Episode: Friend in Need Pt. 2 (S-6, E-22)

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.

Friend in Need Pt. 2

Here it is folks…It’s official. The last ‘Subtext Report’. Should I cut to the chase and let you know how it ends or should I drag on and on? . . . I think I’ll drag on (VBG). I Love Gabby. Have I mentioned that? And I love my fans too. Something that I haven’t mentioned nearly enough I’m sure.

All the folks who’ve replied, sent me letters, sent me postcards, sent me gifts…I’ve enjoyed every one of them. You gave me the inspiration to get back to something that I always loved but had forgotten about – writing. You encouraged me and you inspired me. I might hold the title, ‘Queen of Subtext’ but I wouldn’t be a queen if it weren’t for all of you, my subtext subjects (VBG). I can’t list you all individually. I might overlook someone accidentally and that would be a shame because every last one of you reading these words now have touched me on some level. I’ve grown because of you – much like we’ve watched Gabrielle grow with Xena. You all are my warriors and I’m your bard. I will always sing your praises. (VBG) You’ve given me a gift although you never knew it. It was a gift of confidence in myself and the courage to go after my dreams again. And that is the greatest gift that anyone can give someone and I can’t thank you deeply enough. I always wanted to be writer growing up but I opted for more practical vocations as I grew-up. Thanks to all of you, I’m reaching for my dreams again and succeeding. As I said, a mere thank you just doesn’t seem to suffice.

I found the Xenaverse in 1997 when I came across some fan fiction on the web. A week later I found the netforum. I was so happy when I realized, "I’m not the only one!!! Others see that ‘spark’ too!" And what a spark it’s been. I don’t think there’s been another pair of actresses that click as well as LL and ROC do on screen. And I doubt highly that we’ll ever see that ‘spark’ again. I started my time in the Xenaverse writing fan fiction. It surprises me when, even today, people ask, "You write fan fiction too?" (LOL). The only place they know me from are my subtext reports. But yes . . . I have written a story or two (VBG).

Xena: Warrior Princess is just a T.V. show. I know that. But I’ve managed to meet so many people face to face over the years. Some of which I’m sure I will keep as friends for the rest of my life. There are some friends that I’ve lost already but I’m grateful for the moments I’ve had. There are people that have seen me through some very difficult times and given me hope and faith when I needed it most. Again, you know you are. I don’t have to list any names because the help and guidance you’ve given me is well known in our hearts. You should know that you can always depend on me if need be.

A lot has been said about me over the years – I’m egotistical, I’m sarcastic, and I’m crass. Yep! I can be all those things. But I’m also loyal. I also stand up for what I believe in. And I’ll always give voice to what I consider injustices. Love me. Hate me. That’s the choice folks have had to make over the years. I guess if you come away with anything about the queen of subtext I hope it’s this: You may not agree with her but you always thought she was being honest in what she believed (VBG).

So thank you to all my readers. Thank you for all the letters of encouragement. Thank you for touching my life.

But enough of my babbling (VBG). I’m sure you all want to know what happened, right? Right!!! So without further adieu . . . I give you the final subtext report. Enjoy!!

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Our tale opens with a recap of last week.

We see Xena burying her armor and her sword with her Chakram. The ground is shaking and we see men pounding war drums. Gabby has her men and says it's too quiet. She thinks about what Xena taught her and realizes Xena has sent her away from danger and the troops are coming to Xena. She yells Xena's name and starts to race back. Xena does the chakram twirl. She starts a huge fire taking out a bunch of men. She takes to a tree and does the bow and arrow thing. But the archers come back. She gets hit in the shoulder and leg. She starts to retreat but she gets hit in the other shoulder. Her arm gets it next. She gets pissed and says now you asked for it. They start to charge her but Xena cuts them all up. She yells for Gabrielle and we see her remembering Gabrielle while she fights. She's taking out guys left and right and starts to get 'dizzy' when she comes to she sees the leader in front of her and a big 'slice' he makes....end of teaser.

Gabby gets back and finds the bloody chakram. Next we see Akemi and a katana appears behind her. Xena appears to her naked and gets dressed in a red kimono. Back to Gabby she's arguing with the monk that she's alive. The ghost killer is killing the dead spirits so Yoshi can't get them. Xena tells Akemi she's been in the underworld but it didn't fell like it. Akemi says she's under Yoshi's will and off course he appears and starts to kick the crap out of Xena. He ends up striping her. She tells him she's at his will. They dress Xena again. Akemi says she's glad Xena stuck to the rules. Xena says she only did what she had to, to find a way to kill him.

Gabby is still searching for Xena. She sees someone running through the bushes. Xena and Gabby run into each other and Gabby asks what's up with the red robes. She gives her back her chakram but she can't hold it. Gabby realizes that Xena is dead. Needless to say she's not very happy. Gabby wants to know how she could let herself get dead. Xena tells her that they will find a way to bring her back. She's gotta die to free the souls. Gabby tells her she's her whole life - she won't lose her. Xena says she won't lose her. The ghost hunter shows up and Xena tells her to lower her weapon because he's working with her. She grabs the stole pigeon geisha and hands the ankle to Akemi that summons.

Gabby has to take Xena's ashes to mount Fuji. Xena then introduces Akemi and Gabrielle. Akemi gives Gabby a tattoo to protect her in her journey. Xena lies beside Gabby and strokes her arm since it doesn't tickle to get a tattoo. Xena hands Gabby a Katana. Gabby swears she'll get her body back and they'll meet again on Mt. Fuji.

We see Gabby kicking ass and taking names to get inside a hut where they have Xena's decapitated body. She upchucks but gets pissed and starts to look for Xena's Head. Gabby raps the body up and feels someone behind her. Gabby tells him that he couldn't have killed Xena if she’s didn't want him too. The leader tells her that she must want to die by coming there. Gabby tells him she accepts the challenge to fight him. They have a group around them and they get ready to fight. Gabby thinks of everything that Xena has told her about listen to the sound behind the sounds. He charges and she knocks him to the ground. She asks him to do the noble thing and remove his head with one stroke. She doesn't. She knocks him out and the warriors give her Xena's head and body.

The monk and the ghost killer are with Xena and Xena summons Yoshi using the anklet. The ghost hunter hides and tries to kill Yoshi. He makes a stab but it doesn't do much. Xena kicks Yoshi and he turns himself into liquid like Terminator (LOL). The monk loses his head literally and Xena keeps up the battle. Yoshi stabs the ghost killer next. And Xena gets the sword to finally kill Yoshi for good. She saves Akemi who's been trapped under water.

That night Gabby is burning Xena's body and she's thinking of Xena. Back to Xena and the dying Ghost Killer. He tells her that Yoshi's gone to the fountain at Mt. Fuji to drink the water that Gabby needs to put in Xena's ashes. If Xena doesn't 'finish the job' everyone's soul will be lost. The man Gabby spared tries to stop her as she rides up the mountain on horseback. They fight on a rock ledge where Gabby kicks some serious ass. I love Gabby. Have I mentioned that? (vbg) During the fight, Gabby drops the urn over the cliff. On top of the mountain Xena battles Yoshi who's trying to get the water to save himself. Akemi comes to help. At the same time Gabby finds Xena looking kind of beat up. Yoshi gets some water and grows an arm back that Xena cut off in the last fight. Yoshi is trying to suck Akemi up but she's holding on for dear 'after' life. But she does get sucked. Gabby goes to the fountain and drinks the water. She puts some in her mouth and takes it to Xena. Of course Gabby gives a little 'extra' kiss and Barry Marshall owes me a set of plastic sais.

Gabby races down the mountain to get Xena's ashes while ghost Xena, now rejuvenated, battles Yoshi so she can free the souls. Yoshi threatens to take Gabby's head off and that does it. Nobody threatens her bard. Xena decapitates him and the souls go free. Akemi tells her she's redeemed herself. The samara stops Gabby again and Gabby uses the chakram and goes to the water to dump Xena's ashes.

Xena tells Gabby she has to stay dead. If she comes back the 40 thousand souls she freed would be condemned. Gabby says that's not right and she doesn't care. Xena is all that matter to her. Xena says that she had learn from Gabby about the right thing to do. Gabby asks how she's supposed to go on without her. Xena says she'll always be with her. They watch the sunset and Xena disappears. Next we see Gabby on a boat alone headed back home. Gabby gives a little speech. We see Xena appear saying she'll always be with Gabby and asks where they are going. Gabby says the pharoses - she heard they could use a gal with a chakram. Next we see Gabby sailing away alone. (Note: In later showings of this episode, Tapert and Co. decided to show Gabrielle and 'ghost' Xena sailing off together. The image of Gabby alone was too much for some fans so they nixed it).

Looking back, I'm not sure what to say about this episode. Xena took the word of a woman who habitually lied to her the entire time she knew her. While it does provide a nice 'bookend' to Sins of the Past (the first ep), the show stopped being about one woman's redemption and became about the doing the greater good with your soulmate. Plus, killing your hero makes it hard to keep your franchise alive as I think Rob found out the hard way.