Point #1: This is my first attempt at fan fiction of any sort. Comments, criticisms, and questions are welcome and needed, just DON'T BE RUDE. I very much want some feedback on this first part because I think it is rather weak, but that is just my opinion.
Point #2: Callisto, Xena, Hercules, Gabrielle, Iolaus, and all the other RenPics characters are property of USA Studios and Renaissance Pictures and Mr. Lucy Lawless. Any other characters are property of...well...ME!!!
Point #3: Some of you may disagree with my interpretation of the Callisto character. That is fine, you are entitled to your opinion just as I am. So sit back and relax and enjoy this for fun of it.
E-mail any comments or questions to me at: hudsonian73@hotmail.com
And now without futher interruption here is the story. :-)
By Mike Ciani
A dark and ominous thunderstorm was occurring nearby. Xena and Gabrielle had made camp in an area surrounded by plenty of dense woodland. With the campfire having been lit, Argo had been groomed and fed, and Gabrielle preparing roast quail, Xena felt at ease despite the crack of thunder in the distance. Gabrielle looked over at Xena and said, "Xena, something has been bothering me a bit since we left Thessaly."
Xena now polishing her sword, asked her inquisitive friend, "Well, Gabrielle what is the problem?" Thoughts started running through Xena's mind as to what was bothering her friend. Thessaly is where Xena told Gabrielle the accounting of what happened after Gabrielle had sacrificed herself by throwing herself and her evil daughter, Hope, off the ledge in the temple of the evil god, Dahak.
"Well, it has been a year since the battle at Dahak's temple. I was just thinking about everything that happened. How you thought I had died by throwing Hope and myself off the edge of that firepit."
While Gabrielle was recounting the tale, a grimace popped onto Xena's face. Unfortunately, she knew where this discussion was heading and she knew it was going to be a touchy subject.
"You know Xena, I've seen a lot of sacrifices made in the name of the greater good. I wonder though, you said Callisto had told you that my sacrifice had given her new reason to live again. Why did she say that?"
Talking about her worst enemy was something Xena never relished doing. Gabrielle had been wondering about Callisto's last words though ever since the Warrior Princess had told her about Callisto's final moments as a goddess. Xena had up to this point always tried to brush aside the topic, but Gabrielle had been insistent if anything.
Gabrielle silently mused that maybe Callisto wanted to change her life somehow. Now that her quest for revenge had been dropped, Gabrielle's stance towards Callisto had lightened a bit. Gabrielle wondered that if Callisto had someone who could've reached her, maybe she could've been a great force of good, just like Xena. Gabrielle just couldn't understand how her own death would've made a difference to Callisto though.
Xena finally answered Gabrielle's question with, "Listen Gabrielle, Callisto said that for one reason and one reason only. She wanted me to kill her with the Hind's Blood dagger, so she could get oblivion just like she wanted. Callisto has never cared about you at all."
The nagging question stayed in Gabrielle's mind though. She couldn't understand why Callisto would say what she did. If she wanted oblivion all she would've had to do is attack Xena and Xena would've defended herself. No, Gabrielle thought, something didn't sound right. Xena wasn't telling her something.
Gabrielle went back over to check on the roasting quails and then casually asked Xena, "Are you sure there aren't any details you left out about what happened in Dahak's temple after Hope and I fell over the side of the ledge?"
Xena tried to hide her worried look. Xena silently thought, "She is hitting close to something I don't want to share with her. Damn it, why can't she just drop it for once?"
Fortunately for Xena fate was on her side this night as a bright bolt of lightning hit a nearby tree and a loud crack of thunder startled Argo. It gave Xena a reason to leave the encampment, though she knew she would have to face up to Gabrielle's touchy question soon enough.
She knew that her chatty bard friend wouldn't give up on this so easily. Xena just wanted to keep delaying the inevitable for now. If Xena admitted her true feelings about what Gabrielle wanted to know, she would risk losing the bard possibly, and that was something Xena wouldn't take a chance on. Xena actually felt more than contempt and guilt for Callisto and that was scarier to Xena than her former nemesis ever was.