Gabrielle stood in stunned silence for a moment as she saw Xena laying motionless on the ground at Alti's feet. She looked at Alti who held a small orb of light in her hands as she smiled.

ALTI

Oh what's wrong Gabrielle, did you want this back?

Alti held out the orb.

GABRIELLE

That's not really Xena's soul, is it?

ALTI

Oh it is.

Alti brought the orb closer to her face.

ALTI

And quite the interesting soul it is. So complex, with such a delicate balance of both dark and light. So strong and yet so fragile at the same time.

Gabrielle watched anxiously as Alt moved the orb from one hand to the other, examining the swirling variations of colored lights that moved within the orb.

ALTI

Strong enough to withstand years of darkness, rage and hate and still find a way back into the light. But at the same time so fragile where if I were to just tighten my grip enough.

Alti tightened her hold around the orb and Gabrielle could see the strain being put on it and realized that if something happened to Xena's soul she'd not only be dead, but she would be completely wiped from all existence entirely.

GABRIELLE

Stop it!

Alti smiled at Gabrielle as she loosened her grip on the orb.

ALTI

I take it that you believe me. Good. So tell me, Gabrielle, what would you do to get this back?

Gabrielle scowled as she knew what Alti was getting at.

GABRIELLE

Forget it Alti, you're not getting your hands on the Fountain Of Youth.

ALTI

Really Gabrielle? You would sacrifice Xena to continue to stand in my way?

GABRIELLE

If the other option is you gaining access to power that would cause irreparable destruction and chaos to the whole world then yes.

ALTI

Are you sure? I'm well aware of just how close the two of you are. So how about it? I return Xena's soul to her body and then you, her and your child can all go on being a happy little family. And all you have to do is leave this village to its fate.

As much as a part of Gabrielle wanted so badly to accept Alti's offer, she knew that she just couldn't do it. Because if there was one thing that she had learned after all the time that she and Xena had been together, it was that "the greater good" should always take priority over their own personal feelings about any given situation they might've found themselves In. She knew that Xena wouldn't want her to sacrifice the village and give Alti what she wanted just to bring her back to life. The price was just too high and Gabrielle knew that Xena would live with the guilt of knowing that she was only alive at the cost of so many others, and Gabrielle couldn't put that on Xena or herself. So as deeply as it pained her to let Xena go, Gabrielle knew that she just couldn't accept Alti's offer.

GABRIELLE

No deal Alti. I won't sacrifice this village or its people to you.

ALTI

Very well then, I'll just leave you here with Xena's lifeless body, and I'll go find the fountain of youth myself.

Before Gabrielle could do anything, Alti disappeared, and she was left standing alone with Xena's body. She looked at Xena as she tried to figure out how they were going to stop Alti and felt the gravity of Xena's death setting in.

GABRIELLE

(Thinking to herself) What am I supposed to do? This can't be happening. Xena's gone, the village is in chaos with so many having been killed because of this, and Alti seems more powerful than ever. If she finds the fountain of youth, wherever it is, it'll be over for everyone. But how are we supposed to stop her

As Gabrielle desperately tried to figure out what to do, a few of the others had broken away from the fighting to bring some more non-combatants someplace safe and spotted Gabrielle as she knelt down on the ground. Worried that she might be injured, Skyla, Fauna and Ephiny hurried over to help.

FAUNA

Gabrielle, are you okay?

The small group reached Gabrielle and stopped when they saw Xena laying in front of her. Hearing footsteps behind he, Gabrielle looked behind her and saw the trio, she immediately noticed the devastated look in Gabrielle's eyes.

SKYLA

No, Xena. Is she...?

Skyla didn't even finish before Gabrielle nodded slowly.

GABRIELLE

(Sad tone) We were fighting Alti and she killed her. She just took Xena's soul right from her body.

EPHINY

I'm sorry Gabrielle. If we had gotten here sooner, maybe we could've...

GABRIELLE

It doesn't matter right now. Alti just left to find the fountain. We have to stop her before she does.

Skyla and Fauna looked at each other.

SKYLA

You don't think she'll actually be able to find it, do you?

FAUNA

Normally I'd say no, but given her powers, I don't know if we can say for sure that she won't find it.

GABRIELLE

Alti first saw it in Clover's mind before, so I'm surprised that she doesn't already know where it is.

FAUNA

Good point. She likely saw it too, but she must not have recognized it for what it was.

GABRIELLE

How could someone possibly miss something like that? I'm assuming it's pretty difficult to miss a big magical fountain.

SKYLA

It is when it doesn't look like what you would expect.

GABRIELLE

What's that supposed to...

Gabrielle was cut off mid-sentence as screams rang out in the distance as Alti began killing the villagers while she grew increasingly enraged by her in ability to locate the fountain.

FAUNA

But even if she hasn't found it yet doesn't mean she won't. And we can't let that happen.

GABRIELLE

But how do we stop her? Xena was the only one who even stood a chance against Alti, and now she's gone.

Gabrielle couldn't think of any way that they could stop Alti as she looked out at the village.

FAUNA

There is one way.

SKYLA

No there has to be another way to stop her. We always said that we would only do that as a very last resort. Fauna, if we do that there's no turning back.

Fauna looked at Skyla.

FAUNA

I know that, but if that woman gets to the fountain it'll be over for more than just us. And besides, our job has been to protect it from anyone like Alti. You've always known that, Skyla. We all have.

Skyla lowered her eyes for a moment as the reality of the situation settled in, and she knew that Fauna was right.

SKYLA

(Sad tone) I know. I just never thought that we would ever have to actually do this.

Not knowing what the native villagers were talking about, Gabrielle spoke up.

GABRIELLE

Do what? You know how to stop Alti?

SKYLA

Yes, I just wish there was another way, but with so many already dead and Alti on the verge of finding the fountain I don't see one.

EPHINY

Based on how upset you seem about this, I'm gonna assume that the plan really isn't anything that you wanted to have to do.

SKYLA

(Sad tone) No. And it's honestly it's the very last thing that any of us would ever want to do.

GABRIELLE

What?

SKYLA

It seems like In order to stop Alti from taking the fountain of youth's power we're gonna have to destroy it.

GABRIELLE

Wait, but I thought that even the god's couldn't destroy it.

FAUNA

They can't. And I suppose saying that we would destroy the fountain isn't quite accurate, but thanks to Artemis if we destroy the village the fountain will disappear and end up in some other unknown location.

GABRIELLE

But if we do that everyone might not escape.

FAUNA

Actually none of the villagers will be leaving. So I'd suggest that you hurry and get Aurora along with the others who have come to the village and leave while you can.

Gabrielle shook her head in disbelief and horror as she pictured the village and its people being destroyed.

GABRIELLE

No, I agree with Skyla. There has to be another way.

FAUNA

Look around us, Gabrielle, the village is already being destroyed by Alti's army. None of us, even together, are strong enough to stop Alti. If we don't stop her, I'm sure I don't need to tell you what will happen.

GABRIELLE

But what about everyone else? Are you telling me that they're all okay with this?!

Fauna walked over to Gabrielle and put her hand on her shoulder.

FAUNA

Gabrielle, you're one of the best queens and friends that any one of us could have ever asked for. Both you, Xena and the others have done so much for us, and we could never thank you enough. But this is something that, as difficult as it may be, has to be done. Artemis charged us with protecting the fountain of youth and that's what we have to do. We all have always known the responsibility of doing this takes priority over everything. Including our own lives.

Gabrielle was about to argue when Xena voice echoed in her mind from her memories as she once again remembered her and Xena's discussions about "the greater good". She knew that none of them could physically stop Alti and couldn't let her take the fountain's power. And though it seemed wrong, Gabrielle knew that this might be the only way that they could stop Alti and save an unknown number of people from the death and suffering they would surely endure once Alti unleashed the power she stood to obtain from the fountain onto the world. She stood up and looked at Ephiny.

GABRIELLE

It's settled then. Ephiny, I need you to take Aurora and the other non-native villagers and leave as fast as you can.

EPHINY

Wait, you're not staying?!

GABRIELLE

I'm these people's queen Ephiny. I won't just abandon them when the only reason they're even in this situation is due to Xena and I being here. If we hadn't come here, this place would still be safe.

EPHINY

You don't know that.

GABRIELLE

But I do. And so did Xena. And that's why if the only way to stop Alti is to join the rest of the village in their sacrifice, then with my final act as queen, that's what I'll do. So please Ephiny I'm asking you not only as your queen but as your friend, take Aurora and the others and get away from here.

EPHINY

There's nothing I can say that'll change your mind about doing this is there?

GABRIELLE

(Sad tone) No. But please, Ephiny, just make sure that Aurora stays safe and that she always knows how much both Xena and I loved her.

EPHINY

I will.

Knowing there was no longer any point in discussing it, Ephiny gave Gabrielle a sad smile as she left to get Aurora and the other non-native residents out of the village. Then with a heavy heart, Gabrielle returned her attention to Fauna and Skyla and gave a small nod for them to do what she had to before she moved to where Xena laid as she sat down and lifted Xena's head to rest on her lap as she looked out at the village and after a few minutes saw it beginning to be set ablaze. As the fire began to spread, Ephiny took Aurora and lead Amarice, Cora and Willow out of the village. It wasn't long until the flames reached where Alti was still trying to decipher how to access the fountain of youth. She scowled to herself as she realized that what the villagers were attempting to do.

ALTI

(Thinking to herself) Trying to stop me by any means necessary I see. Too bad it won't be enough.

Alti stood by the waterfall within the village as she looked around for the fountain of youth.

ALTI

You're all too late. I know that the fountain's around here. I'm certain I'll find it before your pitiful attempt at stopping me succeeds. In reality, all you fools have done hasten your own demise. So go ahead and burn your village, because soon enough the rest of this world will follow.

TO BE CONTINUED...