Disclaimers: See Chapter 1
Additional Note (Please Read): This tale is a companion with, The Conqueror & Ri: A Twist of Destiny. If you haven't read both story's chapters preceding this one, you should do so now.
Xena & Gabrielle,
A Turn of Fate,
By, Ahkiken
Chapter 23: Dragon Tattoo
Gabrielle sat in the Corinthian castle's prison, solely wearing a ragged tunic. The dungeon was cleaner than others the Amazonian Samurai had seen in her life, but she wasn't ruminating on that fact. Her mind was on another profound sorrow, other than being arrested and locked underground. In Gabrielle's world, from what she could ascertain from the Omphalos shard on her index finger, the mission to defeat Yodoshi and save Japa has failed.
"How could everything go so wrong?" Gabrielle asked herself.
"Good evening, my Lord." The prison guard announced.
Gabrielle glanced towards the bars as the woman, who looked like an older version of her soul mate, stood in front of the cell. She wore a silk sleeveless black v-neck shirt with golden designs on it, dark trousers, and brownish boots. Her ebony and silver tresses were tied loosely to the back, allowing wisps of hair to dangle in front of sapphire orbs.
"Leave us." She commanded to the guard.
The man bowed and departed the dungeon. Gabrielle's eyes locked on the blue irises staring back.
"Are you planning to attack me too?" The petite bard inquired.
"I am unarmed." Was the simple reply.
"I'm sure that wouldn't stop you." Gabrielle retorted.
"You'd be correct." She smirked. "I heard what you've done to General Draco and a couple of his men during his interrogation."
"He kept insulting me. I don't take kindly to being called a little girl." Gabrielle responded.
"Would liar suffice?"
"What is it you want with me, Conqueror?" Gabrielle questioned wearily.
"After hearing my tale as Lion of Amphipolis, what happened to calling me Mylion? Was everything that took place between us part of your facade to carry out your deception?"
Gabrielle ignored her query. "What do you want?"
"Who are you and what has become of Ri?" The Lord of the Realm nearly blared.
"I have already told Draco. My name is Gabrielle. I'm from a different world that is parallel to this one." The cropped blonde shook her head, "I don't know what has become of Ri, but I'm positive she's in my world."
The Conqueror grabbed the bars menacingly, "Stop lying to me!"
"I'm not." Gabrielle affirmed softly, bringing her left hand up in the torch-light. "The gem embedded on this ring isn't a jade at all. It's a shard from the Omphalos stone. I recall you saying Ri had something like this as well; a necklace, right? The power of the stone switched us. Don't ask me how, I do not have an answer for you, but a goddess is manipulating it, causing these events to occur."
The Conqueror was unconvinced. "Different worlds, magical stones? Does this goddess have a name, Gabrielle?"
"I don't know."
"Of course not. How convenient." The Conqueror asserted.
"I'm not lying!" Gabrielle lost her calmness.
"Do not get carried away with yourself. You tone down, or I swear you'll regret it." The elder woman threatened. "You were the person pretending to be someone you are not. So yes, that deems you're a liar. A fabricator. You claim a goddess is manipulating things. Well, the only manipulator I see is you, Gabrielle."
Gabrielle scoffed. "Oh, and you aren't? How about the lies you been telling Meleager? Promising you would stay away from me romantically for Prince Lyceus' sake, but secretly kept bringing me into your chambers at night. If I didn't know any better, I would say you were trying to get me in your bed."
"I shared personal information with you. Things I haven't shared with anyone. And it wasn't you I wanted in a romantic relationship. It was Ri, so don't flatter yourself." The Conqueror elucidated.
"That's justification for the fact you lied to Meleager?" Gabrielle queried.
"I don't need to justify myself to anyone, let alone you." The Conqueror removed her hands from the bars of Gabrielle's cell. "What is your reason for deceiving me and my entire Realm?"
"I was warned to keep my identity concealed from you all."
The Lord of the Realm became curious, "Who gave you such warnings, hmm?"
Gabrielle hesitated. "A very special friend named Eli."
"Perhaps, he's your employer. The man whom set you on this path to infiltrate my castle."
"You're not foolishly thinking I'm a spy?" Gabrielle was baffled.
"Or an assassin. I've seen you fight firsthand. It's easy to acknowledge you had expert training." The Conqueror proclaimed, before becoming uncharacteristically somber. "Did you murder Ri, then created this ruse while I was in Crete?"
"No, Conqueror. Ri might still be alive in my world." Gabrielle said.
"But that could depend on the life of..." The Conqueror didn't want to indulge such foolish notions. "This is ludicrous! You acted against the interest of the Realm. The ramifications of these actions warrant death. You should have been truthful from the beginning."
"If I had, would you've believed me, or would my death have come much quicker?"
The Conqueror was pensive. "I don't know. Chances are you would've been tortured for intel. You can still be subjected to that."
"You won't torture me." Gabrielle arose and walked to the bars, standing face-to-face with the Conqueror. "I masqueraded as Ri because I was informed it would be the only way to guarantee my survival. You knew I differed from Ri, yet you fell in love with me."
"Don't presume idiotic misconceptions. I thought you were Ri. She is who I love, not you." The Conqueror rebuked with a glare.
"Is that what you told yourself every night I was in your chambers? How about the night when you caressed my abdomen and kissed my neck? I saw it on your expressions. I see it now." Gabrielle declared.
The Conqueror's eyes soften. "From the moment I laid sight on you, I should have known you weren't Ri, especially after your performance at the Tribute ceremony. I should've known."
"Knowing I'm not Ri doesn't halt you from loving me, just like knowing you aren't my fiancee didn't stop me from becoming consumed with love for you." Gabrielle averred.
The Conqueror seemed shocked by the announcement, but composed herself. "I was honest with you. However, you weren't. If what you say has any truth to it, you fell in love with me because of my resemblance to the woman you lost. Your trial begins tomorrow. If you are found guilty you will hang or be decapitated. Your similar appearance to Ri will not change that."
"I'm not afraid to die. I have nothing to live for now. My only solace and curse is that you have the appearance of my soul mate." Gabrielle pronounced.
The Conqueror moved away from the cell. "I may look like her, but I'm not your lover."
Gabrielle held back her tears. "You're nothing like her."
"You are right. I am alive and well." The Conqueror turned from Gabrielle's view and began to exit the prison, professing, "Your Xena is dead."
{X&G}
"Did you see that? Tenzon is awesome." One of the Samurai stated.
"Yea, those three flips he executed were spectacular. He did them better than Hiro." Another concurred.
"Careful Ito and, Tani. Y'all gonna have to duel the winners soon." Zicalus reminded them.
The men on the top deck took what Zicalus said in consideration as they watched the next match take place. The elite Samurai's cognition shifted to Gabrielle. He was befuddled by her temperament. She was obviously implying something, but Zicalus had no clue what it could be. Maybe it's because he didn't visit her in the armory sooner, after the meeting concerning Yodoshi and Higuchi.
'I will tell her truthfully why I secluded myself in my cabin.' He mused, turning his head in her direction. 'She should be aware of-'
His thoughts dissipated as he gazed at Neji standing above Gabrielle's prone body, which was lying on the floorboards face first. "Hey!"
Zicalus rushed over to them both with haste, worried that Neji has killed the bard. Other Samurai on the platform noticed Zicalus rushing towards the two people on the opposite railing and they became interested in the scene. Once Zicalus got closer, he was perplexed by Neji. The penalized Samurai was holding his tanto, staring at it.
"What are you doing?" Zicalus snatched the knife from Neji's hand without a fight.
Neji stood idle, repeatedly uttering, "Unnatural. Unnatural. Unnatural."
Zicalus glimpsed the weapon in his hand, seeing that the blade of the tanto was gone. Looking at Gabrielle, he spotted the shattered pieces beside her.
"Restrain him." Zicalus ordered, bending down to make sure Gabrielle was alive.
A few Samurai seized Neji, while he shouted out, "Daemons! Daemons! Their Greek daemons! Unnatural Greek daemons!"
Zicalus examined Gabrielle, finding a pulse, but couldn't find the wound. Checking her over again, he only discovered a tiny tear in the stitching on the back of her sky blue kimono. Analyzing it thoroughly, Zicalus could make out a smudge of black ink on Gabrielle's milky skin.
Further investigation ended with Neji's inveigh, "They aren't normal! Her nor Xena! They are unnatural!"
"Take him to the Shogun." Zicalus avowed, lifting the unconscious Amazon in his arms. "Inform him of Neji's motives."
The three Samurai dragged a shouting Neji down the steps, covering his mouth to muffle his protest. Zicalus followed, carrying Gabrielle, as well. He didn't know where the petite blonde's cabin was located, so he decided to take her to his.
Xena was absorbed in the duel taken place when she glanced at a man being forced below deck by three other men. Then, she saw another Samurai carry someone below, too. It was difficult to discern whom they all were because their backs was facing her. She could only distinguish Zicalus by his blue kimono.
Letting the thought go, she focused on the battling challengers once more.
{X&G}
Zicalus watched over Gabrielle as she apparently slept on his cot. She has been out for almost a full hour when sweat started pouring from her forehead, causing the dark-haired Samurai to worry as he wiped the perspiration off with a cloth. He had no idea what Neji did to her, but she showed no signs of physical injury. Zicalus ruminated on whether to remove Gabrielle's clothing to help her cool down and inspect her body, but chose not to. He didn't feel comfortable doing that, fearing Gabrielle would care for him even less for undressing her. Grasping her hand, he saw the jade gemstone on Gabrielle's ring was glowing, then stopped, returning to its dull green color.
Suddenly, Gabrielle shot up off the cot. "My god!"
"Gabrielle Chan!" Zicalus exclaimed, startled by her unexpected awakening. "You had me scared there."
Gabrielle surveyed her surroundings. The last thing she remembered before blacking out, was being on the top deck, looking out at the sea.
"Where am I?" She queried.
"My cabin." Zicalus responded. "Neji attacked you and knocked you out."
"He did?" Gabrielle was confused.
Realizing Zicalus was holding her hand, she withdrew from his clutch. The Samurai became unsure of himself by Gabrielle's reaction.
"Are you okay, Gabrielle Chan?" He inquired.
The bard was stuck in her own wonders, trying to piece together the vision's entailment. She somehow got herself arrested while being in her twin's world. Her double, whose name is Ri, had to have swapped places, causing Gabrielle to incur the wrath of Xena's doppelganger.
'The Conqueror.' Gabrielle cogitated.
The blonde tried to concentrate on the feelings that afflicted her as she was locked in the prison, but all she could remember was the incredible sadness surging through her in the cell. It was becoming increasingly distressing and troubling for Gabrielle when she couldn't bring forth her future memories.
"Gabrielle Chan?" Zicalus touched her shoulder, growing abashed as she jerked from him. "Do you remem-"
"I'm fine, Zicalus." Gabrielle interjected, rising off the cot. "I must go."
"Gabrielle Chan, Neji assailed you. We need to confer with the Shogun about this offense."
"I am unharmed, Zicalus. If you feel strongly for Neji's discipline, go take care of it. I have bigger problems." Gabrielle confuted, opening his door and exiting.
Zicalus was stunned. Not only did Gabrielle lack acknowledging his attentiveness for her health, but she cast graciousness aside, also.
'Gabrielle Chan has changed.' He thought glumly.
{X&G}
"Great job, Tanya." Xena personally congratulated the young warrior after dismissing the first squad. "You'd surprised me with your victory over Ekko."
"You should never doubt me, Xena." Tanya jived.
"He did have you on the ropes. I was gladdened to see you switch from being offensive, and defend against him instead." Xena divulged.
"I had to. Ekko is a good defender." Next, Tanya guessed Xena's intent. "You chosen him because of that. You wanted me to lose?"
Xena smirked, "No, Tanya. I needed to see if you could adapt to your opponent's combat abilities. You are an offensive fighter. That's how you were when you and I fought a while ago. If you kept aggressively attacking Ekko, he would've guarded all of them, tiring you out in the process and you'd be defeated. My goal for the trials are to determine the best fighters. This is no game, Tanya. Today will be easy compared to what I have in stored later. You, along with every victor today, will be pushed beyond y'all limits once I complete pitting your squad against the second squad victors."
"More duels? But you said I would be trained by you if I defeated the Samurai." Tanya complained.
"You are. It's just an extra obstacle to overcome to decide y'all placement. The winners of those matches will go on to battle beside Gabrielle."
"Oh." Tanya said. "Looks like I'll have to get some more skills from her for my last duel."
Xena gazed at the auburn-haired teen. "The moves you'd utilized in your match, Gabrielle taught you that?"
Tanya nodded. "I've been under her training for the past few days."
Xena pondered on her beautiful soul mate. The bard's presence pulled Xena's spirit from the darkness she had placed it and made the Warrior Princess feel temporarily whole.
"She's a Samurai now." Tanya apprised.
"I know." Xena answered.
"Gabrielle misses you. She still loves you, too."
Xena's heart raced in her chest. "Gabrielle has confided this to you?"
"Yup." Tanya lied. "Now that the first squad's trials are finished, you should go to her."
Xena's cogitation on going to Gabrielle declined. "No."
"Why not?" Tanya asked.
Xena decided to give the teenager some insight. "Tanya, I have to tell you something highly important. You can't say a word of it to Gabrielle, do you understand?"
Tanya gave a nod of assent.
"When we arrive in Japa, there's a daemon who must be destroyed. His name is Yodoshi and for us to vanquish him, I have to-"
"Xena Sama!" Koska yelled, interrupting Xena's confession. "You have to come quick to the Shogun's conference cabin! It's urgent!"
The elite Samurai returned below the deck.
"I'll talk to you later, Tanya." Xena began following Koska's trail.
'Darn it!' Tanya mused. 'Who the heck is this Yodoshi?'
{X&G}
"Where is he?" Xena questioned angrily after receiving the news. "Neji dies!"
"Xena, we aren't sure what happened." Harukata affirmed. "The three Samurai that brought him to me only conveyed he injured Gabrielle San. They haven't provided me with details."
Xena started to leave the room to seek her ex-lover, although she had no knowledge where Gabrielle was lodged. Moving forward, Xena's footfalls ceased when Zicalus entered the cabin.
"Xena Sama." Zicalus didn't expect to see the raven-haired woman.
"Out my way, Zicalus." She shoved him to the side. "I have to make certain Gabrielle's alright."
"She showed no signs of injury." Zicalus steadied his balance.
"Where is she?" Xena demanded.
"Calm yourself, Xena." Harukata expressed. "From what I have been told, it was Zicalus who intercepted Neji's assault on Gabrielle San."
Xena regained her stoic composition. Gabrielle was okay, there weren't any cause to unleash her fury.
'Not yet anyway.' She fumed mentally.
"Zicalus, what occurred on the upper platform?" Harukata inquired.
"I espied Neji standing over top of Gabrielle Ch-" Zicalus instantly corrected his near folly. "Gabrielle San laid on the floorboards as Neji stood above her, holding his tanto. I don't know what took place, but the blade of his tanto was shattered. The pieces were on the floorboards, as well. I had a few Samurai bring Neji to you because it's clear he presented a danger to Gabrielle San."
"Where is Neji now?" Xena's rage was tearing at the seam to get free.
"I have him detained in the galleys. He is not to be harmed until we have Gabrielle's San's testimony." The Shogun replied.
"Gabrielle San won't be able to give her testament." Zicalus commented. "She doesn't recall being set upon by Neji."
Xena stared fiercely at Koska. "I warned you to keep an eye on that bastard. You didn't listen to me. You're lucky Gabrielle is alive and isn't damaged, because if she was, I would be breaking every fucking bone in your body."
Koska wanted to make a retaliatory rebuttal, but couldn't. The Warrior Princess did caution him about Neji and he took it as a grain of salt.
"Xena, go to Gabrielle San. Make sure she has no injuries." When she looked at him puzzled, Harukata announced, "She's located in the fourth cabin to the right of this room."
Xena hastily left the three men.
Once she was gone, Zicalus turned to his Shogun. "There's more. Neji was mumbling and yelling-"
"I'm aware, Zicalus." Harukata cut his sentence short. "I don't know why yet, nonetheless, he's convinced Xena and Gabrielle San are daemons."
{X&G}
After coming into her room, Gabrielle stripped down and submerged her body in the lukewarm water of the wooden tub Kenji filled up for her while she was unconscious on Zicalus' cot. The vision she had was far proficient than the one before. Gabrielle could see through the eyes of her future self, smell the stale air of the prison cell, and felt compelled by the elder Xena.
"The Conqueror." Gabrielle spoke aloud.
Iolaus had mentioned a long time ago that he went on a quest to prevent Callisto from killing Hercules and causing Armageddon. With Ares help he was sent to the past, but failed his mission. In turn, the present became altered because Hercules was never born. His death contributed to Xena's evil ways continuing and she became the Conqueror. Iolaus claimed to have seen her crucify the Gabrielle of that world after ordering her legs to be broken.
'My vision isn't identical to Iolaus' tale.' The Amazon compared the two. 'The Gabrielle from the world I've envisioned has another name and the Conqueror didn't really seem evil. She's actually in love with Ri. Or do I cause the Conqueror to fall in love with Ri by pretending to be her?'
Gabrielle's brain could barely comprehend the magnitude of the vision. Her heart ached while sitting inside the cell; Japa was supposed to have fallen and her Xena was dead. The Conqueror clarified that before departing the prison. That's what affected her so painfully, learning of Xena's death because of the power from the Omphalos shard.
Gabrielle closed her pupils as a knock sounded on her door, presuming it to be Tanya. "Come back later."
The door opened anyway, coaxing Gabrielle to cover her chest while standing and turning towards the entryway.
"I said-"
The bard's words got lost in her throat when she saw Xena standing in the cabin. Xena was speechless too, looking at the nude, petite body of Gabrielle.
The Samurai broke eye contact for the second time that day by diverting her greenish blue irises downwards. "What are you doing here? How did you know this was my cabin?"
Xena closed the door, hardly controlling the lust from the sexy sight in front of her. "I've heard what Neji done to you. I just wanted to check on your welfare."
Gazing at the Warrior Princess, Gabrielle recognized not only the sincere tone, but the licentious expression, also. "Didn't you declare you wouldn't speak to me ever again till the end of your days?"
"Yes." Xena had no choice but to concur. "However, your health is still important to me."
"When you hurt me, it's alright. But if someone else does it, you're always concerned." Gabrielle let her arms drop, revealing her breasts to Xena's view. "I don't have any recollection of Neji's attack and he hasn't pained me in any way. If that's all, you can get out now."
"I'm relieved that you have no injuries." Xena consciously began shaking the lewd ideas out her mind and wanted to make amends. "Forgive me for what happened in the third tier cabin we once shared together, Gabrielle. Is there a possibility for us to be friends again?"
Gabrielle was aware of the effect she had on Xena, relishing it.
"Friends with benefits? No, Xena. I like how things are. Keep your apology, I'm weary of forgiving you." The tall woman took one step towards Gabrielle when the cropped blonde held up a hand. "Don't come any closer."
Xena stopped, wondering what could she say in hopes of relaying to Gabrielle how much she's missed her. "We won't be lovers. I just want to talk like we use to. I know you still love me a little, Tanya told me so. Will you consider it for me?"
"Get out, Xena." Gabrielle stated.
Dismally, Xena reluctantly began to leave. 'What was I thinking coming here? Did I truly believe she would jump in my arms or listen to me?'
"Xena."
Gabrielle's voice caused Xena to spin on her heels. She became dismayed by the Amazon's melancholic appearance.
"Where did you get this ring?" Gabrielle queried, showing the silver circlet.
'Weird request.' Xena thought. "An old merchant created it for me in Thebes."
"What did they look like? How much did you pay?" Gabrielle followed up.
'Now I see.' Xena surmised. "Why? You plan on selling it and getting half, if not all the profit back?"
"Wrong as usual, Xena." Gabrielle withheld her anger. "Forget it."
Xena felt horrible for denying Gabrielle an answer to something trivial. "I'm being moronic. I'll tell you whatever it is you want to know."
Gabrielle allowed her guard to falter. "Seriously?"
"Yes."
"Are you still planning to revive Akemi and be with her in Japa?" Gabrielle questioned, praying to hear the truth from Xena's mouth.
Xena contemplated telling her she was to die. Harukata advocated strongly in favor of being honest with Gabrielle. Could the Warrior Princess hurt her soul mate twice anent to the same lie?
"Nothing has changed, Gabrielle." Xena uttered.
"That's a yes, or no?"
"It's a yes." Xena made clear.
Gabrielle's face nearly crumbled to tears, instead she turned her back to her lying ex. As Gabrielle lowered herself into the wooden tub again, Xena noted a magnificent creature on the short-haired blonde.
"Is that a dragon tattoo on-"
"Get out, Xena. I have nothing more to say to you." Gabrielle dismissed her.
Xena wouldn't relent. "You have a-"
"Get out!" She screamed.
Xena was positive she'd pushed her former best friend to the edge. She began to walk out the door, dejected.
"I love you, Gabrielle." Xena made the pronouncement while taking her leave.
Gabrielle listened to the door open and close before sobbing into her hands. The silent guardian on her back, which was forged by the nine Muses, had shielded her from Neji's tanto, but couldn't do anything for Gabrielle's heart.
To Be Continued...