Authors Note: Random idea + reading way too many fanfics this. Also a sorta sequel to Collide.
Disclaimer: sigh They're not mine. If they were there'd be more well written episodes.
Comments, ideas, compliments, and yes, flames, will be accepted with gratitude. Thanks and appreciation to Lenore for inspiration.
"And so, with the Amazon Queen by her side, the Warrior Princess embarked on her final adventure. The journey home," teary eyes filled the entire establishment, save a few faces.
One of which was proudly staring at the cloaked figure onstage, eyes like ice glinting from behind a gray woolen hood.
"What do you know, little girl!" an angered voice yelled towards the stage. "Xena's been dead for years! Years, I tell you! And this Amazon Queen?" A sound of disgust was issued from the contemptuous man. "Only person who traveled with Xena was Gabrielle, Bard of Potedia!"
The cloaked figure rose silently from her chair onstage, a puzzled look crossing over her features, unseen by the crowd. "Palimon?"
"Xena?" the aged Palimon brightened considerably and greeted the warrior. "Gabrielle! You look different, I apologize for my heckling, I didn't recognize you!"
Gabrielle smiled from the stage. "I've got that a lot lately."
The door to the inn burst open, the cloaked figure with the icy eyes jumped up and grabbed for a brass and leather hilt.
"Queen Gabrielle!" A horde of Amazons rushed the stage, Varia in the forefront. Startled, the figure watched the bard get tackled to the ground by her subjects, and resheathed her sword chuckling softly.
"MOTHER!" Xena was suddenly receiving the same treatment as her long time companion and best friend.
"Wha… Eve?" Xena cradled the weeping figure of her daughter just as Gabrielle glanced out of the pile of Amazons. Seeing the utter shock and sadness on Xena's face, the bard shot out from underneath her subjects, who were acting very strange.
Both cradling the re-born messenger, every thing seemed to quiet down in the wake of such excitement. "Eve, how did you find us?"
Eve sniffled, and spoke softly, "I heard rumor that you died from an old friend, and then… then…" she sobbed.
"I showed up." The doorway was suddenly filled with a familiar face, shrouded by honey colored ringlets.
"Ephiny!" Gabrielle was shocked to see her long gone friend standing in the doorway.
"Come, I have a surprise my Queen." Gabrielle struggled to her feet, Xena and Eve following her through the doorway. There in the town square stood all of the Amazons. She saw all the faces she knew among them. Eponin, Solari, Marga, Melosa, Terreis, all of her Amazon sisters lost in the battles against the Romans and Bellepheron; they were all there. Living, breathing, laughing, smiling faces.
Ephiny smiled happily. "When Artemis… died… the Amazon Eternity dissolved and we were given a choice. Come back to life and live out healthily long lives on Amazon lands, or pass into… what did he call it again…"
"Heaven." Melosa spoke up.
"Yea, the Elijan version of Elysia. This man… Gabriel? He was in charge of reorganizing the misplaced souls that wandered off after the underworlds were left in chaos when their respective deities died or went into hiding. So," she gestured to the majority of the entire nation that had died before their fiftieth turn of the seasons, "We decided to come back."
And there in that courtyard, thirty-two years to the day of their first meeting, Xena and Gabrielle got the shock of their lives. They could finally retire.
… Oh gods.