Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me. They belong to whoever owns the rights to Xena:Warrior Princess.
You're My Hero
Chapter 1
In the small town of Poteidea, there lived with her mother a poor, but happy young woman called Gabrielle. One day when she was outside sweeping the doorstep, a beautiful blonde woman approached and introduced herself as her Aunt Callisto.
Gabrielle's mother was rather wary of the stranger, but she soon became friendly when Callisto gave them a box of dinars and promised to give Gabrielle a life as a famous bard. She told them marvelous stories of her skill as a healer and the wonderful things she had seen in her travels.
The next day, Callisto took Gabrielle to the market and bought her some fine clothes to wear; then they walked far out of the town until they came to a dark forest. Then, Callisto waved her hand and to Gabrielle's great alarm, the earth trembled and the ground opened up in front of them, revealing a stone door with an iron ring on it.
"Don't be afraid, Gabrielle," said her aunt. "Let me tell you a fantastic secret. Beneath our feet is hidden treasure, enough for both of us, if you will help me."
But Aunt Callisto, you're so powerful. Why can't you do it by yourself?" Gabrielle asked in astonishment, truly shocked by what she had seen.
"My powers are that which keep me from going into the vault myself." answered Callisto. "Only a pure-hearted young woman like you can go inside. Will you help me?"
Gabrielle nodded, and said," Yes, Aunt Callisto."
"All right, child. This is what you must do. There is a black candle sitting on a stone table. Blow out the flame before you touch anything else. Beside the candle is a vial of medicine that will heal all diseases and wounds sitting on a stone table. Get that for me, and you may take anything else you wish to have for yourself. But be sure not to touch anything until you pick up the black candle and extinguish the flame. Callisto gave her bracelet to Gabrielle to protect her, and Gabrielle descended into the vault below.
When Gabrielle saw what the cavern contained, she became suspicious of her aunt's intentions. There was no treasure to be seen. All she saw was a large stone table. On the table was a vial of red liquid, a shiny black frying pan, and a black candle with an unearthly dark blue flame. Gabrielle blew out the candle, picked up the vial, and placed it in her pouch. Then she said to herself, 'There doesn't seem to be anything else here, but that looks like a good frying pan. I could cook lots of fish in that, no problem.' Gabrielle put the frying pan on her belt, and started to climb out of the vault. Finding the last step quite steep, she asked Callisto for help.
"Give me the vial first, my child," said Callisto, with a strange gleam in her eye, and all of a sudden Gabrielle realized her aunt's treachery and stepped back into the cavern in fear.
Furious at the failure of her plan, the woman, who was of course the evil Goddess Callisto, snapped her fingers and the slab closed leaving Gabrielle alone in the darkness.
- TBC -