A very bored Jack Stiles weaved in between the crowds of people at the marketplace. He hated shopping, especially when he knew that the French guards would get under his skin. Well, at least the hot spell had broken. The 80 degree heat felt cool compared to the 100 degree weather from the previous week.
      "Jack! Come here a minute." Emilia called to him.
      "What?" he asked, slighly annoyed, but he went to her anyway.
      "Bend down a bit." she instructed him. Jack was too annoyed at having to be shopping to think of somthing witty to say. Emilia smoothed his somewhat disheveled hair down. "You've got hathair," she smiled.
   Jack grinned, his bad mood broken. The Daring Dragoon had made fools out of the Frenchies not twenty minutes ago. They had been trying to arrest a poor couple who couldn't afford the high taxes imposed on them. He was jarred from his thoughts as he heard the screams of Helena, a kind older lady and one of the merchants.
      "Stop theif!" Jack saw a figure take off running from the cart. The figure was cloaked in a grey hooded robe. Jack knew he woulndn't have time to change into his Dragoon outfit, so he just took off running. He chased the figure throughout the marketplace and finally cornered him down a narrow alley that happened to be a dead end. The figure pulled out a grappling hook and attempted to escape, but there was no place for the hook to catch. "Alright, hold it right there pal!" Jack ordered. Jack grabbed the figures shoulders and forced him to face front. Emilia came running behind him. Jack pulled down the hood of the figure and starred. He was looking into the face of a man who was his mirrior image, complete with a scar on his chin. The only diference was that this man had a mustache and goutee. Under the robe the man wore black leather boots, black pants, and a green tunic.
           For a moment Jack and the stranger just looked each other up and down and mirrored each other's movements. "Who the heck are you?" Jack asked finally.
      "Who am I?" the stranger was incredulous. "Don't you know the King of Thieves when you see him?"
      "King of Thieves?" Jack frowned. "Never heard of ya. Hey, Em, are you all right?" Jack finally noticed how silent his partner had been. Receiving no answer, he turned to look at her. "Em?"Emilia had fainted upon seeing the replica of Jack.
      "She must have been stunned by my extraordinarily good looks," the man said, playing with his mustache.
      "Sure, whatever." Jack bent down and scooped Emilia in to his arms. "Look, you have to return that," Jack nodded to the bag the man had taken from the old lady.
      "Hey, Autolycus never returns anything-- unless there's a good reason!"
      "Would that be a good one enough for you?" Jack nodded down the street where a bunch of French soldiers were coming towards them.
      "Hah! They won't get me!" Autolycus scoffed and, before Jack knew what he was doing, threw his grappling hook and swung away. "Yo-de-lay-hee-hoo!!"
    Brogard lifted his gun and shot at Autolycus, narrowly missing him as Autolycus swung to safety. Seeing that he missed, Brogard lowered the gun back down. "Search the island!" he ordered.
      "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll catch that filthy thief," Emilia told Brogard.
      "Oui! He will pay for his crimes." The French soldiers left the scene, heading in the direction that Autolycus had swung. Jack and Emilia were both still a little shocked at Jack's double.
      "We have to find him!" Jack exclaimed. "No way am I gonna let that trigger happy lunatic excute another person."
      "Jack, remember, he IS guilty of theft. I don't want him to be killed either but he does deserve to be punished."
   They continued the concersation as they made their way back home. As they entered the house, they didn't see Autolycus sitting on the roof.
      "Well Auto, a fine mess you've got into. You've wound up in a strange place with people who dress funny and carry strange noise-makers. Plus, you find someone who looks exactly like you! Although he certainly doesn't have that Autolycus charm!," he sat talking to himself. He opened the bag he had stolen carefully and pulled out a bright green object. It was a seashell painted green! "Oh Hades!" he mumbled. "This isn't the Cronos Stone!"
     Jack and Emilia continued to search  for the thief.
   Jack sat down and muttered "I give up!"
      "Oh Jack!" Em rolled her eyes. "C'mon! We can't give up now!"
      "Oh c'mon Em!! Can't a guy take a break for a while?!" Jack whined.
      "Fine! We'll take a short break."
   JC flew by them and then saw someone strange sitting on their roof. He immediatly reported it to Jack and Emilia.
      "Well, I guess we didn't search "high" and low! Hmmm...Let's surprise him, attack him, and get the thing that he stole,"  Jack said.
   Autolycus meanwhile was muttering and cursing under his breath. "Ah! I can't believe this! I'm the one that was suppose to trick people and everything! Not the other way around!"
   Jack and Emilia climbed up on to the roof and snuck up behind the thief. "Freeze! Slowly turn around, drop the item you stole, and place your hand where I can see them!" Jack stuck out his sword. Autolycus turned around, he dropped the bag, and stuck his arms on the air. "Now look, I don't usually do this, but return the what you stole and you're free to go! Don't worry, we won't tell anyone about this! You have my word! Cross my heart, hope to die! Stick a needle in my eye!" Jack tried to be reasonable, but the thief was not responding. "So, just return the item, and everybody will be--"
      "Good work Jaque! Get him!"  Brogard and his army suddenly surrounded the place.
   Autolycus glared at Jack. He mouthed what Jack said and took his finger, crossed his chest, and took his finger and placed it in his eyeball. "Perfect!" Jack said sarcasticly. "I told this theif he can trust me, and Brogard just HAD to come! Now I'll die, while I have to stick a needle in my eye!"
      "Jack, what are you waiting for?" Brogard called when Jack failed to attack Autolycus.
      "Actually Brogey, everything is under control!" Jack grabbed the stolen item and tossed it and one of Brogard's soldiers caught it. "Our thief had a change of heart. Everything is fine!"
   Brogard stiffened. "Yes, well, since we have the stolen property, everything is." He glared up at Autolycus. "You are free to go this time, but next time.."
      "Yeah, I know," Autolycus called down.
       When the French finally left, Jack and Emilia convinced Autolycus to come down from the roof. Autolycus knew he was beaten and didn't protest. Besides, they had just saved his life. Once on the ground, the questions came. "Who exactly are you anyway?" Autolycus asked.
       "Stiles, Jack Stiles! Who are you, buddy?" Jack asked with a suspicous look on his face.
   The man gave a low bow and replyed "Autolycus, King of Theves!" Em pushed through from behind Jack. Before she could say anything, Autolycus grabbed her hand and kissed it softly. "And who is this,Stiles Jack Stiles?"
      "Emilia Rothschild. Pleased to make your aquatance, Mr. Autolycus" Emilia replied
      "The plesure is all mine," the thief replied "Call me Autolycus."
      "Look"Jack cut in, "I hate to break up this little love fest but we'd better get inside, Em. Its getting knida dark!"
      "Why your right Jack! We were so busy! Where did the day go?" Emilia replied "and of coure you will be coming in as well, Autolycus."
      "What ever you say, ma'am." Autolycus said.
   As Auto and Em walked off arm in arm, Jack trailled behind them. "I dont like him at all"Jack thought "something weird about him!"
   Deep down inside, Jack was deeply wounded at seeing Autolycus and Emilia walk off arm-in-arm. "What's he got that I haven't?" he thought. "Well, Emilia's favor for one thing." Jack recalled that Emilia was still a little mad at him for blowing up her last experiement the day before. Jack hadn't meant for it to happen, it had been purely by accident.
   Once inside the house, the three sat in the living room to talk. "So Autolycus, where are you from? I haven't seen you around here before." Emilia asked.
      "Well, my career has me travel around alot, so I'm never really in one place for too long. But I was born in the town of Parnassus."
      "Yeah Em, being a theif would make him have to move around alot. Unless he is in jail." Jack muttered.
      "Hey, there isn't anything in the world that can hold me prisoner!" Autolycus shot back defensively. "Why I remember the time that a warlord bound me in chains with 200 of the best locks. I was out of them within a half an hour!"
      "This Parnassus you speak of, where is that?" Emilia asked, moving the conversation away from fighting.
   As Emilia talked intently with their guest, Jack was able to walk out of the room without her even noticing. He decided to go out in the garden and sulk. He sat down on one of the lawn chairs by the tulips and he picked up a stick and drew in the soft soil. "This Autolycus is a real problem," Jack thought to himself. "I gotta find a way to get rid of him so I can have Emilia back."

   Meanwhile, at the governor's mansion, Croque and Napoleon sat staring at the strange green stone in front of them. Brogard stood silently, guarding the door. The stone glowed slightly.
      "What is it?" Croque asked his brother. "I'm not quiet sure yet, but my best scientits assure me that it has some kind of magical power. They're not sure what, but once they are, I'll harness the power and unleash it on the world!" Napoleon said in his I-am-going-to-take-over-the-world voice.
     Croque reached for the stone and received a slap on the hand from Napoleon. "No one touches this rock except for me!" the Emperor swore and he grabbed it. In a blinding flash of green light, Napoleon suddenly vanished.
      "Brother?" Croque stuttered when he could see again. He looked around the office and out the window, but he did not see Napoleon anywhere. "Strange..."
   Just then there was another flash of blinding green light and Napoleon reappeared, dressed in 1600's armor. Croque stared. "Brother, what happened?" he asked after a moment.
      "You wouldn't be able to understand if I told you," Napoleon said finally as an evil light came in to his eyes. "Ha-ha! I know what I am going to do now!" Napoleon held up the stone again. Nothing happened. He stared at the stone a moment and then held it up again and closed his eyes. Again nothing. "Come on, work!" he cried.
      "My dear brother, what are you doing?"
      "I am trying to go back in time," Napoleon answered.
      "What?!" Croque could not believe it. He started to laugh. "It's not funny! It's the truth!" Napoleon swore. Croque continued to laugh. Infuriated, Napoleon started for the governor, still holding on to the stone. Just as his head was about to meet Croque's stomach, another blinding light of green flashed and he disappeared once more.
   Croque stopped laughing. "Maybe he's right," he said after a moment and waited for Napoleon to return just as he had before. But he did not. "All right, Napoleon, this isn't funny. Stop playing games with me." Croque looked around the office again and out the window thinking that maybe his brother had appeared outside again. "Oh no!"

*******************************

      "Let me get this straight. You are saying that you are from Greece, that you know Hercules and this warrior woman Xena?" Emilia questioned Autolycus. A few hours had passed since the thief had been brought in to Emilia's home, and a half hour at most since Autolycus had finally revealed where he was from, and he had mentioned knowing at least one figure from popular Greek mythology. Emilia and Jack didn't know if he were telling the truth or if he was just insane. Jack leaned toward the latter while Emilia was more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
      "Yeah. You mean you never heard of them?" Autolycus asked.
      "Well, we never heard of you!" Jack retorted.
      "Jack!" Emilia frowned at him. "Please excuse him, Autolycus. Yes, I've heard of Hercules, but not Xena."
      "Too bad," Autolycus was suddenly sad. "She's a wonderful woman, and extremely beautiful. Like you are," he smiled at Emilia.
      "Hey pal," Jack sliced through the semi romantic atmosphere that suddenly started to form, "Hercules is a myth."
      "Well, the Fates always did say that was how the world would remember him, so I forgive you," Autolycus grinned at Jack and knew he was getting on the American's last nerve. "When I do get back to Greece, I am going to have to have a talk with the Fates about how the world remembers me. Maybe they could plan some kind of immortality for me, maybe as a character in a play or something--"
      "You speak as if the gods are real," Emilia interrupted, intrigued by the thief."And as if they are available to the people."
      "Only to the right people, my dear, and I happen to be one of the most righteous."
      "Gag me with a spoon!" Jack groaned. "That's it! Em, I'm heading over to the Drunken Pig. I can't stand this anymore."Jack got up and grabbed his jacket.
      "Jack!" Emilia's tone clearly indicated she wanted him to remain.
      "Forget it, sister. I'm outta heee-eere!"Jack slammed the door on the way out. "Lousy no-good liar! Ancient Greece my Aunt Delilah!" Jack muttered as he stormed toward the pub. He was almost to the door when Governor Croque came running up to him. Brogard was on his heels.
      "Oh, Jack! Have you seen my brother?" Croque asked, his eyes wide with worry.
      "Not lately. Why?" Jack was perplexed.
      "See Brogard! I told you! My brother has been kidnapped!"
      "Whoa there, Croquey!" Jack turned the Governor back towards him. "Now, start at the very beginning, just no do-ray-me, please."
   Croque took a deep breath and proceeded to tell Jack about the green stone and how Napoleon disappeared once and reappeared seconds later. But the second time, he did not come back.Jack listened, but he couldn't understand it so he decided to take Croque and Brogard back to Emilia's.
      "Hey Emilia!" Jack shouted once he opened the door.
      "I'm still in the parlor with Autolycus," she returned.
   Jack led Croque and Brogard in."Hey Em, listen to what Croquey here has to say," Jack nodded to the Governor. Emilia was surprised to say the least at seeing the two men in her parlor. Autolycus made a dash for the window just as Brogard recognized him.
      "The thief from today!" he shouted.
      "Captain Brogard, please!" Emilia stepped before him. "Autolycus, sit!"
   To Jack's surprise, Autolycus obeyed. "Great, she's got him trained already," he muttered.
      "Now, could you please tell me what this is all about?" Emilia continued.
      "Go ahead, Croquester, tell 'em," Jack encouraged. Croque nodded and told Emilia and Autolycus what he had told Jack and Brogard. After he had finished talking, Autolycus was heard cursing under his breath.
      "I don't see what you have to be upset about," Croque sniffed. "You just didn't lose a brother or the ruler of France."
      "No, but I did lose my ticket home," Autolycus growled.
      "You know what the stone is, don't you?" Emilia asked.
      "Of course I do! The stupid thing brought me here."
      "Does it have a name or do we just call it Stupid?" Jack quipped.
      "It's called the Chronos Stone, Mr. Smarty Pants."
      "And just what does this Chronos stone do?" Emilia asked hurriedly before Jack could reply.
      "What do you think? It allows mortals to travel through time. For the love of Zeus!" Autolycus exclaimed a moment later. "Ya know, I'm starting to wish Xena and Gabrielle were here. At least they would be trying to come up with some plan."
      "What about Hercules?" Jack snapped.
      "Well, Xena owes me big time. See I let her inhabit my body once while she tried to get  ambrosia--the food of the gods--so she could reunite her dead body and her soul." He thought a moment. "Actually, she helped me regain my title as the King of Theives with that whole statue of Pax thing, and helped me get revenge on my brother's murderer," he thought out loud. Everyone stared at him. "In any case, Xena always has better plans than Hercules. Besides, like I said, she's a beautiful woman." He was starting to wish that they would somehow magically appear to help him.
       "Brogard, I insist you arrest this man at once!" Croque demanded suddenly, pointing at Autolycus.Emilia, Jack, and Autolycus started to protest.
      "You can't be serious!" Emilia cried.
      "You can't arrest me! I haven't done anything!" Autolycus shouted.
      "Hey, he may be loco, but he's the only one with any explanation to what's happening!" Jack said.
   Croque looked at Jack. "But of course he does, and that is why he must be arrested."Jack and Emilia listened to the sudden change in the Governor's voice. Was it possible he was sounding a bit more...evil?
      "I don't see what you are getting at," Emilia said after a moment, hoping that for once in her life she was not right about something.
      "My dear Emilia, don't you see? With my brother's most unfortunate disappearance, there is no one to control France...except for his brother which is me!" Croque smirked.
      "But what about your duty here as Governor?" Jack asked not liking what he just heard.
      "Captain Brogard will take charge," Croque answered. "Camille and I will be leaving on the first ship to France."
      "Hey Croquey, what makes you think you can do better than Nappy?" Jack challenged.
      "I say I can, and I will. Brogard, take Jack away as well."
      "With pleasure!" Brogard sneered drawing his pistol.
      "And as I said earlier, you can't arrest me!" Before Brogard could react, Autolycus jumped out of the window only to be met by four other French soldiers."I hate it when this happens!" Jack and Emilia heard Autolycus mutter.
   Brogard grabbed Jack. "Come along, Messieur Stiles." Jack glanced at Emilia who could only shrug. With a sigh he reluctantly allowed himself to be led away. He only hoped that Emilia would come up with something to get him and Autolycus out of jail.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Ancient Greece...

   He could not believe it. He thought he had destroyed the thing after he and Autolycus returned to their own time, yet here was this..midget, tapped by Ares when he first appeared six months ago to lead an army and terrorize the state of Greece. So far this Napoleoneus had struck more fear into the hearts of the people than Xena had in all her years as a warlord. It must be his size, Hercules thought as he headed towards Melodia, the music capital of Greece. People do not expect to be pulverized by a little guy.
      "Hey Hercules, wait up!" Iolaus called. Hercules stopped walking and waited for his best friend since childhood and partner to catch up. "Why are we going to Melodia? I mean, wouldn't this Napoleoneus want to attack another village? Not one that might make him deaf?"
      "I guess you were too busy flirting with the barmaid last night to hear Nikolos tell us that this warlord now wants symphonies and concertos and new war tunes written in his honor," the demigod chuckled.
   Iolaus shrugged, reddening slightly. "True. Huh, I just wonder how much of Melodia will be left when they realize how tone deaf the people are."
      "All except Joxer's brother Jace. Xena told me that he was the only one who wasn't that."
      "Great. So this is basically a protect Joxer's family member mission?" Hercules gave him a look, one that the hunter knew all too well. "Okay, so just not him. We're going to protect him, the village, and get the Chronos Stone back from that little guy. Right. Sounds easy enough."
     "Of course. Just one of the regular days of our lives," Hercules grinned and the two friends continued on.

   Napoleon, or "Napoleoneus" as he was now known, was angry. When he had picked up the green stone again, he had hoped to end up in 1801 on the island just before he ran in to the Daring Dragoon for the first time figuring that he could discover the Dragoon's identity then and return to the present and execute whomever he discovered. But it did not work out that way. Like the first time--when he had ended up in Jamestown, 1608--he had no control over his destination. He ended up in Greece, apparently during the time of ancient gods, warlords, and kings--and it was very different from what he had learned in world history. Still, it was a time in which he could exist very well if he could speak the language. He tried several times to communicate with the locals, but it was all Greek to him and he never studied the language. After a week he decided to use the stone again, but before he could, Ares, the God of War came to him and enabled him to speak the language and to understand what was being said. In return, Ares wanted Napoleon to lead an army and unite Greece in any way possible. Once he had done that, he would then go and conquer the world.
      "Yeah, I guess I can do that," Napoleon had said.
      "You better," Ares warned.
      "Or what? I have this," Napoleon held up the stone.
      "The Chronos Stone!" Ares gasped. "The last man who had it...Autolycus! Ooooh, when I get my hands on that thief!"
      "So..somebody from your time ended up in mine. Well, no problem. We'll just switch places for a while."
      "I could send you back to your own time and return that cad here," Ares commented.
      "I suppose you could, but then you would never get this stone. Yes, I know you want it and have wanted it ever since Hercules refused to give you one of its pieces years ago."
   Ares stared at Napoleon. After a moment, his mouth curled into an amused grin and the God of War started to laugh. "You know, you might actually be what this country needs. I'll see you around, Napoleon," and with that the god disappeared.
      "I'll just bet," Napoleon muttered.
   Now it was six months later. Napoleon was planning an attack on Melodia if the people could not come up with songs and symphonies that would glorify him. He had hoped to get there when Xena was in town holding the contest with Terpsichore's Lyre as the prize. At least then he might have been able to help stall something that the gods were afraid of. But Ares had said to let her be, which made Napoleon suspect that the God of War had the hots for the Princess Warrior, as she was known throughout the land. Xena was not the reason he was angry. For the first time in a few months, Napoleon was actually homesick, but he could not bring himself to use the stone. He still did not understand how to use its powers and he was afraid that if he used it, he would just get lost in another time period, maybe even in the dinosaur age.
      "General Napoleoneus, sir!" an orderly entered his tent.
      "Yes, Calydonis?" Napoleon briefly looked up.
      "Sir, my scouts have seen Hercules and someone else approaching," the man reported.
      "Ah, I see. Very good. Prepare the trap," Napoleon ordered."Yes, sir," Calydonis saluted and left.
   A split second later, Ares appeared. "You know, it might be a good idea for you to leave my half-brother alone."
      "Afraid I can't beat him, Ares?" Napoleon asked.
      "Xena couldn't. And my warlords before her couldn't--"
      "They were not as smart as I am. He will not stop me. I will carry out your plan," Napoleon swore.
      "Fine. Just don't be surprised when he messes up your plan and defeats you. And I will be saying 'I told you so!' from on high!"
      "Whatever, Ares."
   Ares stood there for a moment; the smug look on Napoleon's face really got to him. Oh well, there were other people out there ready to be touched by him. And besides, times were changing. Ares vanished without a word, leaving Napoleon staring at the Chronos Stone.

Back in 1801...

   Jack and Autolycus were shoved in to the jail cell and the metal door slammed shut behind them.
      "I do hope you enjoy your stay here," the two heard Brogard sneer.
      "Well, one thing's for sure, the public relations here haven't improved!" Jack quipped.
      "We're not here for a little private holiday, Jack!" Autolycus growled.
   Jack shuddered. "I'd surely hope not! You aren't my type!"
      "Ha, ha, ha! Very funny!" Autolycus turned away from the American and scanned the jailhouse. The Frenchmen were gone, yet the thief could still hear them outside. "No problem," he said after a moment. Reaching in to his vest, he pulled out several tools, one by one, disgarding each until he found what he was looking for.
   Jack watched him, amazed. "Just how much stuff do you have in there?" he asked.
      "Only the very necessaries," Autolycus replied as he got to work on unlocking the door.
      "Autolycus, I've got an even faster way for you to get out of here," a familiar voice said. Jack and Autolycus turned and saw a very muscular man with sandy colored hair and blue eyes standing outside the cell window.
      "Hercules?!" Autolycus could not believe his eyes. "What are you doing here? How did you get here?"
      "That's Hercules?" Jack sounded skeptical.
      "Kind of a long story that I can make short in just a moment," Hercules answered. Grabbing on to the bars on the window, he pulled and the wall started to crack. A few seconds later, there was a hole in the jail wall.
   Jack looked at the "window" in Hercules' hands. "Wow."
      "Okay, Big Guy, so what's the deal?" Autolycus demanded. "I don't see any Chronos Stone, so I don't know how you got here--"
      "I am a god," Hercules interrupted.Autolycus and Jack blinked.
      "A god?" Jack echoed as Autolycus said, "No way! The Hercules I know isn't a god!"
      "The Hercules you know isn't me yet," the Hercules before them explained.
      "What?" Jack was completely lost.
      "How?"
      "Was the Autolycus you saw when we went back in time you?" Hercules directed at the thief.
      "He was me, or at least me ten years ago..oh, I get it. You are Future Hercules and Future Hercules has been made a god, right?"
      "Exactly. And as such, I can travel through time, although I'm not supposed to."
      "So, are you the Hercules now, or...?" Jack started, trying to grasp the concept that was alluding him.
      "I am actually living in the year 2000 where I did play myself on a television show for a few years."
      "Television?" Jack and Autolycus asked.
      "Never mind. Right now I need to take Autolycus back to his own time and get Napoleon Bonaparte back here."
      "Um..Hercules, are you sure you really need to bring the little guy back here?" Jack asked.
   Hercules chuckled. "As much as I would love to say no, I can't. He belongs here like you do."
      "Captain Brogard!" the sudden yell of a French soldier startled the men and Hercules. Looking up, they saw him heading towards them with Captain Brogard and the other soldiers in tow.
      "Say, Hercules, if we're gonna go--" Autolycus started.
      "Right." Hercules looked at Jack. "Guess you're coming with us. I can drop you back on my way home. Serena is going to kill me!"
      "Whoa wait a second!" Jack started to protest, but it was too late. With a wave of his hand, Hercules, Autolycus, and Jack disappeared in a flash of blue light.
    The French soldiers were baffled. Jack, the thief, and the stranger had been standing where they were just a moment ago, but they were gone!
   Brogard seethed. "I want them found!" he growled. "Go to Madame Rothschild's first! If they aren't there like I think they will be, search the island! We must find them!"
*****************************************************************************
   Emilia had remained in the parlor after Croque and Brogard arrested Jack and Autolycus. She tried to think of all the ways possible to get her friends out of jail, but she could not think of anything.
      "Madame Rothschild! Open up!" Emilia was startled to hear Brogard pounding on her door, ordering her to open up.
   Emilia rose and went to open the door. "Captain Brogard, what is the matter?"
      "Where are Messieur Stiles and that thief?" Brogard demanded.
      "In jail, I'd presume since you took them there," Emilia replied.
      "They were, but now they are gone!"
      "Gone!? Where?"
      "I do not know, but I am guessing they may be here, oui?"
   Emilia raised her hand to her throat and frowned. "No, they aren't! And how dare you assume that I would harbor criminals in my home!"
      "Search the entire house!" Brogard commanded. With a short chorus of "Yes sir!" the French soldiers entered Emilia's home and started to search every nook and cranny, hoping to find the three men.
      "Captain Brogard, I insist you cease this foolishness!" Emilia tried to stop him again after a few minutes.
      "Sorry Madame, but I cannot rest until the criminals are found."
      "Captain!" A young soldier came rushing up. "There's nobody here."
   Brogard glanced at Emilia who smiled sweetly with "I told you so," written in her eyes. "Let's go, men. We shall find them. You can count on it!" he tossed at Emilia before shutting the door behind him.Once he was gone, Emilia flopped down onto a chair and tried to get over what just occurred.
      "Jack, where are you?" she whispered.

Ancient Greece...near Napoleoneus' camp....

      "Why does this always happen?" Iolaus groaned. He and Hercules stood back to back, surrounded by twenty of Napoleoneus' men. From the look of the evil grins on their faces, it was obvious that they had been expecting the duo for some time.
      "It doesn't always happen," Hercules retorted as the men started to attack. The demigod easily knocked the first two out before being surrounded by five more.
      "Name one time when it didn't!" Iolaus challenged, stepping to the side and allowing one soldier to rush past him. Iolaus swung and hit the man on the neck with his elbow. Three more took him on.

      "Whoa!" Jack, Autolycus, and the future Hercules materialized near Napoleoneus' camp. Jack could not believe his eyes and slowly fell to his knees. "I think I'm going to be sick!" the American groaned.
      "Shhh!" Hercules held up his hand. "Do you hear that?"Autolycus and Jack listened. They could hear the clashing of swords, thuds, and painful howls nearby."Looks like we just made it in time for the party," Hercules commented after a moment. "At this moment twenty of Napoleon's or Napoleoneus' men are attacking me and Iolaus."
      "Oh no! You mean Shorty's here?" Autolycus grimaced. He had not quite gotten over the last adventures he'd had with Hercules' best friend. "Never mind," the thief grimaced under Hercules' glare.
      "So, who wins?" Jack asked and got annoyed looks from his two companions. "What?"
      "If I recall, you two are supposed to help me," Hercules grinned.
      "Swell!" Autolycus and Jack said at the same time.
      "What about you?" Autolycus asked.
      "Oh, no. I can't help out here. My job comes later. See you then!" Before Autolycus and Jack could ask any further questions, Hercules was gone.
      "Gods!" Autolycus harumphed. "Can't live with 'em, can't live without them!"
   Jack couldn't resist a chuckle. "That's why more civilized people only have one god."
      "I've been meaning to ask about that, but not now. Guess we'd better make our grand entrance?"
      "Do we have to?" Jack asked.
      "Do you want to go home?"
      "Good point!"

      "Uhm..Herc? I don't think we can keep this up much longer!" The first ten soldiers were on the ground and not moving, yet there were ten more and others were streaming in from the camp. Things were not looking good.
      "You can do it, Iolaus!" Hercules called back encouragement.
      "You never give up, do you?" Iolaus grumbled and then chuckled slightly, "But then neither do I!" Iolaus and Hercules continued to fight.
   Suddenly a figure came running into the fray and punched left and right before getting hold of a sword. "Autolycus?" Hercules and Iolaus wondered aloud.
      "Yo-de-lay-hee-hoo!!" came a familiar yodel from the trees. Glancing up briefly, Hercules and Iolaus saw the King of Thieves swing in, taking out a group of soldiers bumped together.
      "Do you see what I see?" Iolaus asked, knocking out a few more soldiers.
      "Yup," Hercules replied getting rid of the ones who were attacking him at the moment.After a few more punches, sword swings, kicks, and painful howls, the soldiers fled and went back to their camp. Hercules and Iolaus watched them go and waited for Autolycus and Autolycus' double in funny clothing to get to them.
      "Hello Hercules," Jack greeted the demigod.
   Hercules frowned. "Autolycus from...?"
      "He's not me," Autolycus said, elbowing Jack in the ribs.
      "Hey! What was that for?"
      "He sure looks like you," Iolaus commented. "Funny clothes, though."
      "As if yours were any better!" Jack retorted. "Where are the togas?"
      "Togas? Salmoneus tried to make them fashionable, but only the strange decided to wear them," Iolaus said.
      "And no one's stranger than Salmoneus," Autolycus said seriously.
      "Except you," Iolaus and Jack quipped at the same time. The two men looked at each other in surprise and then grinned.
      "What's your name?" Iolaus asked.
      "Jack. Jack Stiles."
      "Nice to meet you Jack. I'm Iolaus and that's Hercules," Iolaus introduced himself and held out his hand. Jack shook it in a manner peculiar to the forearm grip Iolaus was used to.
      "He already knew me, Iolaus, but I didn't know him." Hercules turned to the King of Thieves. "Autolycus, you've got some explaining to do, and it had better start with how you got hold of a complete Chronos Stone considering I destroyed the one we used to get back a year ago."
      "Maybe we should go somewhere else?" Jack suggested. "Those soldiers aren't going to stay away for long."
      "Jack's right," Iolaus agreed. "We should find somewhere safe to camp for tonight."
      "You mean there are actually safe places around here?"
   Hercules glanced at Autolycus. "You're sure he isn't you?"

      "Imbeciles!" Napoleoneus roared. "You had them and you let them get away!" His subordinates coward before him.
      "But it wasn't our fault! They had help!" one of them protested.
      "From who?"
      "Autolycus and a stranger that could have been his twin!"
   Napoleoneus narrowed his eyes a moment, thinking. "I have seen reward notices for this Autolycus. Tell me about the stranger."
      "Well, he was identical in appearance, except he had on really weird clothes and he didn't have the facial hair."
   Napoleoneus nodded. "I wonder.." he mused.
**************************************************************************
      "Okay, let me get this straight," Hercules sighed. He, Iolaus, Autolycus, and Jack were sitting around a campfire, trying to make sense of the entire situation they were in. It was definitely going to be a long night. "Autolycus, you took the shards of the Chronos Stone to this scientist guy and he was able to put the stone back together? And then you ended up in--when was it again?"
      "Eighteen hundred-one," Jack supplied.
      "I still don't understand how you ended up with that," Hercules said.
   Jack shrugged. "Very few people do."
      "And you lost the stone which ended up in the hands of this monstrous midget and he ended up here," Hercules went on. "Now that raises the question on just how you two ended up here if you didn't have the Chronos Stone."
   Jack glanced at Autolycus. "Should we tell him?"
      "I don't know..it could mess up history," Autolycus shrugged.
      "What part of this isn't already messed up?" Jack gave the thief a pointed look.
      "True," Autolycus tweaked his mustache."So?"
      "You tell him."
      "I'm not going to tell him. You tell him!"
      "No!"
      "Yes!"
      "No!"
      "Yes!"
      "No, to infinity and beyond! Besides, he'll believe you more then he will me."
      "He's known you longer."
      "Jack, just tell him!"
   Jack huffed. "Fine, wimp!"
      "Baby!"
      "Enough!" Hercules had heard enough. "One of you just tell us!"
      "Well, you brought us here, or rather the future you who's a god," Jack finally explained.
      "A god?" Hercules and Iolaus echoed.
   Jack and Autolycus nodded. "He--or you--got us out of jail and kept us from being caught again," Autolycus said.
      "And then...we were dropped off during the fight you two were in earlier and we were apparently supposed to come and help you, which we did...so maybe history's playing out as it should?" Jack added.
      "Who knows?" Autolycus shrugged. "I just know I've got a terrible headache from all this."
      "That makes two of us," Jack nodded.
      "I think that makes it all four of us," Iolaus said, glancing at Hercules who had his hand resting on the side of his head. For a minute, no one said anything. Each man was lost in his own thoughts, each wondering just how they were going to defeat Napoleoneus.
      "I suggest we sleep on it," Hercules said. "Tomorrow we can figure out just how we are going to defeat Napoleoneus."

 The godling shadowed Ares' midget warrior remaining invisible and wondered, "WHY? What does Ares see in him? He is no Xena, thats for sure...I just hope he is not as thick as he looks, and his taste in music....Pfffttt! Lamo! And my duty to watch this half-sized puppet?" Strife pouted. "Ares will not miss me if I just go for a little while!"
 Ares appeared suddenly. "Dont even think about it Strife! Besides, I've got something else for you to do....it might even be a little fun!"
 Strife grinned maniacally. "Fun? Finally!" he scoffed.
 Ares rolled his eyes. "Yes, fun..or work or however you choose to view it! I want you to follow Hercules!"
      "Hercules? Oh UNC! I Dig...So you a want me to waste hercules and build my repuation or what?"
      "Of course not, you fool! Zeus's Protection Order still holds. I just need you to let me know what he is planning."
      "OH, that sure sounds like loads of fun!"
      "Just do it!" Ares growled before disappearing.
   Strife mocked Ares for a brief moment."Well on the bright side, its better then staying here listening to that midget! And hearing the stuff those people come up with and he calls music!" Vanishing, Strife reappeared at Hercules' camp, remaining invisible to mortal eyes, but hid behind a nearby tree anyway, knowing that Hercules would be able to see him.

   Napoleon's ears hurt. He had been listening to composers from Melodia since dawn and none of them had been able to come up with a piece of music that trumpeted his brilliance. No! All he had heard so far was one cacophony of discord."Awful, awful, awful!" Napoleon clapped his hands over his ears. "You people call yourselves musicians!? I hear better sounds from dogs! Kill them!"
   The composers trembled and cried out. "But sir, we've tried our best! One cannot create great works in one day!" one man dared to call out.
      "Who spoke?" Napoleon glared at the terrified group. Every composer, except one, backed up. "You, what is your name?"
      "Johanneus Sebastian Bacheas," the man replied.
   Napoleon's eyes narrowed. "I see. And just how long may I ask would it take for you or any of your fellow composers to create a masterpiece?"
   Bacheas shrugged. "It could take months, maybe even years for Terpsichore to get around to granting us our inspiration!"
   As Bacheas and Napoleon exchanged words, Strife appeared in the tent yet remained invisible to everyone. He had done what Ares said and had followed Hercules to find out what sort of plan he and his friends had come up with. Unfortunately the minor god had only heard part of the plan and only knew that it had to do with someone infiltrating Napoleoneus' camp.
      "Inspiration, huh? How's this for inspiration? Either you come up with something by tomorrow, or you and all these piddly composers will lose their heads!" Napoleon declared.
      "And the heads just keep on rolling!" Strife heard Bacheas mutter.
      "I know that voice!" the god said to himself. "So..So what should I do, Should I go tell Ares? Maybe? Or maybe I should just hang around here for a little while longer, NAH! I'll just have fun with little Napoleoneus here!" Strife followed Napoleoneus around, placing angry thoughts in his head, feeding the existing anger. Napoleoneus yelled at everyone and knocked down weapons and other things he could reach. Strife was enjoying himself.
  Suddenly Ares appeared and lifted Strife off his feet."So what did you learn"Strife?" he asked.
      "Ah...um ....well UNC, your not going to like it."
   Ares looked at Strife expectantly. "What is it? What is my half brother and his little friends planning to do?"
      "Well unc," he paused a moment."It don't sound good. I got there in time only to hear part of the plan, dig?"
      "And?" Ares urged impatiently.
      "And I only know that it had to do with someone infiltrating your midget's camp."
      "What!?"
      "I mean your mighty warrior Napoleoneus'camp. Dig?"
      "Strife, I got that the first time," Ares said wearily. "I wish you would learn to talk like a god! Now, who is the spy?"
      "Well...well I dont know!"
      "What do you mean you dont know?"
      "I think it is some composer!"
      "A composer?"
      "Yeah, a composer!"
   Ares thought about that for a moment. Then he chuckled. "Ah, Hercules! You are so predictable sometimes!" He pointed to Strife. "Strife, I want you to follow Hercules a bit more, and I want to know who it is that is missing from their little entourage. Think you can do that?"
      "Sure thing, Unc!" Strife saluted smartly and disappeared.
**********************************************************************
   Autolycus was not pleased. When he, Hercules, Iolaus, and Jack reached Melodia,they discovered that Napoleoneus would be coming to town and taking all the composers back to his camp. One villager said that the mini-warlord was doing it because the musicians were being too slow in coming up with songs for him. After learning of Napoleon's plans, it was decided that one of them would disguise themselves as a composer and be taken with the others when it was time. Autolycus drew the short straw.
      "Oh, man!" he groaned.
      "Hey, you drew it," Jack said.
      "Gee, thanks," Autolycus said wryly after a moment. "Just who am I supposed to pretend to be?" he asked, looking at Hercules.
      "Just some composer," the demigod replied.
      "You could pretend to be Johann Sebastian Bach," Jack suggested.
      "Who's he?" Iolaus asked. "I've never heard of him."
      "He's a composer from my time..I think he's still living. Well, Em would know better than me."
      "So he's a future guy."
      "Right."
      "Sounds good to me," Autolycus shrugged. "Now, how should I look?"
      "Fatter and you need to do something about your face," Jack said causing Hercules and Iolaus to chuckle.
      "Hey!" Autolycus was insulted.
      "Look, if you go in there just dressed in some fancy duds or whatever, Napoleon may see you and connect you with me," Jack explained.
      "Gods know we wouldn't want that!" Autolycus quipped.
      "Ha, ha, ha! Very funny."
      "Come on you two, let's go find a costume and padding," Iolaus grinned.
      "You're just loving this, aren't you?" the thief grumbled.

   An hour later Hercules, Iolaus, and Jack waited outside of a vendor's tent. Iolaus paced back and forth while Jack stood tapping his foot impatiently.
      "Come on out, Auto!" Iolaus called.
      "Just gimme a second!" the thief called back.Another moment passed before the tent flap moved and Autolycus came waddling out. He was dressed in a very large, brown robe and had a reddish cap on his head. Several pillows had been tied to Autolycus, making him bulge at the waist beneath the robe. The thief had disguised his hair with a full red-hair wig complete with facial hair.
      "You look.." Hercules barely got out any sort of compliment before breaking in to laughter. Iolaus and Jack joined in, laughing so hard that tears streamed down their face.
      "Well, I'm glad you're getting a kick out of this!" the thief grumbled.
       "Aww, lighten up, Auto! It's not everyday you get to wear a costume!" Iolaus said.
      "Napoleoneus is coming!" a villager suddenly called the alarm. Hercules, Iolaus, and Jack looked at Autolycus.
      "You know what you're supposed to do," the demigod said. "Yeah, keep everyone safe, and report to you what's going down."
      "Right. Good luck Autolycus."
      "Thanks." The King of Thieves watched them go hide as the soldiers streamed in to the village. After a small exchange of words, every composer was taken to Napoleoneus' camp.
   Autolycus peered outside the composers' tent.
       "Get back inside!" a soldier growled suddenly in his face.
      "Oh, but of course. I just needed a quick breath of fresh air!" Autolycus closed the flap and sat down in a corner by himself, trying to figure out just how he was going to get word to Hercules about the latest development.

      "This is not good," Hercules muttered. He and the others had been waiting for Autolycus to send word about Napoleoneus' plans, and it was past the time they had agreed to meet.
      "Do you think something went wrong?" Iolaus asked.
      "Don't they always?" Hercules retorted.
      "Good point. So, what do you want to do?"
      "I think we need to send back-up," Hercules glanced at Jack who had only heard the last bit of conversation.
      "Me?! Um..what good will that do except give you one more person to rescue later?" Jack asked.
      "Hey, you said you were a spy from the future, right?" Iolaus said.
      "Yeah. So?"
      "So you can't be a spy now?"
   Jack did not like the challenging tone in the hunter's voice. "Hey, I can be a spy anytime anywhere, pal! Wait a second. I just fell for that reverse psychology stuff, didn't I?" Hercules and Iolaus nodded. "Fine, I'll go. But if I get killed.."
      "The only way you'll be killed is if you're caught and Napoleoneus recognizes you."
      "Thanks, Iolaus! I feel so much better now! Look, I'll see what I can do, but if I'm not back in an hour--"
      "The cavalry will come," Hercules promised.
      "Good to know," Jack nodded and, after grabbing a few things, started for Napoleon's camp.
      "Do you think he'll be all right?" Iolaus asked after a moment.
      "Sure--for a while anyway. Come on! I've got a back-up for our back-up."
      "Am I going to like it?"
      "Probably not but then neither will Napoleoneus."

   Jack snuck around, ducking behind some bushes. "Oh Em, where are you when I need you?" he thought to himself. How he would welcome one of Emilia's crazy gadgets right about now....

Meanwhile in 1801......

   Emilia suddenly woke up. It was dark outside, the middle of the night. Thinking that Jack must be home, she ran downstairs. Glancing at the clock on her wall, she saw it was almost three o'clock. Yes Jack must be home..he probably just didn't want to wake me up, she thought hopefully. She headed in to her lab to check,  but to her disappointment, Jack was not in his bed nor any of the other places he had a habit of falling alseep. Emilia tried to think of a way she could go fnid him but she came up with nothing as this was a fictional universe that his look alike had been speaking of. Overcome by exhuastion and frustration she fell asleep on Jack's bed. As soon as Emilia was alseep a strange light began to glow in the lab.....

Back in Ancient Greece......

    Strife had gone back to following Hercules, his little pal, and the stranger after Ares had told him to do it. He overheard them talking of their "back-up" plan. "This sounds interesting," Strife said gleefully.
   After the three split up, Strife started to follow the stranger.
      "Where do you think you are going?" Ares materialized before the lesser god.
      "Um..I'm following Hercules?" Strife gulped.
      "Good. And, just in case you didn't notice, he's going that way," Ares pointed behind Strife.
      "Oh, thanks." Strife turned and went the other way.Ares watched his nephew go and shook his head. Then he turned and followed the Autolycus look-a-like. The God of War stayed with him until he heard the man mutter something about an "M". Must be someone he left behind. Well, we can remedy that! Ares left Jack and traveled through time to 1801.....
************************************************
1801.....

   Emilia did not sense his presence in the lab until it was too late. Waking from her slumber, she was immediately thrown in to a whirlwind with someone holding her tightly. It was someone masculine and very powerful. When they stopped they were somewhere Emilia did not recognize. "All right! Who are you and where are we?" she demanded.
  Ares snapped his fingers and Emilia fell into asleep on the ground. When she awoke, she found herself surrounded by warriors of Napoleon's army. They had swords drawn and pointed at her. Dragging her to her feet, they lead her away to one of the tents.
   From his hiding place, Jack saw someone being bullied the the warriors. Without thinking, he waited until the warriors were gone. Then he snuck around the tent and inside. Once inside, he found himself face to face with an extremely frightened Emilia.
      "Em!" Jack said in relief and disbelief.
      "Jack! Oh, Jack! Thank God you're alright!" she exclaimed as they hugged one another tightly.
      "Look, I'm gonna bust you out right now!" Jack told her.
      "Jack, that's impossible. There are guards everywhere!"
      "Yeah, but Em if I don't Nappie could marry you...or even worse!"
      "Napoleon's here!?" Emilia could not believe it.
      "Yeah, small world, isn't it?" Jack let that thought sink in for a moment.
      "Okay then...let's go!" Emilia said.
   Then Ares appeared. He had never seen anyone so beautiful as Emilia and he had to have her for himself! Instantly, Emilia and Ares vanished. Jack was so shocked that he passed out.

   Someone was slapping him and not softly either. Jack did not respond, hoping that whoever was hitting him would get bored and stop. No such luck!"Hey! Enough already with the face massage!" Jack grumbled.
      "If you think I got any pleasure out of that--you're right!" a familiar voice snapped back.
   Jack opened his eyes. "Au--uh..Bacheas?"
      "Yeah, it's me." Jack sat up and looked around. He was in a tent with Autolycus/Bacheas and the composers. "Let me guess--band camp?"
      "Very funny! You're lucky I was able to convince Napoleoneus' soldiers that you were just a wayward composer! What are you doing here?"
   Jack sighed and told Autolycus what had happened. The King of Thieves groaned."Great! So, now not only do we have to defeat the shrimp, we have to get Emilia too...actually that may not be so bad. I'll go find her and you can take my place here!" he said."Oh no you don't! We're going to wait for Hercules and Iolaus!"
      "And what if they leave us here to fend for ourselves?" Autolycus challenged.
      "They wouldn't do that!--Would they?"
      "No," Autolycus sighed. "All right, we'll plan something and if the two golden wonders don't show up soon, we're getting out of here!"

    Some of the soldiers were sitting around, playing poker and keeping watch. Suddenly, four horses appeared out of the woods. Autolycus couldn't tell who was riding the horses, until he heard a familiar "Yi-yi-yi-yi!!!" His face broke into a huge grin.
     "What's that?" Jack asked, worried. "That, my friend, is a very welcome sound! The reinforcements have arrived!"
   Autolycus and Jack stood watching the four horses and their riders approach. Jack recognized Hercules and Iolaus on two of the horses. A strange man--a very strange man, Jack thought a moment later as they came within range of soldiers' campfires--rode with Iolaus. Jack felt a tap on his shoulder.
       "That's Xena," Autolycus nodded towards the dark-haired woman riding the golden horse.
      "That's Xena?!" Jack frowned. Sure, she looked strong and like she could fight but.....after being pregnant..?
      "It's Xena and Hercules!" Jack heard one of the soldiers shout fearfully. A split second later the entire camp was moving; soldiers picked up their weapons, others ran away, not wishing to face the Warrior Princess and the demigod.
    Napoleon heard the ruckus outside. "What's going on?" he demanded.
      "Sir, Hercules and Xena are here!" an aide informed him.
      "My chair!" The aide fetched and held a small throne in front of him. Napoleon leapt up and took a seat. "Outside!" They went out in to the camp and surveyed the battle. Hercules, Xena, Iolaus, and a short-haired blonde woman with sais battled the emperor's men and were winning! Soldier after soldier fell unconscious or wounded, and others turned tail and ran away when facing the warriors."How can this be?" Napoleon muttered.
      "I told you so!" he heard the mocking voice of Ares.

      "Okay everyone, now's our chance!" Autolycus gathered the composers and ushered them out of their tent and away from the camp. They were suddenly ambushed by the strange man Jack saw with Iolaus.
      "Joxer the Mighty is here to rescue you!" he said.
      "Joxer the who?" Jack asked.
      "Don't worry about him," Autolycus said. "Hey Joxer, in case you haven't noticed, these people have already been rescued."
   Joxer looked around for the source of the familiar voice. "Autolycus? Where are you?" he turned in a circle.
      "Right in front of you."
   Joxer looked again. "No you aren't! Now stop playing games. We've got to get these people out of here!"
      "Joxer, I'm right here!" Autolycus huffed, taking off his beard.
   Joxer saw him then and had to do a double-take. "Autolycus?!"
      "Well it sure ain't the Easter Bunny," Jack grumbled.
      "The who?" many voices echoed.
      "Never mind! Let's just get out of here!"
      "Follow me!" Joxer raised his sword, turned, and walked directly in to a tree.
      "Um..actually, I think we'll take the softer route." Jack glanced at Autolycus.
      "This way, everyone," the thief said, taking the lead.

      "Is this all of them?!" Xena shouted to Hercules.
      "I think so, except for the midget!" he called back.
      "Xena! Look over there!"
      "What Gabrielle?"
      "Is that the midget?"  Hercules, Iolaus, Xena, and Gabrielle looked towards the main tent and saw a huge man standing outside of it, holding a very much smaller one in a throne-like seat.
   Xena looked at Hercules."That's the only one I've seen lately," the demigod shrugged as he knocked a staggering soldier back down on the ground.
      "I'll get him! Sheee--yah!" Xena easily somersaulted through the air and landed before the emperor and his aide.
      "Who are you?" Napoleon asked, clearly impressed by the woman before him.
      "Your worst nightmare!" Xena hissed.
      "I thought you were Xena," Napoleon smirked.Xena narrowed her eyes.
      "How did you--? Ares!" Xena glanced around quickly, trying to sense the War God's presence. Thankfully, she did not sense him anywhere.
      "I must say it has been a pleasure seeing the famed Warrior Princess for myself. It is a shame that you will have to die, though. Get her!" At his command, Napoleon's aide lowered the emperor's chair and attacked.Xena knocked him out in less than a minute.
      "Now it's just you and me, Napoleoneus!"
      "I don't think so!" Xena turned and saw Napoleon reaching for the Chronos Stone.
      "Oh no you don't!" She whipped out her chakram and threw it. It went around the tent slicing through the poles. Soon the material fell and Napoleon was caught within its folds. Before he could get to the green stone, Xena caught her weapon and used it to cut a hole in the tent where the stone was.
      "Too bad, Napoleoneus. You almost succeeded!" Xena grabbed on to the general and, using her chakram once more, created a nice little sac to tote him around in.
      "Xena, you did it!" Iolaus, Gabrielle, and Hercules came rushing up to her.
      "So I did. Where's Autolycus and this Jack person you kept talking about?"
      "Probably in Melodia waiting for us," Hercules said.
      "Then let's go meet them," Gabrielle smiled. The four friends headed in to town. Napoleoneus started to stir and struggle in the sack.
      "Hey! Stop squirming in there or I'll tear you limb from limb!" Xena warned.
***************************************************************
      "Everybody's home now," Autolycus reported. He was finally free of his costume, although Xena, Gabrielle, and Joxer did have the chance to see him in it and laugh about it before he took it off. After the battle, Xena, Hercules, Iolaus, and Gabrielle met up with Autolycus, Jack, and Joxer at the local tavern.
      "And we've got Napoleon in the sack!" Jack chuckled, knowing that he would never forget this particular moment.
      "Here's the Chronos Stone," Xena pulled it from her coat and placed it on the table.
      "Looks like we finally have what we need to get you and Napoleon home," Hercules said to Jack.
   Jack looked down at his mug. "Not yet we don't," he said after a moment.
   Iolaus frowned. "What are we missing?"
      "Emilia," Autolycus and Jack said together.
      "Who's Emilia?" Gabrielle asked. "And if she's from your time, how did she end up here?"
      "Em's my--a friend," Jack explained.
      "He lives with her," Autolycus added.
      "Oh, is she your wife?" Gabrielle asked.
      "Just a friend," Jack said again and glared at Autolycus.
      "Ares!" Xena exclaimed suddenly, answering how Emilia probably ended up in their time.
      "Ares?" Hercules, Gabrielle, Iolaus, and Autolycus echoed.
      "The God of War?" Jack said.
      "How many Ares' do you know?" Xena asked.
      "Actually, this would be the first," Jack replied.
      "And hopefully the last," Hercules muttered. He looked at Xena. "What makes you think that Ares is involved?"
      "The little guy knew me! How would he know that unless someone told him?"
      "Maybe he learned who you were from his soldiers--"
      "No! Ares is involved! He may not have been around when we were fighting, but I'm pretty sure he was there before!"
      "Maybe we should ask Napoleon," Iolaus suggested.
      "Are you suggesting that we take him out of the sack?" Jack asked.
      "Not all the way." Iolaus picked up the sack containing Napoleon. The emperor struggled to break free as Iolaus opened it but failed. The hunter moved the sack down so that Napoleon's head was free, but retied it.
      "You can't make me tell you anything!" he growled.
      "Are you sure you don't want to reconsider, Leon?" Jack asked.
   Napoleon turned his head. "YOU! How the hell did you get here??"
      "Divine providence," Jack said.
      "Whatever. Like any god would waste their time on you!"
      "Look who's talking!"
      "Listen here, Napoleon," Xena had had enough. "We want to know which god has been helping you. I'm pretty sure I know, but we need a confirmation."
      "I'm not saying a word. Not one word!"
      "Not even for Emilia?" Autolycus asked.
   Napoleon looked at the thief. His eyes widened. "TWO of you!" he exclaimed as Jack sat beside him. "It's a conspiracy! A nightmare come true! Nooo!"
      "Oh, stop it!" Joxer hit Napoleon in the head.
      "Ooooh! You'll pay for that!" Napoleon hissed and narrowed his eyes. Joxer gulped and went to hide behind Gabrielle.
      "Leon, Emilia is here in this time too!" Jack said. He just had to get through to the emperor. "And we think the god who helped you took her....wait a second. This Ares--does he dress in black leather, short dark hair, goatee and mustache?"
      "Yeah. How do you know?" Xena asked.
      "I saw him! Just before Emilia was taken. He appeared out of nowhere and before I knew it,I was knocked out!"
      "Too bad he didn't kill you," Napoleon muttered.
      "Hey! Be nice!" This time Xena hit the emperor.
   Or started to. Hercules stopped her halfway. "I've got a better idea then knocking him senseless," he said.
      "Actually, knocking him senseless might not be such a bad idea," Jack quipped.
      "If you--" Napoleon started to threaten Jack, but Hercules cut him off, shoving him back in to the bag.
      "All right. Here!" Hercules handed Napoleon to Iolaus and picked up the Chronos Stone. "Let's find Ares' nearest temple."

   Unfortunately, the nearest temple was at least a day and a half away by horseback. After several hours of traveling, they settled down for the night on top a small hill. As they all slept that night, Jack lay awake, thinking on Emilia. Xena awoke, hearing somethin in the distance. Checking it out, she saw it was merely Argo grazing nosily. Catching sight of Jack, she sat down next to him.
      "You must really miss her," she stated.
      "Yeah. I mean, it's not like Em and I were...see the thing is.....I'd like to be her....." Jack struggled to find the words.
      "You love her," she offered.
      "Well, yes. I love her." Jack felt a sense of relief to finally speak the words aloud. Now if only her could voice his feelings to Emilia.
      "Listen, try to get some sleep. I promise, we'll get Emilia back. I know Ares, and how to manipulate him," she tried to comfort him.

  CRASH!!
  SMASH!!
  KLUNK!!
      "Hey! Will you stop it!?" Ares was crouched behind a throne-like seat in one of his temples.
      "Why don't you just fry her, Unc?" Strife asked as the minor god joined the War God in hiding.
      "You don't frighten me!" Emilia grabbed another vase and hurled it towards Ares' head. It barely missed him. "I demand you take me back to my friend!" The english woman kept grabbing for vases, swords, and anything else she could lay her hands on and continued to throw them at the two gods.
      "Sooner or later you'll run out of things to throw!" Ares called.
      "Huh,then we'll be here for years. What? It's not my fault you've got tons of weapons just lying around here!" Strife said defensively when he saw the look Ares was giving him.
       "True," Ares shrugged. "All right. I didn't want to do this, but I guess I have to!" The God of War waited for a pause in the flying objects and then stepped out from behind his throne and threw a bolt at Emilia, knocking her out.
      "Emilia!" Jack and Autolycus raced in suddenly, followed by Hercules, Xena, Iolaus, Gabrielle, and Joxer. Joxer, Jack, and Autolycus went to check on Emilia as the others prepared to fight the two gods.
      "Only you would go through time to find a warlord," Hercules growled at Ares.
      "Hey, I didn't go looking for him! If I had my preference, the shrimp would have been toast as soon as he arrived!"
      "Yeah, right!" everyone muttered.
      "Okay, so he had potential..thought he would do wonders for Greece--"
      "You're so full of it, Ares!" Xena said.
      "Maybe so," the god shrugged and suddenly threw a bolt towards Hercules and Xena. They easily dodged it. Ares quickly released another bolt at Iolaus and Gabrielle. Gabrielle made it out of the way in time but Iolaus was knocked down.
      "Iolaus!" Hercules shouted.
      "Ugh! I'm okay Herc!" Iolaus struggled to get up.
   Strife watched what was going on for a moment and decided it was time to make his exit. "Hey Unc, when you get bored down here, I'll see you on Olympus. Later!"
      "Get back here!" Ares ordered, but he was talking to air.
      "Looks like you lose, Ares," Hercules smirked.
      "Maybe this time, brother. But there will be another--"
      "Yeah, yeah! I know!"
      "Hmmph! Don't act so smug!" Ares folded his arms and, with a toss of his head, disappeared in a flash of blue light. The four warriors stood looking at where the god of war had just been for a moment before going over to check with their friends.
      "Is she all right?" Gabrielle asked.
      "Yeah. She's got a hard head," Jack said, smoothing back Emilia's hair.
      "So, just how are we going to get them home?" Xena asked. "I mean, we don't want to send the Chronos Stone back with them, do we?"
      "Nope. You sure don't," a familiar voice said. Hercules, Xena, Iolaus, Gabrielle, and Joxer gaped as a Hercules with shorter hair and wearing a weird black outfit came towards them. Autolycus and Jack just nodded towards him.
      "Right on time, I guess," Jack said.
      "I told you I was going to show up later, didn't I?"
      "Well, I didn't know if that meant when we won, lost, got killed--"
      "It would be pretty hard to get you home if you were killed. Hades has become tougher in giving reprieves."
      "Did we miss something here?" Xena asked.
      "Uh-not really," present day Hercules said. "So, I guess you'll be sending them home now?"
      "Yes. And you will need to destroy the Chronos Stone again--and this time, remember to get rid of the remnants?" Hercules glanced towards Autolycus.
      "I will."Hercules nodded and then looked at Jack. "You're going to need to hold her while we do this, and I'll take the emperor here." He picked up the sack containing Napoleon and waited for Jack to get a hold on Emilia.
      "Well..guess this is good-bye," Jack said.
      "Looks that way," present day Hercules grinned. "Take care."
      "It was nice meeting you, brief as it was," Xena said.
      "Same here." Jack looked at Autolycus.
      "What? I don't do these mushy good-byes!" the thief grumbled. "Okay. Goodbye Jack, and don't you ever come back!"
      "As if I'd want to!" Jack retorted with a grin. "Try to stay out of trouble?"
      "So you've had to save his sorry butt too, huh?" Iolaus said mischievously.
      "It's not that much of a common occurrence! It's not!" Autolycus exclaimed seeing the smirks on his friends' faces. "Hmmph! Heroes!"
      "All right, Jack. It's time to go," Hercules said. Jack nodded and braced himself for the whirlwind once more. A blinding light flashed and when everyone could see again, the two spies, Napoleon, and the future Hercules was gone.
      "Well, that was exciting," Xena said after a moment.
      "Yeah. Just another day's work," Hercules agreed. "Speaking of which.." the demigod fetched the Chronos Stone."Time to get rid of this thing once and for all!" He raised his arm, holding the stone high and then...
      "Sorry Hercules! But I still have plans for this baby! Yo-de-lay-hee-hoo!" Autolycus swung by on his hook and grabbed the stone from Hercules' hand. He was gone before they could react.
      "You know, maybe we should let him keep it?" Iolaus said after a moment. The four friends and Joxer looked at one another.
      "Naah!"
******************************************************************

1801....

      "Whoa!" When Jack could see again, he, Emilia, and Hercules were back on Pulau Pulau and in Emilia's house. "Oh..Home sweet home!"
      "Yes. I've brought you back, and now I must be leaving. You can handle Napoleon on your own?" Hercules asked.
      "Sure..hey, is he even alive in there?" Jack asked, suddenly noticing that the sack had not moved recently.
      "He's fine. Just having a nice little nap."
      "Good. So,I guess you're going now?"
   Hercules nodded. "Yep. Gotta get back home. You take care Jack."
      "Yeah, you too." Hercules vanished then and Jack took Emilia up to her room. "I'll be back in a little bit, Em. Just have one more thing to do!"

      "Do not worry Gouvenor! I shall keep things under control here," Brogard assured Croque as he escorted the Governor and his wife to the docks.
      "I am sure you will do a wonderful job, Captain. And you will let me know when Napoleon returns? If he ever returns?"
      "But of course!"
      "Special delivery for Governor Croque!" a voice called from the crowd.
   Brogard and Croque looked around, recognizing the voice's owner. "The Dragoon!"
      "The one and only!" the Daring Dragoon swinged out in to the center of the crowd gathered to see the Governor and his wife off the island. The Frenchmen were surprised to see that he carried a sack with him. Before they knew what to expect, the Dragoon tossed the bag at Croque. "Never say that I never got you anything!" he quipped before he disappeared once again.
      "Gouvenor, I wouldn't open that if I were you! It could be a bomb!" Brogard advised.
      "LET ME OUT OF HERE!!" Croque and Brogard stared at one another and then Croque finally undid the tie on the sack.
      "Brother! You are back!"
      "From where?" Napoleon looked a bit dazed.
      "I don't know. The Daring Dragoon just gave you to me. Of course! It was he who kidnapped you!" Croque said.
      "Do not worry emperor! We shall get him!" Brogard vowed.
      "Not today," Napoleon said suddenly, surprising his brother and the Captain. "I have had the strangest dream..."

      "..there was this man in dark leather--sort of handsome, I guess--and then I was in ancient Greece, and you were there and Autolycus, and these other people..." Emilia shook her head. She had awakened while Jack was out making his delivery and immediately concluded that the events of the previous day and a half were no more then a dream.
      "Sounds like a real doozy, Em," Jack said with a grin. "Napoleon kidnapped, a thief from the past...like that would ever happen!"
      "Yes. It does sound rather silly, doesn't it?"
   Jack nodded. "What do you say we go down and make some tea?"
      "Sounds lovely." Emilia held out her arm, Jack linked his arm through hers and together they headed towards the kitchen.
   The tea was almost ready when there was a knock on the front door."You stay here Em, I'll get it." Jack went to the door and opened it.
      "Good morning, sir. Here's the paper," a vaguely familiar voice greeted.
      "Since when did we take to knocking on subscribers' doors?" Jack asked taking the paper.
      "Since I broke one too many windows tossing them. Um..sir? My tip?"
      "Tip!?" Jack shook his head as he dug in to his pocket. "All right, here you go." Jack handed the man a couple of francs. "Hey, wait a second! Don't I know you?"
   The man looked up, surprised. "I don't think so."
       "Oh. Well, you just remind me of someone I just met, then."
      "That's...great," the man said uncertainly. "Have a nice day!" He was gone in a flash.
   Jack chuckled as he turned to go inside. "Wait a second!" he exclaimed. "That was...but he said--well, he didn't exactly say..was it?" Jack thought it over for a moment.
      "Naah!"
 

      THE END

Disclaimer: No storylines from Xena:Warrior Princess, Hercules:The Legendary Journeys, or Jack Of All Trades were seriously harmed during the writing of this story--we just added to the existing confusion already in the series themselves.

Disclaimer: No Time Traveling Gods, spies, thieves, or emperors were harmed during the making of this story and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation is missing some of its 1600's armor. If anyone has any information to its whereabouts, please call.

**Okay--and that last little bit is a Joke, so don't be calling Jamestown telling them that Napoleon stole the armor Like they'd believe that! :D