Episode: God
Fearing Child (S-5, E-12)
Author:
CN Winters
Fandom:
Subtext report, Xena Fanfiction, Xena and
Gabrielle fanfiction
Author
Note: Many of these reports are littered with errors
because I wrote them quickly and 'on the fly' so I could post
them quicker to the 'Nutforum' back in the day.
Feedback:
Drop me a line at cnwinters71@yahoo.com.
God Fearing
Child
Let me begin by
saying I have seen Xena finally do a feat that I find totally
unbelievable. I’ve watched her take on the Persian Army
single handedly. I’ve watched her jump three stories in the
air while standing still. Maybe – just maybe – all those
flips, jumps and kicks were feasible. (G) But watching Xena go
through labor AND battle the Gods henchmen…well let’s just
say that’s a little too much to believe.(G) Anyone who has
gone through the ‘joy’ of childbirth knows exactly what I
mean (VBG) – Sorry Xena but this is JUST NOT POSSIBLE (LOL)
even for a warrior princess.
On to our story. It
opens with the Fates standing around, playin with their
threads, telling Zeus it’s curtains for him and the other
gods because of a child not conceived with man or something
along those lines (now it looks like TPTB are stealing from
Shakespeare – that would be ‘MacBeth’ for those of you
folks that aren’t familiar with Willy’s work (G) ). Upon
the newsflash Zeus decides to ‘take Xena’s youngin’
out’.
Now we flash to our
gals. And finally ‘love’ is in the air. Xena feels the
baby kicking and she takes Gabby’s hand so she can feel it
too. THEY TOUCH! THEY ACTUALLY TOUCH!! Lord we haven’t seen
THAT lately (VBG). Gabby says she had a dream that they were
both (as in the two of them) were giving birth to the baby.
Xena says if she could share half the labor pains with Gabby
she would. Gabby says she’d be more than happy to help. (LOL)
Ahhh. . . .luuuvvvvvvv(G).
Of course Herc has
to show up then and break up the touchy feely moment(G). Nahhh,
just kidding - he’s a good guy. He ribs Xena for not telling
him about the baby and he walks up with a stuffed three-headed
dragon toy nicknamed Iolaus (since the real one isn’t there
this time). They all hug. Herc who’s sporting a shorter hair
do makes some crack about Gabby’s short locks and she
returns the jab. But the good times are short lived as
Hera’s henchmen come after the trio. They find out that the
Gods want Xena’s baby dead because the birth will mean their
destruction.
Xena says she’s
going to kill Zeus first but she needs the helmet of
invisibility from Hades so she and Gabby are going to
Tartarus. Herc wants to speak to Zeus first before they do
anything drastic. Xena reluctantly agrees but says she’s
still going to Tartarus to get the helmet. Herc warns that if
she has her baby there it will be stillborn but Xena’s
willing to take that chance. They both know that if they can
then get the rib of Kronos they can kill Zeus. Herc hopes it
doesn’t come to that but he does say he’s willing to die
before anyone would hurt Xena’s child. They split up into
two groups.
Xena and Gabby head
to the lake to make the trip to Tartarus. Gabby’s concerned
for Xena isn’t one of lecture as in episodes past. They
actually relate to each other. Xena speaks of Solan and Gabby
points out that they BOTH morn his loss but this time things
will be different and Gabby adds that she’ll do anything to
protect this child. Herc for his part is at a temple and
summons Zeus. Zeus shows up and gives Herc the same song and
dance about how Xena’s child MUST BE DESTROYED!!
Yadayadayada! Hera shows up and gives the same ‘Ah uh.
He’s right.’ attitude. They argue. Zeus says he can love
Herc or the memory of him – it’s Herc's choice if he
chooses to interfere. Herc says he can’t call Zeus father
anymore. They part ways.
Hera tells Zeus
that perhaps it is there time to leave but Zeus says nope –
not buying it.
Xena and Gabby make
it to Tartarus. They sneak around searching for the helmet. In
the onset Zeus goes to Ares and says that he needs Herc
distracted so he can kill Xena. Ares says he’s fond of Xena
and if he’s gonna help do her in then he wants to be able to
finally kill Herc. They bicker but Zeus agrees - Ares can kill
Herc so Zeus can kill Xena.
While strolling
through Tartarus like tourist (I mean you’d think they would
pick up the pace since they got Hades goons running all
around), they see pod people strung up whose ‘torture’ is
to see their lives over and over again. They pass one pod and
Xena sees herself talking to Solan in a clip from Orphan of
War. Xena turns and sees Solan in the pod. She tears it open
with her chakram and she learns that Solan has CHOSEN Tartarus
because in Elysian Fields he’d always be waiting for her but
in Tartarus he could see her. Xena says that’s BS ( and
I’m not talking about The Bitter Suite (G)) and takes him
with them.
Ares shows up with
Herc. They bicker (Ares just loves to bicker in this ep (VBG).
Ares goes after him with a fireball. Hera shows up and takes
aim . . . on Ares (VBG) . . . to save Herc. Hera says since
Herc saved her grandson that she owes him – besides it’s
the Gods time and a father should never outlive his child. As
they walk and talk Herc believes Hera really is on his side
and she shows him how to get the rib of Kronos.
Back in Tartarus
Solan is feeling sib rivalry and says that Xena doesn’t love
him because she’s having a new baby. Xena tells him that’s
simply not true and that she’s going to get him to the
Elysian Fields. Zeus has found Ares knocked out under a tree
and wakes him up. He finds out that Hera is helping Herc and
goes to the crept that holds Kronos – who happens to be
Zeus’ father that he himself killed.
In the main throne
room in Tartarus, they see the helmet but Hades and the goons
show up to wreak havoc. They battle but Gabby makes a break
for it and gets the helmet. Invisible, Gabby does some pretty
good butt kickin (G) as Xena and Solan make their escape.
Ares in the mean
time makes his way to Tartarus. He finds Xena and tells her
that if he becomes mortal he wants to live out his days with
Xena. He says he has ‘deep feelings’ for her that are
scaring the heck outta him. Xena tells him to say it – to
say that he loves her. He can’t do it but he manages to tell
Xena that he though in her condition she’d be more
understanding. She informs him that she’s pregnant not brain
damaged (LOL). But after she leaves, Ares says out loud (and
get this… ‘sincerely’), "I love you Xena".
Ahhhh….luuuuvvvv (VBG). The god of war does have a heart….
no matter how small (VBG).
Herc and Hera get
the rib as Zeus arrives. Hera hits him with a bolt and tells
Herc to go and save Xena because she can finally do the noble
thing and stop another innocent child from dying. Herc does as
he’s asked. Hera knows her time is at hand and lets Zeus
‘kill her with a kiss’. With his wife out of the way, Zeus
goes in search of Xena and her child.
But Xena and her
first child are looking at the window to the Elysian Fields
from Tartarus as her labor pains begin. Gabby shows up and
takes the helmet off. Xena realizes they can’t get passed
the guards so she makes a choice. She gives Solan the helmet
and tells him to go on. He doesn’t want to go but she
promises that they will meet again and they will all be a
family. He whispers something to her and they say their
goodbye. Xena and Gabby take on the guards and whup some more
behinds. Solan waves his goodbye from Tartarus and Xena and
Gabby find themselves walking through a cave back to the
living world.
Now here’s where
the unbelievable part comes in (LOL). Xena and Gabby are
battling the bad guys when Herc shows up with the rib. Herc
takes them out with the bone and tosses it to Xena who takes
out her guys but the labor has progressed and she falls to her
knees screaming…. not for Herc (G) but for yes, you guessed
it…. Gabrielle (VBG).
Gabby and Herc take
Xena by a tree as Herc tells them he’s going out to face his
father. Xena pleas with Gabby to leave if Zeus gets passed
Herc but Gabby won’t hear of it. She says no dice and helps
with trying to make Xena comfortable. Herc and Zeus battle.
Xena keeps ‘laboring’ and Gabby is trying to talk to Xena
to keep her calm but it isn’t helping. Xena is the typical
laboring woman at this point. Saying things that don’t make
much sense (LOL) – Xena tells Gabby she’s cold but she’s
trying to take her bracers off (LOL), Xena tells Gabby to be
quiet and stop talking. When Xena starts bearing down, Gabby
tries to steady her and holds her in the arms softly telling
her to push. Herc gets knocked out as Zeus heads toward Xena.
At this point Gabby has delivered the baby and is holding it.
Zeus comes over ready to take aim with a thunderbolt. He never
gets the shot off. Herc tackles him and drives the rib into
Zeus.
Herc regrets what
he’s done but Zeus tells him he’s always been proud of him
- even today. Zeus dies and disappears into the sky. The earth
and heavens shake. Ares, who’s with the fates, sees the life
line to Zeus cut and wiggles his own fingers. He looks like
he’s not sure of what is happening but he doesn’t seem too
alarmed so I assume he still has his powers.
Herc takes a seat
next to the girls who are coo-cooing over the addition to the
family. Xena offers her condolences. Herc offers his
congratulations. He asks about a name. Xena says it’s Eve.
Solan suggested it when they were in Tartarus. Herc motions
Gabby to follow him and the two of them walk off (they don’t
show the conversation but I would have liked to see that (G)).
Xena is alone with Eve and she promises Solan again that they
would all be together again forever. Fade to Black.
Next week Ares is
trying to talk Xena into giving him the baby to keep her save.
Seems the gods are pissed because they hold her responsible
for Zeus’ death. The Gods they are a fallin’ (BG). I have
to say in closing this ep…it’s been the best one this
season. The Herc writers are given writing credits but RJ is
back as producer. I think that has made all the difference and
I hope for more good stories and interaction from the gals
we’ve come to know.
CN Winters
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