Fanfic Challenge: Gabrielle and Xena reunited after a long time apart. Reason for being apart is flexible.

Timeline/Episode Adaptation Chosen: The Prodical (Season 1)

I've traveled alone for four years ever since the tiny blond who touched my heart returned to Potedia, and I still think of her each night as I lay under the stars. It didn't make sense—she left Athens to return to me claiming that she'd rather live the adventures than tell them, then disappear for four years without a word. I stroked Argo's mane and hoped that she had found whatever she was looking for.

"I hope she still didn't think that she'll be a burden to me." I clicked my tongue and nudged Argo forward. It's been too long, I've decided, and I'm going to her.

Potedia was like any other villages--peaceful, colorful and filled with laughter. I was half hoping to see Gabrielle bent over a wall reeling a bucket of water up, she was no where in sight. Dismounting Argo, I led him to a stable and started my search. I felt strange stares on me and several shun their children far away from me. It must be my warrior outfit, I gathered, then an older man and several well-built men approached me. He was about to say something, then stopped as a look of recognition cross his face when our eyes met. Do I know him? I waited for him to say something, probably along the lines of "We don't want any trouble", but nothing came out.

"I..." he started, then looked to the confused men behind him.

"...yes?" I sighed. "Look, I'm not here looking for trouble, I don't want anything from you. I'm just looking for a friend of mine."

"I know, you're...you're Xena. You need to come with me."

Puzzled, I followed him.

We stopped in front of a hut that had a strange familiarity to it, then it hit me that this was Gabrielle's home, and the man is her father! Inside, a young girl with raven black hair opened the door, she nodded when she acknowledged my presence, then gestured for me to enter.

"That's okay, father, I'll take it from here." the girl said. She must be Gabrielle's sister, then.

"I'm Lila," she said to me as I approached. "You must be Xena. We've heard a lot about you." Then the interior of the room that greeted me took my breath away, and I wasn't even sure if it was a good way. Hanging on the walls were Gabrielle's scrolls and several paintings of me, of Gabrielle and I. So, this is what she has been doing for four years?

"In fact, almost all we've heard about is you." an elderly woman appeared from the kitchen. "I'm sorry, I'm Gabrielle's mother. We were told to expect you."

The scrolls and portraits hanging on the wall should have given me a sense of happiness that Gabrielle have been thinking of me, just like me of her, but there's a knot of anxiety that had started to build up in the pit of my stomach.

"Why? What did Gabrielle say?" I asked, but the fear of the answer was growing inside me. Her mother looked down.

"For a while," Lila started. "We've hated you. Ever since she followed you away and came back, you're all she talked about. War, saving people, helping villages..."

"The girl we wished for her to grow up into was so far from what she'd become." Her mother added. "But from the way she talks about you, and the time she spent with you, we saw how happy it made her and how the light in her eyes shone."

"We joked that if we're out of candles in the house at night, we'll make her talk about you and use the light in her eyes to light the house." Lila chuckled, but the sound was entangled with a tight sob. I started to panic.

"Where is Gabrielle?" I felt my throat closing up. I was slowly coming to realize the situation, but I refuse to believe it until I hear it from them.

"She left about three winters ago, 'to the Amazons' she said. Then about 5 moons later a group of ladies showed up at our door." Lila started.

"Ephiny, she said."

"Ephiny...." I repeated subconsciously.

"You know her?" Lila asked curiously and I nodded. The desperation to know more must have shown in my eyes as she went on. "She said... Gabrielle was killed defending the Amazons, and her final words were 'Tell Xena I love her.' Ephiny also said that Gabrielle was very sure you will come looking for her eventually--she was right."

"But I was too late..." I mumbled and legs gave way as I stumbled down onto the chair behind me.

"I'm so sorry, Xena." Her mother consoled, putting her hand above mine in a form of comfort.

"No..." I shook my head. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I took her away from you, took her so far from what she was to become."

This time, Lila came up behind me and stroked my shoulders gently. "No, you gave her life. Thank you."

"Ephiny.... I need to see her." I said, fearing to blink for it will release the tears that were welled up in my eyes. It surprised me--how this little girl had made me feel. But after all, she had pounced along and kept me on a straight arrow, her innocence reminded me of the redemption that I seek and that she represented the many little girls in the villages I've destroyed, the fear and terror I had forced into their eyes. The memory of her that I held for the past four years ever since she left was what kept me sane, and I had kept hoping that she'll come back to me eventually. With a grateful smile to Lila and her mother, I headed back to the stable and collected Argo.

As I rode through the Amazons land, I was aware of being followed--but they were all Amazons, perching over the branches of the trees with their feathered masks as if deciding if they should attack. Then I realize they were, in a way, escorting me, but their positions in the trees puzzled me. I came into a clearing to be greeted by a line of Amazons with their weapons drawn. Then, those in the trees flipped gracefully to the ground between us and pulled off the masks. Immediately, the others dropped to their knees. With a wave of her hands, the leader dismissed the group and turned around.

"Ephiny."

"Xena. We've been waiting for you."

At the sound of my name, the Amazons that she entered with dropped to their knees at her cue.

"My queen," they greeted in unison.

With a frown, I dismounted Argo. "Get up, I'm not your queen!"

Ephiny looked up and offered a hand. "Come with me." And I did.

"I'm sure you know by now what happened to Gabrielle, and that she had chosen to give her Rite of Cast to you--if you will accept it." Ephiny said as she led me to a hut. "This was Gabrielle's hut. She believed so strongly that you will come for her one day that I made a vow to keep her things the way it has been, and also as a memory to what a great Queen she was when she was with us."

"Ephiny, you know I'm not taking the Rite of Cast. I'm not cut out for this." I explained, but she placed a scroll in my hands.

"But I also know that you have the Amazon spirit in you, whether you acknowledge that or not."

"What is this?" I waved the scroll in my hand.

"It was addressed to you," then she shrugged. "No one read it. I'll give you a moment alone."

I nodded gratefully as she made her exit.

"Xena,

I'm so sorry I didn't return to your side, but know that every moment in my life, I think of you. After Potedia, I felt that I needed to visit the Amazons, and I had plans to return to you but they needed my help. The war had hit them fierce, and I must admit that I don't know how long I'll be here, but... if you're reading this, you'll know that I'm gone.

You brought light into my life, Xena. I'll never forget that--you're the best friend that I have.

I'll love you forever.

- Gabrielle.
I'll be waiting for you on the Other Side."

"I love you too, Gabrielle."

It was just before the break of light when I reached a clearing not far from the Amazons' huts with a dead moose on the back of my shoulders--I had to see her at least one more time. It's been four years, and whether she had moved on or not, I know I have to try. With only her in my heart and mind, I began the ritual. The chants left my lips like a flat-toned melody as I feel my soul slowly become one with nature, the colours around me danced with a dizzying mesmerisation and it wasn't before long that my body fell limp on the grass. The swirling vision of the sky above me succumbed to darkness before brightening again, and I know I have travelled to the other side.

The land around me was barren with a few trees in the distance. I sat up groggily and shield my eyes from the brightening skies and surveyed my surroundings. Then, a dark figure came between the light and myself and held a hand out. Cautiously, I looked up, but the light had blocked the features of her face. I haven't been a friend of the Amazons until the most recent of my life, but I can never be too cautious.

"I've been waiting for you," she said, then pulled me up.

"Gabrielle!" The mix feelings of relief and recognition washed over me as I pulled my friend into a tight hug. "I know this will sound horrible but I'm so glad you haven't moved on."

"I had to see you at least one more time," I feel her smile against my back as she took in my scent greedily. "I know you'd find me eventually."

Ephiny! Over here!"

Ephiny ran towards the limp body on the ground and pressed two fingers against the neck.

"How long?"

"Too long," Ephiny reported. "We have to wake her up now."

Leaning foward, Ephiny slapped Xena's face gently. "Xena, you have to wake up now."

In the Nether World, I heard a voice calling out to me, and as it got louder, so did Gabrielle.

"It's Ephiny," Gabrielle thought out loud. "You have to go now, Xena."

I shook my head stubbornly. "I don't have to. There's nothing for me on the other side, Gabrielle. You brought light into the darkness of my life, you showed me the right way and without you, I'll be lost."

"You did fine while I was gone." She argued, desperate for me to get back.

"Only because I thought of you--"

"Then keep thinking of me. I will hear you, Xena, you know that."

I held on to her hand tightly. "No, Gabrielle. I'm not leaving without you."

Smiling gently, Gabrielle reached out and cup her hands on the side of my face, then planted a soft kiss on my lips.

"Go now, my love. I'll still be here when you come."

"Xena! Wake up, Xena!" Ephiny shouted. "Get me some water."

Then a cold shower of water splashed onto the limp body. It jerked twice, Ephiny felt for a pulse again.

"Nothing," She sighed.

"There's not much time left..." one of the Amazons started and Ephiny snapped.

"Do you think I don't know that?! Get me more water!"

I continued the kiss, refusing to let go. A cold, awakening wave washed over me followed by a moment of nausea and I pulled back from the kiss, gasping.

"They're trying to bring me back."

"Then you have to go. They need their Queen, Xena."

"I'll never be Queen of Amazon, and you know that Gabrielle. Ephiny will do a much better job than I can. I'll never--" another cold shower and dizziness washed over me. I held on to Gabrielle's hand tightly. "I'm not going, Gabrielle, and that's final."

"But you don't belong here. It's not your time--"

"You were taken before your time, and where I belong is by your side. I love you, Gabrielle--we belong together." I searched her eyes and know that she feels the same. "If the Gods have a problem with that, they'll have to bring both of us back from the dead."

"Ephiny..." the Amazon placed a hand gently on Ephiny's shoulders as she continued to pound at Xena's dead chest.

"She's gone, Ephiny..."

"Nooooo!"