AN: This story was inspired one day while I was watching episode 1x21 The Greater Good. I wondered what would happen to Gabrielle if Xena didn't miraculously survive to save the day. This story starts out dark and angsty, but gradually lightens with some humour. The first half of this chapter follows the end of the episode and diverges about halfway through.

The Greater Good

"Who killed Xena?" Talmadeus chuckled, leering unpleasantly at the dead warrioress' body.

"I, uh…. I don't know," Salmoneus murmured sadly.

"You… don't know?" Talmadeus turned to the portly lord beside him with a disgusted look. "It's obvious and soon the entire world will know. I killed her!" The warlord turned to his army, fists raised in victory. His men roared and cheered for their leader. "The great Talmadeus has taken down the warrior princess!"

Talmadeus smirked and basked in the praise of his men for a moment.

"Bring out the horses," The warlord commanded, "Let's tear this carcass limb from limb," he grinned, turning to resume his seat.

He had not even reached his makeshift throne when the sounds of fighting broke out behind him. Talmadeus turned to watch curiously as a small blonde woman beat his men to the ground. "I like her spirit," he murmured to himself.

Before Talmadeus knew it, the blonde had fought her way over to him and had one of his men's swords held to his throat.

"I'm taking my friend and we're leaving, got it?!!" She snarled ferociously, green eyes narrowed.

"You fight well, I might ask you to join," Talamdeus grinned, ignoring the sword she held.

"I'm taking her home to her mother," The girl snapped, pressing the sword harder.

"I can see you're determined," The warlord smirked.

"Put her on the horse, NOW!!" She yelled.

"How long do you think you can keep this up? The moment your head turns, the moment your eyes flicker… You don't even know how to hold a sword," Talmadeus finished his little speech with a condescending smile.

Story diverges here

"I've just lost my best friend, and you think I care how I'm holding this sword?" I growled, my voice cracking with emotion. He didn't answer.

"Put Xena on the horse, NOW!!" I roared, not taking my eyes off Talmadeus.

The warlord clenched his teeth in frustration and gave a stiff nod to his men. They dragged Xena's body to Argo and threw her roughly over the saddle.

"Good," I pressed the tip of the sword harder against Talmadeus' throat, mesmerised by the trickle of blood that ran from beneath it, "Now I'm leaving. Don't follow me." I backed away a step, and quickly gauged how many strides it would take to reach Argo. Five. Okay, focus. (Xena said to focusohgodsohgodsgodshelp) One step, two, three. Swords came out of nowhere, slashing down in front of me.

"You're not leaving yet little girl," Talmadeus' chuckled as his men barred my way.

I snarled and it was not a pretty sound. The sword in my hand felt heavy and awkward. I remembered that I wasn't a warrior, I didn't know how to wield a sword. Doesn't matter. I'll kill anyone who tries to stop me from fulfilling Xena's last request.

And suddenly the sword felt light, felt like it belonged in my hand. There was a ringing sound in my ears, so loud I almost didn't hear the heavy, wet sound the metal made as it slid through flesh. It took no strength at all to pull the sword free again and plunge it into the second man, straight through his throat in one clumsy thrust. Some part of me rejoiced at the gurgling sound the man made as he slid to the ground. Another part of me wanted to be sick, wanted to throw down the sword I was never meant to wield and collapse in a heap of screaming, hysterical misery. But I couldn't, there was something I had to do first. Once Xena was home again then could I give in, curl into a ball on the ground and cry myself to death.

No more men stood in my way and I took the last two strides to Argo. Somehow I heaved myself onto the mare's back, awkwardly shifting Xena's body so that she lay across the saddle in front of me. My heels dug into Argo's sides and the mare lurched forward into a swift canter. We were going home.