FOUR AGAINST THE DARKNESS
by Phil D. Hernández
GENRES: Xena: Warrior Princess, drama. VIOLENCE: Some fighting. One character meets a fiery end. SEX: There is some discussion of what happens when a telekinetic girl reaches puberty. Dahak's rape of Gabrielle is mentioned. Joxer faces his desire for Gabrielle. LANGUAGE: Clean. RATING: PG-13. SUBTEXT: None. Why bother? SPOILERS: A Necessary Evil, Sacrifice II. NOTICE TO JOXERPHOBES: Xena specifically named Joxer part of her family. You want to disagree with her? Ha-HA!
DRAMATIS PERSONAE:
Xena Warrior Princess
Gabrielle the Bard of Poteidaia, Xena's best friend
Hope Gabrielle's daughter, sort of
Joxer the Mighty, would-be hero
Dahak pure evil deified
Alti disembodied spirit of an evil shamaness
Lao Ma Xena's Chinese mentor
a priest of Dahak
other minions of Dahak
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This is a story in the Outside the Lines series. As such, it diverges from the broadcast Xenaverse, in this case some time after the fourth season episode In Sickness and in Hell, but before Paradise Found. The events of the pathetic sixth-season episode Soul Possession are assumed not to have happened.
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ACT ONE
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The lithe girl with the strawberry blonde tresses considered the forested hills of Thessaly to be her favorite place in the entire known world. She recalled a Hebrew song she had learned some while back: I lift my eyes up to the mountains; whence comes my aid? The memory provoked a chuckle, because she knew that Mount Olympus was not very far away. The home of the Greek gods was no source of aid to her, though when one had Xena for a friend aid from the gods was hardly necessary.
Gathering wood for the evening fire was necessary, however. There was no hurry. The girl had plenty of time to pick flowers, stuff the occasional berry in her mouth or twirl around as if to catch the breeze in her russet dress as its hem fanned out from the tops of her knee-high boots. Her mother had taught her to enjoy the wonders of nature; Poteidaians might seem dull, but on the whole they were happy people.
For the girl's mother was a Poteidaian, and not just any Poteidaian but Gabrielle, the Bard of Poteidaia. The girl's name was Hope, given to her in spite of the ordeal Gabrielle had suffered when Hope was conceived and born. Although Hope was the child of a rape, Gabrielle loved her, and the intensity of Gabrielle's love was a powerful force.
Now another force intruded, but this force had nothing to do with love. Hope felt a tug on her spirit. Disconcerted, she tried to get a handle on what was pulling her. At first she thought it might be her father, the evil god Dahak, but she knew his call too well to mistake it. This was not his doing, or if it was his influence was indirect. No, this was something else. She was being summoned, all right, and for no good purpose. Hope fought the summons with every bit of her strength, but though she was half god, she was also still young and somewhat inexperienced.
She tugged back and gained some purchase, but the steady pull eroded her position. The world around her began to seem unreal, though she saw no difference. Hope had no time to think about it. The pull continued, and she could not break the mystical connection. Suddenly it was gone. Hope had the feeling that she was somewhere else, though she had not moved from where she was standing. The sun was in the same place; the grass, the trees, the very shadows had not changed. And yet
Nothing happened over the next few minutes, so the girl resumed collecting firewood. She could not shake that feeling that everything was different, that something bad had happened. Spotting the Warrior Princess returning to the camp with a brace of rabbits, Hope called to her.
Aunt Xena!
What happened next shocked Hope to the core.
Xena turned toward her, but the moment she recognized Hope an ugly, murderous look appeared on the warrior's face. she shouted in a voice filled with hatred. Then Xena threw her chakram and threw it Hope's head. The girl stopped the missile halfway between them and floated it back to Xena's hip, where she replaced the chakram on its hook. Sensing a movement behind her, Hope reached back and grabbed Gabrielle's staff just before it hit, using its momentum to swing Gabrielle around and force her stumbling away, staff still in the bard's hands.
Mother, what are you doing? Hope cried. She took a few steps backwards and to the side, bringing Joxer into her field of vision. His sword was drawn, and hate filled his eyes, too. Xena now held a naked sword in her hand as well, and advanced on Hope.
Aunt Xena? Stepfather? Mother?
The Warrior Princess halted. I don't know how you came back, but this time I'm going to make sure you stay dead, if I have to cut you up into little pieces and bury them all over the known world!
Hope tried one more thing. She planted her feet, bowed her head and raised her arms, putting her hands together in the Amazon gesture of peace.
Where did you learn that? Xena demanded. She had not come closer.
Don't you remember? Mother taught me.
I never taught you that! Gabrielle denied angrily.
And why did you call me Joxer wanted to know.
Because you married Hope's voice trailed off when she saw the incredulous looks both Gabrielle and Joxer gave her. She lowered her hands, shifting a finger to indicate each one of them in turn. You didn't? Realization dawned on her. All right, Furies, what did you do to my parents and Xena? she called.
Come off it, Hope. You should have stuck to imitating Gabrielle, Xena replied. Before Hope could react, the Warrior Princess charged her, striking the pressure points on her neck that cut off the flow of blood to Hope's brain. You've got thirty seconds to tell me what you're doing here.
Traveling with my family: Mother, Dad and Xena, Hope gasped. Reaching out with her mind, she forced Xena's hands to press the points that released her. Hope jumped away. I wouldn't try that again, whoever you are. Mother! she called.
Xena attacked once more, this time joined by Gabrielle. Even Joxer attacked Hope, though he was almost as frightened as he was furious. Hope lifted all three of them into the air with her telekinetic power, and then wrenched the staff out of Gabrielle's hands. Xena's sword was next, along with the chakram, which Hope simply unhooked and let fall. Joxer had dropped his sword on the way up.
Mother! XENA! Hope called again.
You can't hold us forever, Hope, Xena said.
I just need to hold you long enough for the real Xena to show up.
In case you haven't noticed, I'm the real Xena.
Then why did you attack me? Hope demanded.
Don't play innocent with us! You know damn well you murdered my son!
No! You're a liar! You can't be Xena!
Gabrielle said before Xena could reply again. We know you killed Solan. What's the point in denying it?
Because Solan is alive! We were on our way to see him, Hope explained.
You sick - Xena began.
Xena, don't, Gabrielle interrupted. Maybe this isn't Hope.
Joxer asked, confused.
I am Hope! Something is very wrong here. Maybe someone put a spell on you.
I doubt it, the Warrior Princess snarled.
She didn't attack us, Gabrielle pointed out.
Not yet, Xena scoffed. That doesn't prove anything.
Then I'll have to trust you, Hope said, and lowered the companions to the ground. She sheathed the two swords, replaced the chakram and lifted the staff so the bard could grab hold of it.
Hope, when was I supposed to have taught you the Amazon gesture of peace? Gabrielle asked.
After we got back from Chin. You wanted to make me your heir as an Amazon. We went to see your tribeyou made me this. Reaching inside her dress, Hope drew forth a necklace of beads, which she passed over her head and offered to Gabrielle.
The bard stepped up and took it. It's genuine, she pronounced.
There's a bead for me, and one for you, and one for each of my sisters. Hope began to recite the names of the members of her tribe: Gabrielle's tribe.
As she did this, Xena joined Gabrielle and examined the necklace. It was not what she had expected. The Warrior Princess knew that Hope could probably deceive the Amazons into thinking she was Gabrielle, but obtaining this necklace was another matter. It was not a duplicate of Gabrielle's own necklace - Xena finally noticed that Hope was dressed more modestly than Gabrielle herself was - and while the necklace looked like Gabrielle's handiwork, Xena knew that Gabrielle had never made one.
When Hope finished her recitation, Xena returned the necklace to her. It was clear that the Warrior Princess was fighting back powerful emotions, but her words were calm: I believe you.
I hear a but' in there, Joxer observed.
Thank you, Aunt Xena, Hope said, relieved.
But I'm not your Aunt Xena, the Warrior Princess continued, confirming Joxer's hunch. Gabrielle isn't your mother and Joxer isn't your stepfather.
I don't get it, said Joxer.
That's because this isn't Hope. Not the Hope we knew, that is.
The Hope you knew? echoed Hope.
My daughter is dead, Gabrielle said in bleak tones. I watched her die - twice. But she was already dead inside.
You never killed anybody, Xena added. I can see that now. I'm sorry I accused you.
*****
They returned to the camp, where Hope was dismayed to discover that none of her gear was present. That helped confirm she wasn't where she belonged. She sat down on a rock and began to cry. Xena could not bring herself to approach the girl, but Gabrielle sat beside Hope. After a moment of trepidation, the bard put her arms around Hope and began to rock her as if this were her own child. Slowly Hope recovered from the shock.
Still feeling completely lost, the girl described the sensations she had felt before Xena tried to attack her. This made the Warrior Princess thoughtful.
Keep her talking, Gabrielle. Find out as much as you can. Xena withdrew to consider the problem before her. Hope knew nothing about the Amazons, yet this Hope was an Amazon princess. Hope had no love for anyone besides the Destroyer, and possibly Gabrielle, yet this Hope seemed to be full of love. Hope had no compunction about killing, yet this Hope had not made a single threatening gesture. This Hope had to come from somewhere else, but where? More important, why?
As for Gabrielle, the situation was more painful than for Xena. This was Hope as the bard had always wanted her to be, the Hope she thought she had failed by abandoning her, the Hope that Gabrielle believed would have been had Xena not caused Gabrielle to abandon her.
Hope's earliest memories were of a very loving - and very tired - mother. Dahak kept trying to persuade Hope to do things that she later discovered were harmful, but Gabrielle was always there to stop her. Sometimes, her mother told her, it was as though a different force, one for the greater good, kept alerting her to protect Hope from Dahak's influence.
After destroying the Banshees, Xena decided to take Gabrielle and the rapidly developing Hope to Chin, where her friend Lao Ma might be able to help them. They arrived just in time to prevent Lao Ma's death at the hands of her son Ming T'ien. While Lao Ma could not bring herself to fight him, Xena was under so such restriction. Neither was Hope. For the first time, Hope battled not just for herself and her family but for the greater good, and it gave her new strength. Now she could resist Dahak by herself, though she still relied on Gabrielle's love to get her through the worst moments.
Xena had been compelled to kill Ming T'ien, but Lao Ma forgave her, knowing that he had given Xena no choice. Lao Ma then took both Gabrielle and Hope under her tutelage, treating Hope like one of her own daughters, who now rejoined her. The time was short, but happy. Lao Ma helped Hope handle her speedy development, but did not let that get in the way of playtime. Xena could finally relax around the little girl, and she herself taught Hope the trick of rehooking the chakram on Xena's belt.
Your father will keep trying to turn you to his way, Lao Ma had warned. Eventually you must face him. Find the serenity inside you and you will not be deceived. Dahak hurts everyone he touches. He stole your mother's innocence with twisted words; then he hurt her. He wants to use you to hurt others and to bring more evil ones like himself into the world.
Like Ming T'ien?
Yes, Hope. My son spurned love and embraced evil long before he met Xena, though he was still a child. You, however, have chosen your mother's love.
I love my mommy, Hope agreed. And Aunt Xena, and K'ao Hsin, and Pao Ssu, and you too, Aunt Lao Ma.
Lao Ma hugged Hope to her bosom, but let the girl squirm away. And I love you, little one. Soon you will leave here, but I will not forget the joy of our time together. Nor would Hope forget the serenity of Lao Ma, or her gentle smile.
For Xena, too, it was a time of joy to be with her friend and mentor, and to see Gabrielle blossom into full maturity, her light undimmed by the sorrows she had so recently suffered. But their place was in the West, as Lao Ma's was in the East, and so they returned to Greece. There Hope became an Amazon.
When Joxer finally caught up with them - it was in the course of saving Cleopatra from Joxer's brother Jett - it took him some effort to understand what had happened in Britannia, but the moment he did, he went down on one knee and proposed to Gabrielle.
(At this point Gabrielle interrupted the narrative and raised an eyebrow at Joxer. The would-be warrior flushed and started to look for a place to hide.
(You're in love with me? the bard asked.
(All Joxer could do was stammer incoherently.
(So that's why you wanted to know how I felt about you, Gabrielle said softly. That explains a lot of things. Joxer, I care about you. You're my friend. More than that: you're family. The restwe can talk about that later, in private. Okay?
( Joxer replied, equally softly. You're not mad?
(No, I'm not mad, and I promise not to laugh at you, either.)
Gabrielle turned down the proposal. She didn't want pity, and she didn't need Joxer to protect her. The bard soon learned that Joxer's motive was neither of these. Hope decided that she liked the clumsy man and was amused - though never maliciously - by his silly boasts. He did not know how to be a father, and coping with a girl who was daily growing identical in physical characteristics to her mother was a special challenge, but he tried his best.
What had finally decided Gabrielle happened when Hope first felt the sexual stirrings in her now-mature body. Hope had been attracted to the only man around, namely Joxer. It's hard to avoid the kisses and caresses of a girl who can hold a person motionless at will. Joxer patiently explained that while Hope looked like Gabrielle and was nice like Gabrielle, she still was not Gabrielle herself. Joxer's love for the bard and his desire to marry her were undiminished.
Besides, there are better guys out there than me, Joxer said, not knowing that Gabrielle had come upon the scene and was watching. Your mom knows that. Give yourself a chance to meet some of them.
I don't want them. I want you, Hope replied, and pressed her affections on him again. Joxer fended her off as best he could, but she forced his arms down with her mind.
Joxer's right, Gabrielle said, announcing her presence. There are better guys out there for youbut not for me.
Embarrassed, Hope dropped Joxer, who fell on his face, unable to move. The girl hastily released her control. Gabrielle rolled Joxer over and cradled his head in her hands.
Is that marriage proposal still open? the bard asked.
Gabby, are you all right? he countered. When she nodded, smiling, he whispered, then fainted. He fainted again when Gabrielle agreed to marry him.
*****
Gabrielle's version of the story was nowhere near as pleasant. The dark tale of betrayal, murder, loss of faith and loss of family, topped by Gabrielle's repeated attempts to kill Hope, was torn from the bard's lips in fits, starts and sobs. Joxer moved to comfort Gabrielle with an arm around her shoulders, and to his surprise she did not shrug it off.
The bard also felt the pain of guilt renewed, that if she had been able to stop her daughter from committing that first murder she could have turned her away from Dahak. She blamed herself not only for what happened but also for the missed opportunities.
Hope denied. Don't believe it. That Hope made her own choice, like Ming T'ien did. She chose Dahak, and she died. I chose my mother, and now I'm here with you. Maybe I'm supposed to be here to prove that it wasn't your fault.
The accounts of the final battle with Dahak were also radically different. A massive blood sacrifice was averted both times, but in Hope's case she not only refused Dahak's offer of Ares, the God of War, as a potential mate, but she also actively fought her father. She nearly died because she was willing to sacrifice herself the way Gabrielle did. However, Gabrielle's love prevailed, and together Xena, Gabrielle and Hope used what Lao Ma had taught them to force the evil god back. They could not kill Dahak, of course, but their light, and especially Hope's, had weakened him considerably.
For Hope, to hear about Callisto - a complete blank to her outside of her mother's scrolls; for all she knew, Callisto was still trapped inside a river of molten lava with the evil Amazon Velasca - was to hear a nightmare come to life. It horrified Hope to think that someone just like her would release such a monster into the world. Watching the reactions of the girl who was so much like her daughter yet was not her daughter, Gabrielle understood why Xena had reacted so violently to the bard's protectiveness towards Hope. This was the Hope she had seen, not the evil spawn she and Xena fought.
Joxer still had his arm around Gabrielle, offering her warmth and love. Now Hope knelt in front of her and took her hands.
I don't have Aunt Lao Ma's wisdom, Hope said, but she taught me that love is the only real power. I'm sorry if I reopened old wounds. Remember, Xena loves you and Joxer loves youand I love you, too, even if you're not my mother.
The two women hugged and wept openly.
*****
If I hadn't already believed you, Xena said on her return, that would have convinced me. My son's murderer could never cry like that, even as a pretense. Are you all right, Gabrielle?
I will be, the bard replied. Hope is everything I always wanted my daughter to bebut never was.
It wasn't your fault, Xena told her.
I know that now. It's like you always say: we make our own destiny. I chose to be there for my daughter, and no matter what you thought of her, that was the right thing to do. Hope here is the proof. My daughter chose the opposite directionand I chose you over her lifeand mine. That was the right thing to do, too, Gabrielle pointed out.
You have a loving, trusting heart, Gabrielle. Sometimes people will try to take advantage of you because of it, said Xena, but don't ever give up that love. I made that mistake once. I'm still paying for it. Like now. Hope, did you ever run into a shamaness named Alti?
the girl answered. Is she an Amazon?
She was, Xena confirmed, but the Amazons exiled her and she turned on them. I bought into her evil. Now she's dead. Apparently she still has great power in the spirit world.
What does that have to do with Hope? Gabrielle asked.
My guess is that Alti cut a deal with Dahak. She helps Hope come back to life, Dahak brings Alti into the living world with all her power intact and together Hope and Alti release Dahak. Only they made one miscalculation. This world's Hope is permanently dead.
Huh? How? wondered Joxer.
I brought the hind's blood dagger when I came to Poteidaia to look for you, Gabrielle. When we were disposing of the bodies - your counterpart and her monstrous son, Hope - I stabbed them both in the heart to make sure they didn't come back, Xena explained. You were in bad shape, so there was no point in upsetting you even more by telling you about it.
So if Dahak reinforced this Alti's spell but the other Hope's spirit couldn't be revived, Hope reasoned, it pulled me here instead.
Then we need to find Alti, Gabrielle suggested. But if she's a spirit, she could be anywhere.
I'll have to go into the spirit world after her, the Warrior Princess declared.
I'm going with you, the bard asserted.
You can't, Gabrielle. Not because it's too dangerous, even though it is too dangerous. No, and Xena held a hand up to still her best friend's incipient complaint, it's because I don't have enough time to teach you how to survive the experience.
Xena, stop being so overprotective! protested Gabrielle.
This has nothing to do with being overprotective, the Warrior Princess replied in a calm voice. You are not a shamaness. I'll start teaching you right now, but any novice journeying in the spirit world must have a guide, and I can't guide you if I have to fight Alti at the same time, and maybe Dahak as well.
Gabrielle began to fume, but Xena received support from an unexpected source: Joxer.
Gabby, listen to her. You guys keep me away from stuff I can't handle, but if Xena thinks I can do it she sends me in, no matter how dangerous it is.
The bard started to glare at him, but remembered that Xena had trusted Joxer with the hind's blood dagger, the most critical part of her plan against Dahak. Joxer had followed through, even though he came within a knife blade's thickness of death. After all, she had just finished telling Hope about it.
Xena, you can't go alone, Gabrielle said.
I won't be alone, the Warrior Princess told her. You'll be my lifeline. If anything goes wrong, you can pull me back, or I'll find my way to you. Hope can help us, too. She's on Dahak's wavelength, and if he gets involved, I'll need you both, assuming you're willing to join us, Hope. I have to warn you: all three of us could die.
Joxer was shaking.
Yes, Joxer. And if we die, then you have to go to Ephiny and tell her what happened. Don't stop to build pyres or bury our bodies, not even Gabrielle's. Go to Ephiny. Do you understand?
I can't just leave you! he quavered.
You have to, Xena said. After Ephiny, find Hercules and tell him, too.
But you'll be doomed to walk the Earth as ghosts!
That will be the least of our problems if Dahak comes back, the Warrior Princess remarked.
Gabrielle reached over and squeezed Joxer's arm. Now it's your turn to listen to Xena. None of us are going to die, but she can't take any chances. If the worst happens, the Amazons will take care of our bodies.
Joxer hung his head in resignation.
The bard lifted his chin with soothing fingers. I know you don't want to lose me again. I don't want to lose you, either. It's bad enough that I can't go to the spirit world with Xena, but she's right. Now give me that goofy smile of yours.
It was hard, but Joxer did it.
Your love can be Gabrielle's lifeline, Hope suggested. Yes, Xena, I will stay alert for Dahak's interference. I do not fear him.
That's settled, Xena concluded. Make yourself comfortable, Hope. Gabrielle and I have to bring down a deer while it's still light. She motioned to the bard. This can be your first lesson in the path of the shamaness, Gabrielle.
May I read your scrolls? Hope inquired.
Go ahead, Gabrielle agreed.
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END OF ACT ONE
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