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 stories' chapters preceding this one, you should do so now. A special thanks to my beta, Jinxie 2015, and every one of my wonderful readers. :)

Xena & Gabrielle

A Turn of Fate

By Ahkiken

Chapter 39: Perpetual Twilight

Harukata was clad in a red kimono once more, sitting inside his private cabin. Ernest consternation abounded his conscience, coaxing him to ponder over every decision he'd contrived since Japa's conundrum. Choosing to ultimately depart from his ravaged homeland and partake in the precarious task of seeking their foreign liberator, he had reserves that she could be troublesome because of the knowledge referring to her past. Nonetheless, the Shogun never could've discerned how difficult Xena truly would become.

He hoped that the mission to destroy Yodoshi with Xena and Gabrielle's aid would come to fruition, especially after informing the raven-haired advocate about his plight to beseech the sun Kami to revive her. Thereon, when the two soul mates finally made amends, thus reuniting and terminating their strife, Harukata knew Japa was on the verge of getting saved, until something beyond his competence betide the petite Samurai.

'Cause of a ring Xena obtained for her fiancée, the bard magically switched worlds with an identical woman whom shared a matching jem called a Omphalos shard that was embedded on her necklace. Thereafter, Ri was subjected to Xena's mordacity, and Harukata exacerbated the Warrior Princess' toxic demeanor by threatening her on the upper deck, which proved to compound the overall situation.

His gambit to tame Xena's explosive attitude, purely impelled her implacability, and he was unsure if they were enemies now. Following their lengthy bout, that came to an abrupt end because of his Samurai's ignorance to what was really happening, Xena swiftly left the main platform, and the Shogun had no intentions on preventing her from doing so. Combating her had pushed him to his limit, and he was certain that she would've won the fight, subsequently slaying everyone onboard the warship.

Allowing Koska to become privy of his and Xena's astringent contention, urged the Shogun's third-in-command to take dishonorable action by heatingly debating with the Governor of Shinto in front of their subordinates. Fortunately, Harukata forgave the elite Samurai, and traipsed to his quarters to meditate on how to not solely assuage Xena, but to garner a peaceful voyage heretofore. Still, their success in Japa remained hinged on the cobalt-eyed female's willingness to yield her life.

Opening his dark orbs, Harukata tried ceasing the echoes of Koska's prod indicating Xena's plausible abnegation to succor them any longer.

['What if she refuse the sacrifice now?']

Harukata's forehead creased from his horrid musings, 'What if I caused her declension?'

His internal question lingered unanswered as a tender knock rapped on the cabin's door.

Listening to the audible knocking, he stayed in a cross-legged posture, prior to hearing Kenji's intonation, "Shogun, are you okay?"

Not moving a muscle, he concisely responded, "Enter."

Kenji stepped into the room, closing the threshold and bowed to his leader. "Praise Amaterasu that you are unharmed."

The laudation went unheeded. "Kenji, why aren't you with Ri-Kun?"

"I asked Jirou to guard her." The monk proclaimed, copying the Shogun's positure. "Xena-Sama visited us and started accusing Ri-Kun of stealing her chakram."

Harukata immediately arose. "Is she alright?"

Kenji nodded. "Yes, Shogun. Xena-Sama was rough with her and me, but we're fine."

Again, Harukata became rueful for making premature choices. In his haste to be solaced by meditation, he had also abandoned the storyteller to Xena's minatory machinations. Furthermore, Kenji had to suffer at her hands, too. How many others would have to taste her wrath before they reached their destination?

'Amaterasu, guide me.' Harukata sent a quick prayer, preceding catechizing the monk, "Where is Xena now?"

"Jirou explicated that she went to Gabrielle-San's lodging sequent to engaging the entire second squad in multiple duels." Viewing his Shogun's solicitous mien, Kenji evinced, "No-one was severely injured, or killed."

Harukata breathed a sigh of relief and turned from Kenji to walk toward his personal shrine that was dedicated to the Japian pantheon. Kneeling beside it, he ruminated on his upcoming options. He wanted to speak with Xena beforehand of divulging the incredible circumstances of Gabrielle and Ri swapping places to anybody else. However, duty, as well as loyalty to his elites, capped the Warrior Princess and demanded that he apprise them of what had occurred.

"Kenji, gather Koska, Moku, and Zicalus." The Shogun kept his eyes on the provisional altar, asserting, "It's time I discoursed with them apropos to our prevalent predicament."

{X&G}

Discarding the two blades on the floorboards in her soul mate's quarters, Xena trudged to the table where Gabrielle's clothes and silver adornments lied atop it. A melancholic grin formed on her lips whilst reminiscing anent to the Amazon's numerous altering attires that spanned over the myriad years they'd traveled the world together. She remembered every one of them, howbeit aside from the yellow sari that the short-haired blonde wore in India, the Warrior Princess had developed a radical fondness for the bard's current vesture.

Descrying the scarlet halter with an intense gaze, Xena's hand spontaneously began to caress the velvet garment. Mere inches from physically probing it, she instantly recoiled once she'd gandered at the red liquid seeping through her slit palm. Regarding herself to be unworthy to simply look at the clothing, Xena allowed disparaging cogitations to trample her mindset.

'Blood, death, and eternal disappointment. That's all I've ever brought to you, Gabrielle.' Xena deduced, having recollection of Tanya's predication on the first day they'd met. 'Celesta couldn't touch my deftness for taking lives, nor my influence for turning others into effective killers.'

Moving from Gabrielle's apparel, Xena continued retreating backwards 'til she collided with the door, letting memories consume her.

'They would always succumb to my pernicious ways, even when striving to stay pacifistic.'

I stand idle and turn from watching Gabrielle converse with Temecula between the blazing funeral pyres, helping him to understand that his deeds today benefited the Greater Good. In retrospect, I'm wondering if my alleviating talk was an availing recourse for her woes. I had no inclination that she could've saved Phlanagus, but instead chose to let him die in the carnage. No doubt it was to preserve her abstention from murder.

Hopefully this will be the last Grecian village to suffer from Rome's civil war... Notwithstanding, I am insecure in those speculations. It'll take awhile for Pompey to recuperate the losses he's received, yet Caesar won't forget what or whom befell him, and his vengeance will eventually propel us to another confrontation.

"I'll have to kill him." I declare.

"Who has to be killed, Xena?"

Gabrielle's footfalls are silent, and her query is spoken without accusation or malice. I mentally chide myself for being oblivious to her presence and voicing harrowing violence aloud after the fatal events that's ensued.

Espying Temecula's elevated dreary visage, I refuse answering her, and ask, "How the chat go?"

She rejoins, "He'll be okay."

I scrutinize him fervently as he stalks away. "Why does he appear more troubled, Gabrielle?"

"He... I rather not repeat his words." Gabrielle avers, standing next to me again. "It only coincides with the same elucidation you've avowed."

"That today was a good-"

"No, Xena." Gabrielle quickly dismisses my surmise. "I'd shared an intimate experience with Temecula and he agrees that the moment you kill...everything changes."

I'm rendered speechless for unexplained reasons. Of course she would try to facilitate peace in an individual by cautioning them to be wary of precipitating death. Albeit, knowing Phlanagus was fighting for the survival of his family, friends, and fellow villagers, I can't fully ken why Gabrielle would allow him to fall, but didn't hesitate killing Dahak's priestess when she pretended to harm Krafstar, although she's mentioned on many occasions that she'd killed Meridian with clear conviction, not instinctively.

"Will you answer my inquiry?"

Conjuring up her recent quiz, I reply, "A second affray against Caesar might be inevitable, Gabrielle."

"I figured that." She accedes somberly, and her greenish-blue optics becomes fixated on Phlanagus' pyre. "Xena, why did you leave me in command?"

"That is two questions." My smirk fade whilst noticing her stern expression, and I promptly kick myself psychically for making the error of attempting a malapropos joke. "I affirmed that you knew how I'd think during this war, and hence, you've prevented Caesar's circumvention."

"In spite of my objection to leading men into battle and their demise?"

"Gabrielle." I softly lift her chin so our eyes can connect. "Phlanagus would've falsely presumed the skirmish was ended when he'd viewed the Romans' simulated retreat, and Caesar's troops would had crushed them...you included, whether you'd fought or not."

"I know that, Xena. You should have informed Phlanagus to adhere to my suggestions and let him retain leadership."

My confute isn't subtle, "He was a great warrior, but that alone wouldn't have led these people to triumph. This village will forge ahead and prosper, because of your achievements."

"Perhaps he wouldn't had died if..." Gabrielle's comment halts, and she slowly tilts her head from my grasp, returning two aqua spheres on the flaming pyres.

I'm back to square one, knowing there's nothing I can expound to abate the pain and guilt she's carrying within her. Was I wrong for wanting to ensure the safety of Greek lives by placing her in a position of military guidance? Withal she didn't hanker having control, Gabrielle cannot rebuff that it was her tactics which procured the win. Nor can she deny that her inaction caused the death of Phlanagus, either. It tempts me to ascertain exactly how his life was taken.

"Gabrielle, how did Phlanagus die?"

"We were on the edge of obtaining victory, and...and he looked at me, raising his sword to signal our imminent success." She hastily wipes the tears off of her face. "I failed to warn him in time, and his temporary inattention granted an auspicious moment for a Roman soldier to blindside him. As he laid on the ground, I'd grabbed a spear, and in lieu of hitting Phlanagus' attacker, I consciously threw it in a ditch, then the legionary stabbed him. Temecula avenged him and shot his murderer with an arrow..."

"You're blameless for his fatality, you know that." I deliberately lie to proffer support.

"I could've protected Phlanagus, Xena. I could have rescued both of them."

Covering her eyes, she begins crying uncontrollably for Phlanagus' avoidable quietus and Temecula's lost innocence. Pulling the bard into a consoling embrace, I regret interrogating her about the high ranking Greek's passing to appease my curiosity. Why does my verdict sometimes jeopardizes Gabrielle's serene aspect and discommode her? Before long, she'll possibly wound up abandoning her irenic morals...

Or forsake me.

"Today's bloodshed will never be erased from my memory. So much unnecessary deaths." Gabrielle extracts herself off of me, drying her eyes once more. "I feel like I'm suspended in perpetual twilight; unable to arrive to a new day and renewed harmonious beginnings."

"We all must traverse through the dark in order to get to the light." I profess.

"Warfare is a part of our existence, is it not?" The Amazon Queen is being rhetorical while she descries me. "It's a sick cycle carousel. Ergo, you are right, Xena; it was a good day fighting."

Whirling on her boots, she ambles from me and the now smoldering fires. I resist trailing Gabrielle, conceding that there isn't anything I'm capable of saying to tranquilize her afflicted cognition. She's been through Tartarus, and doubtlessly will endure further travail. Sequential to Gabrielle's putative self-annihilation in the lava pit alongside Hope, I've recently reclaimed her, plainly to put us in everlasting danger.

The image of an assembled wooden cross and a cropped blonde Gabrielle lying on it in a snowy clearing, assaults my cerebration, reminding me of our impending doom.

"Fuck you, Alti." I mutter, dispelling the execrable vision she'd implanted in me. "And damn Julius Caesar..."

I stare at the remnant smoke that ascends the sky, feeling a teardrop cascade downwards whilst fearing the egregious fate of my beloved friend and lover. It's not difficult safeguarding her from the knowledge of the prophesied crucifixion, nevertheless, I'm diffident on believing wholeheartedly that I'll impasse our execution. Deciding to speedily withdraw from this area, I angrily swipe the wetness from underneath my eye, and castigate myself for permitting Gabrielle to vanish out of sight.

Reinvigorating my faith and overprotectiveness, I start to seek Gabrielle, astute that a quiescent winding road for recovery awaits us.

"Gabrielle?" A muted voice fractured Xena's flashback.

The persistent pounding on the door, compelled the Warrior Princess to forcefully open it, yelling at the person who was causing her botheration, "Go away!"

"Xena?" Tanya shook off the perplexity imposed by the irate woman's baseless anger. "I'm sorry for disturbing you, but have you seen Gabrielle? We worked out our differences last night and she agreed on teaching me some-"

"She's not here, Tanya." Xena interjected, preparing to shut the entrance.

Taking aback, the auburn-haired teenager gingerly inquired, "Do you know where she is on the ship?"

"Gabrielle isn't here!" She bellowed, slamming the entryway closed.

Leaning on the door again, and uncaring of Tanya's astounded sensibility as she gaited from the cabin, Xena's body slid onto the floor, becoming agonized from the veracity of her statement.

"Gabrielle isn't here..."

To Be Continued...