It was late afternoon and just up the path from the lake, Gabrielle crouched perched in a tree with her staff. She watched silently under the cover of the tree's leaves as a group of unaware, armed men made their way toward her. All the while listening and waiting for just the right moment to make her move.
The men walked along making idle conversation and soon one mentioned the mystic diamond that they were carrying, which gave the bard all she needed to confirm that they were exactly who she was looking for. She waited a bit longer for the group to pass beneath her, before letting out a yell as she dropped from the tree and landed right behind the group, who turned to face her.
MARCANUS
(Condescending tone) What do we have here? Can we help you, little girl?
GABRIELLE
Actually, you can. See, I believe you stole something. The Mystic Diamond to be precise, and I'm afraid I need to take it back.
The men looked at the young woman for a moment before bursting out with laughter and brushing her off as a non-threat.
MERCENARY
(Condescending tone) Ooo, we're so scared.
MARCANUS
(Condescending tone) How cute.
Now, why don't you stop trying to play hero and run along, before you end up getting hurt.
With a smirk on her face and a twirl of her staff, the blonde raced toward the group as she swung the weapon and smacked one of the men right across his jaw. The man scowled, as he and the rest in the group drew their weapons and charged for the bard.
Gabrielle ducked under one sword strike and side stepped another as she drove the end of her staff into one of their stomach's. Then with a quick turn, she swept another man's feet from under him and knocked him out with a swift blow to the head.
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Meanwhile, down on the shore of the lake, Xena tugged on the kite string in her hands as she fished and listened to the commotion taking place just up the path and smiled as she shouted to the bard.
XENA
That's my girl, Gabrielle. Go get 'em. You're sexy when you're angry.
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A jab of her staff to one of the mercenary's groin, Gabrielle followed up with a smack across his chin as she continued to fight. She dropped a couple more of the men and as she laid out yet another, she noticed something fall out of the pouch he was carrying on his belt and smiled.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) The diamond!
Quickly, the blonde brought her staff across the face of another enemy that came at her, dropping him before she dove over his laid out body and rolled forward as she landed and ran toward the gem.
As she raced for the diamond, another mercenary got in her way. But determined not to let anything stand between her and getting Xena that gem, the bard planted an end of her staff in the ground as she leapt forward and let her momentum carry her straight over the man blocking her path. After sailing through the air for several feet, Gabrielle landed crouched and rolled far behind the man, before coming to a stop right near the diamond, which she quickly snatched up.
GABRIELLE
Gotcha
Then, like a bolt of Zeus' lightning, Gabrielle took off running with the Mystic Diamond as the leader of the mercenaries yelled for his men to go after her.
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Meanwhile, still fishing by the lake, Xena called Joxer over, and after a little clever wording, and some benign manipulation, the ape-man was given a very specific mission.
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Racing through a series of trees, Gabrielle ducked under a low-hanging branch as she fled her pursuers. She leapt over a log before making a hard turn and disappearing into some large bushes.
MAECANUS
(Angry tone) She went this way! Get her!
Hearing the men closing in behind her, the bard pushed herself to move faster and again quickly darted in a different direction in an effort to lose them. She ran for several more yards until she emerged from the trees and came to an abrupt stop when she was met with a dead end in the form of the rock slide that Xena had caused earlier in the day.
MAECANUS
(Sinister tone) Looks like it's the end of the line.
The men laughed as with no way to escape, Gabrielle turned to face the group of mercenaries as they slowly closed in.
GABRIELLE
(Slightly nervous tone) Hey now, can't we just talk this out?
The young woman held up her hands in a sign of surrender as she slowly began backing away from the mercenaries.
MAECANUS
Nope.
He snapped his fingers, and the rest of the men with him held up crossbows and took aim at the bard.
MAECANUS
Now on the count of three, hand over that diamond or we'll turn you into a human pincushion.
Seeing no way out, Gabrielle backed away slowly until her back touched the mountain of boulders, proving the saying about being trapped between a rock and a hard place all too true.
MAECANUS
Kill her.
GABRIELLE
Xena!
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The warrior's name echoing through the air, Gabrielle stood alone and trapped against a whole group of armed mercenaries. Taking aim, the group's leader stood ready to make the kill, when a plethora of rocks and stones suddenly began pelting the mercenaries, who were forced to cover their heads. Ape-like hoots and hollers rang out, and Gabrielle looked up to see Joxer crouched on the cliffside above as he tossed down another decent sized rock, dropping one of the mercenaries.
JOXER
Attus no let you hurt pretty lady.
Gabrielle jumped to the side as another rock hit the ground near her feet.
GABRIELLE
(Slightly irritated tone) Hey! Watch where you're throwing those, you hit me and you'll… Ah!
Taken off guard, the bard shouted in surprise as a figure suddenly swung through on a vine and swept the blonde up and away.
GABRIELLE
Xena!
The bard smiled as she, the warrior and Joxer made their hasty getaway and the mercenary leader shouted orders to his men.
MAECANUS
(Angry tone) After them!
MERCENARY
But how are we supposed to follow them over this rock slide?
Marcanus scowled and punched the man for asking what he saw as a dumb question.
MAECANUS
(Angry tone) We go around, stupid.
Then turning around, Maecanus shoved his way past his men and stormed off with the other mercenaries following close behind.
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Back at the lake, Xena stood watching the lake with the string to the flying parchment in her hand as the wind carried it over the water. Suddenly, the second sting that ran from the kite to the water was taken further under, and the warrior smiled.
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Xena!
Hearing her name, the dark-haired woman turned to see Gabrielle running her way as Maecanus and his men chased after her.
GABRIELLE
I got it! I got the diamond!
The mercenaries closing in, the bard threw the mystic diamond to Xena before being grabbed from behind as Joxer was brought in by another mercenary tied up.
Catching the diamond with her free hand, Xena stood facing the mercenaries, as Maecanus grinned maniacally as he held his blade to Gabrielle's neck.
MAECANUS
Hand over the diamond, or I'll slit the girl's throat.
XENA
Alright, fine. You want the diamond?
She held out her hand with the diamond toward the mercenary.
XENA
Come get it.
The armed men yelled as they charged for the warrior woman, who quickly tucked the diamond away and drew her sword just in time to block an incoming attack.
Keeping hold of the sting of her flying parchment, Xena fought one-handed as she deflected one of the mercenaries sword's and drove her boot into his stomach, causing him to double over before being hit on the back of his neck with the butt of her blade, and dropping him. Another sword swung her way and the warrior blocked, only to find with her blade locked with another and her other hand still firmly grasping the sting to her kite, she had seemed to have left herself wide open.
GABRIELLE
Xena, forget about Solaris, please!
XENA
Never! Not after all this time! Not when I'm this close!
Letting out an angry yell, Xena kicked another mercenary that came at her before driving her knee into the crotch of the man whose sword was locked with hers. Her sword now free once more, the warrior snatched up a small piece of driftwood she spotted by her feet and, after quickly wrapping the kite string around it a few times, held the wood between her teeth. Then, with both hands finally free, Xena went into full offense as she drove an elbow into one man's face, before immediately slicing at another. Then jumping straight up, she did a split in midair and kicked two more to the ground before landing back on her feet to continue fighting.
Their numbers rapidly dwindling, Maecanus yelled as he ran straight for the warrior while she fended off the other mercenary's attacks.
MAECANUS
(Angry tone) Xena!
With an angry roar, Marcanus raised his weapon as he closed in on Xena who, after hearing him yell, pushed aside another mercenary and with a quick turn, thrust her sword forward to plunge it deep into the man's chest.
A loud gasp came from the mercenary leader as he felt the steel pierce his flesh before he was shoved off of the raven-haired woman's blade. Then, seeing their leader slain, the remaining mercenaries stopped their advance toward the warrior as they unanimously decided that their lives weren't worth laying down for some gem and made a hasty retreat from the lake.
The battle over, Xena's attention immediately switched back to fishing. Noticing that the sting out on the water had been taken under, she quickly pulled it in, only to find her bait gone, leaving nothing but a bare hook behind as she let out a disappointed sigh.
GABRIELLE
(Seductive tone) You know Xena, since I'm all tied up already, this would be the perfect opportunity to try something I've been wanting to do.
Another sigh came from the warrior as she made her way over to where Gabrielle and Joxer were tied up and cut them free before returning to the water's edge.
GABRIELLE
He got away, huh?
The bard walked to stand beside the other woman.
XENA
But it worked. Everything worked beautifully.
GABRIELLE
Yeah, but he still got away.
The blonde's mind quickly shifted to another subject as she turned toward the warrior.
GABRIELLE
Well, you've got the diamond.
(Seductive tone) Now what were you saying about what you would do with whoever got it for you?
Smiling, Xena held up the diamond to look at the multicolored sunlight being reflected through it.
XENA
(Teasing tone) Oh, I have an idea.
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GABRIELLE
(Flat tone) You know, this is not the sort of idea I thought you were talking about.
Gabrielle stood looking at a catapult that Xena had built that sat on the edge of the lake, with the Mystic Diamond tied to a string at one end that dangled over the water.
GABRIELLE
So, what are you doing anyway?
XENA
Sending the North Star back to the heavens before nightfall. Hopefully, the power of the Mystic Diamond will help guide it where it should be.
GABRIELLE
But, I went through all that trouble because you said you wanted it.
XENA
And I did. So we could send it back where it came from.
GABRIELLE
Okay, but what about what you said about whoever got it back?
Xena smirked.
XENA
Oh, don't worry, Gabrielle, there'll be plenty of time for that when we're done here.
A seductive smile crossed the bard's lips.
GABRIELLE
Well, in that case, let's get this thing back into the sky. Fire away!
XENA
Oh, no. Not just yet.
The blonde shot a questioning look toward the other woman/
GABRIELLE
Why? What are you waiting for?
XENA
(Teasing tone) You'll see.
A few moments passed and Gabrielle spotted bubbles making their way to the water's surface directly under where the diamond hung and gave Xena a look of disbelief when she realized what the warrior was doing.
GABRIELLE
That's what you wanted the diamond for?! To use as bait to catch your fish?
XENA
Yup. And it's just crazy enough to work.
Suddenly, the bard watched as a massive fish, one that looked to be nearly as big as she was, came jumping out of the lake, reaching for the Mystic diamond. Then, just as the fish's mouth clamped around the gem, Xena took her sword and cut the rope holding back the catapult. That was when Gabrielle saw the fish get launched sky-high before it vanished into the distance as the north star was returned to its rightful place in the heavens.
As the fish became nothing but a light in the sky, Xena smiled as she looked to the sky and thought of her dearly departed brother.
XENA
(Thinking to herself) I did it, Lyceus. I caught 'em. I finally caught Solaris.
While silently talking to her brother, a sudden light-headedness hit Xena as Gabrielle saw the woman hold and shake her head, causing the bard to become concerned.
GABRIELLE
Are you okay?
Her head becoming completely clear again, the warrior looked at the blonde as a sudden revelation came to her.
XENA
I've been obsessed with fishing, haven't I?
GABRIELLE
Yeah, kinda.
Gabrielle moved closer to the raven-haired woman,
GABRIELLE
But that's okay. Now that you've gotten that figured out, there's one less thing to keep you distracted from what we should really be doing
Putting her arms around the warrior, The blonde began to let her lips paint over the exposed part of the other woman's chest.
XENA
You know, Gabrielle, I think I just realized what it was that was driving my obsession. It wasn't actually fishing at all. It was all the unresolved business between me and my brother. Even after all this time, deep down
I felt like I still owed him something.
Xena smiled, ignoring the other woman's caresses as she continued to speak.
XENA
But once I was finally able to admit that to myself, the spell that I've been under was broken.
GABRIELLE
That's great, now why don't we go find a nice quiet spot and I'll
XENA
Gabrielle, wait.
The warrior shrugged away from the bard's wandering hands and got a slightly disappointed look in response as Xena continued.
XENA
Based off what happened with me, I think maybe there might be something that's bothering you that you need to get in touch with.
The bard gave an alluring smirk.
GABRIELLE
(Seductive tone) Oh, I can think of some places I wouldn't mind you getting in touch with.
Xena let out a slightly exasperated huff.
XENA
No, Gabrielle, think. There is something about yourself that you're not satisfied with.
Gabrielle scoffed.
GABRIELLE
(Sarcasm) Sure, like deep down I don't worry that I'm not for you during our lovemaking because I tend to be more reserved than you, on top of the fact of just how different I am from you in almost every way, so I'm afraid that one day you'll end up unhappy being with me and send me back to my home village, so I never see you again.
The deep truth finally out in the open, the young woman held her head as it suddenly throbbed.
GABRIELLE
Ah, my head.
XENA
(Soft tone) Gabrielle, come here.
Hearing what the blonde had to say, Xena drew the bard into a gentle, loving embrace.
XENA
You've always been enough for me. In every possible way that matters. Regardless of what we do in bed, I love you, and I count myself lucky every day to have you here with me. Nothing will ever change that.
Her head finally cleared, Gabrielle smiled as she moved to kiss the warrior woman.
GABRIELLE
Thanks. I love you too.
After a moment, the young woman pulled away from the raven-haired woman's arms.
XENA
Well, it looks like all it took was a little insight to release us from that obsession spell.
GABRIELLE
Huh, kinda hard to believe it was something so simple.
Xena shrugged.
XENA
Go figure.
She draped her arm around the blonde woman's shoulders.
XENA
Now come on, let's get outta here.
Their obsessions finally cured, the pair ventured off from the lake together and down the road toward the rapidly setting sun.
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Darkness had fallen as Xena and Gabrielle laid together looking up at the starry night sky.
GABRIELLE
Yep. It definitely looks like a fish. But which one's the North Star?
The bard admired the new fish-shaped constellation as she rested her head on the dark-haired woman's shoulder.
XENA
That big one, right there.
Xena pointed to a large, bright star that stood out amongst the rest.
GABRIELLE
Oh, I see it.
The warrior lowered her arm as Gabrielle continued.
GABRIELLE
You know it's a good thing that you figured out all that insight stuff, Xena. Who knows how long we'd be under that spell if you hadn't?
Xena smiled
XENA
Well, I couldn't have done it without you. The only reason I do any good at all in this world is because I do it with you. And there's no one else I'd rather it be with.
A soft smile crossed the blonde woman's lips.
GABRIELLE
I know. But it's nice to be reminded that you feel that way.
The sound of rustling in the bushes nearby caught the bard's attention, as the pair heard Joxer making a series of ape-like noises.
GABRIELLE
I think we still need to do something about Joxer.
XENA
Yeah, I know.
Yawning, the warrior woman tugged Gabrielle a little closer as she closed her eyes to go to sleep.
XENA
But he'll be fine until tomorrow.
TO BE CONTINUED…