Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ext. Gabrielle is standing by the railing of a ship, which is on its way back to Greece. It's a lot like the scene at the end of AFIN, only there is no ghost standing next to her. Waves are lapping against the side of the ship as Gabrielle fidgets with her sais (or something akin to fidgeting).

G: [sigh] There's no place like home...

Ares appears behind Gabrielle and comes up next to her.

A: You got that right. But don't you seem to be missing someone? You know... about this high [raises hand], piercing blue eyes, and a battle cry that would make the Titans cringe?

Gabrielle looks at Ares in disbelief.

G: Don't tell me that the great God of War doesn't know what happened to his Chosen.

A: Hey, give a god a break. We gods can't see outside our realm of power unless we pop in there ourselves.

Ares steps up next to Gabrielle and leans back against the railing so he's facing her.

A: So come on. Fill your old pal in. Did the Warrior Princess finally wise up and leave the irritating blonde behind?

G: [putting her sais away] I thought we got past the irritating blonde thing?

A: Old habits die hard. Now tell me: What did you do that made her leave you?

G: You really don't know, do you?

A: Nah, I do know. I just love visiting the sidekick - or should I say 'ex-sidekick'? - when I could be seeing Xena.

Gabrielle crosses her arms and glares at Ares.

G: You want to see Xena? Fine. I'll show you Xena.

Gabrielle unshoulders her pack and pulls out the urn that carries Xena's ashes.

G: There's your Warrior Princess!

Ares looks at the urn and then back up at Gabrielle.

A: Is this some kind of sick way to tell me to leave you alone?

G: Yes, Ares, that's exactly what it is. I just happened to be carrying around an urn full of someone's ashes just for that reason.

Gabrielle lifts the lid of the urn and reveals the ashes inside.

G: Open your eyes! This is all that's left of her.

A: You're lying! Xena can't die!

G: Hmph. It's not like it hasn't happened before. Now either accept that it's happened for good now or leave me alone.

Gabrielle puts the lid back on the urn and gently places it back in her pack. Ares crosses his arms and starts to pace.

A: How did it happen?

G: [staring back out at the sea] Like you would have wanted. She was taking on an army.

A: [yelling] And where were you? You were her precious, little sidekick! Why didn't you help her?

Gabrielle turns from the railing and strides right up to Ares.

G: Don't you blame me! Do you really think I wanted this to happen? I tried to help her and all she did was leave me in the end!

Gabrielle's expression saddens and she steps away from Ares, wrapping her arms around herself.

G: I wanted to dump the ashes... but she stopped me. [wiping at her eyes with one hand] Her death redeemed those souls.

A: You're not talking about those souls from the incident in Japa, are you?

G: Why do you want to know?

A: Gabrielle, those souls didn't need to be redeemed! They were going to kill her.

G: Wait... I thought you said you didn't know about what goes on in other realms?

A: 40,000 souls killed in an enemy land by my Chosen? Lets just say the Deities in Japa weren't very happy with me.

G: [whisper] She lied... Akemi lied! But I don't get it. Why would she lie about something like that?

A: [shrugs] Beats me. Then again, I'm sure a lot of people would do more than lie to be with the Warrior Princess.

G: I swear you have a one track mind.

A: Two tracks, actually. But don't tell me you weren't a little curious. I saw the way you looked at her. Life on the farm, remember?

G: Whatever. It doesn't matter. What does matter is finding a way to bring her back.

A: Ahem! You're talking to a god here. I tink I can be of some assistance.

G: Oh yeah, because you've been a lot of help so far.

A: Hey, you're the one that fell fo rthe centaur dung the little brat fed her. If you hadn't believed her, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

G: Fine. I guess you can't make things worse.

A: Glad to know you have so much confidence in my abilities. It's not like I'm my sister.

G: Hey, Aphrodite can be helpful!

A: Sure. Now, when the ship docks in Greece, head straight to one of my temples.

G: And you can't take me there now because...?

A: We're on the outskirts of my realm of power. Do you really want to chance that I won't have enough power to take us both? You might lose a limb important to you mortals. Then again...

G: I get the picture! I'll meet up with you as soon as I can. In the mean time, I'll try to think of a plan.

A: Whatever you say, Battling Bard. I'll see you soon.

Ares disappears, leaving Gabrielle by herself at the railing. Gabrielle looks around and realizes that the crew is looking at her like she's crazy. She gives them a warning look, forcing them to back off, before turning back to the sea.

G: [touching her chest] What I wouldn't give to be seasick instead of heart-sick. I hope this works...

3 days later...

[Ext.] Gabrielle is seen riding Argo II over a worn road out of the port city. Around her are traveling caravans leaving the city with their profits and entering the city to sell their wares.

G: [narrative] You left me on that mountain, Xena, and I let you go. Well, I'm not sure how I'm going to do it, but I'm going to bring you back. Akemi won't get away with this.

Gabrielle and Argo come upon an estravagant temple. While it is no longer as visited as it used to be, there are signs of someone stopping by recently to make an offering to the God of War. Gabrielle dismounts Argo and walks into the temple.

[Int.] Candles are burning at the sides of the temple. An altar is set up in the back of the temple, against the far wall. Skulls of those conquered decorate the altar and the walls.

A: [VO] I'd tell you that you made a good choice in temples, but then I'd be lying.

Ares appears next to the altar and picks up the newest offering left in a sack on the stone table. He glances inside before tossing it over his shoulder. It hits the wall with a thud as he steps closer to Gabrielle.

A: Did you have to pick the temple with the least decorations?

G: I picked the closest one. Now are you going to help me get to Xena or not?

A: I don't know. What's in it for me?

G: What?

A: You heard me. What am I getting out of this little mission of yours?

Aph: [voice over] Oh please, bro. Stop giving her a hard time. Sweet Pea will be giving you like, everything you want by getting Xena back.

Aphrodite pops in next to Ares in a shower of golden sparkles.

A: Who invited you?

Aph: Jeez. Can't a girl crash a party so she can help out? Try to be a little grateful.

G: Um... Thank you, Aphrodite. I'm going to need all the help I can get.

Aph: Duh! Especially with your sexy self traveling to the spirit world.

A + G: What?!

A: How did you know what we [looks at Gabrielle] -okay, I- was planning?

Aph: Oh please. Everyone knows when you're in a bad mood you forget to use your 'indoor' voice.

G: Can we maybe back up for a second? Did you say spirit world? Like 'drink animal blood and chant' spirit world?

A: Well -

Aph: Ew, no! Sweet Pea, what do you think we're here for? Decoration? [whisper] Though this place could use it...

A: Shut up, Dite. Lets just get to work.

G: [thinking] Thank the gods I don't have to drink deer blood again.

Gabrielle follows Ares and Aphrodite go to the back of the temple. Pressing down on one of the decorative skulls adorning the altar, Ares opens a secret stairway into the floor of the temple.

A: After you, sis.

Aph: As if. I'll just poof my way there, thank you very much.

Aphrodite disappears in a glimmer of sparkles.

A: Y'know, I'm sure some mortals worked hard to put this here. What was the point if no one's going to use it?

G: Let's just go.

Gabrielle pushes past Ares and heads downs the stairs. Ares follows after her while muttering to himself.