Birds could be heard chirping outside as Xena and Gabrielle sat down on a couple of cushions inside the small tent where they met with Cora to begin the tests to make sure that they were fit to be married and both be queen together. They watched quietly as Cora stood at a small table grinding and mixing together various plants into fine paste before pouring hot water into the bowl and giving it a final good stir. Once she was done Cora carried the bowl and sat down in front of Xena and Gabrielle, placing the bowl and it's contents on the ground in front of them.

CORA

Are you both ready?

Xena and Gabrielle shared a quick look at one another before nodding slightly that they were indeed ready to take on whatever layed ahead of them.

CORA

Good. Now I want each of you to drink half of the contents of this bowl. Once you do in a few minutes you'll fall asleep. Both of your mind's, spirits and souls will be taken into the spirit realm. Once you're there I'll give you further instructions for what you'll be doing there.

GABRIELLE

But how will you be able to communicate with us there?

Cora picked up a small cup that was behind her.

CORA

This is a similar mixture to what you'll be drinking. But it's not as potent and I won't be ingesting as much as you so while my being will still be here, I'll be more intuned with the spirit realm and thus be able to communicate with you freely.

GABRIELLE

Will you be able to see what we're doing?

CORA

Yes. But I'm not allowed to intervene unless either of you are in serious danger. In which case I'll come back to reality and wake you both. Any more questions before we start?

GABRIELLE

Have you done anything like this before Cora?

CORA

Not this exact scenario, but I've dealt with the spirit realm on numerous occasions. So don't worry Gabrielle both you and Xena are in very capable hands. I did specialize in dealing with spiritual matters back in my village. So I know what I'm doing. I'll do everything I can to make sure you both make it back here safely.

GABRIELLE

Oh I see.

Xena looked at Gabrielle who was obviously nervous about doing this. While Xena had some experience in dealing with the spirit realm and other matter of what some might consider as "the dark arts" and "sorcery", Gabrielle did not. So it was understandable that she'd be nervous about doing something of this nature. Xena placed her hand on Gabrielle's leg and got a small smile in return.

GABRIELLE

It's okay Xena, I can do this.

XENA

Okay. And I'll be with you through whatever we might face in there.

Gabrielle didn't respond as she picked up the bowl and examined the liquid inside.

CORA

You can begin when you're ready. Just drink half of the mixture and then lay down, relax and let yourselves drift into a deep sleep and you'll soon find your contiousness leave your bodies and arrive in the spirit realm, where you'll find your spirit bodies. They'll be just the same as your physical ones. Once there I let you know what to do next.

Gabrielle sighed.

GABRIELLE

Well here it goes.

With that Gabrielle drank down half of the liquid and handed the bowl to Xena as she grimaced at how foul the concoction tasted.

CORA

Sorry I guess I should have warned you that it wasn't going to taste very good.

Once Xena finished her share of the mixture they both layed down beside each other. After a few minutes Gabrielle could feel the concoction beginning to take affect. Her eyes felt heavy, the inside of the tent seemed to spin and become distorted. She closed her eyes tight as she felt a strange floating feeling throughout her body. Sensing Gabrielle's tension, Xena reached over and held her hand. Through the now spinning and distorted world around her, Gabrielle looked at Xena who gave her a gentle, reassuring smile.

GABRIELLE

(Thinking to herself) Damn it Gabrielle you can't even do something like this without Xena literally holding your hand. Why can't you just...

Gabrielle couldn't finish the thought as her eyes closed and felt as if her whole body was sent spiraling into the ether. Her senses felt as though they were in overload as rapid blurs that Gabrielle couldn't distinguish rushed past her as she felt as though she was falling into an empty and never ending abyss. She looked around frantically for Xena but couldn't see her. Gabrielle tumbled through the vast nothingness as it swallowed her up and she yelled.

GABRIELLE

Xena!

Moments later Gabrielle's eyes suddenly shot open and she sprung up to a sitting position. Her heart pounded as her chest heaved in panicked breathing. She hastily looked around as she attempted to get a sense of what just happened.

GABRIELLE

A meadow?

Indeed Gabrielle was sitting in the middle of a beautiful meadow complete with green grass, multiple types of flowers a stream in the near distance with trees scattered all around. Gabrielle felt a cool gentle breeze blowing through her long, golden hair as she ran her hand over the blades of grass beneath her.

GABRIELLE

I've had some pretty realistic dreams before but everything here... it all feels so real. If never experienced anything like this. And what happened after I closed my eyes before I woke up here, I don't don't even know how to describe what that felt like other than terrifying.

XENA

Yeah it's a real trip and a half ain't it?

Gabrielle looked behind her and saw Xena standing there.

GABRIELLE

(Slightly annoyed) You know I hate it when you sneak up on me like that.

Gabrielle stood up as she continued to look around.

GABRIELLE

Well we both made it here at least. This must be the spirit realm I'm guessing.

?

You're absolutely correct Gabrielle.

Gabrielle jumped slightly, startled by the sudden voice that was seemingly somehow coming from both everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Though after the momentary shock Gabrielle recognized the voice.

GABRIELLE

Cora?

CORA

Good you can hear me and it seems like you've both arrived safely.

GABRIELLE

Is this place really the spirit realm?

CORA

Part of it yes. It's incredibly vast with likely no end and everything one could imagine within it.

GABRIELLE

Woah.

Cora's voice giggled.

CORA

Woah Indeed.

Gabrielle looked around some more as she thought of something.

GABRIELLE

Gee if it's that big I hope we don't end up getting lost.

XENA

Don't worry about that. Our location here won't matter when Cora brings us back to reality. We'll be pulled right back to our actual bodies with no problems. We'll unless something is holding us here.

Gabrielle looked at Xena.

GABRIELLE

What?!

XENA

Relax Gabrielle everything's gonna be fine. But just like out there, this place has its own dangers too. We just need to keep our eye open for any trouble and we'll be alright.

CORA

Xena's right. But knowing you two I'm sure you'll be just fine.

Gabrielle sighed.

GABRIELLE

Okay. So now that we're here what exactly are we even supposed to be doing anyway Cora?

CORA

Simply put over the next few days you'll come here and have to find as well as face the darkest parts of one another, leaving nothing hidden between you.

GABRIELLE

The darkest parts of each other? But I already know alot about Xena's past.

CORA

Maybe. But does she know all of yours?

XENA

I really don't think there's anything about Gabrielle that myself of all people would find all that shocking.

CORA

Yes but this isn't just about each of your histories. There you'll get a look into one another's inner most thoughts, fears, desires and anything else that might choose to manifest before you.

XENA

And once we've seen everything that this place decides to show us well be done.

CORA

That's right. Though knowing about things is one thing, seeing them one the other hand may be extremely difficult. So don't forget that your both free to decide at any time that you don't want to continue. Though as you know that will mean that you'll never be able to be joined.

GABRIELLE

We understand.

XENA

How will we know when we're done and seen everything that we needed to see?

CORA

Simple, the place you're in will vanish along with the dark corners where all of your hidden truths once layed. At that time you'll awake back in the real world and have passed the test.

Gabrielle and Xena looked at one another.

XENA

Your absolutely sure about doing this Gabrielle. Actually seeing some of the things I've done is going to be easy to watch. Honestly I don't know if I wanna see those things from this side myself. I can only imagine what I must've looked like back then to those around me.

Gabrielle took Xena's hand in hers. Though Gabrielle tried to keep her voice level, Xena picked up on Gabrielle's body language that told her that Gabrielle was a bit more agitated than she let on.

GABRIELLE

It'll be okay Xena. I'm a big girl you know, I've seen plenty. So you really don't need to try and keep sheltering me from stuff. Now let's get going so we can finish this.

Gabrielle let go of Xena's hand as she turned and began walking ahead. Xena didn't know if was the place they were in or if it was the strong connection that she and Gabrielle shared, but as Gabrielle walked away Xena could've sworn that for a second she felt this strange combination of anger and sadness coming from Gabrielle. Something was definitely going on with her and Xena thought that if Gabrielle wasn't going to tell her then maybe this place would show Xena just what exactly it was that Gabrielle was obviously going through.

TO BE CONTINUED...