Stanides
by Stanley Palmer

LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
Xena: Warrior Princess, Gabrielle, Argo and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess, together with names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of MCA/Universal and Ranainssance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author.This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.

DISCLAIMERS
This story includes scenes of a man and a woman kissing and/or hugging. Readers who are disturbed by or sensitive to this type of issue may wish to read something else than this story.

Story Edited By: RavensTale

Xena, Argo, and Gabrielle walk along a trail in a forest-like area. Apollo is high the day being hot, and calm.

"Xena, I heard a rumor of this area being thick with thieves." Said Gabrielle walking beside her friend.

"Ya, I heard that rumor too." Xena looks and scans the area intently. "Let's keep our eyes open."

"Where are we going anyway?" Asked Gabrielle as she looked around
cautiously.

"Back to Amphipolis. Answers Xena. "After all
these years I think it's time to return and make amends with my family."

"How far is it?" Asked Gabrielle still concerned about the thieves.

"About three more days." Said Xena hearing a strange sound coming from the
trees.

Xena stopping closes her eyes slowly as she intently listens. Argo lets
out a snort and Gabrielle readies her staff noticing Xena's actions.

"Did you hear that Gabrielle?"

"Yeah, but where did it come from?" Gabrielle looks around very cautiously.

Everything is silent for a few moments then suddenly seven men drop down
from the trees.

The thugs were armored in iron breastplates, steel helmets, and iron
shields. All were swinging their swords ready to fight.

One of the men turns to Gabrielle. Gabrielle sees him and notices something
familiar.

"Ha, well look who we have here?" Stated the leader with an evil smile.
"Hey men, it's the little lady that beat us up when we tried to take Xena's
body."

"You know him?" Asked Xena.

"I met him when they tried to steal your body until Iolaus helped me fight
them off." Answered Gabrielle remembering the experience.

"So nice of you to remember me. But now it's time to pay the piper." Said
the thieve.

The thug began to approach Gabrielle. As he approached, Xena effortlessly
kicks him in the gut knocking him to the ground with a thud.
Seeing this the rest of the men attacked.

The battle was fast and furious, but as many of the men layed on the ground
groaning or unconscious eight more dropped down and surrounded Xena and
Gabrielle.

"I don't like the looks of this Xena!" Said Gabrielle more concerned now
more that ever.

"I told you that you made an enemy little girl!" Said the leader as he got
back to his feet.

Just then all of them heard a noise from the right.

"Hiyaaa!" Suddenly a young man on a horse raced towards them with his sword
held high. The handle could be made out to have two golden eagle heads.

"STANIDES!!" Snarled the leader.

"Hello again Mirell! Didn't I warn you last time about this kind of
behavior? Let the ladies be on their way." Said the young man calmly.

"And what would you do if we don't?" Asked one of the thieves.

"You don't want to know." Said Stanides.

"Go away Stanides, this doesn't concern you!" Said Mirell angry.

"Oh, but it does. When innocent people are involved it concerns me!" Said
Stanides.

"Enough of this." Said Mirell. "Get him, we'll get Xena later!"

The army ran towards Stanides, but he jumped off his horse and began to
fight them off easily.
Xena and Gabrielle joined in the fight as the thieves moved away.

Swords clanged, punches were exchanged, and kicks were thrown. At the end
all the thieves ran away in fear of the three warriors. Stanides put his
sword back in its sheath as he watched the scared thieves run away.

"Thanks! That was incredible!" Said Gabrielle walking to Stanides.

"My pleasure." Said Stanides as he shook Gabrielle's hand. Stanides eyed
Xena.

"Oh, sorry! This is my friend Xena. Xena meet...." Said Gabrielle, but
stopped since she didn't know the young man's name.

"Stanides!" Said the young man as he reached for Xena's hand. Xena expected
a hand shake, but instead Stanides took her hand, kneeled down, and kissed
it.
"That's how I always greet the most beautiful women of the land..." Said
Stanides looking up at Xena. "And right now you are THE most beautiful
woman I've ever seen!"

Xena caught his eye and gave him a sly grin.

"Where do you come from?" Asked Gabrielle and Stanides got up.

"I don't really come from anywhere. I'm a traveling warrior." Answered
Stanides as he turned to Gabrielle. "I just go from place to place and help
out where help is needed."

"You sound just like us!" Laughed Gabrielle. "So, where are you headed?"

"Amphipolis!" Answered Stanides. "I have received word that there's a
battle going on there."

"A battle??" Asked Xena stunned. "With who??"

"Some small town called Poteidaia." Answered Stanides as he turned to Xena.

"POTEIDAIA??" Shouted Gabrielle and Stanides looked back. "That's MY home
town!!"

"Yes well, the two towns are fighting over who owns Mount Olympus that
separates both towns from each other. Some say that it's their property and
others say it's theirs. Things seem to have gotten out of hand and a battle
has begun."

"We have to stop them!" Said Gabrielle.

"I'll join you." Said Stanides. "That's where I was going anyway."

The three warriors began to walk. Gabrielle wanted to know more about the
war, so she turned to Stanides.

"Do you know anymore about this fight over Mount Olympus?" Asked Gabrielle.

"Well, not at the moment kid, but I'm sure more will be known in time."
Answered Stanides as he walked along side Gabrielle.

"What did you just call me?" Asked Gabrielle.

"Kid!" Answered Stanides.

"Why?" Asked Gabrielle.

"Well, first of all I don't know your name, and secondly I always call a
nice young lady "kid"!" Answered the young man.

"Just what makes you think I am nice?" Asked Gabrielle trying to act tough.

"I can tell." Answered Stanides as he looked at her with a small smile and
she looked back.
"I have met a lot of people and I have learned to be able to tell when
someone is nice and when someone isn't, and you are nice!"

Gabrielle was about to answer back, but Xena interrupted.

"Can you two keep your sweet talk for another time? We have work to do."

Xena walked Argo between Stanides and Gabrielle. Stanides stared as Xena
walked by.

"Wow! Truly amazing!" Sighed Stanides.

"What is?" Asked Gabrielle.

"She's a vision in an old silver painting. Absolutely gorgeous!!" Said
Stanides ignoring Gabrielle.

"Excuse me. Can we get going now?" Said Gabrielle a little loudly and
snapped Stanides back to reality.

"Well, if I offended you I must say you're pretty cute yourself!" Said
Stanides as he continued to walk.

"Don't try to sugar me up. I know your kind." Said Gabrielle acting tough
again.
"You are the kind of man that gets a girl all excited, take their breath
away, then breaks their hearts, and moves on!"

"Actually no!" Said Stanides. "I am not a heartbreak kid, kid. I never
flatter a woman and just leave, but I know my best friend does that
sometimes. He never settles down." Said Stanides and starred off into space
thinking about his friend.

"Is HE the heartbreak kid?" Asked Gabrielle.

"No! It's just that he is like me. He travels around too much to be able to
raise a family. He enjoys the free life a lot more although sometimes he
thinks of his first family." Said Stanides.

"What happened to his family?" Asked Gabrielle as she looked back at
Stanides and quit acting tough.

"They were killed. I don't exactly remember how since I wasn't there, but
all I can remember is that it was an act of revenge." Answered Stanides and
stopped daydreaming.

"Who is he?" Asked Gabrielle, but before Stanides answered Xena spoke.

"We're almost there." Said Xena.

"How? You said we were days away!" Said Gabrielle.

"I lied!" Said Xena with a smile.

"Oh!" Said Gabrielle and looked across the grassy plain from the top of the
hill they were on.

"We must be careful. We could get caught in between the fight and get
hurt." Warned Stanides.

"Ha! We've been in worse situations that this before and survived just
fine." Said Gabrielle.
"What else is there about the battle that you haven't told us yet?" Asked
Gabrielle. "How do you know about it?"

"A messanger came to me. He said that he was working in the fields when the
fight started. While he was walking back to the city he saw everyone
fighting and shouting. Then he saw that a huge force field began to
surround the people. The man went to find help, in Samariah. I was there in
a bar eating some stew when the man came in and asked if anyone knew where
he could find a great warrior. I stood up, introduced myself, and asked if
I could help. He told me everything that he knew and I agreed to
investigate the situation and help if I could. I took the man to an Inn and
paid the innkeeper the ammount needed for the man's stay and set off, then
I ran into you two, and you know the rest." Answered Stanides.

"A force field?" Asked Gab. "How is there a force field?"

"Well, if you want my opinion I belive the gods are involved." Said the
young man.

"I hope we can stop the fight before everyone gets killed." Said Gab still
concerned.

"Actually no one gets killed." Said Stanides. "According to the messanger
the people keep fighting, but no one dies in the war. That's why I think
the gods are behind this whole thing."

The three warriors walked to Amphipolis without saying anything else. When
they got near to the gate the three of them stopped.

"I don't hear the raging of a war." Said Gabrielle.

At that instant a man yelled as he was thrown over the town's tall wall and
fell to the hard ground with a sickening thud.

"Enough proof for you kid?" Asked Stanides. "The war can't be heard from
out here. The fight is concealed in the force field of rage. Anyone can get
in it, but can't come out if they join the fight."

"So what can we do?" Asked Gabrielle.

"Wait here!" Said Xena with a serious expression on her face.

"Oh, no way! If you're going in I'm going with you!" Said Gabrielle
grabbing Xena's arm.

"No Gabrielle! Stay here and watch Argo, I'll be back soon."

Xena walked into the city and Gabrielle agreed to wait.

"So Stanides, what was the name of your fri...." Said Gabrielle, but
stopped as she turned around to find out that she was alone. Gabrielle
looked around, but Stanides was no where to be found.

Xena walked around and looked at the fight taking place.
She kept her distance from the warriors as she walked to a house that was
on the other side of
the town.

Xena entered the house of a friend of hers named Micha.

"Micha!" Said Xena as she saw her friend.

"Xena!" Said Micha and the two hugged in greeting.

"What's going on?" Asked Xena.

"Ares has deceived the two cities and started this feud over who owns Mount
Olympus which broke out into this war." Explained Micha.

"Ares! I should have known!" Said Xena.

"For all we know this could be a trap to lure you into serving him in
exchange for the town's peace." Said Micha.

"I don't make deals with Ares!" Said Xena seriously.

"According to a legend there's only one solution to this. You must go to
Mount Olympus and get the sacred stone, then you must put it on the pillar
that is at the front gate. When you do, it will free the people from the
force field and clear
their minds from the rage. The stone is in Ares' temple, it's very
dangerous!" Warned Micha.

"Ares has never stopped me before, so I don't think he will now!" Said Xena
confident and left the house.

When Xena left her friend's house she was once again in the middle of the
battle.

Strangely the people that were fighting didn't die or get hurt, they just
kept on fighting.

One of the warriors saw Xena and was about to attack her since he thought
she was one of the enemies.

Xena took out her sword as the man charged, but she then remembered
Stanides' warning about the force field..."If you join in the fight you'll
be trapped too!"

Xena slipped on a rock and fell as she dodged the man's attacks and the man
was about to stab her, but someone pulled her away and the sword just
missed her.

"Missed me?" Asked a voice behind her.

Xena turned and saw that it was Stanides.

"You have great timing!" Said Xena a little stunned from how close she came
to being sliced.

"I know. But we have to get going!" Said Stanides and the two warriors left
the city.

Stanides and Xena met up with Gabrielle.

"Are you all right Xena?" Asked Gabrielle.

"Fine!" Said Xena with a smile and turned to Stanides with a glimmer in her
eye.

Stanides smiled, but Gabrielle was still not too pleased.

"Why did you leave me here alone for?" Asked Gabrielle as she looked at
Stanides.

"I felt a strange premonition when Xena entered the town, so I decided to
keep an eye on her just to make sure she came out all right." Explained the
young warrior. "Sorry if I offended you kid."

"Well, at least you could have..." Started Gab, but Xena interrupted her
again.

"Gabrielle, it's okay. Stanides just prevented me from being sliced." Said
Xena as she walked by Argo and began to walk.

Gabrielle looked at the young warrior and he gave her a smile.

"Gabrielle, is that your name?" Asked Stanides.

"Yeah!" Answered Gab.

"A pretty name for a pretty lady!" Said Stanides politely as he stood
beside her.

"There you go with your sweet talk again!" Teased Gabrielle.

Stanides decided that it would be better for him to walk, so he left his
horse in the town's stables, and then the followed Xena and Gabrielle.

The three warriors began to walk towards the mountain as Xena filled them
in on Ares' plot and the solution.

"Are you sure this will work Xena?" Asked Gabrielle as she walked beside
her.

"No. But I see no other choice." Said Xena as she noticed that Stanides was
walking closely behind, protecting them from any possible attack.

"Wow! We're actually going inside Ares' temple!" Said Gabrielle in a low
voice.

After a long peaceful walk a Warlord and a large band of soldiers stopped
the three warriors in a big field at the foot of the mountain.

"Xena!" Said the leader. "So nice to see you again after all these years!"

"Graygore!" Said Xena recognizing the Warlord.

Graygore got off his horse and walked over to them.

"And this is the pretty and young Gabrielle." Said Graygore as he smiled
and ran his finger down her cheeks.

Gabrielle slapped his hands with her staff.

"Get your hands off me!" Said Gabrielle angry.

"You just made a big mistake!" Said Graygore and made a hand signal to his
army to attack.

Stanides and Xena took out their swords and began to fight.

Graygore's army was stronger than the last time Xena and Gabrielle met
them.

During the fight two warriors grabbed Gabrielle's arms from behind.

Gabrielle struggled to break free, but she was unable to and since Xena was
busy dealing with a few warriors she couldn't help her friend.

One of the warriors walked up in front of Gabrielle and since she was
helpless he thought to take advantage of the situation and knock her
unconscious.

The warrior got ready to throw his first blow until he heard a voice
behind.

"Excuse me, but she's a friend of mine!"

The warrior turned around and saw that it was Stanides. Stanides punched
the warrior and then fought off the others that were holding Gabrielle
until she was free.

"Thanks!" Said Gabrielle.

"Don't mention it." Said Stanides and then he went off to find other
warriors to fight.

As Xena and Gabrielle fought on low ground Stanides tricked a few warriors
to chase him up a hill.
Near to the top there was a loose boulder, so Stanides pushed it and it
began to roll down the hill towards the enemy.

The warriors tried to outrun the boulder, but it was no use.

When the boulder hit the men they flew through the air and landed on top of
the trees that were all the way across the flat plain.

"Rock 'n' Roll!!" Said Stanides with a laugh and ran back down the hill.

After a little while longer the army was defeated and the exhausted heroes
tried to catch their breaths.

After a short rest Xena, Gabrielle, and Stanides continued their journey up
Mount Olympus.

Xena turned to Gabrielle and told her an idea.

"Gabrielle, I have a special mission for you. Go towards the front gate of
the temple on top of the mountain and see how many guards there are
guarding that entrance. This way we will know which entrance to go to where
we will have the least confrontations." Said Xena.

"Okay!" Replied Gabrielle.

"I'm afraid you'll have to do this on your own.
"Since there's not a lot of trees or bushes to take
cover in, one person will have a better chance of not being detected than
three. Go and be careful, we'll wait for you here!" Said Xena concerned.

"Hey, don't worry. I'm a big girl Xena, I can take care of myself!" Said
Gabrielle confident and started to walk towards the mountain.

"Take care kid!" Called out Stanides.

Xena and Stanides continued walking and when she and Stanides found
themselves walking side by side Xena turned to the young man.

"I want to thank you for helping Gabrielle back there." Said Xena.

"It was my pleasure to help!" Said Stanides a little nervous now that he
and Xena were alone.

"I bet that in your line of work you meet a lot of people, don't you?"
Asked Xena trying to keep the conversation going.

"Well...yeah, I guess...." Answered the nervous warrior.

"Did you ever met anyone that is special to you?" Asked Xena softly.

Stanides couldn't fight his feelings anymore.
He wanted to tell Xena that he was in love with her.

The two stopped walking and made eye contact. Xena didn't know why, but she
also began to fall in love with the young warrior. She tried to fight it,
but it was no use.

Stanides made up a response to Xena's question with the hidden message of
his love for her in it hoping that she would figure it out.

"No." Answered Stanides. "Not for a long time, but if I ever do I just hope
that she's as beautiful as you, or that it is you!" Stanides talked with a
passion in his voice and Xena realized what he was trying to tell her.

Xena was flattered by the young warrior's feeling for her since she was
also in love with him.

A few short moments went by and then the two began to get closer too each
other until they kissed and
Stanides held Xena tightly.

After a while Stanides and Xena were sitting on a log with their arms
around each other and Gabrielle returned.

"I'm back!" Called out Gabrielle.

Xena and Stanides quickly separated and put a normal expression on their
faces so Gabrielle wouldn't suspect anything happened while she was gone.

"There are too many guards at the front entrance. There's no way we could
get pass them." Said Gabrielle as the three began to walk.

"Oh?" Said Xena trying to act normal.

"Yeah. Even if we could we wouldn't be able to get too far in Ares' temple
and get the stone without more confrontations inside." Said Gabrielle as
she finished her report.

"Un huh!" Said Xena again.

"Do you two know anything about the back entrance?" Asked Gabrielle
confused about why they were acting so strange.

"Ah...well...no, but we will. We just decided to it wait for you so you
wouldn't miss out on all the...fun!!" Said Stanides as he also tried to act
normal.

Gabrielle suspected something funny was going on, but she decided to forget
it and concentrate on their mission.

Night fell upon the land so the three warriors set up camp to rest.

Stanides couldn't sleep that night so he just sat up and thought.

Stanides looked over at Gabrielle and saw that she was shivering due the
cold night and also because her cover was only long enough to reach her
thigh.

Stanides felt compassion for her so he walked over and fixed her blanket so
it would cover her a little better, then her took his own blanket and put
it on her. His blanket was warm and long enough to cover Gabrielle up to
her neck.

After he covered up Gabrielle he took his pillow and put it under her head.
Since she was laying side ways it was easy to place the pillow to
where it would hold her head comfortably and since Gabrielle was sound
asleep she was completely unaware of what was happening.

After she was finally comfortable Stanides kneeled down by her.

"Good night kid!" Said Stanides in a low voice as he ran the tip of his
fingers through Gabrielle's hair on the side of her head.

Stanides walked over to where he was laying down before and took out
another blanket that was exactly like the one he gave Gabrielle from a bag
he had. He covered himself with that one, and went to sleep.

The next morning, Gabrielle felt the blanket and since she didn't know what
it was she sat up a little scared.

When she noticed the long, black blanket and the pillow she was confused.

She saw that there were big, white, thread letters woven on the right
corner of the blanket, so she pulled it over to read what the letters
spelled out. The letters spelled out the name, Stanides, and when she saw
this she realized who was the one who gave her a warm comfortable night.

Gabrielle looked across from her and saw Stanides sitting on a fallen tree
a few feet away facing the opposite direction and found out that underneath
his fighting heart there was also a kind person.

Gabrielle rolled up the cover and walked over to give it back to her new
friend.

"Thanks!" Said Gabrielle as she held the blanket out to him.

"Keep it!" Answered Stanides. "I have another."

Gabrielle accepted the cover and began to walk back, but she stopped and
looked back at Stanides.

"Where's Xena?" Asked Gab.

"I'm right here." Answered Xena as she walked up a trail with Argo behind
her.
"I found out that the back entrance has only a few guards. We should be
able to get past them fairly easy."

"Well, then let's go!" Said Stanides and the three started to head up the
mountain trail towards the top.

Once they were on the top the three hid behind the landscape of a steep
hill just a few feet away from the temple's back entrance.

The three looked at the guards as they tried to figure out their strategy.

"It seems that the only and best approach is the direct approach."
Whispered the young warrior seeing no other way to attack.

"He's right Xena." Said Gabrielle in a low voice.

"All right then, let's go!!" Said Xena.

Xena ran ahead of the other two and began to kill the guards.

After they were defeated more soldiers came out of the temple to fight.

"Come on! We have to help Xena!!" Said Gabrielle as she grabbed Stanides'
wrist to pull him along.

"Wait!" Said Stanides. "We can't fight them all alone, we need to go and
get help!"

Gabrielle turned to Stanides and got face-to-face with him.

"You know I'd bet this is why you don't have any friends. When someone
needs you the most, you turn your back on them and leave them in the
dust!!" Said Gabrielle upset a little angry and upset.

"Just wait here, I'll be back!" Said Stanides and began to run down the
snowy hill.

"Oohh!!" Exclaimed Gabrielle furious and went to help Xena.

During the fight Xena and Gabrielle got back-to-back.

"Where's Stanides?" Asked Xena.

"He ran away like a coward!" Answered Gabrielle still angry.

After a long fight most of the guards were killed, but the remaining
surrounded the two girls.

"Gabrielle, I thought I'd never say this, but we have to retreat!" Said
Xena and took out her chakrum. "Run down the hill!"

Xena threw her chakrum at the guards that stood in front of the hill and
the weapon cut their cheeks.
When they grabbed their cheeks and dropped their swords Gabrielle ran past
them.

Xena caught her chakrum as it returned and ran towards the wounded
soldiers.

"Alililililiya!!" Yelled Xena as she jumped over the soldiers and ran down
the steep hill.

As soon as Xena and Gabrielle reached the bottom of the hill they ran into
Stanides that stood between two trees before a forest.

"What are you doing here??" Asked Gabrielle still a little upset with him.

"You said I didn't have any friends? Well kid I'm sorry, but I'll have to
prove you wrong!" Said Stanides with a smile and turned to the forest
behind him. "Okay boys, you can come out now!!" Shouted Stanides into the
woods.

Xena and Gabrielle looked over the young man's shoulders and saw Hercules
and Iolaus run out of the forest.

"Ladies, meet my best friends!" Said Stanides with a smile.

Xena and Gabrielle hugged Hercules and Iolaus in greeting, but when
Hercules saw the soldiers coming down the hill he got serious.

"I think we'll have to finish this welcome some other time!" Said Hercules
and the five got ready to fight.

The five fought their way back up the hill and they got near to the gate of
the temple.

Hercules ducked to avoid a slash from a soldier and kicked him down. Iolaus
took out his sword and began to fight off some warriors that came out of
the temple. Xena, Gabrielle, and Stanides fought off the other warriors
using their weapons and skills.

After a little while Hercules had a problem with a warrior that had a long
spear that kept on trying to stab him. Stanides saw them and decided to
help.

"Hercules, catch!!" Called out the young man and threw a sword from one of
the defeated warriors to his friend. Hercules caught the sword, cut off
the blade from the peer, then grabbed the long stick and began to spin the
warrior around and around.

Hercules used the man as a weapon against the remaining warriors and after
they were all down he released the man sending him flying through the air
and he landed face first at the bottom of the hill.

The five smiled at the sight of their victory and gave each other a quick
congratulations.

"It's not over yet!" Said Stanides "We still have to get the sacred stone
and save the two cities!"

"Well, what are we waiting for? Come on!" Said Iolaus and the five warriors
ran into the temple's entrance.

The temple was the inside of the mountain's top so the inside looked like a
cave.

Once they reached the middle of the mountain's top they found the sacred
stone on a short pillar. Visual sun rays came down the mountain's tip and
fell upon the stone making it glow.

"Come on let's get it!" Whispered Stanides, but before he got too close
they all heard a clapping sound coming from behind them and they saw a
figure coming out of the darkness.

"Ares!" Said Hercules with a serious expression on his face.

"I must congratulate you!" Said Ares as he stepped out to where he could be
seen.
Ares clapped for a little longer and then stopped.
"You defeated my army and found the sacred stone...amazing!" Said Ares as
if was impressed with the warrior's skills, but he really wasn't.

"Let's skip the sweet talk. What do you want Ares?" Demanded Hercules.

"Just what is mine dear brother." Answered Ares. "You see since I'm the god
of war I have to cause a war, but when I do you are always there to stop
me." Said Ares as he walked around Hercules.

"That's not going to work Ares. We're not about to let the war between
these two towns continue just because of your thirst for blood!" Said
Hercules as Stanides stepped backwards towards the stone.

As Hercules and Ares discussed Stanides continued to step back closer and
closer to the stone.

When he got close enough Stanides carefully took the stone from the pillar
and put it in a small carrying pouch.

The cave grew dark since the stone's power was covered up.

Ares looked around and spotted Stanides.

"My stone!!" Snarled Ares and took a step towards Stanides, but Hercules
grabbed Ares' arms and a struggle began between the two of them.

"Get out of here!! Shouted Hercules as he and his evil half brother
struggled to get the upper hand over the other.

Iolaus, Gabrielle, Xena, and Stanides ran out of the palace and when they
were out Ares' Temple began to collapse since the stone's powers were
outside.

Hercules threw Ares down and ran outside as the temple continued to
collapse.

Ares got to his knees and screamed out in anger of being defeated and then
vanished.

The temple crumbled and when it was completely destroyed the mountain top
went back to what it looked like before Ares came.

"Come on, we have to get back to Amphipolis!" Said Stanides anxiously and
the five warriors began to run down the hill.

After the long journey back the five warriors reached Amphipolis and saw
that the fight had not ceased. Xena told Stanides what he had to do.

Stanides climbed up the outside wall holding the pouch with the stone
between his front teeth.

When he reached the top of the wall he spotted the
top of the tall pillar that was located just inside of the town's gate. On
the top of the pillar Stanides spotted a odd hole in the middle, so he took
out the stone an tried to put it in the hole and it fit perfectly.

The sacred stone released bright, white light rays that surrounded the town
breaking the force field and clearing the people's minds.

The fighting stopped and the people greeted each other with no recall of
the war.

Gabrielle, Xena, Hercules, and Iolaus smiled glad that their mission was
successful.

Stanides climbed down with a look of satisfaction.
Hercules and Iolaus shook hands. As they looked at the people, Xena and
Stanides put their arms around each other.

"You did it!" Said Xena.

"No gorgeous. WE did it!" Said Stanides and they kissed. This time it was
in front of Gabrielle, Hercules, and Iolaus.

The other three smiled seeing their friends kiss in love and Gabrielle
hugged Iolaus and Hercules to thank them.

A while later the five friends walked down a trail.

"Stanides, why didn't you tell me that Hercules was your friend?" Asked
Gabrielle.

"Well kid, remember that friend I told you about that would never settle
down?" Asked Stanides and Gabrielle nodded. "Well, that's him!"

"But, why didn't you tell me his name?" Asked Gabrielle again.

"Well kid I tried to, but we kept on getting interrupted and with all
that's been going on, who had the time?" Explained the young warrior with a
smile.

Later, before Hercules and Iolaus left, Gabrielle walked over to Stanides.

"Stanides, Xena and I talked it over and we want you to stay with us." Said
Gabrielle with a smile.
"I think she's finally found someone she truly loves and I've found someone
who will take care of me like a big brother."

"I'd love to stay with you! Answered the young warrior with a smile.

A little while later Hercules and Iolaus got ready to leave and Stanides
left his horse under the care of his friends.

"Stanides, will you ever be with us again?" Asked Iolaus holding the rings
of Stanides' horse.

"Ofcourse I will!" Answered Stanides. "We will always fight side-by-side, I
will just stay two weeks with Xena, then two weeks with you two and then
back with Xena, on and off like that so I won't have to leave one or the
other."

"Okay, but how will you find us?" Asked Iolaus.

"The same way people do when they need your help." Answered Stanides. "I'll
ask around."

The five smiled as Hercules and Iolaus shook Stanides' hand, hugged
Gabrielle and Xena, and left. Then Stanides, Xena, and Gabrielle turned
around and began to walk.

"You know what Stanides?" Asked Gabrielle.

"What?" Asked the young warrior as he walked between Xena and Gabrielle.

"I know I can really trust you now!" Said Gabrielle with a warm smile.

"I have always trusted you. Said Stanides. "You know what kid? I proved you
wrong. You ARE a nice person!"

"I think you and I are going to become good friends!" Said Gabrielle with a
smile.

"Sorry to prove you wrong again kid, but we already ARE great friends!"
Said Stanides to Gabrielle as he put his arms around her and Xena.

Xena, Gabrielle, Stanides, and Argo walked down a trail very similar almost
exactly like the one where the three first met, except that this time there
were no thives to stop or stall them from their destination, next mission,
or their next adventure.

THE
END

E-mail Stanley Palmer

Return to XenaCrazed's General Fan Fiction and Poetry

Go to the Absolutely XenaCrazed Home Page