Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me. They belong to whoever owns the rights to Xena:Warrior Princess.

All I Need Is...



Chapter 1

Long, long ago, a king called Hercules, and his warrior queen named Xena lived together with their five handsome sons. For many years, man and wife had fought many battles on the side of good, but finally, happily, had settled down to raise a family.

One day, the palace guards admitted a strange cloaked woman. She approached the thrones of Hercules and Xena and threw off her hood. She had a sinister, dark beauty, with eyes that seemed to burn right through you. When she spoke, ice filled Xena's veins, and she instantly knew the woman's identity. "Xena," she seemed to hiss. "Have you missed me?"

Xena held Hercules' arm tightly, and they rose from their seats. "Alti," Xena said. "It's been a long time." Hercules held his wife's hand, lending his support. "Why are you here?" asked Hercules.

Alti laughed softly. It was a quiet, but definitely ominous sound. "Why am I here? I am here to make you pay for my years in prison!"

"It was war!" Xena exclaimed. "You helped warlords kill thousands! You had to be punished for your crimes!"

"I was doing what I was meant to do. I was not meant for prison. I want you to suffer as I have suffered. I have taken your sons from their beds. Don't expect me to give them back! With that statement, she pointed out the window. As Hercules and Xena heard the sound of mighty wings, five beautiful swans could be seen disappearing into the clouds above. With a loud shriek, Xena ran towards Alti, ready to fight for her children. Alti vanished from sight, the echoes of her maniacal laughter remaining in the room long after her absence.

Hercules and Xena searched their kingdom and beyond, for news of Alti and their swan princes. No one could help until Xena asked her friend, an Amazon shamaness called Nephti, for advice.

Nephti came to the couple, who were deep in mourning, embraced them, and said, "My dear children... I would give all my magic to get your sons back, but it wouldn't help. Alti can be sent to another dimension to be punished for eternity, and I have done so. For the curse on your sons, Alti tapped into an ancient magic: one that I cannot undo. There is a solution, but it is far from easy."

"We will do anything!" exclaimed Hercules, holding a fierce looking Xena in his arms, who agreed with a nod. She was too angry to speak.

Nephti shook her head. "There is nothing for you to do, my children. This is a quest for your daughter to fulfill."

"But, my lady..." a frustrated Hercules started to say.

"Hercules, Xena... I know that this is an extremely difficult time for you, but you will have a daughter in eight months time. She will grow up to be the savior of her brothers, but she is not to know about her quest until her 21st birthday."

"Yes, my lady." Hercules and Xena bowed to Nephti's wisdom, hoping that this really would be the answer.

-TBC-