With additional material contributed by Monica Yrrobali and Katherine Stearns, with special thanks to Mike Rogers, Tom Simpson and others for their contributions of Dr. Who and Xena sounds and pics to the story.
Xena and Gabrielle cross paths with a mysterious traveler known only as...... The Doctor.
(Author's note: It was my intention to combine my two favorite television heroes; Doctor Who and Xena: Warrior Princess and at the same time, stay true to the premises set in both the Doctor Who and Xena television series. This story takes place somewhere between the televised stories "A Comedy of Eros" and "The Debt-II")
DISCLAIMERS: Xena, Gabrielle, Argo, et al., are the sole property and copyright of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No infringement of copyright was intended in the creation of this fan fiction and the characters are used here without permission. All other story components are the exclusive property of the author and may be reproduced solely for private use and may in no way be reproduced for sale. The character of the Doctor, as portrayed by Paul McGann, the TARDIS, and all other related material is the sole property off the BBC, BBC Worldwide, and MCA/Universal pictures. No infringement of copyright was intended in the creation of this fan fiction and the characters are used here without permission. All other story components are the sole property of the author and may be reproduced solely for private use and may in no way be reproduced for sale.
VIOLENCE DISCLAIMER: This work of fan fiction may, at times, include scenes of violence that may range from slight to rather graphic. If you cannot tolerate violence or the degree of violence displayed upsets you, DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER...you have been warned!!!
ADULT THEMES AND CONTENT DISCLAIMER: This work of fiction may at times contain scenes of sexual intimacy between two women and may not be suitable for those under the age of 18. If such material is offensive to you, or is illegal where you live, again, DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER...you have been warned!!!
The blazing Mediterranean sun beat down mercilessly upon the land with an intense heat that seemed to suck the life out of everything that it touched. On a well trod footpath that cut a trail through the dense foliage of the forest, two women were walking side by side engrossed in conversation. The older of the two women was a tall brunette dressed in leather armor. The woman had a regal bearing about her that seemed to exude an aura of respect. She had sky blue eyes set into a slender face with a firm jaw. The lips were full and red and the head was surrounded by flowing locks of dark-brown hair. The eyes held a deep knowledge of the ways of the world. She had the stance of a fighter and this image was enhanced by the two-handed sword strapped to her back and the chakram that hung from a mount at her side. This was Xena, Warrior Princess. Xena walked in silence leading her mare Argo and listening to the youthful and lively younger blonde woman walking in step beside her. Every few moments Xena would utter a simple "Hmmm..." in response to a statement from her companion. Xena's eyes scanned the dense foliage ahead of her and her companion. The heat was unforgiving and it seemed to Xena that it could most likely rival Tartarus in intensity. The warrior could feel the sweat running down the contours of her body and it did little to help her already static attitude. Her bangs were beginning to stick to her forehead and she brushed them back with the flick of her hand. She had begun to contemplate cooling off in the first body of water that they happened upon when the sound of her companion talking broke through her reverie.
"Xena! You're not listening!" Gabrielle, Xena's blonde companion, friend, and bard cried plaintively.
"Hmmm? What?" Xena replied.
"I said you're not listening. You're off into your own world again." Gabrielle stated.
"Of course I was listening." Xena said, a hint of annoyance creeping into her voice.
"Alright then, what did I just say?" Gabrielle asked. By this point the two friends had stopped walking and now stood opposite each other, staring. You could have cut the air with a knife. Again Gabrielle asked,
"What did I say? Come on, Xena. Tell me."
"I don't remember." Xena stated flatly.
"You see, you weren't listening. You've been doing this a lot lately." Gabrielle said somewhat accusatorially.
"Ok! Ok! I wasn't listening. I'm sorry." Xena turned and started to head down the path again leaving Gabrielle fuming silently. The bard rammed the end of her staff into the soft earth and took off after the warrior.
Far away from where Xena and Gabrielle were stewing in the heat of the afternoon, a lone figure huddled over the sight of the two of them in a reflecting pool. The figure's muscular frame was clad in black leather. A black moustache framed a proud mouth and formed a goatee. Dark hair spilled in curls down to the figure's shoulders and dark eyes burned with a combined lust and hatred at the warrior and bard whose images were caught in the reflecting pool. The figure was dressed in a black collared vest and leather breeches. The man crossed his arms, intent on observing the scene before him. He spoke to the younger, leather clad man standing near him.
"Very good Strife. I've always liked playing with people's minds, but with Xena and that irritating blonde, that pleasure's always two-fold. First, in my plan to get Xena back, we start by separating Xena and Gabrielle and I like what I've seen so far. Keep it up."
The older man patted the one called Strife on the back and stepped to the far side of the pool and leaned over it placing his hands on the edge
and whispered in a soft voice,
"Let the games begin...."
"What's next on the agenda, Uncle?"
"Wait and see, Strife. Wait and see." Soon, Xena, you will be mine again, thought Ares, God of War.
Gabrielle caught up to her friend and stepped in front of the warrior's path, causing Xena to nearly run her over. Gabrielle was by this time clearly miffed.
"Xena! Stop! Now, I'm not allowing you to go one step further until you tell me what's going on."
Gabrielle planted her feet roughly shoulder-width apart. As she stared squarely at Xena, an almost imperceptible shiver crept down her spine and it was a sensation that she could have done without for the time being. Xena had never been big on sharing her emotions openly and Gabrielle knew this. The shiver that had just ran down her spine had filled the bard with a sense of approaching dread, and try as she might, she couldn't shake the feeling. It began to turn her stomach in knots.
The heavy air was suddenly broken by a light breeze and Gabrielle noticed that nothing was moving--all was still. The bard was beginning to think that perhaps she had pushed the warrior too far. Xena had always been secretive by nature and this particular aspect of her personality seemed to be manifesting itself quite a lot in the last few weeks. Gabrielle felt as though she and Xena were starting to grow apart, and an arrow of pain shot through her heart. It hurt her to the core and she didn't want to think anymore about it.
Xena looked like she was staring daggers at her friend and then made to move
around the bard. Gabrielle reached out to Xena to offer an apology when the
warrior rounded angrily on the bard and instinctively made an attack maneuver towards her. Gabrielle threw up her hands to defend herself and cried out,
"Xena!"
The warrior caught herself before she made contact. The look of fear combined with anger and shock on Gabrielle's face pierced Xena's heart and the warrior drew back as if stung by her actions. She made an attempt at an apology to Gabrielle, but the words simply failed her.
"Ga...Gabrielle, I-I'm sorry. I..."
Xena reached out to the girl who was tensed like a coiled snake, but as Xena came near her, Gabrielle pulled back from her and hissed,
"Don't touch me!"
Gabrielle's tone was full of venom and even she was shocked and she gasped in surprise at the tone of her voice. Xena then turned and mounted Argo and took off riding at a breakneck pace. She needed to work out her anger and it seemed that a ride would help to clear her head of some of the cobwebs.
Gabrielle knew that Xena needed to be alone right now, but more than anything, she knew that Xena needed to rid her soul of the poisons that were threatening to consume her. The two women were starting to drift apart. The schism was growing...
"By Zeus! Yes! Strife, that was truly excellent!", Ares exclaimed. The two gods watched as the powers of the younger god took effect. Strife's ability at playing mind games had proved useful before in helping to almost destroy Hercules until Zeus and Xena interfered and his powers were returned to him. In the calm surface of the reflecting pool, the scene that shown was one of Xena riding at breakneck speed through the trees down the path and Gabrielle was doing a none-too-fair job at keeping up with her.
Ares made a wide sweeping gesture across the quiet and still waters of the pool. The waters rippled as if disturbed by an unseen breath or wind and the scene changed to one of a series of ruins. The scene was constantly moving, giving Ares and Strife a bird's-eye view of the landscape. The scene ended at the edge of a gorge. Two great stone pillars stood at the very edge of the gorge amidst a tangle of overgrown weeds ranging from brilliant emerald to the browns of dead and dying vegetation. You could see the remains of a one time footbridge dangling from the great stone pillars. Ares knew the reason behind the destruction of the footbridge and as the thought passed his twisted mind, the god of war allowed himself a smile. Strife broke into his thoughts.
"So, Uncle, why all the interest in a lava pit?"
Ares returned his attention to the scene in the pool and he was suddenly struck by the beauty of the spot as the greens of nature leapt out at him. The sight of it made him want to throw-up.
"Look closely at the lava pit, you dunderhead!", Ares growled, and grabbing Strife by his collar, forced his face within mere inches of the surface of the pool. At first Strife didn't see what Ares was talking about and then it hit him like one of Zeus' thunderbolts.
"That mound in the middle of the lava flow, it looks...", Strife started.
"Like two women locked in a vicious battle.", Ares finished for him;
"Callisto and Velasca's prison. Both confined by Xena while trying to save...", and at this point Ares shuddered in disgust, "that irritating blonde, Gabrielle."
"So, " said Strife, "instead of bringing Xena to you..."
"I'm taking the fight to Xena." Ares finished, his evil laughter filling the cavern.
Strife's evil cackling joined Ares' in a hellish cacophony.
