Disclaimer: In chapter 1. However, I do need to add that 'Fins, Femmes and Gems' wasn't written by me, and I am just borrowing it for artistic and entertainment purposes.

Author's Notes: I hope my fellow Xenites enjoy this little rendition of FFG. I have taken artistic license, so please don't hate me for any of the changes. I tried to be true to the essence of this awesome episode (it's my favourite). The FFG portion of 'Hero' will be fairly X/G focused, but Regina and Emma still play a part. This experience may even bring them closer….. Thank you to everyone reading, reviewing, favouriting and following "Hero".

Also: If you want a Xena magnet go to Shipper Haven on Facebook and follow the link to their eBay page. Mine is on my fridge already. They have quite a good selection.

Gabrielle pulled the brush through her hair as they approached a cliff, "…four. Hundred and five. Hundred and six." She paused when Xena held up her hands and visually measured the distance. "What are we doing here?"

"Just gonna alter the landscape a little."

"Hundred and eight. Why?" Gabrielle asked.

Xena squinted in different directions across the small canyon, "You remember the Mystic Diamond?"

"Mhmm."

"Well, Aphrodite thinks that what's happened to you and the others is gonna make me forget about it, but no," Xena explained and held up her finger to emphasise her point, "no, I'm gonna get it back. And while I'm at it, there's nothin' wrong with gettin' in a little fishing."

Gabrielle frowned, "What does that have to do with the diamond?"

"This," Xena held up her chakram, "is gonna cause an avalanche in the canyon. And

that'll force Aphrodite's henchmen to detour around the lake where we left Regina and Emma." She threw the chakram into the canyon.

"Oooh, ooh!" Joxer watched in awe as the chakram hit the pile of rocks on the opposite ledge and knocked them down. "Oooh, ooh!" The rocks tumbled and crashed loudly in a cloud of dust.

Xena grinned as she caught the chakram, "There, that oughtta do it." She clipped her chakram back on its clip. "And now it's time for a little fun. Come on!"

Xena ran past Regina, nearly knocking over her bag with the growing sapling in. Regina gasped and pulled the bag back into her lap. Xena didn't take any notice as she removed her armour. "This is gonna be the best thing of your young lives! Come on, Gabrielle, let's get wet!" She jogged over the sand and then dove into the water, and after a few seconds surfaced. "Come on, Gabrielle! Get your gear off!"

Emma, who had been meditating again when Xena rushed past her, saw the pile of armour scattered between her and the water and her eyes glazed over.

Gabrielle laughed as she started to undo the strings of her top. She then stopped. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

Joxer nodded emphatically, "Hhhhhhh."

"No, I'm sorry Joxer. I take off my clothes - I could kill you. Beauty can do that." Gabrielle frowned a little, "Did I just say that? Is Xena right? Have I gone too far? Am I obsessed with myself?" She paused, and the waved her hand, "No! What's not to like?! Right?!"

Joxer drooled quite obviously, "Yeah," and then recoiled when Gabrielle whacked him. "Ooh! Ooh. Ooh, uh, uh, uh, ooh?"

Xena surfaced again, "Oh, Gabrielle? Come here, I wanna show you something."

"Well, you're gonna have to show me from here," Gabrielle rethreaded the strings of her top. "This little minx is staying on dry land." She looked up at Joxer's confused grunts and couldn't see her friend, "Xena?"

Xena burst up with a fish on her hand, "Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" She cheered, "Ha-ha-ha!"

Regina watched Xena with distain. She couldn't understand how a warrior of Xena's skill could lower herself to the task of fishing, despite whether she enjoyed it or not. At least cooking was a worthwhile hobby. She thought of Henry and their dinners together, and she missed her son. A single tear fell into the dirt surrounding her young tree, and she caressed its hardening trunk with a sniffle.

Gabrielle stared worriedly at Xena, "You have a fish… wrapped around your finger."

Xena nodded, "Yeah." She threw the fish and it landed snuggly in a bag on the sand. "Gabrielle, I forgot how much fun this is. Come on, give it a try. It's easy!"

Curiosity got the better of her, she Gabrielle asked, "What do you do?"

"All you have to do is, ya…" Xena waved her hands in front of her, "ya stick your hand underneath the water, and ya feel around 'til ya find a great, big, succulent fish. And then you do this," she wiggled her fingers, "you wiggle your fingers so it looks like bait and then," she pumped her fist into the air, "whammo!"

Only Regina noticed Emma mimicking Xena's hand motions. When Emma caught her watching she shrugged and smiled sheepishly.

"You punch it in the face…" Gabrielle translated. "Why would I want to do that?"

"Because it's fun!" Xena exclaimed, as if the answer was obvious.

"Right," Gabrielle rolled her eyes, "ramming my fist down the throat of an innocent, little fish." She shook her head. "It's not my idea of fun."

Hurt clouded Xena's expression, "Well, don't knock it till you've tried it." She dived into the water again, and long moments passed before she emerged, her face ecstatic. "Twins! Ha-ha!" She threw both fish into the bag with the first and swam for the shore. Dripping wet, she went to examine her bounty. "Gotcha, gotcha, and now I'm gonna eatcha. Hey, Gabrielle, why don'tcha give it a try, huh? I'm gonna go gut these." Xena picked up the bag of fish and walked past Regina to find a knife from her bags.

"She wants me to fist a fish?" Gabrielle asked absently as she strolled along the small planks of wood that comprised the jetty, "I can barely say it, much less do it." She twirled, "Xena, you just don't realize how primitive you really are."

Emma thought Joxer might have taken offense to Gabrielle words from his vocal reaction. "Oh! Oh! Uh! Oh! Oh!"

"She just doesn't appreciate the truly great work of art that I am."

"Ooh! Ooh! Uh!" Joxer agreed. He ignored Emma and she moved past him with full arms.

Gabrielle bent down to gaze at the water, "And who is that that I see before my eyes?" She smiled at her reflection, "Ohh, yeah."

Joxer pulled a witchetty grub out of his hair, "Wiggly food."

Xena suddenly placed the bag of fish in front of Joxer, "OK, you take care of these. I'm gonna start a fire."

Joxer looked at the bag. "Uh! Uh!" He lifted the fish up, "Hmm? Ah! Ah! I, Attus - King of Trout, and ruler of its peoples. I set you free." The trout moved so Joxer held it up to his ear, "Uh, huh? Ha! Ha-ha-ha-ha! You tell good joke, trout-brother. But now, I must have tribute. Go! Swim! Be free!" He threw the fish back into the water. " Go! Go!"

Xena grabbed him by the throat and held her fingers, ready to put the pinch on him. "Now, you listen to me, monkey-man. You ever do that again, and you'll find my fist down your throat! Gabrielle and I didn't come…" Xena looked around and only saw Regina magically growing her tree. She scanned the water. "Gabrielle? Gabrielle?!"

The chakram spun around nimble fingers and then landed snugly in its clip. Those same fingers tightened the lace on both boots before moving up. The knee pads were checked next; making sure they were in the right position to protect slightly scarred knees. The leather strips of the skirt were straightened and patted down over slender hips. The chakram was held still for a moment, as it had started to sway with the motion of standing up. The breast plate was shifted slightly to a more comfortable position. And finally, deft hands confirmed the shoulder straps were securely connected, hidden under the weight of blonde hair. Emma stood tall and proud in her outfit. Now, she took a deep breath, now I am a hero.

Xena desperately looked around, "Gabrielle? Where is she? Gabrielle" Bubbles penetrated the surface of the water. "Gabrielle! I'm coming!" She leapt up and ran towards the water, "Hang on!"

Joxer watched from the shore as Xena entered the water, "Huh? Huh, huh?"

Xena turned in circles, failing to see her friend beneath the surface, "Gabrielle?"

Regina watched Xena dive into the water. She would never admit to actually being concerned for the young blonde. Despite being annoyingly chatty, Gabrielle did seem to have a good heart.

Xena burst out of the water with the bard in her arms, "Gabrielle!"

"Ooh! Ohh! Ah! Uh. Uh." Joxer jumped around as Xena pulled Gabrielle out of the water and laid her on the shore. "Whoo-hoo-ha! "

Xena checked that Gabrielle was breathing, and when she discovered that she wasn't she prepared to give Gabrielle mouth-to-mouth. She blocked Gabrielle's nose and bent lower to press her lips to… Water came straight up and splash over her face.

"Not the lips!" Gabrielle coughed and spluttered. "Please, they chap so easily."

Xena sat back, "Wha… just what were you doing out there?"

"Uh, I was," Gabrielle recalled as she sat up, "Oh! I was trying to kiss my reflection in the water. I couldn't resist it. I leaned over… and I tried to press my lips… "

"And you fell in." Xena finished for her. "Any fish down there?"

"It was like, my reflection embraced me." Gabrielle got lost in the moment, "I sank into it. I was surrounded by it. And then you… you pulled me up, and… I looked into your eyes, and Xena, I finally realized - there can only be one person for me in my life!"

Xena's face was alight with hope, "W…"

"Me!" Gabrielle exclaimed. She surprisingly noticed Xena's face fall. "Hey, I let you save me!"

Regina couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Xena. She could relate to wanting acceptance and love and not receiving it. She watched Xena sulk away and patted her tree. It was growing bigger. Soon she would need to plant it in the ground.

Xena stormed off towards their bags. She yelled, "Where in Hades is my armour?" It wasn't where she left it, it wasn't with the bags. She peered around and found tracks leading into the trees. She stalked in that direction, and upon rounding a tree come face-to-face with Emma. Xena's eyes narrowed as her eyes travelled up Emma's form.

Emma had the good grace to blush, "Xena, I can explain."

"Strip. Now," Xena growled, her voice low and dangerous.

Regina stopped walking at the edge of the tree line. She saw Emma sitting with her back against a tree, head in her hands. She looked miserable. Regina was torn between the blonde and planting her tree. She bit her lip and closed her eyes, and sighed. "Miss Swan, is something the matter?"

Emma looked up and was surprised at the size of the tree. Regina could barely hold it. She leapt up and reached for the bottom of the bag. Regina pulled it away quickly, but paused when she saw the hurt look in Emma's eyes. She brought it back around and let Emma help her lower it to the ground.

"Thanks you," Regina said quietly.

Emma smiled, "You're welcome."

They held their gaze for a moment before Regina looked at her tree. "Would you…" She cleared her throat. "Would you like to help me plant it? You can tell me what's bothering you while we work."

Emma nodded, and followed Regina's lead by shovelling the dirt out of the bag with her hands, away from the roots. They worked in silence for a few minutes before Emma spoke. "I wore Xena's amour."

Regina snapped her head up in alarm. She stared wide-eyed at Emma, partly surprised she was still in one piece.

"She got mad at me. Made me take it off."

Regina blushed, "Um. I'm sorry?" Why am I apologising?

Emma shrugged, "It's ok. I suppose I should get my own costume."

"Costume?"

Emma looked at her like she'd grown a second head, "Yeah, of course. All heroes need costumes."

"Oh," Regina turned away and rolled her eyes. "Of course…"

Gabrielle raced down to where Xena was standing on the shore. "Xena! I have something really important I need to speak to you about." She huffed, out of breath. "Do these boots work with this skirt?" She didn't have time to react before Xena and reached forward in a hug motion and touched her hair. "Ow! You cut my hair?"

Xena nodded, "Uh-huh."

"My little, golden fleece?" Gabrielle uttered in horror.

Xena gazed at the strands, "It's perfect."

"Of course, it's perfect. It's my hair."

"And the colour is gonna work just beautifully with this," the warrior pulled out a hook.

"A bent nail? You cut my hair to put a wig on a bent nail? Why not Emma's?"

"It is not a bent nail. It's a hook." Xena's mind was planning all the steps ahead. "Look, I disguise it with your hair, attach it to my flying parchment, and we got him."

"Who's 'him'?"

"Solaris." Xena stated.

Gabrielle frowned, "Who's Solaris?"

"A fish that Lyceus and I discovered when we were kids. He's wily, Gabrielle. He's smart, he's cunning, he's a great opponent. Every time that Lyceus or I would catch him, he would find a way to escape. But this time: no." Xena flashed her eyes at the hook that is destined to catch her long-time foe.

"Well, that's fine… except for one thing."

"What's that?" Xena looked at her friend.

Gabrielle snatched her hair back, "You're not sacrificing my hair for a fish."

Xena looked angry, and then her expression turned devious and determined. She went after Gabrielle.

Xena pouted, and glanced at Gabrielle with sad and desperate eyes every few seconds. After a while Gabrielle finally sighed and pulled the hair from where she'd tried to put it back. She held it in Xena's direction, and snatched it from her hand. "Thanks. It really is amazing how much like Lyceus' hair it is. I'm sure Solaris will go for it. I've got to make him think that he's alone." She thought, "Huh, a regular fishing pole won't cut it. Nope. We gotta reduce line drag." She nodded to herself. "That's why, when we attack, we do it from the air."

"Xena, why don't I just find some local villagers?" Gabrielle waved her hand absently, "I'll lure them in with my eloquent speech, snap my fingers, and you can have any fish that you want. Regina could also use magic and poof – a fish."

Xena looked murderous, "No one catches Solaris but me."

Neither noticed Joxer swing on a vine behind them.

Gabrielle looked distracted, "Hmm. Do you ever get the feeling that we're forgetting something really important?"

Xena paused from preparing her hook, "That diamond thing."

"The diamond," Gabrielle whispered.

"Yeah, you see, your obsession keeps you from remembering very important things." Xena stood with her parchment.

"My obsession?"

"You can't see the fish for the lake. We only have a very limited time to get the Mystic Diamond back. Remember that."

"So, what do you wanna do? Track these guys down?"

"Before we catch Solaris? Are you outta your mind?" Xena demanded before walking off towards the lake.

Regina patted down the last of the dirt around her freshly planted tree. She glanced over at Emma a few meters away. She was back to doing push ups and sit ups. Regina appraised her body for a moment before she turned back to her tree. It was strange, this time between them; they did their own thing in silence, but had stayed close by, as if comforted by having the other near. Regina looked at Emma again when she placed her palm flat against the slim trunk. Her hand glowed and she felt dizzy with power.

"Higher," Xena guided.

Gabrielle held the parchment higher, "This OK?"

"Gabrielle, higher, please." Xena huffed, "For cryin' out loud. All right." She nodded when Gabrielle reached up. "Now, let her go." She watched as the parchment floated into the air. Gabrielle? OK, this time the clip should work. Give it a pull!"

Gabrielle pulled the clip and lost her balance, "Yah!" She fell back into the water.

"It worked! It really worked!" Xena exclaimed.

Gabrielle dragged herself out of the water, "What worked? Trying to overshadow my dynamic personality with some mud? Has that been the point to all this?"

"Huh?"

"It's beginning to make sense." Gabrielle squeezed water out of her hair, "Fishing? Solaris!" She chuckled, but her heart wasn't in it. "Right. Now, I understand."

"Understand what?"

Gabrielle walked across the sand and approached Xena, her boots squelching. "You're jealous. Of me."

"That's ridiculous," Xena denied.

"All this time Xena, I've tried to let it go, you know? And it hasn't been easy. I have tried to be humble with you. But you're pushing too far."

"Look…" Xena began, but Gabrielle pressed her fingers to Xena's lips.

"No. Don't. I haven't seen this diamond." She turned and walked a few paces away. "Yes! You say that it's stolen, and I took your word for it! But you bring me here. Where no one can appreciate my radiance!" She spun back around, "No one! No competition for you. No. And Solaris the fish? Please."

"I brought you here 'cause I thought we could enjoy a good day's fishing together."

Gabrielle picked up her brush from her bag and started trying to comb through her wet hair, "There's no such thing as a good day's fishing. A day without fish is good."

"You know, you sounded just like my brother, Lyceus, then. He used to argue with me about fishing! Said he hated it, but I could tell…" Xena gestured wildly between her eyes and Gabrielle, "He had the same fire in his eyes that you and I have got."

"Uh-uh," Gabrielle shook her head, "unless your brother was an Adonis - he and I are nothing alike." Gabrielle huffed, "Isn't there anyone here who can appreciate my specialness?"

"Ah-ah! Ah-ah! Ah-ahhhhhhh!" Joxer landed in front of her, rope still over his shoulder. "Ooh! I Attus. Attus appreciate."

"Joxer?"

"Don't speak. Attus take you as bride." He grabbed Gabrielle and the rope, "Ah-ah!

Ah-ah! Ah-ah! He! He! He! Aoooooooo!" They swung off towards the trees.

Gabrielle yelped, "Joxer!"

"Finally, a little peace and quiet," Xena laughed and adjusted the reels in her hands.

Emma looked up just in time for see Joxer swing over with Gabrielle. She jumped up and ran past Regina into the trees, "I'm coming!"

Regina rolled her eyes, "Run Saviour, run."

Xena glanced over her shoulder after a while. She dodged as her parchment landed at her feet. "Gabrielle?" There was no response. "Monkey-man, you bring her back!" She began to pack up her gear. "You know, you two are beginning to irritate me with these obsessions of yours!" She threw her parchment to the ground in frustration. "Fish don't just catch themselves!"

"Ooh! Ooh!" Joxer sounded as they swung through the trees.

Gabrielle held on for her life, "Oooh! I don't like this!"

"Ah-ah! Ah-ah!" They landed on a tree and Joxer stopped to listen. "Ah-ah! He! He! He! Aooooooo!"

Xena's voice could be heard close by, "Gabrielle?!"

"Ah! Ah! Great white monkey, Xena, come for Princess Gaia!" He looked away from the tree, "Animals! Animals of the jungle! Listen to me!" He called out. "Billy goats! Form ramming positions!"

Emma ignored the goat as she ran past.

"Elephants! Suck water from great river, form moat! Great Eagle! Come down and collect me, so that I may swoop down upon her!" He held out his arm. "Come down and collect me, so that I may swoop down upon her!"

Crickets chirped, the hippos went back below the surface, and the billy goat put his head back down.

"Oooh! Damn you! You ungrateful animals!" Joxer shook his fist at them. "Ooh! Come on! Ah!" He swung away with Gabrielle. "Ah-ahhhhh! Where'd she go?" He looked into her empty arms. "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" He slammed into a tree. "Attus glad that over." His sounds could be heard as far and wide as he fell the length of the tree, "Ohh! Uhhh. Uhhh."

Xena's battle cry could also be heard by the group as her and Gabrielle landed in a small clearing hear the lake. Emma ran in just as they landed. Her face looked dejected because she arrived too late to save the bard. She turned and sat on a nearby rock with her arms crossed.

"You saved me! Xena - the world will thank you for rescuing such an unrivalled beauty." She swept to Xena's other side. "Your name will be legendary, like… 'Gabrielle the Great?', 'Gabrielle of Troy.' Huh!" Gabrielle barely reacted when Xena dropped her.

"Here, fishy, fishy, fishy." Xena stalked off.

"'Our Lady, Gabrielle.', 'Gabrielle of the Nile.' Wait, there's more!" Gabrielle called Xena, "'Gabrielle of Olympia!', 'Gabrielle and the Four Seasons!'"

Regina fumed at being interrupted from growing her new tree. "'Gabrielle of Hades'…"