AresJoxerCupidStrife - Kate

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters used in this story. Ares belong to Greek mythology and Joxer belongs to Renaissance pictures.

Title: The Champion comes
Author: Kate
Pairing: A/J, C/S (Implied for now)
Warnings: Uhm, just mentions of M/M relationship. Nothing graphic yet.
Rating: Somewhere between PG-15 and R (For scenes of destruction)
Archive: AresJoxerCupidStrife, Triple Threat, and Shadow Space and anyone else who wants it. Just let me know so I can find it.
Lyrics: Sorry, no lyrics for this one. That's the next one.
Symbols: {} means Ancient Greek at least until the next story



Hercules stared at the man who'd caught his fist in shock. He'd known that there were people who would try to stop him. But he'd never met someone who actually could. Hercules looked at the man who'd caught his arm, as did Joxer. Joxer realized Will must have cycled out of the armor for a while because he was facing Hercules as a human. He was doing a damn good job of it too.

"If I were you," Will told them, "I'd be leaving and let the man visit this place in peace." Hercules sneered at the mortal foolish enough to try to stop them and prepared to take a swing at him. Will rolled with the punch that was thrown and then threw a punch back at Hercules. Hercules, for the first time in his existence, knew pain from a mortal's fist.

"I don't know who you are mortal," Hercules sneered, "But no one gets in the way of the Light."

"My parish priest has been telling me that for years," Will shot back. "I didn't listen to him either." Will took a deep breath before issuing a challenge he knew Hercules wouldn't be able to ignore. He had no idea he was listening to the voice of the God of War in his heart.

"You want to fight in the name of God, be my guest. I'll fight you. But don't you ever threaten my boss again when this is done."

"Oh," a new voice sneered, "And what are you? Their new champion?"

Will looked behind Hercules to see a blond girl standing next to the youngest girl holding a quarterstaff. A closer look revealed sai daggers in her boots. Will just gave them a colder look than anyone in Limbo had ever seen on his face.

"If that's what I have to be to fight you all, then yes. I am their champion." Joxer winced inwardly knowing Will had just bonded himself to the service of War and Peace but he didn't look at all upset about it. Will seemed to Joxer's perspective to be glowing the blue color that went with the House of War.

/How in Hades name? / Joxer questioned himself as he realized Will had been marked as a chosen of the Gods.

Joxer wondered who would have marked Will for that service when his file said he was catholic, although, come to think of it, Will did not wear a cross and he'd never been to one of the services on Hawk Haven. And just a minute ago, hadn't he told Hercules that he'd ignored his parish priest and worshipped his own way?

"So," Hercules said bringing Joxer's attention back to the standoff in front of him. "You want a fight mortal?"

"Trust me Sampson," Will said in reference to Hercules strength as he did not yet know the name of the man he was facing, "This wont be a fight. At least it's not to me. Maybe it will be to you all though. This is going to be a warm up."

Joxer watched his introverted sergeant catch another of Hercules' punches. Catch and absorb the force from the strike. Joxer watched the fight as Will and Hercules continued to trade blows.

"Don't you know who I am?" Hercules asked as Will knocked him to the ground for the fifth time.

"No," Will replied. "But I'm sure you're going to tell me. People as impressed with themselves as you four are always tell people who you are like they should know, or as if they'd want to know. Even if they'd rather not."

"I am Hercules," Hercules said arrogantly. "The strongest man in the world."

"You seem pretty lacking in the muscle department to me," Will shot back as he ducked Gabrielle's staff. "What? You can't fight me face-to-face Jerkules? You have to have your little girl friends take shots at my back?"

Joxer was shocked by the attitude Will was showing. Normally Will was the quiet one. Joxer wondered what had set him off with Hercules and company. It's not like he knew them. Or what they had done. He watched Will shoot his right hand out and take the staff from Gabrielle. He knew that Will was going to feel that after the adrenaline wore off. He also saw a mark on Will's wrist where the wristband part of the armor he usually wore was.

The mark was for the House of War. "Where did he get that?" Joxer asked himself as Will body slammed Hercules to the ground. Will continued to Spar hard with Hercules. At least, Joxer knew it was Sparring to Will. To Hercules, it was a real fight.

"So," Will said as he let Hercules get up again. "You ready to call it quits or do I have to do the one thing I promised myself and the man who taught me the ways of the Shaman I wouldn't do unless it was do or die?"

Hercules snarled and lunged at Will. "They always pick the hard way," Will said to himself. He waited for Hercules to come at him again as he ducked under the lunge. "What is it with you? You think I'm just going to stand still?"

Joxer knew that was exactly what Hercules was used to: people standing still for him. Will, on the other-hand, he was seeing a whole new side to.

"I wont tell you again," Will said as he smacked Gabrielle. "Let the man be!" Joxer watched as Gabby hit the rock wall from the force of Will's openhanded slap. Xena lunged at him now and Will ducked her punch. "And do you have a name that I should know too?" Will asked her.

"I'm Xena. The woman you just hit is Gabrielle."

"And she is?" Will asked. "

"You don't know who we are? Didn't Joxer tell you about the friends he betrayed?"

"He betrayed you? You're the ones who can't accept that things change." Will told Xena as he braced for her next attack. He avoided most of her swings and ducked her sword.

"So, what bug crawled up your ass and said murder was okay?" Will asked her.

"The gods were evil, the had to go so the Light could take over!" Eve cried. Will turned on her with a cold fury.

"You're 'Light' caused me years of hell because I'm an empathic telepath. Fuck what it wants you spoiled, murderous, evil, little bitch!"

Joxer backed up as the rage in Will's ice went to ice gray. Joxer knew that meant trouble.

"I would rather have Gods I know are there than listen to a god only one man is supposed to be able to hear! A god who condones people butchering people who also believe in him like a giant goddamned Chess Game! I'm sickened by any God who would take pleasure in his own followers butchering each others children!"

Joxer watched Eve retreat under the rage from Will as his sergeant turned back to Hercules who was getting up. Gabrielle was still out of it from hitting the rock wall. He could see whatever rage had held Will settling finally but Hercules was still spoiling for a fight. Will turned to the Commander and the Wall he was standing in front of and spoke in a language he should not have known.

{Hail Ares, God of War. I, your follower, recognize and submit to your power.}

Hercules stared in shock as the cave entrance revealed itself briefly in a flash of golden light. His jaw was broken as well as a few ribs and he was missing teeth.

{Welcome, my Champion. Savior of Olympus.} Ares voice spoke.

Title: The Champion Comes part 2
Author: Kate R.
Pairings: A/J C/P
Rating PG-13 (So far)
Warnings: Some sap. Some destruction
Summary: We've been over that before.
A.N. Chatterbox belongs to Detia. I just got her permission for the parts in Ancient Greece.
{} Means Ancient Greek n the present time settings
The Champion Comes Part 2: Explanations

"I'm What?!" Will asked as they entered the cave leaving the dazed four outside. He looked at the big man dressed all in black leather who sprawled across a throne in the back of the cave.

"You're my champion," Ares said. "And the one who can save Olympus. You were prophesied by the fates."

"Uh, I'm not...I can't be…" Will stammered. He'd calmed down from the rage outside but now he was back to the reserved man that kept most of his opinions to himself in Hawk Haven. Joxer sighed and pushed Will towards a chair that Ares had made for him. Joxer took his own seat next to Ares.

"Maybe we should explain." Joxer said to him as the image of Commander Stargazer faded to reveal that of Joxer the Mighty. Ares nodded and waved his hand making some food for them. Will watched the man he'd known as Commander for the past few years as he settled against the leather wearing man seated next top him. Will hoped they would explain this to him.

"This is Ares, Will," Joxer told him. Will inclined his head to the commander as he waited for further answers. "I didn't know it was you when you came to Hawk Haven," the commander said.

"Sorry, know what was me?" Will asked confused.

"We've been waiting for a Champion for a very long time Will," Joxer said. "When I saw you catch Hercules' fist outside I was surprised to say the least. Then when you fought him uhm, why did you fight him anyway?"

"He threatened you," Will answered quietly. "I don't like bullies."

"Well, you need to know what we have to tell you. It might help you understand yourself," Joxer told Will. Will nodded and waited. He knew the answers were coming.

"A long time ago," Ares began. "The gods of this world, while not the best, or the most perfect, did a job, served a function. A function Hercules, Xena, Gabrielle, and Eve refused to believe. They attacked and destroyed the people's faith in the gods and from the chaos in the aftermath of that rose the Light. You cursed it out there. Anyway, the Light and its followers sought to destroy the only Pantheon that did not bow to them. Ours. They sent Hercules, Xena, Gabrielle and Eve to do it for them. The first time, I saved them from hell. I was deaf…I am deaf so hells screams and torments do not affect me. Hercules deafened me. He did not know that would be what allowed me to save my family. Joxer here found me when I was deafened and taught me to read lips and he healed my wings so I have them again. Xena cut one off. That's what my most grievous injury was. I had to be hidden here to heal the damage. And to wait for a Champion to come. A champion marked by all houses on Olympus. My house's mark is the strongest because my nephew Strife was guiding you out there with my voice."

As Ares spoke, Will began to see images of what happened in his mind.

He saw: Hercules attacking and deafening Ares in a town square.

He saw: The Angels of the Light which Will saw a darkness around, attacking and damning the gods of the old pantheons.

He saw: Ares meeting Lucifer himself in combat for his family. Meeting him in combat and winning. Thus freeing his family.

He saw: Xena and the others form outside attacking the gods before they were fully recovered and he watched the damage Ares suffered to save his family.

Will saw other things in the images. The man he now knew as Joxer but who would always be his commander had healed Ares. And, now that he thought about, him as well.

"What do you need from me?" Will asked quietly after a few moments of thought. What can I do?"

"You can go back and change some of what happened Will. You can stop the worst of the twilight," The commander said to him. Will just looked at him doubtfully. He'd never thought of himself as anything special. He was just Will.

"You can you know," Ares told him as he read the thoughts coming from the Mortal Champion. "You would not have been chosen otherwise. Tell me young man, where did you learn the Way of the Shaman? Why did you learn that particular path?"

Will looked at Ares confused. Come to think of it, Grandfather had never told him why he had to learn that path. Just that it was important. And after Will had walked out of church before confirmation, he knew he needed to find something.

"When you walk the ways, Will," the commander began. "You see things that are of the past and things that could be. You can change what has happened Will. And you can see what needs to be changed."

"You two honesty think I can do this?" Will asked. He would try, he knew that already, but he was afraid he'd fail miserably.

"Yes," Joxer said. "We are certain you can do this. Remember to have Faith in yourself Will. That's the Key to this. Faith and Truth."

"Joy," Will muttered to himself. "I'm going to need someone to go with me. If for nothing else than company."

"How about Chatterbox Will?" Joxer asked knowing Will had to be the only human displaced in time but nothing said he couldn't take the talking Cyber parrot with him. Will shrugged. He and Chatts got on fairly well, and Chatts would be good company for this trip.



"Chatts would be good," Will said. "Just so long as I'm not alone for however long this takes. What do I have to change?"

"We aren't sure," Ares said. "But we think its Hercules becoming a soldier for that group of conformists."

"I'll try," Will said s he looked out the mouth of the cave at the sunset. "I'll go sir. Just call Chatts and I guess you have to do some god trick so I look like I belong there." Ares chuckled and waved his hand. Will found himself dressed in leather pants and a leather vest over a white shirt. Ares handed Will a necklace.

"When the time comes, give this to Zeus so he knows who you are," Ares said to him as Chatterbox appeared with Sapphire.

"You called commander?" she asked seeing him as Stargazer rather than as Joxer.

"I did," he replied. "I would like you to lend Chatterbox to Will for a mission he's undertaking for me."

"Where's he going? The renaissance?" Sapphire asked.

"No, Sapphire, he's doing something for me in another time and I want him to A) have help and B) not be lonely. I figure Chatterbox could help him in this mission. Chatterbox is ideal for this actually."

"You're sure? Chatterbox?" Sapphire asked not exactly comfortable with her bird going as far away as the commander was implying. Especially knowing the kind of trouble Chatterbox caused without even trying, but she was unwilling to say anything. "All right but if he makes a mess--" Sapphire left the threat hanging and Chatterbox gulped. He flew to Will's arm and the two then waited to be sent wherever they were going.

Sapphire mused this would keep him out of the governor's line of fire until the Bedlamian cooled down after Chatts had run Seymour's cab into the administration building during a speech.

"Thank you Sapphire," The commander said. Sapphire nodded and went back Shadow walked back to Limbo. The Commander looked at Ares then at Will. "Good Luck to you sergeant. Believe me you will need it."




He'd been in Greece for a month or so before he met the heroes. He was a repairman of sorts around Corinth. He fixed temples that were broken; he fixed things at the smithy. Things like cooking pots and weapons. Will had always good at fixing things. He was working on a knife when heard a voice singing. He knew that voice and that song. He and Joxer had repaired Hades' shrine together just last week.
"What's broken this time, Jox?" he asked over his shoulder. He heard the laugh as his friend came up to him. So different from the man he knew in his own time and Will hoped to keep him as innocent as possible.
"Ares Temple took a beating and the Shrine on the road north---Again," Joxer said. "They also totaled one of Aphrodite's temples but I blame that on Gabrielle. She wrecked Artemis' too. Said something about no female divinities."
"Shit," Will muttered in his own language. Joxer had long ago figured out what he said in what he called The Queen's English was never nice and almost always rude or vulgar.
"Let me finish this and we'll get to work. Hi Chatts. What'd you see up there today?"
The talking cyber parrot, which had amazed Joxer the first time he spoke looked at Will.
"He isn't kidding about the messes, hombre," the bird said. Artemis, Athena and Aphrodite all need major rebuilding. Hades' Shrine is an almost total loss and Ares' Temple needs serious repairing."
"Sonuvabitch," Will muttered as he finished the knife he was repairing. He sighed, banked the fire in the forge and picked up his building tools. He and Joxer then headed down to where the worst of the damage was. Aphrodite's temple. Will muttered several words in what Joxer knew to be Queen's English and Chatterbox just snickered. Will heard the voice of someone he looked at Joxer for the identity of.
"Gabby. Saying how evil sex is," Joxer said. Will nodded and made his way to the front of the crowd.
"You shouldn't want sex unless it's for The Way," she said. Will shook his head and walked up the steps to her.
"And who are you to tell these people what they should and should not want? DO you know their hearts and minds? No. I think you need to sit down and shut up and stop trying to run everyone else's lives when you completely screw up your own. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to repair the damage you've done here and at every other temple in this city. Please go away now. And don't try to force your beliefs on everyone else. It never works."
"But I'm right," She said shrilly. Will looked at her long and hard.
"For yourself? Maybe. For everyone else here? No, you aren't. You don't know what is best for them. You know what you think is best but that does not make you right. Now, go away and keep you snotty, upturned nose out of everyone else's business. They have the right to worship as they choose. If your way were so Peaceful and accepting then you'd respect their right to choose and not scream if they don't choose your way. Now, let me get to work repairing the damage you've caused. I have to do Artemis, Athena, Hades and Ares and anyone else you've destroyed as well so please, let me work." He dismissed her casually and went in to look at the damage. Damn, this was going to take awhile. He came back out and looked at Hercules.
"And you, Son of Zeus. The next time you break something that belongs to a member of your family, I'm going to break you. You do not have the right to destroy things just because your family is too busy keeping the world on an even keel to answer your petulant little country idiot whining. Jox? You staying to help?"
"Don't I always?" the warrior said as he helped Will begin to sort through the mess for what was salvageable. The town paid Will to fix the temples and such that the heroes broke so he really didn't need to worry about the money part of life but he hated this destruction out of spite. He and Joxer would spend at least a week going through this mess and repairing everything in this temple. He was dreading Hades and Ares' temples. Those always required three weeks each. Will sighed as he worked next to Joxer. Athena was going to be a mess. Good thing he had memorized those scrolls. Him and Chatts. Will and Joxer sorted the mess and glanced up when Aphrodite herself appeared. "Lady," Will said respectfully as he worked. He was clearing up what had been a statue.
"This I can fix," he told Joxer. Aphrodite smiled at him watery.
"Thank you," she said. "From all of us, thank you for telling off Gabrielle. You don't know how many people in that crowd were glad someone defended their right to choose their own gods. And we'd also like to thank you for what you do for our temples after the heroes come through town."
"No big," he answered. "I'm good at fixing things."
"He leaned forward to pick up something and the pendant Ares had given him fell out of his shirt. Aphrodite grabbed it and then really looked at him.
"You're the Champion? How did you get here?"
"Ares sent me," he answered as he kept working. "I'll tell you all about it once I get your temples finished. I hate starting something and not finishing it."
"Oh, okay. Can I tell the others you're here?"
"If you want. Makes no difference to me. I would have to see them soon anyway. I just haven't had time to do it."
"Actually, you have," she told him. "Every time you fix something that belongs to our people, you see us. You're different. At first you didn't accept anything for fixing things and now you only take what you need to keep you and your bird and occasionally Joxie here alive. It makes you special. Lots of us like you."
"Uh---thanks," Will said as he pulled the torn altar cloth. "I can try to fix this but no promises."
"I can fix that myself. Oh, hi Cupid," she said as Will turned sensing the other two gods appear. One he knew was Cupid. The other he guessed was Strife.
"Cupid, this is Will. He's The Fixer the town calls him. He's gonna be working on the temples Herc and them trashed this time."
"Planning on rebuilding Hades'. It needs to be set up better," Will said softly as he pulled more pots and such. He cold re-plant the flowers and such. Chatterbox was getting the supplies Will needed to fix the walls and the statues. "This may take a few days, Aphrodite," Joxer said. "Maybe you should get a temporary shrine set up somewhere?"
"Nuh-uh. I'll be here fixing what you two can't. If you're gonna be here for that long, the least I can do is stay around and get food and stuff for you."
Thanks," Will said as Chatts came back with the confirmed list for the temples and Will wrote it down and gave it to Chatts to take to the village lumber and marble people. He sent a few things to the Glass Blowers and Weapons Smiths as well. He hoped they were willing to help.
Chatts was back in an hour with answers from everyone in the affirmative. The supplies would be by the temples on the days he was working on them starting with several loads of wood being sent to Aphrodite's now. The candle makers would be sending things as well. Will was impressed. It seemed that all it took was one person caring.
He'd gotten the Shrine to Hades active again just by going there a few times and cleaning that up. That was actually where he'd met Joxer the first time. Joxer was trying to set an offering and only had his last candle. Will had a box he was bringing and had given one to Joxer to make his prayers and then Joxer ahd helped him get the candle stands back up and the walls cleaned down. Joxer was impressed with what Will was doing so he started helping when Will was working on a temple and Joxer was around, he helped him.
Of course, Joxer spent most of his time in Ares' temples and normally Will would have started there for his friend but what had been done here was beyond disgusting. He and Joxer worked and all Will could think while they cleaned up the mess was: Heroes my ass.



tbc

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