Episode: Path of Vengeance
(S-6, E-14)
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.
Path of Vengeance
I love Gabby. Have
I mentioned that? (VBG) Damn! The things this woman won’t do
for her warrior (and vice versa). Gabby certainly plays the
father role in Eve’s life, which I’ll explain in a bit.
I’ll call it the Dad Tally – you’ll see what I
mean….anyway on to our tale.
Our story opens
with the messenger of love and peace (AKA Eve) walking through
amazon land. A detachment of Romans approach and say that the
‘newly reformed lover of Eli’ Emperor sent them to protect
her. Eve says get lost. They say nope, we got orders. She
explains she’s going back to the amazons to ‘work things
out’. Silly girl…for being Gabrielle’s gal she a little
bit backward on such things like amazons. Well she finds out
soon enough as the amazons surround them – a bunch of them
too. Seems they all grouped together to take on the Romans.
But right now they want Eve’s hide. They attack and kill all
the Romans except one who stumbles into town to get more
forces. And low and behold but who does he stumble into? You
guessed it Xe and Gab.
They learn the
amazons have taken Eve and Xena says she knows why –
they’re gonna kill her. Woooooooo….end of teaser.
Xena and Gabby show
up at the battlefield and find all the dead Romans (big loss
huh?). Anyway, they see some prisoners who were shot in the
back with arrows. An arrow falls short at Xena’s feet
(obviously a warning to walk no further. Either that or these
amazons can’t shoot for poop). They find out that they are
from Cyan’s tribe. Varia has united all the existing nations
together and she’s the ones that ordered their death. The
new Cyan (who’s actually the lil amazon that wanted to be
Xena’s new partner in Kindred Spirits when Xe and Gabby went
through their ‘separation’<VBG>) wouldn’t kill the
prisoners so Varia’s amazons did it. Anyway, Cyan agrees to
take Xena and Gabby (mostly Gabby since she’s a legendary
queen) to the council.
Once there Xena
starts to get uppity in that warrior princess way of hers upon
seeing Eve shackled and amazons talking about killing her. Of
course, voice of reason Gabrielle, says chill, let me handle
this. Xena concedes and since Gabby is a queen too they let
her have a say. Varia continues to tell the story of how Livia
came to their village, killed her sister and enslaved her
tribe. She had the chance to kill Livia but she chickened out
but she won’t make the same mistake twice.
The daring duo
manage to get a ‘defense’ for Eve in one hour and they
adjourn for, I don’t know, lunch or something. Upon
Varia’s leaving, Xena sees her sword and knows that sword
belongs to Ares. He’s up to something. Xena follows Varia
and does a little test –a move she pulls is one Ares taught
her so she knows something is going on and confronts Varia.
Varia says Ares wants to make the amazons strong again. Xena
says she’s fooling herself. All Ares cares about is himself.
Xena goes back to
the council for Eve’s trial and asks why she raided
Varia’s tribe. From her experience it wasn’t good pickins
considering all the power she already had. Eve agrees and says
that it doesn’t matter because she did it. Xena says that
Ares is up to his old tricks and if she doesn’t care about
herself at least do something to make the amazons see he’s
fooling them now. Finally Eve tells them that Ares egged her
into doing it to enhance her reputation as someone not to mess
around with. Varia listens to the stories but isn’t
impressed and leaves. Gabby asks to join the committee. They
accept since she is a queen. Xena takes her aside and Gabby
tells Xena there’s a wisdom to the amazon ways. Xena remarks
‘Like paint you blue and make you howl at the moon’ (LOL)
Xena made a funny (VBG). Xena warns that if she can’t talk
them out of it she’s getting Eve out the old fashioned
way…and we all know that means opening a can of whoop ass on
the amazons (VBG).
Varia goes to Ares
a tad miffed and asks if he was behind the raid that killed
her sisters. He said yes but he did it to try to bring the
tribes together through hatred of Rome. Ares goes on to say
that Gurkan didn’t buy Livia’s slaves so Livia pitched
them all overboard her ship. Ares talks the big talk and tells
Varia that Eve is Rome and she’s gotta show Rome that she
means business.
Xena is waiting
outside with Eve. An amazon gets Xena and says they are giving
the verdict. Xena walks in just in time to hear Gabrielle say
‘Guilty’. Ohhh baby! Does the proverbial sh*t hit the fan
then (LOL). Xena is beyond pissed and Gabby chases her down,
explaining that if she didn’t vote with them she would loose
a voice when it came to sentencing. She HAD to vote guilty.
Xena’s got the ‘don’t talk to me right now’ attitude
and stomps away. Gabby lets her go.
Xena goes to meet
Ares in a meadow. He tells her a ‘fairy tale’ about the
scorpion and swan. He cuddles up to her putting that magic god
touch of his on hers but she doesn’t buy it for long. She
tells him he’s a son of a bitch (LOL) Ain’t ‘love’ a
bitch Ares. He comes out and says he’s basically just
looking for a good time to build up his reputation; Eve just
got in the way.
Xena goes back to
see the sentencing of Eve beginning. Before Varia can pass the
ruling Gabby stands up and says nah ah, you aren’t the queen
until you defeat me. Number 2 on the dad tally – Gabby
ain’t gonna let anything happen to her little girl. Xena
rushes outside and waits for Gabrielle. She tells Gabby to let
her fight for her. She says no, if she’s queen she’ll
pardon Eve. She asks that Xena stay out of it. Reluctantly
Xena agrees. They go to the rink and Eve reaches out to
Gabrielle. Eve loves her Daddy (LOL). To make a long fight
short Gabby ends up getting her ass kicked and as the amazons
drag Eve away, Xena goes to GABBY (not Eve) and weeps over her
battling bard who is now badly battered (say that five times
fast<G>)
They string Eve up
as Xena cleans Gabby up. Gabby wakes up and apologizes for not
winning. Xena said she did all she could but now she has to do
what she has to do. Gabby agrees and tells her to go. Xena
runs off and confronts Ares. She tells him that now he’s got
his godhood back he’s got everything he wants. He says not
everything but he’d love to see Xena whoop a little amazon
butt and he won’t get the in the way.
They take Eve to
the pit of bubbling acid (I’m not sure how that works –
LOL – but this IS Xena folks). They get ready to toss her in
but momma comes to the rescue and starts to whoop on Varia.
Varia hold her own pretty good on the rickety bridge but of
course Xena manages to get her down. But Xena 'gives up' and
as Varia goes to strike she sees what she's become. She tells
Varia it’s her guilt over not killing Livia that’s making
her act now. She has to think about what she doing. She
can’t save the sisters she lost but she can help those she
has now by forsaking Ares and leading her sisters the right
way. Varia starts to cry. Xena frees Eve and Eve rushes down
to console Varia. Varia accepts and says she has to talk to
the other queens. Ares shows up and starts to laugh. He tells
Xena, "You had this planned all along. You are soooo
good. And I wouldn’t have it any other way." He
vanishes and Eve and Xena go back to the village after a
mom/daughter hug. Varia sentences Livia to death so that Eve
the messenger of peace can live. Eve goes to her parents and
hugs Gabby first. Dad Tally number 3 – Eve thanks her Pop
for taking care of her and defending her.
They all go outside
and Eve says she’s heading to India/Chin – alone. Eve
tells Gabby thanks for saving her mother, for bringing her
such happiness. She’s forever in Gabby’s debt. They hug
and Gabby says you don’t owe me anything. Dad Tally number 4
– Gabby does the things she does out of love, not reward.
Eve turns to Xena
and says ‘thank you for saving my life so many times. I love
you.’ Xena looks like she’s gonna cry and asks if they can
walk with her for aways. Eve says no, she has to do this on
her own and says goodbye. They watch her leave. Gabby looks to
Xena whose gonna lose it and she runs her hand up Xena’s arm
in support. Xena yells to Eve, ‘Stay outta trouble.’ Gabby
grins and shakes her head while Xena covers her face to cry.
Dad Tally number 5 – Gabby plays the role of stoic dad
knowing this would happen someday. Xena feels the ‘empty
nest’. Ahhhhhh…their baby left home.
Next week:
Announcer: The
mission…impossible.
Man w/a knife to
Xena’s throat: "Fire the catapults!"
Announcer: The
enemy invincible.
Amazons running
around. Varia walking blindfolded.
Man: Is that fear I
see in your eyes
Xena knocking the
man away from her.
Announcer: The
episode unforgettable.
‘Pumped up’
Gabby running and flexing through the water with a bow swung
around her back yelling. Xena catching her chakram.
Announcer: Battle
on Xena!
CN Winters
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