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Season Two (1995/1996)

Prologue:

This is the story of a time long ago, a time of myth and legend when the ancient gods were petty and cruel and they plagued mankind with suffering. Only one man dared to challenge their power: Hercules
Hercules possessed a strength the world had never seen, a strength surpassed only by the power of his heart. He journeyed the Earth battling the minions of his wicked step-mother Hera, the all-powerful queen of the gods. But wherever there was evil, wherever the innocent would suffer, there would be: Hercules!

Episodes:

Episode 14 - The King of Thieves - 9/4/95 [Autolycus]

On his way to the kingdom of Scyros to meet Hercules, Iolaus comes upon Autolycus, who is suffering the blows of five rough-looking men as he struggles to hang onto a large wooden box. Believing that Autolycus is being robbed by bandits, Iolaus springs to the lone man's defense with a sword and scabbard and forces the attackers to retreat.

To his surprise, however, Autolycus hurls a grappling hook over a tree branch and swings off into the forest, leaving Iolaus to fend for himself as he is surrounded by the returning 'ruffians,' who are now accompanied by constables. Caught with the wooden box containing stolen jewels from the King's treasury, Iolaus is arrested and taken into custody, unaware that Autolycus has escaped with the Dragon's Eye ruby - the priceless gemstone from the King's scepter.

When Hercules arrives in Scyros, he learns that Iolaus is facing execution for plundering the royal vaults. Unable to convince King Menelaus of his friend's innocence, Hercules is taken to the prisoner's cell by the King's daughter Dirce, Iolaus' "lawyer," and listens as his friend relates the tale of his unlucky encounter with Autolycus. Dirce explains that Autolycus is a former carnival escape artist, whom the peasants have dubbed "the king of thieves". Certain that Iolaus is telling the truth, Dirce sets out to find loopholes in the law to stall Iolaus' execution, while Hercules vows to bring Autolycus to justice.

Hercules' pursuit of Autolycus leads him to an abandoned castle, where he and Autolycus confront each other. While fighting in the dilapidated old throne room, the floor caves in, plunging them into a dungeon. Numerous obstacles and dangers, including a horrifying man-eating serpent, conspire to block their escape from the twisted corridors and chambers of the old fortress. Hercules repeatedly ties the wrists of his "prisoner" along the way, but the amazing Autolycus breaks free of his bonds every time. Alternately helping and trying to outwit each other, the two flee the jaws of the evil serpent-monster and are finally able to get away.

Meanwhile Iolaus is being subjected to the dreaded Erebus Test, an ancient and barbaric test of innocence requested by Dirce to delay her client's execution. First, Iolaus' feet are tied to an enormous stone and he is thrown into the pond for "dunking" to see if he can float. Next, he must undergo "pressing" by enduring the weight of a door piled high with boulders, braced across his shoulders, without letting any stones fall. Finally, he must share a pit with a wild boar for three hours without losing a drop of blood. Though Iolaus miraculously survives all three trials, his release is thwarted at the last moment when he pricks his finger on the wooden lid of the pit and it starts to bleed.

Hercules carries a badly injured Autolycus back to Scyros just as Iolaus' head is being placed on the execution block. Autolycus produces the stolen scepter stone and, after confessing to the crime, collapses. As a nearly hysterical Dirce pleads with her father for Iolaus' release, the guillotine rope snaps and Hercules rushes in to catch the blade inches above his friend's neck. The diversion gives the incredibly wily Autolycus just the time he needs to effect an escape.

Episode 15 - All That Glitters - 9/11/95 [Salemoneus]

When Salemoneus leaves for King Midas' new gambling palace, Hercules goes along in order to renew his friendship with the legendary king. On the way, Hercules interrupts two sword-wielding soldiers about to kill a couple of hungry boys for stealing apples. When they reach the Touch of Gold Gambling Palace, Hercules and Salemoneus are dismayed to find a gaudy emporium offering many attractions designed to separate the poor from their money. After meeting Midas' new partner, the beautiful but evil Voluptua, Hercules is further disgusted to see hordes of people wager on two boys walking a tightrope over a bed of spikes. When he intercedes to catch the first boy before he is impaled, Voluptua plots to add Hercules to the crowd-pleasing entertainment of the Palace.

When Segallus, Voluptua's chief thug, accosts Midas' daughter Flaxen, Hercules decides to teach him some manners and walks right into a trap. As he confronts Segallus, a curtain rises and Hercules finds himself in a boxing arena. Though he does not wish to be part of the show, a squad of soldiers attacks him. After flinging them around the arena, a second squad runs at him. Hercules defeats them all but when Voluptua offers him a bag of gold coins as reward, he refuses.

Meanwhile, Hercules' presence has stirred a moral reaction in Midas. No longer willing to lend his name and cooperation to Voluptua's gambling establishment, he quits his post. In return, he is beaten senseless by Segallus and thrown into a cage. When Hercules finds him, Midas is tied with a crossbow aimed at his head and the trigger mechanism tied to his daughter Flaxen.

Voluptua offers Hercules a challenge - in order to free Midas and Flaxen, he must defeat a succession of adversaries in the boxing arena, then fight Segallus, all before a burning fuse releases the crossbow's trigger. Hercules faces the contestants bravely, and dispatches them all, in spite of their dirty tactics. He also defeats Segallus and inspires the townspeople to revolt against Voluptua and destroy the Palace. Finally, a grateful Midas and Flaxen set about rebuilding the kingdom as it used to be.

Episode 16 - What's In a Name? - 9/18/95 Hercules

Hercules learns that an impostor has stolen his identity, allied himself with the cold-hearted warlord Gorgus, and is engaged to marry Rena, Gorgus' beautiful stepdaughter. Meanwhile, the warrior Pallaeus, himself in love with Rena, plots to destroy Hercules with the help of an evil mandrake root supplied by one of Hera's priests.

Setting out to defend his name, Hercules arrives in town with Iolaus just in time to save Josephus from Gorgus' soldiers, who have been ordered to stop the brave young man's attempts to organize a rebellion. As the dust settles, the impostor arrives. To Hercules' surprise, he discovers him to be his mortal half-brother, Iphicles. When Hercules forbids Iphicles to use his name, his brother refuses and angrily storms off, certain that he will lose his beloved Rena if she learns the truth.

Meanwhile Iolaus, recognized by one of Gorgus' soldiers, is arrested in the town marketplace after trying unsuccessfully to convince Josephus that Iphicles is an impostor. As Iolaus is dragged off and thrown into the dreaded catacombs, Josephus rushes to tell Hercules of his friend's capture. Descending into the perilous dark labyrinth, Hercules is unaware that Iphicles has been ordered by Gorgus and Pallaeus to follow his-brother underground and kill him.

The catacombs, from which no man has ever escaped, hold a number of ingenious death traps. First, as Hercules walks through the darkened tunnel, he trips a wire which causes five deadly blades to come whizzing out at him from all directions. He manages to evade all but one and is pinned to a wall just as the opposite wall begins to move forward, threatening to crush him. He wriggles free arid strains to squeeze through the narrowing space without any idea whereat will lead. Managing to escape at the last minute, he is immediately faced with a line of heavy spiked booby traps that come swinging down from above.

After evading the final trap, he finds himself at the feet of Iphicles, who is poised with a sword and ready to kill him. Hercules refuses to fight and an argument ensues. Their confrontation is interrupted, however, by the arrival of Rena who having overheard the brothers' exchange is shocked and angry to discover that her fianc� has lied to her about his identity.

Meanwhile, Gorgus, Pallaeus and squads of soldiers begin their showdown with Hercules. Iphicles joins in the fray, fighting side by side with his brother and Iolaus. The three men seem to gain the upper hand until Pallaeus releases the Mandrake, which immediately transforms into a snarling, hideous monster that attacks Hercules. Iphicles and Iolaus take on Gorgus and Pallaeus as Hercules battles to escape the snapping jaws and vicious tail of the raptor-like beast. While Iolaus subdues Gorgus, Iphicles rescues Rena from the clutches of Pallaeus, recapturing her heart. Hercules finally succeeds in trapping the Mandrake back in its jar. With the warlord defeated, Hercules brings Iphicles and Rena home for a reunion with their mother, Alcmene.

Episode 17 - Siege At Naxos - 9/25/95 [Iolaus]

On a fishing trip, Hercules and Iolaus arrive at a country tavern just in time to interrupt a rampage by marauding barbarians under the command of Goth. Hercules and Iolaus capture the barbarian chief and resolve to take him to Athens to stand trial, but his brother Bledar pursues them with reinforcements, determined to rescue Goth. Hercules and Iolaus are soon attacked in the woods. As arrows whiz through the air around them, they seek safety inside a fortress, which is deserted except for a young girl named Elora and her aged father, Charidon.

Surrounded by barbarians, Hercules and Iolaus rig the fortress to appear to be well manned and ready for attack. That night, a barrage of flaming arrows comes soaring over the fortress walls. Hercules and Iolaus race along the battlements in a desperate attempt to make it seem like many warriors are fighting back. As barbarians climb over the fortress walls, the two men fight with the strength of twenty and manage to repel the first wave of attackers.

Later that night, Bledar sends his hotheaded sentry Dax to ascertain the strength of the men defending the fortress. At the same time, Elora secretly visits Goth, who was once her lover. Still later, Bledar's men cheer the arrival of a giant catapult - Titantus.

As Hercules and Iolaus try to decide how to defend against the huge contraption, Dax and a few men sneak into the fortress. After discovering that our heroes are defending the fortress alone, Bledar sounds the battle alarm. As boulders fly through the air to demolish the fortress walls, all seems doomed. Hercules, however, cleverly convinces Bledar that reinforcements have arrived. By the time the leader of the barbarians discovers the truth and attacks, Charidon and Elora have led Hercules and Iolaus, together with their prisoner Goth, through an underground tunnel to safety. As Elora renounces Goth, Hercules and Iolaus resume their journey to Athens.

Episode 18 - Outcast - 10/2/95 Hercules

While in the town marketplace one day, Lyla, Deric's beautiful young wife, is taunted by a couple of bigoted vendors who are openly opposed to her marriage to a centaur. Deric arrives to find Lyla being harassed by Merkus and seizing the bully by the throat, he overpowers and humiliates him. Merkus, incensed by the confrontation, plots his revenge while Deric goes off to buy food in the neighboring village.

That evening, a band of roughnecks led by Merkus and Jakar don animal masks and ride out to Deric's house brandishing torches. Sensing disaster, Lyla tells her young son Kefor to run and hide in the woods before she falls victim to the wild-eyed Merkus. Deric returns from his errands in time to see his entire home engulfed in flames. Devastated, he rushes into the blazing house hoping to save his loved ones.

Meanwhile Hercules, on his way to help the couple having heard of their troubles, runs into Salemoneus, who insists on tagging along. When the two reach Deric's house, they are horrified to find almost everything in ashes. Scanning the ruins, Hercules sees a odd-looking symbol scrawled on a charred block of wall, which he later notices tattooed on the wrist of a vendor named Cletis. Inquiring about the tattoo, Hercules finds himself surrounded by Merkus and his boys, who make no secret of their disdain for centaurs and their lack of sympathy for Lyla and Deric's misfortune. A bloody fight is prevented only by the arrival of Lyla's sister Leuriphone.

Leuriphone tells Hercules and Salemoneus the tragic story of her sister and brother-in-law's mistreatment by the Cretans - a mean-spirited bunch of Locals marked by the strange tattoo, who are dedicated to preserving "Athenian purity." Agonizing over the deaths of his friends and their three year-old son Kefor, Hercules vows that justice will be done.

Stopping in at the decidedly unfriendly local tavern that night, Hercules and Salemoneus are stunned by the sudden appearance of Deric, who is still very much alive. Dumping the lifeless body of Cletis in the doorway, Deric warns those inside that others will also die for the murder of his wife. After Deric flees, Merkus and Jakarin flame the townspeople by spreading the lie that Deric has gone berserk, killed his own family and burned his own house. They organize a posse and set out to capture him. They are accompanied by Hercules and Salemoneus who want to make sure he has brought back alive.

When Deric is spotted on a hilltop, Hercules pleads with him to surrender but he refuses, claiming he killed Cletis in self-defense. Merkus sneaks up to attack, but finds he's no match for the centaur and is mortally wounded. The posse is tricked into following several false trails, but Hercules and Salemoneus discover Deric and baby Kefor's hideout. Hercules is finally able to persuade his friend to surrender for the sake of his child. Leaving Kefor in Salemoneus' care, the centaur turns himself over to the magistrate Tersius, claiming self-defense in the deaths of both Cletis and Merkus.

When Demicles, one of Merkus' men, learns that the centaur is in custody, he alerts Jakar and Sepsus who becomes worried about being implicated in Lyla's death. Finding Deric's hideout, the two overpower Salemoneus, kidnap Kefor, and send word to Deric in prison that he must confess to murdering Cletis in order to save his son's life. Deric's luck changes, however, when Demicles - the most sympathetic of the Cretans - secretly admits to Hercules that he was part of Merkus' gang the night of the fire. Insisting that he and his cohorts simply wanted to give the family a good scare, he is horrified and ashamed when he learns that Merkus actually murdered Lyla in cold blood.

As Hercules sets out to rescue Kefor from the kidnappers, Jakar whips the town locals into a lynch mob. Seizing Deric from his cell, they begin stoning him until Hercules arrives. After a fierce battle, Deric regains his freedom, his son, and - astonishingly - his beloved Lyla, whom Zeus has brought back to life.

Episode 19 - Under the Broken Sky - 10/9/95 [Salemoneus]

Hercules trails Salemoneus to the tough town of Enola, where he finds his friend working - and surrounded by all manners of temptations - in a wicked pleasure palace. Soon after his arrival, Hercules comes to the aid of Atticus, a farmer he finds robbed, beaten and left for dead. Learning that the man was attacked by thugs working for the ruthless Pilot, Hercules battles his way into the bandit chieftain's headquarters, recovers Atticus' purse and warns Pilot that he never leaves a town until it is better than when he arrived.

When Hercules takes his leave, Pilot dispatches a rider to round up a band of mercenaries to kill him. When Hercules returns the stolen purse to Atticus, he discovers the farmer's purpose for journeying to Enola - an undying love for his beautiful young wife Lucina, who unfortunately has become the hottest attraction in the town's unsavory pleasure palace. Atticus begs Hercules� help to get Lucina back, explaining that she was consumed by guilt and ran away after a deadly fever killed their two young sons.

After rescuing Salemoneus from Pilot's thugs who are collecting protection money from the local merchants, Hercules engineers the couple's reunion at Salemoneus' quarters. When Atticus expresses his abiding love for Lucina, she begins to sob and confesses her overwhelming guilt over the death of their two children. Lucina departs, leaving Atticus anxious and uncertain about their future. The next day, when Lucina tries to buy a horse and flee, she is accosted by Pilot who begins to make lecherous advances.

When Atticus appears and persuades Lucina to give their love another chance, Pilot strikes him down with a dagger. Hearing Lucina's screams as she cradles her fallen husband, Hercules arrives and spirits the wounded man and his wife to safety. At the same time, eight vicious mercenaries led by Pilot, prowl through the town in search of Hercules. When they find him, he is with Lucina heading for the center of town.

Brandishing a variety of weapons ranging from spear and crossbow to chain and sword, the assassins launch an attack. Hercules fights back fiercely, turning the weapons against his assailants. He defeats them one by one, until only he and Pilot are left standing. When Pilot turns to flee, he runs into a sword held by Lucina. Atticus and Lucina are reunited and head home to build a new life together.

Episode 20 - The Mother of All Monsters - 10/9/95 [Alcmene]

Hercules is shocked when he hears that his mother Alcmene has a suitor. Feeling a mixture of concern for her welfare and guilt about not spending enough time with her, he leaves the Cappadocian Games to return home with his friend Iolaus. What he does not know is that his mother's new boyfriend is Demetrius, an evil warrior in league with Echidna, the hideous mother of several horrible monsters Hercules has fought and killed in the course of his journeys.

Using Demetrius as the catalyst, Echidna devises a plan to avenge the deaths of her offspring by forcing Alcmene to witness the slaying of her own son before she herself is put to death. To his dismay, Hercules arrives home to find his mother completely captivated by the handsome and smooth-talking Demetrius.

Meanwhile, Leukos, a veteran warrior who has recognized the ruthless Demetrius-from battle, pleads with Iolaus to arrange a meeting with Hercules, but is slain before he can warn the son of Zeus about the plot on his life. Racing to his mother's house after discovering Leukos' body, Hercules is ambushed by six female archers summoned by Echidna. One of the archers' arrows, forged in the fires of Hades, finds its mark and Hercules collapses to the ground as Demetrius - finally revealing his true nature - binds Alcmene's hands, shoves her into his wagon and triumphantly drives off. Pulling the arrow out of Hercules' chest, Iolaus pleads with fate to spare the life of his fallen friend, whom Demetrius and the archers now believe to be dead.

A few hours later, having survived the deadly arrow, a severely weakened Hercules struggles to his feet and sets out to rescue his mother. Alcmene manages to escape her captors but is soon caught by Demetrius and taken to Echidna's cave to meet her death. When Hercules and Iolaus arrive at the cave, they disarm the archers guarding the entrance in a surprise attack and descend to face Echidna. There, in the depths of the underground lair, the wounded Hercules summons all his fading strength to battle Demetrius and Echidna.

Just as Hercules is about to kill the mother of all monsters, however, Alcmene pleads that he find another way to defeat her. In the end, Hercules and Iolaus unleash a tremendous rockslide, sealing Echidna in a darkened tomb forever.

Episode 21 - The Other Side - 10/30/95 [Hades]

One lovely spring day, a hillside suddenly splits open with a mighty rumble. Hades, the god of the underworld, rides out of the cleft earth on a chariot and kidnaps the beautiful Persephone, daughter of the goddess Demeter. The two quickly disappear in a cloud of blinding dust and smoke.

Hearing the awful rumbling some distance away, Hercules arrives just in time to see the hillside seal itself back up. A nearly hysterical Demeter tells him that Hades has taken Persephone to the Other Side and pleads with him to rescue her daughter. Hercules claims he cannot help her, saying he is powerless to intercede in a battle between gods.

As he walks off, Demeter angrily summons the elements against him and Hercules faces a sudden thunderstorm, then sleet, then snow. Realizing that Demeter's fury is causing devastation across the land, he finally offers to go after Persephone if the goddess promises to restore the harvest of the earth.

Demeter agrees and points him towards a cave-like split in the hillside, warning him not to eat anything on the Other Side and never to look back once he begins his homeward journey. Making his way through a dark and smoky cavern he is immediately thrown off balance by a fleeting vision of his deceased wife Deianeira, and their three children. [Charon]

Soon, he comes upon Charon, the ferryman, with whom he bargains to gain passage across the river Styx. Arriving on the Other Side, Hercules again sees Deianeira and his children, this time in the Elysian Fields. Deianeira runs to embrace her husband, and Hercules is swept up in a joyful family reunion.

Meanwhile, Persephone, who is secretly in love with her darkly handsome captor, is seriously considering life on the Other Side with him. Hercules is surprised and confused when she shows up at Deianeira's home and is not under guard. However, before she can fully explain herself, Hercules finds himself face to face with Hades in the punishment grounds of Tartarus. When he vows to take Persephone back to earth, Hades promises he will prevent it any way he can.

After breaking through the palace gates and making his way past Cerberus, Hades' ferocious three-headed dog, Hercules finally reaches Persephone. But to his surprise, she defends Hades and agrees to leave only when she learns that her mother is inflicting terrible suffering on mankind because of her disappearance. As they make their escape, however, Hercules must defeat a number of skeletal spear-wielding guards, then face Hades himself in a brutal battle.

Hercules returns Persephone back to the mortal world, where Hades and Demeter agree on a compromise whereby the girl will spend six months of the year with her mother and six months on the Other Side with Hades. Demeter keeps her pledge to let the harvest proceed and the world blooms again.

Episode 22 - The Fire Down Below - 11/6/95 [Salemoneus]

After winning a wrestling match to raise funds for charity, Hercules is approached by the bewitching beauty Ayora with a message from Salemoneus. She tells him that Salemoneus has suddenly struck it rich in the town of Orestia, and has invited Hercules back there to share in his incredible good fortune. Though admittedly curious, Hercules declines.

Later during his travels, he discovers the source of Salemoneus' newly acquired wealth - the shameless hustler has been selling off a huge treasure trove which has been sealed off in a cave for years. Sensing that his friend may be in imminent danger, Hercules sets out for Orestia.

Meanwhile, Salemoneus is busy living the high life, surrounded by beautiful women, until the entrance to the cave containing the treasure suddenly comes crashing down. His confidence is further shaken when his partner, Purces, is cornered and killed at the excavation site by Nemesis, the goddess of divine retribution. Upset, Salemoneus goes to see Zandar, the mastermind behind the extraction of the rare antiquities. Zandar assures him that he will be amply rewarded as long as he continues to sell.

However, Hercules arrives to explain that the treasure trove was a gift from the goddess Hera to King Ores in exchange for putting down a rebellion against her. Moreover, she will no doubt exact a terrible revenge against Salemoneus for his part in selling it off. Later, after Salemoneus reveals how he was lured into the operation by Purces, Hercules is surprised by the sudden appearance of the beautiful Nemesis. He chases her down, but before he can defend Salemoneus, she transforms into a bird and flies away. Realizing she is searching for Salemoneus to exact divine retribution, Hercules races to reach his friend first, but is attacked by a group of Zandar's thugs. Battling his way free, he manages to find Salemoneus just as Nemesis is aiming an arrow at his heart.

Appealing to her sense of justice, Hercules convinces Nemesis to spare Salemoneus and investigate Zandar instead. Meanwhile, Zandar prays to Hera for a weapon strong enough to defeat Hercules. The goddess responds by summoning the fiery monster Pyro. Zandar manages to take Nemesis captive in his headquarters while a deadly battle between Hercules and Pyro ensues in the cellar beneath Salemoneus' showroom. As Pyro attacks Hercules with a barrage of flames, Nemesis escapes her bonds and rushes to the showroom. She frees Salemoneus from the clutches of Zandar, who flees into the cellar seeking Pyro's protection but is himself consumed by flames. Hercules finally manages to finish Pyro off by hurling a burning makeshift spear right between the fiery killer's eyes. In the end, Nemesis bids farewell to Hercules with a kiss, transforms herself into a bird, and flies off to pursue her own destiny.

Xena Season 1 Episode 8- Prometheus - 11/6/95

Hercules and Iolaus join forces with Xena and Gabrielle to free Prometheus, who has been chained by the gods.

Episode 23 - Cast a Giant Shadow - 11/13/95 [Iolaus]

The warrior chieftain Maceus vows revenge against Hercules for killing his brother Demetrius. Hercules meanwhile frees a clumsy but kindly giant named Typhon, who has been held captive by Hera for over a hundred years. They head off to meet Iolaus, but Maceus' soldiers find him first. Despite repeated beatings, Iolaus refuses to reveal his friend's location and escapes to warn Hercules that Maceus is on their trail. Hercules has larger problems: He discovers that Typhon's wife is Echdina, "the mother of all monsters." And when Typhon hears that Echidna was sealed in a cave by Hercules, the giant storms off to rejoin her.

Hera hopes to use Echidna against Hercules by freeing the deadly creature to fight for Maceus. Hercules and Iolaus catch up with Typhon and persuade him that his wife is being controlled by Hera, as were his children, whom Hercules was forced to destroy. In a fight, Maceus falls accidental victim to Echidna's deadly tentacles. Before Echidna can attack Hercules, Typhon announces cheerfully that he is finally home. He tells Echidna how Hera had kept him imprisoned to provoke her hatred, and she vows to change. As she and her husband embrace, Hercules and Iolaus slip away.

Episode 24 - Highway To Hades - 11/20/95 [Hades]

Hades sends for Hercules because he needs a favor. Hades has a young man named Timeron in Tartarus, but he is there because he was tricked into taking the place of King Sisyphus of Corinth, on Timeron's wedding night. Hades wants Hercules to bring Sisyphus to the Underworld, where he belongs, so that Timeron's spirit can go to the Elysian Fields, where he belongs. Hades is so backed up that he does not have the time to do it himself. Hercules only has 3 days to do it in because if Sisyphus isn't brought to Tartarus in that time then Timeron's spirit is doomed to wander forever and Hades has "inventory coming up".

Timeron's spirit decides to join Hercules in his quest because he wants to help and see Daphne, his wife of only 4 hours, to make sure she is all right. Together they set out to bring the King back. Hercules soon discovers that Timeron and Daphne did not even get to share a wedding night, before he was taken away. Hercules doesn't think that Timeron coming should pose a problem when he finds out that no one but him should be able to see or hear Timeron, not even Iolaus.

Iolaus finds the whole thing strange and rather creepy trying to help someone who he cannot see or hear, except when Timeron moves a leaf or something. He even walks through Timeron, without knowing it. However, he was determined to help because the whole thing just is not right. Iolaus gets the chance to see Timeron, though. Hercules and him quickly discover that when Timeron gets emotional he will materialize.

King Sisyphus begins to suspect that Hades will not take the replacement of Timeron for him. Thus, he brings Daphne to stay at the castle with him and his queen, which makes bringing Sisyphus back even more complicated. Sisyphus tries many tricks to keep from being taken to the Underworld, including an imposter and magic. Daphne, not wanting to live without Timeron, even thinks of taking her own life. Hercules and Iolaus prevail over King Sisyphus in the end and Hercules persuades Hades to release Timeron's spirit to have his overdue wedding night with his Daphne, with the help of Hercules' borrowed body.

Episode 25 - The Sword of Veracity - 1/8/96 [Iolaus]

Hercules and Iolaus decide to stop and visit their old friend Amphion. Amphion used to be a great warrior, but now preaches peace and brotherhood. Hercules and Iolaus watch as Amphion is told to "move along" by warriors and then is placed under arrest by Trakus for murder. Amphion is tried by the magistrate, Trakus, and does not defend himself while Hercules and Iolaus can only watch and listen as Amphion is sentenced to death, in two days.

Hercules and Iolaus visit Amphion in prison to try to find out what was going on. Amphion retells the story of how his men had slaughtered women and children in his last campaign and now his guilt refuses to let him get over it. Hercules and Iolaus go to speak to Trakus. They tell him that they are going to get the Sword of Veracity, a sword that makes people tell the truth, to get to the truth of what happened. Hercules vows that he and Iolaus will see him tomorrow, with the sword. After Hercules and Iolaus leave, Trakus tells his men to keep and eye on Hercules and Iolaus and if they find the sword, kill them.

While Trakus is torturing Amphion on the rack, Hercules and Iolaus make their way to try and find the sword, when they run into a hestial virgin named Leah. Hercules is confused and puzzled that Leah will not lead them to the sword directly. Iolaus is simply charmed by her. Hercules tells Iolaus that when his "feelings" for Leah start to "come up" he should find a freezing cold lake and jump in. Gradually Hercules begins to believe that Leah is not a hestial virgin as she claims to be. Iolaus is very convinced though, so much that later that night Iolaus does indeed jump in a cold lake.

Fearing that Hercules and Iolaus might succeed in finding the sword, Trakus asks for Hera's help. Hera, in turn, turns a stack of stones into a Minotaur. Meanwhile, Hercules, Iolaus, and Leah discover the cave that holds the sword, only to find the Minotaur there. While Hercules fights the Minotaur, Iolaus and Leah go to find the sword, but find dozens of them and are forced to "test" each one. After Hercules defeated the Minotaur, they are faced with not one, but two more. Hercules and Iolaus fight together to trick them into killing each other. Leah finds the true Sword of Veracity because Iolaus confesses his true feelings for her when she withdraws it from its sheath.

Amphion confesses to crimes he did not commit because Trakus has taken some of his friends and threatens to burn them at the stake if he does not. Trakus' men try to stop Hercules and Iolaus from returning with the sword, but to no avail. Then, one of the men decide that holding Leah hostage might work, except that she has other ideas about that, with the help of the sword. Leah admits that she is not a hestial virgin, while holding the Sword of Veracity, but someone who loves Amphion and they are going to be married.

Hercules, Iolaus, and Leah make it back just in time for Hercules to pull the sword out on Trakus and make him admit that he was the one who murdered and not Amphion. Trakus orders his men to kill them and sets the hostages on fire. Everyone comes together to put the fire out, after Trakus' men run off. Hercules stops Trakus from escaping only to have the sword turned on him by Leah for killing her parents. Hercules and Amphion persuade her not to take Trakus' life. Amphion and Leah get married and all is well, except for when on the way out of the village, Iolaus pulls out the sword to see if it really works, only to start an argument between two women.

Episode 26 - The Enforcer - 1/15/96 [Hercules]

Hera creates an inhuman assassin in the shape of a woman known as the Enforcer, who is made of water but hard as stone. After tearing apart several patrons in a local roadhouse, she seizes a chariot and races off to find Hercules, who has arrived with Iolaus at the annual Festival of the Harvest.

There, Hercules is happily reunited with Nemesis, who tells him that she has broken with Hera and warns him of the Enforcer. Later at the edge of a cliff, Hercules greets an approaching woman, but her savage kicks and punches signal that he has just met the Enforcer. She charges him, swinging a log, but misses and falls onto the rocks below. Hercules staggers away, unaware that water in the Enforcer's body has fully re-formed in the ocean.

At the festival, Nemesis declares her love for Hercules, and romance blossoms between them. Iolaus has a more trying night, suffering a brutal beating as he vainly tries to hold off the Enforcer. Nemesis next tries to stop Hera's assassin but survives only because Hercules arrives. After a long battle, he flips the Enforcer into a blacksmith's forge, vaporizing her. Hercules then bids farewell to Nemesis, whose divine powers have been removed by the gods but who sets forth hopefully to discover her new, human identity.

Episode 27 - Once A Hero - 1/29/96 [Hercules]

Hercules, Iolaus and the Argonauts must retrieve the stolen Golden Fleece from a Hera following cult lead by a demon that keeps tormenting Jason. Along the way, they try to discover the truth about Jason's tormenting "imaginations" of demons before it drives him over the edge and he loses his kingdom. With the threats by Markus, the Chief Regent of Argos over their heads and a saboteur among them, they must face many obstacles before the Fleece can be returned to its rightful place.

Episode 28 - Heedless Hearts - 2/5/96 [Iolaus]

A lightning bolt strikes Iolaus, who awakens with the power to predict events. He warns a skeptical Hercules about the appearance of a young woman only moments before Rheanna arrives on horseback. She tells them of the death of her husband, Jordis, during a failed rebellion against the ruthless King Melkos, and pleads for help in saving her village.

Iolaus later predicts that Hercules will be betrayed by Rheanna, but to no avail: Hercules is falling in love with her. Melkos' troops ambush the rebels and take everyone prisoner, including Hercules. The real traitor turns out to be Rheanna's sister-in-law Hephates - the woman Iolaus "saw" in his first vision.

King Melkos sentences the rebels to death but Hercules and Iolaus lead a daring escape. Now much in love, Hercules and Rheanna take shelter in a farmhouse, where she is amazed to see her husband, Jordis, who was secretly rescued by rebels after a battle.

That night, Hercules and Iolaus scale the walls of the king's castle and help the rebels defeat King Melkos, though Iolaus suffers a blow to the head that ends his ability to foretell events. Hercules parts with Rheanna, who has stirred his heart in a way he had not felt since losing his family.

Episode 29 - Let the Games Begin - 2/12/96 [Ares]

Coming upon a group of Spartans and Eleans in battle, Hercules breaks up the melee and looks after one young Spartan named Damon, who has been attacked from behind and knocked unconscious by Brontus the Elean. When Hercules escorts him back to his village of Propontus, he is surprised to find that the young man's aunt is his old friend Atalanta. No longer the sexily-clad blacksmith he once knew, Atalanta tells Hercules that she has been taking care of Damon ever since the death of his mother. She reveals that her older brother, Damon's father, was a Spartan warrior killed in battle and confides her fear that Damon, with his all-consuming interest in war, will follow in his father's footsteps.

During a walk around the village, Hercules notices that everyone seems to be fighting and bickering. But when two young boys settle a dispute by racing each other rather than arguing, he hits upon the idea of organizing a series of athletic contests to prove who the fastest and strongest warriors are, which will provide an alternative to constant combat. Atalanta likes the idea instantly and wins Damon's promise of cooperation by defeating him in an arm wrestling match. Meanwhile, the Elean leader Tarkon is furious when he learns that his young warriors have fled from Hercules, and he tells them they must kill the son of Zeus in order to appease Ares, the god of war.

To secure a field in which to stage the athletic events, Atalanta takes Hercules to a secluded cottage to meet Psoriasis, who turns out to be none other than Salemoneus, hiding out on his brother-in-law's estate from some people he swindled in a game of chance. He enthusiastically signs on to the project, hoping both to make some money and to get closer to the sexy Atalanta. He leads them to a magnificent open field with Mount Olympus rising in the background, where he is struck by a sudden inspiration to name the competition the Olympic Games. Hercules sets out to tell the Spartans and Eleans about his idea and comes upon Damon and his old friend Taphius, a veteran warrior who sees the wisdom of Hercules' plan. Hercules maneuvers his way into the Elean camp to invite Tarkon to join in the competition, but Tarkon quickly orders his men to kill Hercules and a bloody battle ensues. When the dust settles, Hercules is surrounded by a group of dazed and unconscious warriors, and he again invites an angry Tarkon to participate in the Games.

As preparations for the Games continue, Tarkon, standing in a shrine before a pool of blood, prays to Ares for help in defeating Hercules. In answer to his prayers, the Elean leader watches as his battle-weary veteran soldiers drink from the pool and are transformed into hideous killers. Tarkon promises the young Brontus that the birth of the Olympics will be the death of Hercules.

On the day of the Olympics, a huge crowd turns out for the events which include the 100 meter dash, the broad jump, the javelin throw, the discus throw and boxing. It appears that the competition is starting to thaw the icy relationship between the Spartans and the Eleans. Atalanta delights the crowd when she breaks the tie between Damon and Brontus in the javelin throw by beating both of them easily and walking away the winner. Just as the 100 meter dash is about to begin, however, Tarkon's transformed warriors, known as Mesomorphs, come thundering out of the woods to attack the Spartan competitors. As Hercules leaps into the battle, the competing Spartans and Eleans, including Damon and Brontus, join together to fight Tarkon's men. In the end, the warriors of Ares are defeated and the Olympics Games proceed in peace.

Episode 30 - The Apple - 2/19/96 [Aphrodite]

Hercules and Iolaus stop to enjoy an afternoon of swimming and fishing on their way to the wedding of Epius and Thera, a union which promises to end the bitter and longstanding feud between the cities of Syros and Delos. While trying to help a young boy retrieve a plank of wood from the ocean, Iolaus inadvertently discovers the ancient equivalent of surfing, and decides to remain at the shore a while longer as Hercules departs for the wedding rehearsal. When he arrives in Syros, Hercules is welcomed by the happy couple and their fathers -- Sidon, King of the Syrosians, and King Diadorus of Delos -- longtime enemies who have agreed to the marriage and a peace treaty for the sake of their childrens' happiness.

Meanwhile, back at the beach, Iolaus is stunned when he reels in a giant clam shell, which opens to reveal the magnificent goddess Aphrodite. As he greets her, he turns to see Aphrodite's two sisters, Athena and Artemis, who explain that when Aphrodite asked their father Zeus to pick the most beautiful goddess on Olympus, he suggested that the three come down to earth and find a mortal to make the decision. Aphrodite asks if Iolaus will be the judge and he agrees. [Athena]

The striking and athletic Artemis tries to win his vote by promising to make him the world's greatest warrior. The smart and sexy Athena tries to bribe him with a promise of great wisdom. Finally, the stunningly beautiful Aphrodite offers him a golden apple, which will make any woman he wants fall hopelessly in love with him. Iolaus chooses the apple and decides to test its power as he strolls along the beach. Not realizing who she is, he approaches Thera, who falls instantly in love with him.

When Thera is late for the wedding rehearsal, Hercules searches for her, only to find her in Iolaus' arms. When he informs his friend that the lovely young woman is actually the bride-to-be, Iolaus tells him about Aphrodite's spell. As the two try unsuccessfully to convince the lovestruck Thera to return to her fiance, they hear Epius and his father, King Diadorus, approaching. Hercules whisks Thera away before she can break up with Epius and Iolaus rushes off to find Aphrodite in hopes that she will break the spell. To his surprise, the goddess shrugs her shoulders and agrees, urging him to hang onto the apple anyway since it's made of solid gold.

Back at the rehearsal, Thera starts behaving normally again towards her beloved Epius until Iolaus arrives. Once again, she rushes into his arms and Iolaus realizes that he's been duped by Aphrodite. The assembled Syrosians and Delosians are stunned and guards on both sides begin rushing each other. As Iolaus and Thera beat a hasty retreat, Hercules steps in to separate the two angry kings to prevent an all-out war. Off by themselves, Iolaus explains to Thera that she's under Aphrodite's spell and shows her the golden apple, drawing it back just in time to prevent their touching the object at the same moment, which would unite them as soulmates forever.

After convincing the two kings and Epius that their predicament has been caused by interference from the gods, Hercules finds Iolaus and Thera, and sets out with the golden apple to return it to Aphrodite. When he finds her and questions her motives, the goddess finally confesses that she's been trying to foster a war between between Syros and Delos in order to gain control of both kingdoms. The two cities are rich in gold, which she'd love to see turned into shrines in her honor. As Hercules angrily heaves the golden apple far away, he fails to notice that a new one has instantly materialized in Aphrodite's palm.

The next day, Thera has returned to her senses and with Hercules and Iolaus, goes home to Syros where tensions are at the boiling point betweeen the two families. With the reunion of Epius and Thera, it seems as though all is now right until a disguised Aphrodite plants another golden apple near Iolaus and Thera once again rushes into his arms. As the two kings prepare to go to war, Hercules and Iolaus snatch Epius and Thera and all four leap from a castle window to the sea below. The armies meet and begin to do battle as the foursome steps into the fray to try to keep both sides from killing each other. In the end, Hercules takes one of Aphrodite's apples, grabs the hands of both kings and thrusts it into their joint grasp, causing them to become soulmates for life. Her hopes of instigating a war dashed, Aphrodite bids farewell to Hercules, but it is clear she will someday return to cause more mischief.

Episode 31 - Promises - 3/4/96 [Iolaus]

Hercules and Iolaus arrive in Zebran to attend a royal wedding, only to learn from King Beraeus that his bride-to-be, the beautiful Ramina, has been kidnapped for ransom by the warrior Tarlus. Hercules is surprised by the news, having known Tarlus as a good man and brave soldier, and convinces the king to let him and Iolaus rescue Ramina. On the way, Iolaus reveals that he is not surprised by Tarlus' actions, telling Hercules that they were friends until Tarlus abandoned him in battle many years before.

When they reach the appointed spot, Hercules takes cover and Iolaus, his face obscured and his voice muffled by a headpiece and scarf, calls out to Tarlus. When Tarlus and his men appear, Hercules and Iolaus overpower them in battle and make off with Ramina. Tarlus and his lieutenant Natros (Calvin Tutaeo) round up their men and set off in Iolaus' direction, only to fall into another trap when Hercules and Iolaus trigger a rock slide in the canyon around them.

Returning to Zebran through Primord country, Ramina insists on bathing in a stream, but when Hercules and Iolaus look for her, she is gone. Meanwhile, Beraeus, losing patience, decides to gather his troops and find Ramina himself. Hercules and Iolaus follow Ramina's trail and are soon attacked by a group of hairy half-men, half-beasts known as Primords, but are able to drive them off. They start out in the direction of Tarlus' camp as indicated by a shepherd, who pretends to have been badly injured by the Primords.

Hercules, however, correctly suspects that the man is a spy for Tarlus, and he and Iolaus double back to follow him. That night, they sneak into Tarlus' camp to rescue Ramina, and are stunned when they see her kissing Tarlus. Though admittedly confused by what they have witnessed, they grab her, kicking and screaming, and fight their way out.

As they make their way through the forest, Ramina explains that Beraeus is actually an evil and merciless king who is forcing her to marry him, though Hercules and Iolaus find her claims hard to believe.

En route to Zebran, the trio is set upon by another group of Primords, but Hercules and Iolaus manage to fight them off. Soon, however, Ramina disappears again, but this time she ends up tied to a horse, riding back to Zebran alongside Beraeus. Finally, convinced that Tarlus and Ramina deserve their support, Hercules and Iolaus set out to rescue Ramina once again, and arrive just in time to interrupt the wedding. Hercules and Iolaus team up with Tarlus and his men in a furious battle against Beraeus' soldiers.

At last, when Beraeus realizes he will never marry Ramina, he raises his sword to strike her down and Hercules must kill him. Tarlus then reveals that he left Iolaus' side in battle years before in order to save Beraeus' father, King Palos, who swore him to secrecy after the act. In the end, Hercules and Iolaus attend the joyful wedding ceremony of Tarlus and Ramina.

Episode 32 - King For a Day - 3/18/96 [Iolaus]

Iolaus stops by to see his cousin, Prince Orestes, but is almost shot by an arrow from Orestes, while hunting for deer, only to discover that his cousin looks exactly like him. Iolaus quickly discovers that Orestes is soon to become King and marry a woman, Naiobi. He is not very fond of at Orestes' bachelor party that night. Iolaus also realizes that Orestes enjoys women, drink, and song, not quite King material. After Iolaus and the partygoers retire for the evening, Orestes passes out because his wine was drugged, with the help of his brother, Menos, who wants to be king, and General Arekaus.

The next morning, Orestes' drugged body is found and Iolaus is persuaded to impersonate Orestes because everyone will be executed if "Orestes" does not make it to his wedding and coronation. Iolaus soon discovers that if he stumbles across any words during the coronation, tradition calls for it that he be beheaded on the spot. Orestes ("Iolaus") makes his way down the aisle of the temple, tripping on his robe and almost his tongue. With the help of Orestes' right hand man and signs he makes it through the coronation ceremony and is crowned king. Immediately following the wedding, Orestes ("Iolaus") marries Naiboi. After lifting the veil, he discovers that Naiobi is beautiful.

After the wedding reception, it was discovered that Arekaus has taken the real Orestes and they are forced to figure out a way to get him back. Arekaus and Menos have discovered that there is someone impersonating Orestes. Orestes ("Iolaus") is sent a message to meet Menos, which turns out to be a trap, which does not quite turn out the way Menos wants. Menos overhears Arekaus talking to his man and realizes that Arekaus will not be allowing Menos to rule.

Meanwhile, Orestes ("Iolaus") and Naiboi hear cases of dispute among their subjects. Naiobi soon realizes that Orestes ("Iolaus") is fair and diplomatic, especially when he refuses to allow a villager, who did not have the money to pay his taxes, to be beheaded and offers him sanctuary in the palace. In another part of the kingdom, the real Orestes is slowly being poisoned and Menos asks that Orestes save himself by relinquishing his thrown. Orestes refuses, while Orestes ("Iolaus") and Naiobi are becoming rather fond of each other.

That night Menos goes to see Orestes ("Iolaus") and tells him the truth, out of fear for his life and that of the real Orestes. Orestes ("Iolaus") sneaks into Arekaus' kingdom to rescue the real Orestes, with the help of Naiobi. Trying to escape Orestes ("Iolaus") soon finds himself confronted by Arekaus and his men while the real Orestes holds his brother, Menos as he dies. After Arekaus is killed by a falling chandelier, Naiobi realizes that the Orestes she married and began to have feelings for, is not the real Orestes at all. The real Orestes recovers from his illness and he and Naiobi thank Iolaus for his help. Orestes has had a change of heart and outlook on his position, after all he's been through, and will now rule as a true King. Naiobi sees Iolaus off and the two parts with hurt feelings, but knowing it is the right thing to do.

Episode 33 - Protean Challenge - 4/22/96 [Hercules]

Hercules and Iolaus have to help an old friend, Thanus, a sculptor, because he is accused of being a robber. What's worse, Iolaus thought he saw him do it. Hercules and Iolaus save Thanus from being stoned by a mob only to have him be thrown in a cell by the town magistrate. In the interest of fairness, the magistrate gives Hercules and Iolaus 24 hours to discover what really happened. If they do not succeed, Thanus' hands will be chopped off as his punishment.

Iolaus then thinks he sees Hercules kissing Danielle, Thanus' daughter, who he likes. Hercules tells Iolaus that it was not him. A confused Hercules then knows that something bizarre is going on, especially when "Iolaus" tries to kill him while the real Iolaus walks up. Then, Hercules knows what's going on: Proteus, a god who can assume the shape of any leaving form.

Hercules and Iolaus soon discover that Proteus is making Thanus pay because Danielle rejected him, after seeing Proteus' true self in a reflection of water. It is up to Hercules to prove that it was Proteus posing as Thanus. Hercules will have to fight the many forms of Proteus, even the one that looks like Hercules himself.

Ultimately, Hercules convinces Proteus that he can make amends for his deeds by saving Thanus. Proteus materializes as himself to the people of the village and the magistrate and admits to taking the form of Thanus to commit the robbery. Just in time, too, Thanus' hands are already on the block. Proteus apologizes to Danielle, Thanus, and the people of the village for his deeds, then changes into a white dove and flies away. Thanus is so thankful to Hercules and Iolaus that he decides to create a statue of the two of them, for helping him.

Episode 34 - The Wedding of Alcmene - 4/29/96 [Alcmene]

On her way to Corinth, Alcmene stops in a small village to meet her son, and arrives just in time to see Hercules and Iolaus defeat a band of thugs who have terrorized the local tavern. When Alcmene reveals that she is planning to marry Jason, a startled Hercules learns that she had an affair with his mentor-hero Jason long ago. Explaining that her love for Jason has recently been rekindled, Alcmene apologizes to her son for keeping the romance a secret for so long, and Hercules is moved to forgive her when he sees how happy she is.

As Hercules and Iolaus escort her on to Corinth where Jason reigns as King, Patronius, the arrogant chief regent of the city, reminds Jason that if he marries a commoner, he will lose his crown and the right to be married in the castle. Jason replies that he understands what he is giving up, but adds that if he marries Alcmene within three days, the law will allow him to name his successor, thereby putting an end to Patronius' own dreams of power. Jason rides off to meet Alcmene on the outskirts of the city, while Patronius is visited by a mysterious Blue Priest under Hera's command, who solicits Patronius' help in a plot to kill Hercules.

Back at the castle, Jason informs his visitors that he must give up the throne in order to marry Alcmene, and asks Hercules to be his successor. Though deeply honored by his trust, Hercules declines, and Jason sends Iolaus on a mission to summon his second choice for king. He also dispatches his Argonauts - Phoebe, Archivus and Domesticles - to deliver wedding invitations to his and Alcmene's friends. Meanwhile, Patronius hires a group of bloodthirsty mercenaries to kill the son of Zeus. Hercules, Jason and Alcmene are attacked by the ruthless thugs on a country road, but the two men drive off the murderers, only to realize that Alcmene has also vanished. She soon turns up breathless, having driven off the last of the attackers herself. Later, the Blue Priest sneers at the mercenaries' failed attempt at murder, noting that Hercules and Jason will now assume that the wedding can proceed without interruption. He then summons Perfidia, Hera's terrible sea serpent, and a young beauty named Sera, his secret ally in the plot against Hercules, who has volunteered the magnificent seaside estate of her late uncle as the wedding site.

On the day of the wedding, all is ready. Amphion, who is set to perform the ceremony, is on hand with his wife Leah, the caterer Falafel, and dozens of guests, including Dirce and Deric the Centaur. No one suspects that Perfidia is lying in wait to attack and that all the servants are killers in disguise. Iolaus arrives with Jason's choice of successor - Iphicles, Hercules' brother, who is accompanied by his wife Rena. Soon after Iphicles is proclaimed King, Perfidia's attack begins. The Argonauts fight back valiantly as Iolaus and Iphicles guard Alcmene, but Hercules and Jason are swallowed by Perfidia and the hideous beast returns to the ocean. Hercules and Jason escape the deadly acid of the stomach of the monster, destroy the attackers, and Alcmene marries Jason.

Episode 35 - The Power - 5/6/96 [Salemoneus]

Hercules runs into some trouble on the beach, but he is not the only one. A woman, Sirene, tells Hercules that bandits are attacking her boyfriend, Dion. Running to help, a puzzled Hercules discovers that the bandits turned tail and ran away from Dion, just because he told them to. Hercules travels with the two to their village to tell the others what happened. As the villagers poke fun at Dion, he has one "dance like a chicken", along with Salemoneus, who just happened to be there, too.

As Hercules and Salemoneus are sitting in a tavern, Salemoneus tells Hercules that he is at the village because the Titus brothers sent for him, when they are approached by Jucobus, Dion's father. Jucobus insists that Hercules stay with them. That night Jucobus relates the story of Dion's heritage, that his mother is the goddess Aphrodite. While Dion's evil uncle, Caris wants Dion to use his newfound powers to help him and his bandits. [Aphrodite]

Jucobus tells Dion about his mother, while Hercules watches on. Hercules tells Dion that Aphrodite is his half-sister and that he needs to try to figure out why he has been given these special powers and what he is going to do with them.

Hercules soon discovers that Caris is behind the bandit raids on the villagers, when he finds one of the bandits in the local tavern, while Caris is trying to persuade Dion to join him, with jewels and women. Hercules must convince Dion of the truth about his uncle, but Dion does not want to believe that his uncle is involved.

Caris persuades Dion that he can change and the two of them can make things better in the world for everyone, using Dion's power of persuasion. Hercules tries to tell Dion the truth, but he will not be stopped. Dion uses his power to try to get Salemoneus to attack Hercules. Caris talks Dion into "going up" against Hercules, power for power because of his jealousy over seeing Sirene and Hercules embracing. That is, until Dion sees his uncle Caris pull a sword out and try to kill his father. Then he realizes the truth, especially when he tries to stop Caris and Caris tries to kill him, too. Jucobus is then forced to kill his own brother to save Dion's life.

Dion promises Hercules that he'll figure out how to use his power for good and that if he ever needs anything he knows where to find Hercules. Sirene informs Hercules that he must come back for their wedding.

Episode 36 - Centaur Mentor Journey - 5/13/96

Hercules' ailing mentor, a centaur named Ceridian, dispatches his young student Theseus to bring Hercules the message that he is dying. The boy finds the son of Zeus in a market bazaar with Salemoneus, and the three rush to Ceridian's cave. There the frail centaur tells Hercules he's worried about another of his proteges, the bold and brilliant centaur Cassius, who has grown increasingly angry and militant.

When Hercules and Salemoneus set out to find Cassius, they run into the bigoted town magistrate Gredor and the local smith who directs them to the school where Cassius' ex-girlfriend Myrra teaches. On the way, Salemoneus runs into Gnoxius, a fiercely opportunistic kindred soul who piques Salemoneus' interest in his latest enterprise -- selling mini-sundials on straps. As the two go off to discuss business, Hercules continues on to the school where he is curtly dismissed by Myrra, a bright and beautiful young woman whose love for Cassius has obviously stirred up the town's deepest prejudices. Even Myrra's own father Perdidis, an educated liberal who owns and runs the school, objects to his daughter's relationship with the centaur.

Perdidis' assistant Locus finally shows Hercules the way to the abandoned castle where Cassius is training his group of mighty centaurs. He reveals that the centaurs are threatening to arm themselves and march through town to the public fountain, where only humans are allowed to drink. He further explains that the centaurs will have to cross Perdidis' estate on the way and if they come armed, Perdidis has vowed he will repel them by force if necessary.

When Hercules confronts him, Cassius angrily declares his willingness to fight in order to achieve his goal of equal rights, and stalks off before the son of Zeus can explain that there might be another, less violent way. Meanwhile, Myrra, who has been stopped from seeing Cassius by her father, pleads to be at his side once again, but the centaur refuses to expose her to the dangers that accompany his struggle.

Later, when Hercules rescues Salemoneus from attack by a couple of centaurs, Cassius arrives and challenges Hercules. A duel between the two formidable adversaries begins and they appear almost equally matched. During the ferocious fight, Hercules is disarmed and must grab a spear to defend himself against Cassius' repeated charges. Hercules gets the drop on the centaur but cannot bring himself to deliver the final coup de grace, so the battle continues. Finally, Hercules regains the advantage, but it is only when Theseus arrives to tell him that Ceridian is very close to death, that the battle ends.

Hercules rushes off with Theseus and Salemoneus and soon after, Myrra finds Cassius. She tries to convince him that he should be at the side of his dying teacher and begs him not to be so consumed by hatred that he rejects all humans -- even those who love him. Cassius reluctantly agrees to visit his mentor one last time, but ends up leaving in anger to arm his followers. From his deathbed, Ceridian pleads with Hercules to prevent the impending bloodshed.

Meanwhile, the evil magistrate Gredor has enlisted the help of Perdidis' assistant Locus in a plot to kill Perdidis and blame Cassius for the murder. Locus has been persuaded to betray Perdidis in exchange for regaining his ancestors' land and the abandoned castle which Cassius has been using as his base of operations. As the armed centaurs begin their march and line up for battle against Perdidis' men, Hercules steps in to prevent Locus from assassinating Myrra's father with a dagger specially made to match Cassius' knife.

When Hercules exposes Locus' attempt to start a war which will result in the wholesale slaughter of the centaurs, Perdidis and his men throw down their weapons and Cassius and the centaurs do the same. All join together to march into town, where they are pelted by stones hurled by angry citizens. When they refuse to resort to violence, even when Cassius is wounded by an arrow, they win the citizens' respect. In the end, Locus exposes Gredor's treachery and his own greed, and the magistrate is driven out of town. The centaurs and humans drink together from the fountain, Cassius and Myrra are reunited, and Ceridian can finally pass on to the Other Side in peace.

Episode 37 - The Cave of Echoes - 6/24/96 [Iolaus]

When Hercules and Iolaus save a young writer named Parentheses from being hanged by a group of scoundrels, the excited young man insists on tagging along on their journey to the Cave of Echoes, where they've been summoned by Elopius.

They arrive to find the old man despairing over the disappearance of his beautiful young daughter Melina inside the cave several days before. As Elopius warns them that no one has ever come out alive from this terrible place, a monstrous roar is heard. Intent on rescuing the girl, Hercules and Iolaus enter the dark cavern followed by Parentheses, who disobeys Hercules' orders to remain outside in his eagerness to witness real heroes in action.

With each bloodcurdling roar, Parentheses begins to quake and it is only Hercules' and Iolaus' tales of monsters they have fought in the past that begin to calm the fearful writer. Just as they convince him it is useless to worry until something bad actually happens, the ceiling caves in. When the dust settles, a huge boulder is poised over Hercules, who smashes it to bits with one devastating swing of his fist. Eventually, Parentheses begins to see their plight differently when Hercules encourages him to concentrate not on his fears, but rather on how he can help others. At that moment, however, a stiff wind blows through the cave and extinguishes their torch, leaving them in total darkness.

After managing to relight their torch, the three men hear another unearthly roar, accompanied by a woman's plaintive wail, and know that they're getting close. They quickly reach Melina, who is clinging precariously to the edge of a pit. When Hercules holds out the torch and realizes that the "monster" clutching Melina's foot is, in fact, an ancient tree root, he decides to send an unsuspecting Parentheses down to save her. The young man bravely agrees to the mission in spite of his terror of the monster.

Descending into the pit, he is overjoyed to discover that there is no horrible beast to fight after all, and pulls the girl out. Melina then leads them into an adjoining cavern towards another deafening roar, which turns out to be the cry of her tiny kitten Zeus, magnified a thousandfold by the Cave of Echoes. She explains that she was running after her pet kitten when she first entered the cave, before her foot became trapped. Later, as the group emerges from the cave, a grateful Melina introduces the now heroic Parentheses to her father and the young couple walk off arm in arm as Hercules and Iolaus are called away.

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