Chapter 4

Xena entered a dark cave that was hiding under the amazon stage, her eyes glancing around, seeing gorgeous gemstones engrained along the walls. She gazes at them with a slight grin. "I'll be able to build the biggest army man has ever known! Men will beg to join me. Mom, you'd be so proud of me!"

She heads deeper into the cave... With Each footstep she takes, she gets more and more excited for the possibilities as she believes she's getting closer and closer to her destiny!

She sees what looks like a statue ahead, a perfectly still white figure. She can't quite make out much else, but with each step she takes, she's excited and eager to see what awaits her.

"Xena! Thank the gods I found you, do you need help?" A familiar young red head said, her voice radiating throughout the cave, the sound creating a slight echo.

"I'm fine Amarece, I'm closer than ever to the Ambrosia. It's here somewhere, I just gotta look for it! Go guard the front, I must not be disturbed!" Xena said as she noticed a movement in what appeared to be the statue.

"In my old tribe we always guarded the queen to make sure she was safe and protected." Amarece said looking at Xena from behind.

"Do as I ask." Xena said as she watched Amarece draw her Sais and ran towards the opening of the cave, making sure no one disturbed them.

Xena got close enough to the statue to finally make out what it was. A woman with dark and grey long hair, a white straw hat, and flowing white robes, kneeling on the floor, perfectly still. She almost didn't realize it was alive except for the few strands of hair flowing about as a slight breeze whisked through.

The mysterious woman very slowly rose from her kneeling position, almost ethereal like. Very poised, very smooth, almost effortlessly. Causing Xena to stare intently not sure what who she was.

Behind her was the Ambrosia Xena had been searching for, on a stone pedestal glistening on a plate, shining brightly under the gemstone cave. It seemed to glow a faint orange that radiated outwards. Little veins were within the food as it seemed to pulsate.

Xena drew her sword. "Who are you?"

The mysterious woman remained silent.

"I don't know who you are, but how'd you like to spend the rest of your life in Tartarus? Maybe even in five pieces." Xena said as she eyed the mysterious woman, very carefully watching her to see if she made a move.

"I'm getting the Ambrosia, and you better not get in my way. I don't particularly like killing older women…" Xena said lying, in a cocky sure of herself tone. Her eyebrow raised slightly, and she grinned devilishly as she knew power was within her grasp for the first time in over a year. Everything she dreamt about acquiring was finally before her. With only a mere defenseless woman standing in her way.

The Mysterious woman remained silent.

Xena got closer, stepping to the side as to move around the mysterious woman.

The mysterious woman waved her hands and Xena went flying backwards, crashing down flat on her back!

Xena was shocked, her eyes wide open as she lay on the ground. Her eyes fixated on the mysterious woman, slightly disturbed about what just happened. She managed to pick herself up off the floor, and got into a fighting stance, her sword still in hand.

Xena ran toward the woman, leaped into the air, doing a front flip in an exotic style ready to strike!

Just as she got close enough, the mysterious woman waved her hands again and Xena went flying backwards once more! Crashing to the ground again! Then all the sudden she was violently thrown from side to side! Hitting the walls of the cave! Xena could feel her legs breaking, and her stomach being pierced by the thrashing.

Finally falling to the ground, bruised and bleeding from her legs, torso and mouth, Xena looked up at the woman in disbelief. Barely able to move, but able to muster a few twitches and a flinch.

"So much hate and violence," the mysterious woman uttered, "Consider this a debt repaid."

The mysterious woman glided to Xena very slowly, seeing that she was hurt. She clapped her hands and rubbed them together. Bowing her head and whispering under her tongue. She reached for a pouch she had hanging and pulled out a piece of the very thing Xena was looking for! She placed it in front of Xena's mouth, motioning her to eat it.

Xena opened her mouth and took in the Ambrosia.

The mysterious woman then placed her hands on Xena for a moment, and Xena began levitating off the ground! She rose into the air, gliding away from the mysterious woman's touch. White light began radiating from Xena's chest, and quickly began engulfing her, larger and larger before it radiated from her entire body.

Xena was in such a state of euphoria that she gasped as she opened her mouth throwing her head back! Her body began to heal, the cuts and bruises faded away. She was in such a state of bliss that she couldn't move, just enjoying the feeling that washed over her.

"Xena, this isn't your path anymore! Your heart is filled with such darkness, but I know the truth. You're scared!"

Xena was able to muster a comeback, "Scared of what? I'll wipe the floor with you when this is over!"

"You've been through such trying times Xena that it's hardened your heart and made you bitter! You're afraid of what's inside of you so you fight against it every day. You act out in dangerous ways Xena... You're supposed to fight and turn your life over to helping those in need!"

"And you're one of the best Xena. Someone that has experienced such darkness, such anger and hate, can watch over it and transform it into love, joy and peace."

Xena let out a chuckle, "Oh ya, I'm all about peace & love. I've got a sword with your name on it lady."

At that moment, Xena was overcome with the greatest feeling of love. It seemed to wash over her like a sudden wave. She was in such a state of bliss and happiness that her soul couldn't handle it, and she began to weep tears.

Then what seemed like a vision came upon her. She saw a mysterious blonde woman, fighting for her life. Xena felt an odd attraction to her but couldn't explain it.

"You are an incredible woman Xena, capable of such beautiful dreams, but also horrible nightmares. You must turn your life over to the will of others. They need you, Xena. They need a champion who's willing to look out for them and help in their times of distress. This is why you're truly alive Xena. Not to continue the cycle of hate, but to love, and be a champion for it.

Xena was overcome with another feelings of intense joy and happiness, as she kept seeing the blonde woman in her vision.

"Who are you? What have you done to me?" Xena was finally able to muster.

"I'm an old friend who's helping to set you on your rightful path... Again, I might add."

"To conquer others is to have power, to conquer yourself is to know the way."

"You May call me Lao Ma."

The Ambrosia on the pedestal vanished, and Xena was slowly put back on the ground... And Lao Ma also disappeared.

The experience stayed with Xena, standing in disbelief.. She checked herself, seeing that the bruises were gone, and the blood had been healed. She looked around for the rest of the Ambrosia, but didn't see anything other than the cave she was in. It was gone. Vanished without a trace. Not even markings in the sand where the pedestal stood.

Xena knew something was different. The air she breathed, the way the gemstone caves seemed to glow and radiate. The presence she felt within her, something she couldn't quite understand, but she knew something had happened... And it was good and powerful.

"Well, not exactly what I was expecting, but it'll do." Xena said as she looked around a bit more checking for signs to see if the experience was over.

Xena walked out of the cave and saw a familiar face greeting her.

"Are you alright?"

"Oh, I'm fine..."Xena said with a smile on her face, still feeling the effects of what happened in the cave.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Amarece wondered.

"I did, it worked out in my favor." Xena said looking at the redhead with understanding, feeling a strange connection to her she hadn't before.

"So you're a God now?" Amarece asked as she looked Xena over… "You don't look any different… No glowing eyes or anything.. Do you have any powers?"

"I don't know, not sure what happened to me yet, stop asking questions and go find something to do." Xena said looking a bit annoyed.

"Understood." Amarece said.

Xena looked around the rest of the Amazon tribe as it lay in ruins. Huts were burning with roaring fires, and young women lay motionless on the ground. Normally she wouldn't flinch and would continue on... But something inside her was moved by the scene. She felt something she never had before but couldn't put her finger on what it was.

"One more Thing Amarece," Xena said. "Give them a proper Amazon burial." Xena said looking around at the women on the floor laying motionless seeing the carnage she caused in order to get what she wanted. It was almost like….She cared.

"Yes, Xena," she said as her eyebrows raised, sensing something different about the one whom she's followed since she could pick up a sword. Somewhat confused about why Xena would command something like this, she soon brushed the feeling aside. "It'll be done."