undamaged;she looked in confusion at White Raven.  The immortal shrugged and replied,
"Well, once he's through playing, he always puts away his toys."

Chrysim followed Bwell into her room where she was surprised to see Bwellthrowing small things into a carry sack.  When the healer moved next toher sister to look at her elbow, Bwell casually commented, "Going to thefuture can do many things for you.  Healing quickly is one of them."

"Where are you going?" Chrysim asked.

"Away, and I'm not talking about it.  The temple will have to find someone elseto archive its history.  I'm through," she muttered.  The bard picked up herquill for emphasis and snapped it in two.  Laying the broken quill on a stack ofempty papers, she smiled sadly and whispered, "Take care."

Chrysim was too stunned to move at first when her sister walked out of the roomand through the temple.  Bwell stopped in front of BonaDea and Iolaus and said,"I'm sorry."  She, then, tried to move on when Iolaus put a hand on her shoulder.

"Bwell...."he started.

"I know," Bwell returned cryptically and walked into the forest.

Chrysim came running out of the temple, but Iolaus and Hercules stopped herfrom following her sister.  "Let her go," whispered Iolaus as he took her in hisarms.  Smoothing her hair out of her eyes, he held he tightly.

Hercules replied, "She just needs some time...I'm sure she'll be back."

Looking up, she said, "I'm not so sure."

The Barbarian Librarians looked to one another and decided it was time.  Suddenlyit was hugging time down at the Temple of Knowledge.  "Will we ever see thelegendary Barbarian Librarian Hetairai again?" teased Locita with a grin.

Kendaa spoke up, "I don't...Perhaps.  Perhaps not.  If you ever need us, I'm sure we'll come back."

"Yeah!  How could we ever stay away from trouble?" smiled Chantal.

Ms.Moo anxiously grabbed onto the scroll with Kendaa, Chantal, and Baucis.Looking around frantically, she saw *gaea* in Hercules's arms.

"Say it again; come on, Hercules; just once?!" she said wistfully.

Grinning, he walked her over to the others, looked into her eyes, and said, "That'sright, *gaea* baby," and gave her a deep kiss before releasing her to go.

The Guardians watched them swirl and saw Ares appear just before they disappeared.  "Come back, my sweets, I could always use my own personalHetairai!"
 
 

The rest of the Guardians retreated to the temple to see what kind of damagewas caused.  The novitiates spoke of their baptism by fire while the veteranssighed and looked for a place to sit down.  Jane and Nanaea took BonaDeaaside to explain how it was possible for Iolaus to truly love each of them equally.Iolaus inadvertently walked in on the conversation and backed out quickly when
they began comparing notes.

"Um, Herk...don't you think it's time to move on?  Weren't we supposed to bein Athens?" he asked nervously as BonaDea's room erupted into a volcano ofgiggles.

Hercules grinned and then looked very seriously at his partner.  "Look, Iolaus, about that choking thing.  I'm really sorry.  I don't know how I could havehurt you like that.  I hope you  believe me and can forgive me."

"Hey, Herk, don't worry about it!  I know you'd never try and kill me on your own...well okay there was that one time when that girl thought I was Hercules, and herbrothers...."

"Yes, well, Iolaus, I think you're right!  It's time for us to take our leave.  Let'sgo on in to say goodbye.  I'm sure BonaDea wouldn't want to miss saying farewell,"tormented Hercules.

"Yeah, well, you go in now, I'll be there in a minute," he said anxiously.  Walking over to Owlharp, he gave her a huge hug and whispered in her ear, "Give my loveto Athena..."  He started to walk back,  but Iolaus stopped and winked at her. "But
keep a little for yourself."  She laughed and returned to her conversation withWhite Raven.

"Are you sure you can handle him?" she asked motioning to the little child god.

"Oh yeah!  Just wait until I get him home!  Farewell, friend.  Perhaps somedayyou can visit my land.  It's really quite nice once we get the children under control."Grabbing Producersious's hand they left in a red beam of light.

Sighing, Owlharp started back to the temple when she saw Chrysim still standingand looking at the path Bwell had taken.  "Iolaus is right.  She might be back.Wherever she is, she'll always have this temple, these guardians, and her sisterin her heart. Come on, friend, I have a feeling we have work to do."  The guardianof the Guardians led the healer into the temple.

Epilogue:

In a white room somewhere, Producersious was writing 1,000,000,000 times,"I will not play in other people's worlds."
 

It was a particularly painful landing, but when the Barbarian Librarians crashed into Moo's furniture, they got up with the energy of an Amazon.  Laughing, theywere delighted to see that only a few minutes had actually expired since they
had originally left.  Kendaa had a look of horror on her face, and she started madly looking around for a phone.

"What is it, dear?" asked MsMoo.

"I think I left the iron on!  I need to call my friend with the key.  Quick, somebodytell me; what time IS it in Sydney?

This time was bound to happen, it's true.
What's left for the Guardians and BL's to do
Bwell's Guardian fate
Is set up to this date
Collect your hats at the door, the ride is now through.

 

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