"A life of journeying has brought to you to the farthest lands, to the very edges of the Earth. Most importantly my special one, we've learned that you'll stay closest to me always. You'll forever remain in my heart"

Gabrielle woke up suddenly, and looked around. She was very sweaty, having tossed and turned around quite a lot. "Oh, Xena…" she said sadly, as she shook her head. The dream haunted her every night since the events of Japan, more than three months ago, and it was always the same. She and Xena would be fighting and then Xena would die in front of her. She would try to save Xena, but for some reason she froze right before she could go help her.

"It's not my fault…I did all I could do for her, she wouldn't let me save her…" Gabrielle thought to herself, but the reassurance was in vain. It was true that she couldn't have saved Xena, even if she wanted to. The stubborn Warrior Princess refused to allow her to revive her in the sacred spring, because it would forever condemn the thousands of souls of victims she killed in her past. So Gabrielle had to sit by and watch as her friend died, for the last time, and live with knowing she wouldn't see her friend ever again.

Gabrielle got off the bed. Quickly she grabbed a blanket to cover her, then left her quarters. She walked to the front of the ship, and looked off into the horizon. The sun was just now rising in the distance, its piercing crimson bleeding in with the water. She knew where she was heading, she had friends there. She was heading to the land of the pharaohs, Egypt. Xena and she had discussed previously, that they were in need of a girl with a Chakram. She had to be strong without Xena, because now, she, Gabrielle, was the Warrior Princess.

She absentmindedly touched the Chakram, Xena's former weapon, which was now holstered on her belt. Surprisingly enough, without Xena even teaching her, she had managed to use it in combat. She was one of the very small numbers of people who could even throw the Chakram, let alone catch it after it came back. In these ways; the things that she learned from Xena and the possessions of her departed friend that she kept, she kept the memory alive. She glanced up, and noticed land, it was quite a distance away.

"The land of the Pharaohs…" she said with a smile. Finally, after so many weeks of traveling, she would finally reach her destination. She would be able to keep her friend's reputation alive, keep the legend growing. She had decided some time after Xena died, to take her friend's title, of Warrior Princess. It wasn't just about the fear of the name, but rather it was to keep her friend's reputation and good deeds growing. She turned around to go back into her quarters; because she was hungry, but something caught her eye. To her left, a ship was quickly approaching hers. Raising her eyebrow, she clutched the blanket closer to her body, and waited until the ship was within distance.

A man came over to the edge of the other ship, as it became parallel with hers. He placed a plank between the two ships, and made a motion. As he walked over to her ship, ten or so other men followed him. Gabrielle watched them half-heartedly, partly interested.

"Hello there, how can I help you?" she said warmly. After all, first impressions are everything, aren't they?

The man smiled at her darkly, revealing several blackened front teeth. "Of course you can little girl, you can help me by giving me your ship…and maybe I won't hurt you!" he said with a laugh, and the men behind him followed suit. Gabrielle smiled, and looked at the ground; trying not to laugh.

"Alright…well how about I help you back onto your ship, and if you're nice about it; I won't hurt you" she said with a tiny smile.