Sunlight peeked into the large room as a hidden figure crept inside, and quietly shut the window behind them, before stealthy moving between various large items for cover in an effort to avoid being seen by the priest who was in charge of tending to the temple.
?
(Whisper) There you are.
Avoiding detection, the figure made their way to a small pedestal, where silent, steady hands carefully reached out to size a large dagger that sat there. They stopped when a few people came closer, and instead turned around and just stood there as the people walked by.
PRIEST
Good day to you.
?
Yeah, same to you.
The figure looked around casually for a few moments as the priest went about their business, before walking away. The figure continued on with their previous task before also moving on, until a sudden clanging sound echoed through the temple.
PRIEST
Oh no, the dagger.
The priest walked over to where the sacred weapon fell and picked it, up as the other priest cleared the temple of visitors.
PRIEST
The Dagger of Helios must be kept safe
The priest brought the item over to a large cabinet, placing it on a small pillow before shutting and locking the door. Meanwhile the guards finished searching the area for intruders and then left with the priest.
?
(Talking to self) Ah, another day, another defilement.
The figure from earlier peeked out from their clever hiding place behind some very large paper made to match the temple walls.
?
(Talking to self) And now I take my prize.
The figure held up the stolen dagger to admire it for a moment.
?
(Talking to self) And my exit.
Taking a small hook and rope out from their belt and tossed it overhead where it latched onto a windowsill. The figure was about to start climbing when their arm suddenly shot out to the side, dragging its owner several feet back toward the cabinet.
?
What the...?
Then, just as quickly as the figure lost control of their arm, it returned to normal. Leaving the person it was connected to looking at the hand in confusion. But after wiggling their fingers for a few seconds, and seeing that everything seemed to be as it should, the figure shrugged and decided to ignore the odd incident, and moved to climb the rope once again. But just as the figure began to walk away, their arm stretched out on its own again and this time dragged the rest of the body back to the cabinet where the wayward hand picked up a book. Confused, the person looked at the book they had unwillingly grabbed as complete control over the hand returned.
?
Okay? I guess this could be valuable.
The figure examined the old, warn down item a little closer
?
(Snickering) To a junk peddler.
The figure went to toss the book aside, but couldn't seem to get his hand to let it go. Now, even more baffled than before, the unknown would-be thief shook their arm around as they tried to force the book out of their new vise-like grip. This however caused some unwanted noise that the priest heard and immediately turned around to go investigate, and became more concerned when the door to the room wouldn't open.
PRIEST 1
Who's in there?!
PRIEST 2
Open up!
PRIEST 1
Break the door down!
With the priests at the door, the would-be thief decided it would be in their best interest to just go along with whatever strangeness was going on, and just take the book he had grabbed without wanting to.
?
Okay, okay, I get it. I'll take the book
He put the item in his shirt, and looked at his hand that finally let go of the book.
?
You happy?
The door was barely holding as the figure hurried back to the rope that was waiting, and scurried up and out of the window. The thief managed to slip away just in time, as the doors to the room flew open and the priest stumbled inside to find no one there, and that they had just been robbed.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Gabrielle walked along with Ephiny after seeing to the final preparations for Xena's funeral.
GABRIELLE
You know, I don't think I met Velasca when I was here before.
EPHINY
She's Melosa's adopted daughter. After Velasca lost her mother during the first war against the Centaurs, Melosa took her in and raised her as her own.
GABRIELLE
I see. Speaking of the Centaurs, how's Xenan?
EPHINY
He's good. He's staying with his uncle for a while. That's not to say I don't miss him everyday.
Ephiny smiled as the two continued walking through the Amazon village, as Gabrielle returned the conversation to the topic of Velasca.
GABRIELLE
So where was Velasca the last time Xena and I were here?
EPHINY
When Terreis was named Melosa's heir instead of her, Velasca put up a challenge to take Terreis' place but lost. As a result, she left the village, and only returned this past year.
GABRIELLE
Is she a good leader?
Ephiny shrugged.
EPHINY
It depends on who you ask. But I think her ambitions will only lead our tribe to ruin.
GABRIELLE
And that's why you want me to come back. To become queen so Velasca can't.
Gabrielle stopped, which caused the other woman to do the same, and turned to face the younger woman.
GABRIELLE
Ephiny, I told you I can't stay. I have to bring Xena home I promised.
EPHINY
Gabrielle, I'm saying this as someone who's your friend. I know you wanna honor Xena's wishes but she's gone, and we need you here. I'm sure Xena would understand. We'll give her a proper Amazon funeral. Her soul will go free and you can begin to...
Ephiny paused, realizing that she might've sounded a bit insensitive to what Gabrielle was going through, as Gabrielle sighed and looked up to the sky.
GABRIELLE
I can begin to move on.
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Meanwhile, in a tavern not far away, a weary bar patron picked up the mug of ale placed before him only to have his own hand unwillingly slammed back onto the counter.
?
Oh no. I need you sober, Autolycus.
Autolycus looked around for the person that just spoke until he realized no one had, and raised his mug to drink again.
AUTOLYCUS
(Thinking to himself sarcastically) Oh great, not only am I losing control of my own body, now I'm losing my mind too.
?
(Stern tone) Hey, drink, down, now.
Autolycus' hand involuntarily slammed the mug back onto the bar, as the thief averted his eyes from the other people staring at him.
AUTOLYCUS
(Talking to himself) What's wrong with me? I can't control what I do and now I'm hearing voices.
.
?
Oh good, you can hear me. That'll hopefully save me a lot of effort.
AUTOLYCUS
(Talking to himself nervously) Okay, I'm officially freaking out here.
?
Autolycus, calm down. It's Xena. I'm here with you, inside you.
AUTOLYCUS
Inside me?!
The rest of the people at the bar shot the thief a suspicious look after hearing his seemingly bizarre
outbursts, Autolycus slouched down in an effort to avoid prying eyes.
XENA'S SPIRIT
Yes. And as a word of advice. You might want to keep your voice down while talking to me unless you want people to think the king of thieves has gone completely insane.
AUTOLYCUS
(Muttering) Yeah, well maybe I have. I mean, I've heard the news, Xena's dead. So unless you can prove that I'm actually talking to a dead woman, I just wanna sit here and drink until the voices stop.
XENA'S SPIRIT
(Irritated tone) Look, I don't have time for this. Now get up!
Without doing so himself, Autolycus swiftly rose from his seat.
XENA'S SPIRIT
I need you for a job that only the king of Thieves can do. And you're gonna help me whether you like it or not.
Autolycus made a somewhat frightened groan as Xena forced him to awkwardly walk out of the tavern, and over to a nearby water barrel while the thief tried his best to act natural.
XENA'S SPIRIT
There, see?
Autolycus looked into the barrel and couldn't believe his eyes when instead of his own face reflected back at him, he saw Xena's
AUTOLYCUS
Xena? It really is you that's been controlling my body. You were the one who was trying to stop me from stealing the dagger of Helios.
Xena's reflection spoke back in the thief's head.
XENA'S SPIRIT
Stop you? Who do you think gave you the idea to go there in the first place?
AUTOLYCUS
Okay, but why?
XENA'S SPIRIT
I don't have a lot of time or energy, the more you fight me, the less chance I have at pulling this off. So listen and do exactly what I tell you. I need you to help get me to my body. We don't have long before it's too late. If we can get our hands on the ambrosia and use that on my body, I'll be able to be brought back, using that book and dagger to help us get it.
AUTOLYCUS
The food of the god,s huh. I guess I could find some way to make a profit from this.
Xena rolled her eyes.
XENA'S SPIRIT
(Flat tone) Glad we have an agreement. Now let's go.
Autolycus staggered forward as Xena took over moving his body, and went off to retrieve the ambrosia. Unaware that that had even less time to get the ambrosia to Xena's body then they thought.
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AUTOLYCUS
I can't see with this thing on.
The thief lifted up the Amazonian mask he had put on, after sneaking his way into the Amazon village that Xena led him to, as he looked around, enjoying the sight of so many scantily-clad women walking around.
AUTOLYCUS
Oh yeah, that's much better.
XENA'S SPIRIT
(Annoyed tone) Would you focus? Might I remind you that you have a very time sensitive job to do here
AUTOLYCUS
Relax, I'm working on it. I already think I know where I need to go.
Autolycus stealthily moved through the village until he made his way to a small hut, in the hopes that Xena's body would be there, as the Amazon women began to dance and sing.
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?
It's time, Gabrielle. Are you ready?
Having changed into her Amazon clothing, Gabrielle turned around to see Ephiny standing in the doorway to her hut, and gave her friend a sad smile.
GABRIELLE
Yeah. Or as ready as I could ever be anyway.
The younger woman followed the other Amazon outside. They made their way up to a stage where Gabrielle stood before the rest of the village, ready to accept her new place as their queen. There she stood quietly as she watched another Amazon stepped forward holding the ceremonial mask that all of the Queen's had worn before her.
SOLARI
My fellow Amazons, I give you the mask of the new Queen.
Gabrielle reached for the mask, but was stopped as someone yelled from the crowd and interrupted the ceremony.
VELASCA
(Angry tone) Enough of this!
Everyone watched in stunned silence, as Velasca stormed up to the stage and addressed the village.
VELASCA
(Angry tone) She has no right to wear the mask of the Queen! She wasn't born of our flesh! She isn't one of us.
Ephiny stepped forward from the crowd.
EPHINY
I was there, Velasca. I heard Terreis give her the caste.
Velasca sneered at Ephiny, as she turned her ire toward the woman.
VELASCA
(Angry tone) And why should we believe someone who married the enemy, bore his child and left our people?! What good is your word to an Amazon? If you ask me, you have no more right to be here than she does.
Velasca angrily pointed her finger toward Gabrielle, who just gave the woman a scowl. Then, while looking directly at Velasca, picked up the queen's mask and slid it over her face as the crowd cheered and Velasca scowled.
VELASCA
(Angry tone) This isn't over, little girl.
Without another word, Velasca stormed off, as the celebration continued on as if nothing had happened.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
It was a little later, when Autolycus snuck into where Xena's body was being held.
XENA'S SPIRIT
Would you hurry up? They're about the light the funeral pyre.
AUTOLYCUS
Would you calm down? I'm working on it.
XENA'S SPIRIT
Alright, so what's the plan?
Autolycus smirked.
AUTOLYCUS
Oh-ho Xena, my friend, you just sit back and watch the king of thieves do what I do best.
Autolycus moved over toward the coffin, and was just about to get to work when the door opened.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) Autolycus?! What do you think you're doing here?!
AUTOLYCUS
(Slightly nervous tone) Now, hold on Gabrielle, I have a very good explanation.
XENA'S SPIRIT
Don't try and explain, Autolycus. I don't wanna get Gabrielle's hopes up if this doesn't work.
AUTOLYCUS
(Slightly nervous tone) Or not.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) You stay away from Xena's body, Autolycus. Don't think I don't know people are willing to pay good money to have Xena's body. Though, I thought you were better than that.
AUTOLYCUS
Wait, wait, Gabrielle I can explain. You see Xena's here. Her mind or her soul or whatever you wanna call it. What I'm trying to say, is that Xena's inside of me and she wants me to steal her body.
Gabrielle stood there for a moment in stunned silence as she looked at Autolycus with disgust.
GABRIELLE
What is wrong with you?
XENA'S SPIRIT
See, this is the other reason why I didn't want you to tell her. You sound insane.
AUTOLYCUS
You know, you're really not helping right now.
Seeing what appeared to be Autolycus talking to himself, Gabrielle figured that he was just trying to get her to believe his nonsensical lie, and called for the guards, who came in seconds later and took Autolycus off to a cell until Gabrielle could decide what to do with him. Then with a heavy heart, Gabrielle gave the signal to light the wood pile that Xena's coffin sat atop of. And as the fire was lit and Autolycus was locked away, time was very quickly running out for any hope that Xena could be revived as Autolycus worked as fast as he could to escape his cell and get to Xena's body before it was too late.
TO BE CONTINUED..