MINYA
And thanks to Xena, the Bacchae were turned into the beautiful women they were before.
GABRIELLE
So what do you think?
Minya lowered the scroll she had been reading that Gabrielle had written about one of her and Xena's many adventures and looked at the bard.
MINYA
It's fine. Do you have one where Xena tries to steal somebody's boyfriend, or do you usually leave that part out?
The bard sighed.
GABRIELLE
Minya, Xena would never take anyone's boyfriend. She has integrity, and would never do something like that. She'll make sure Hower gets the message that he doesn't have a shot with her. Trust me.
MINYA
You really think so?
Gabrielle smiled.
GABRIELLE
I know so.
HOWER
Minya.
Hearing Hower's voice, both women looked over to see Hower approaching them after he and Xena had just returned to the village.
MINYA
Hower, you're back.
The man stopped in front of them as he looked at Minya.
HOWER
Minya, I feel like I owe it to you to be completely honest with you.
Hower took a deep breath before continuing.
HOWER
I'm sorry Minya, but I'm in love with Xena.
Hearing what Hower had just said, Minya glared over at Gabrielle.
MINYA
(Sarcasm) Oh yeah, she really sent him a message all right.
Gabrielle was about to try and figure out some way to defend Xena when the warrior walked up to them.
XENA
Alright, it turns out that our giant problem might be a bit more serious than we initially thought.
GABRIELLE
Why? What happened?
XENA
The giant's name is Gareth. And believe me, he's trouble. Using mirrors won't work. We don't have much time to come up with a way to stop him.
MINYA
But Gareth is one of the biggest, meanest giants ever to walk the Earth. Xena's old buddy, Goliath, wanted to get revenge on Gareth for killing his family. But then, Xena and Goliath ended up on opposite sides during the Israelite-Philistine feud. And then Goliath got wasted.
Both Xena and Hower stared at Minya with confused yet surprised expressions on their faces at the woman's unexpected knowledge of the subject, as Minya shrugged.
MINYA
What? I read it in one of her scrolls.
Minya motioned toward Gabrielle who then took the opportunity to speak up.
GABRIELLE
Does Gareth wear a helmet?
XENA
Yeah, but it has a heavy nose guard.
GABRIELLE
Well, I know you don't like using the same strategy twice, Xena but I really think if we just did the mirror thing again...
XENA
It won't work.
The raven-haired warrior pointed over the hills in the distance.
XENA
There are heavy rain clouds moving in. We won't have any sunlight we could use to reflect onto the helmet.
GABRIELLE
Then what're we gonna do?
Xena looked out toward the approaching storm clouds as a roll of thunder rumbled in the distance as a new plan came together in her head.
XENA
We're gonna harness the power of a god.
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XENA
There, that should do it.
Gabrielle cocked her head to the side as she looked at the odd contraption that the warrior had put together using sticks, string and a large piece of material that had been donated by Minya.
GABRIELLE
What is it?
XENA
I don't have a name for it. But if I can get it to fly, I think this can be just what we need to nail Gareth.
GABRIELLE
Get it to fly?
The warrior finished her creation by attracting a buckle to a string that hung from the fabric.
XENA
Yup. We're gonna use the wind to carry it.
Xena then held her invention pointed toward the sky.
XENA
And. Here. We. Go!
Xena then threw her arm forward, releasing the contraption from her hand as it flew forward before nose diving just a second later and landing at her feet.
XENA
(Flat tone) Or at least that's the plan, anyway.
The warrior made multiple more attempts at getting her creation to stay airborne as Gabrielle, Minya and Hower all looked on, and Xena's patience with repeated failures began to wear on the warrior's nerves.
XENA
(Irritated tone) Damn it. Stay up there.
Nearby, Minya looked at Hower who was standing beside her.
MINYA
Looks like your precious warrior princess has got a screw loose.
After watching another handful of failures, Gabrielle rose from the tree stump she'd been sitting on as Xena tried unsuccessfully to get the contraption she made into the air.
GABRIELLE
Look, Xena, I don't wanna doubt you after all we've been through, but I just don't think this is gonna work.
Xena scowled as she picked up her invitation from the ground and straightened it out for another attempt.
XENA
(Irritated tone) Well if you have a better idea, I'd like to hear it.
GABRIELLE
Hey, there's no need to get all defensive. I just don't share your vision for whatever you're trying to do here.
The warrior looked at the other woman.
XENA
So? There were plenty of other times when you didn't.
Xena made air quotes with her fingers as she continued.
XENA
Quote, "share my vision".
The bard gave an unamused look at the comment.
GABRIELLE
Fair. And I'll admit that you ended up being right those other times. But, just out of pure logic you gotta be wrong about this sort of thing at some point. So given the stakes here, I just think it might be better for everyone if we moved on to trying a different strategy.
XENA
(Talking to herself) Maybe if I ran with it.
GABRIELLE
(Slightly annoyed tone) And you're not even listening to a word I'm saying. Are you?
XENA
(Joking) Uh huh. Yeah sure thing Lariel.
The sarcastic comment got an annoyed eye roll from the blonde as Xena threw her invitation skyward yet again and this time had it glide for a bit as the warrior gave Gabrielle a satisfied "I told you so" smirk. Though that was only until the contraption abruptly took another nose dive and landed right on the bard, knocking her to the ground.
GABRIELLE
(Annoyed tone) Xena!
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XENA
And there we go. Ste-e-a-ady, Ste-e-a-ady.,
Xena gently tugged on the string to the flying fabric, that after an ungodly amount of attempts, she had finally to keep in the air.
GABRIELLE
I can't believe it.
Gabrielle watched excitedly at the wonder before her, before looking over to the other woman.
GABRIELLE
(Lying/) You know I never actually doubted you for a second, right?
XENA
(Teasing tone) Oh sure.
GABRIELLE
We did it! We did it! We did it! Boy is Gareth in for it once he gets here. He might be a big, mean giant but we have a .piece of flying parchment with a belt-buckle attached to it.
Suddenly realizing the ridiculousness of what she had just said, the bard stopped her celebration and looked at Xena.
GABRIELLE
Xena, what is this even supposed to do exactly?
XENA
Bring the power of Zeus to Earth.
Xena gave Gabrielle the string she was holding to control the flying contraption.
XENA
Here, you take over. Keep it flying as long as you can. I think it's about time I tried talking some sense into Hower.
With that, Xena walked away, leaving Gabrielle to her own devices as a big gust of wind blew in and the bard struggled to keep control over the flying parchment.
GABRIELLE
Hey, wait a minute. Xena.
Another strong wind blew that ripped the string from the young woman's grasp and she scrambled to try and catch it.
GABRIELLE
No, no, no.
Gabrielle jumped up to grab the string before the parchment could get away but missed and it left her standing there, able to do nothing more than watch as Xena's invitation glided away.
GABRIELLE
(Annoyed tone) Oh come on!
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After looking around for Hower for a bit, Xena spotted the man brushing Argo and walked over to him.
XENA
Hower, you and I need to have a little talk.
The farmer turned to look at the warrior and smiled.
HOWER
Oh, Xena. I hope you don't mind. I thought I'd brush Argo for you. I think she likes me.
Xena sighed at the overly doting look Hower was giving her and knew she needed to put a stop to the man's infatuation with her.
XENA
Listen Hower, Minya's a good woman. She loves you. You should consider yourself lucky to have a woman like her.
Hower shrugged indifferently at the mention of his girlfriend, before smiling at the warrior.
HOWER
Sure, but she could never come close to comparing to you, Xena.
Tired of the man's delusion of getting with her, Xena decided that a more stern approach to the situation was necessary.
XENA
(Stern tone) Now you listen up little man, there's a snowball's chance in Tartarus of you ever getting with me. So you had better start living in reality instead of whatever ridiculous fantasies you've been cooking up in that head of yours. You got that?
Hower just smiled at the warrior as he shrugged and went back to brushing Argo.
HOWER
You can deny your true feelings all you like, Xena. But I can be patient. I know you'll come around.
Unable to think of anything else she could say or do short of physically trying to knock some sense into the man, Xena made an exasperated sigh as she turned around and left the barn to find Gabrielle. Hoping that the bard's more gentle approach might do better at getting through to Hower.
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XENA
Gabrielle!
Xena stepped outside the barn as she looked for the bard for a moment, until she heard a noise from above her and casually stepped to the side as Gabrielle came flying down from the roof in an attempt to catch Xena off guard. But instead she landed face down in the dirt, as Xena looked down at the blonde.
XENA
Nice try.
GABRIELLE
Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, warrior princess. You know, I would have had you if I hadn't done the war cry.
XENA
(Sarcasm) Yeah, sure you would.
The bard then proceeded to grab onto the warrior as she used Xena's tall form to make her way back to a standing position, before finally grabbing onto Xena's breastplate as she steadied herself.
XENA
(Joking) You know, Gabrielle, if you wanted to get a feel all you gotta do is say so.
Having not even realized where her hand was until Xena's comment, Gabrielle just rolled her eyes as she took her hand away.
GABRIELLE
I'll go talk to Hower.
The bard began walking toward the barn entrance as she called back to Xena.
GABRIELLE
And if you're looking for it, your flying parchment's stuck in a tree.
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Gabrielle let out a defeated sigh as she exited the barn after talking to Hower, and somehow having even less success with getting the man to see reason than Xena did.
MINYA
Okay. I'll give it a try. Thanks Xena.
Gabrielle made her way over to where Xena stood as Minya hurried off.
GABRIELLE
What was that about?
XENA
Oh, just giving a little advice about something. Though I'm not sure how well it'll work since she doesn't particularly trust me. Any luck with Hower?
GABRIELLE
Not really.
The bard looked at Xena and smirked.
GABRIELLE
(Joking tone) You could try kicking him around a bit.
XENA
Oh trust me I've considered it.
(Half joking) The thing is, I'm afraid he might enjoy it.
GABRIELLE
Good point.
Xena sighed as she shifted the conversation to a more serious topic.
XENA
You know, if we take out Gareth, I'll finally be able to repay Goliath.
(Sad tone) I wish things with him could've gone differently. I always regretted that he had to die.
GABRIELLE
I know. But at least now you can make it so he and his family can rest easy now.
Gabrielle put her arm around Xena's waist to comfort the warrior.
GABRIELLE
You know the dead can hear our thoughts. I'm sure that Goliath knows you care about him.
A soft smile found its way to Xena's face as she looked at Gabrielle.
XENA
Yeah. I'm sure you're right.
Suddenly the ground shook beneath their feet and Hower came running over to the pair in a semi-panic.
HOWER
What was that?!
Xena smirked.
XENA
Sounds to me like Zagreas just met a certain giant.
HOWER
You're amazing! So that was your plan from the start. Luring Zagreas and his army straight into Gareth's path. Do all your plans work this well?
The ground shook again as Xena looked out into the distance.
XENA
I'm hoping this one does. Because once Goliath is done with Zagreas and his men, he's coming for us next.
TO BE CONTINUED…