Realmreturn

Angela picked up the ringing phone, "hello?"

"Ang it's me. Listen, something is really wrong."

Angela could hear the fear in her sister's voice. "Maddy, what's wrong?"

"My memories about something that happened to me and Xena are growing fuzzy, as are all of the memories after."

"Is that what happened last time?" Angela fidgeted with the phone cord, her hands were visibly shaking. By the sound of her sister's voice, Maddy was worse.

"Yes, but that time I had a vague memory of you. I haven't had that yet, but Xena has. Something bad is happening." Maddy took a deep, shuddering breath.

Angela could hear Xena take the phone from her sister. "Angela, be prepared to go back."

"Can you two be here before I leave?" Angela felt her knees weaken.

"Gabrielle is already pulling her jeep out of the garage. We'll be there soon." Xena tried desperately to keep her voice as calm and soothing as possible, for Angela's sake.

"Just hurry." Angela hung up the phone.

A little over two hours passed, Angela found herself sitting on the front porch of her home awaiting her sister's arrival. The bottle of water she had brought out with her had long since been emptied and was looking worse for the wear. There were things that she needed to tell Maddy before she left. "I have a bad feeling about this," she said to no one. The last time this had happened, Maddy had known a couple of days in advance. Angie hoped it was the same this time. She needed to prepare.

Angela could hear the slight squealing of tires as Maddy's jeep raced into her driveway. Xena shut down the motor and climbed out. Maddy had jumped out of the passenger side before the vehicle was in park and raced to her sister pulling her into a tight embrace. "Jesus... Angie, I'm glad your still here."

"I wouldn't have left before you got here. They have the stone, I would have waited." She pulled herself away from her sister with difficulty. "Maddy, what's wrong?"

"I don't want you taking any unnecessary risks," the younger sister began, as tears began to form. "Don't get yourself killed for me, do you understand?"

"Maddy, what are..." Angela looked up at Xena who had come up behind Maddy and put both hands on her shoulders in an effort to calm her. "Xena, explain." The fear in Angela's voice was more than apparent.

"I have memories of you going back, vague at the very least, but Gabrielle has only a glimpse of you," the ex-warrior finished softly.

/;Xena, depending on the time that I;m going back to, I have to make sure that she lives. If she has no children...; Angela trailed off.

;Then we never exist." Maddy finished for her.

"That dammed Time Continuum crap can make my head spin at times," Angela said as she wondered of what was to come.

"I know." Maddy looked up at her sister. "I make a living dealing with it." She attempted a smile.

Angela felt a rush of adrenaline course through her. "We have to get to the studio."

Xena stepped around Maddy, "what's wrong? You don't look right."

"It's starting. The first rush just hit me. I don't think that they are using the stone. I have some time, but I have to get some things together before I leave."

"We'll drive you." Xena stated flatly.

Maddy rode with Angela in the backseat, clinging to her sister as though afraid she would never see her again.

Upon arriving at the studio, Angela blasted through and headed straight for her office. She unpacked the custom made leathers that she had received on her last trip. "Six months, old friend... seems like yesterday," she said to her leather armor as she dressed herself. After she had put on her silver armbands and leather gauntlets she unpacked the six knives that went with the armor and fitted them into place.

"Ok," the warrior said as she walked back out into the dojo. She moved with the grace of a cat.

"Uh, Ang," Maddy began, as she looked Angela the Warrior up and down. "Your sword."

"I'm going in prepared this time. No games. I'm taking my new sword with me," she said as she lifted the katana off of the wall rack at the rear of the dojo.

"Is that the one you had custom made? I didn't get to see it yet." Xena said walking over to where Angela was inspecting the sword.

"Yeah, I had ordered this from Japan, about two months before I left last time. I just got it a couple of days ago." She looked up at Xena and shrugged while handing her the sword. "It takes time to make a fine blade."

"And a fine blade it is," the ex-warrior said enthusiastically. "How are you going to carry it? On your back or on your side?"

"I'd like to find a way to clip it to my back."

"Ok... where's the scabbard you used the last time you went? We could probably use the set up off of that." Xena said as she handed Angela back the sword. "Here, hold on to this, incase they take you while we're trying to figure something out."

"Good idea. The scabbard is in my office. I'll go get it." Angela retrieved the scabbard, "here." She handed it to Xena. "What do you think?"

"I think it'll work," she said with a smile. "Turn around.�

Maddy watched all of this with growing apprehension. She was scared to death of the outcome. She was scared to death of losing her sister. She shook uncontrollably and realized that she was holding herself. She wished that she had something to do, to keep herself occupied. There was nothing. A tear fell, but was quickly wiped away. She couldn�t allow her sister to lose her focus right now. Angela needed to be prepared and seeing her sister cry would halt all progress it it�s tracks. She thought back to the day that she saw her sister for the first time in years. They hadn�t spent a single weekend apart since that day. The three of them had become regular training partners. She and Xena, at times, would make extra trips during the week to workout with Angie. A small smile crept across her face for the briefest of moments. They had had more fun with each other in the last six months than Maddy could remember ever having in this life. And now, she felt dismal. It could be coming to an end. She found herself shaking again, but was powerless against it. She barely heard the conversation going on across the room.

�There, how does that feel?� Xena asked as she looked over her handiwork.

�It feels about right.� Angela said. She stepped back and in a flash, drew her sword, swung it twice and re-sheathed it. �Perfect.�

�I have...� Xena began

Angela lowered her voice to just above a whisper, sounding identical to Xena and cut her off, �many skills.� they smiled at one another. Angela turned to see her sister visibly trembling, �Maddy?� she asked worriedly.

�It�s ok, I'm just nervous. You need to finish getting ready.� Maddy tried in vain to hide her fears.

�I need to borrow Xena for two minutes, then I�ll be back. I promise.� Angela gave her sister�s forearm a reassuring squeeze. Maddy nodded her understanding and Angela led Xena down a dark hallway. They entered a storage room full of sparring gear, body pads and freestanding heavy bags. �Now Xena listen to me...�she took a deep breath and went on, �if anything happens to me...�

�Don�t talk like that.� the taller woman said, holding up a hand in protest.

�Xena, you have to let me finish. I left everything to my sister. I would tell her personally, but I don�t think that she could handle that right now.�

�Your sister is a very, very strong person. She can handle more than you think.� Xena pointed out.

�I know that she is. I would never doubt that, but this is the last thing that she needs to worry about. So just bury it in the back of your mind for now, ok?� Angela asked with pleading eyes.

�I will,� Xena whispered.

�And one other thing... if something should happen...� Angela looked down for a brief moment then back up to the taller woman before her, �take care of her, please?�

Xena could see the fear behind Angela�s eyes, �of course. I think that we�d better get back.� Xena led the way back down the hall.

Maddy had begun to fear the worst. They had been gone for too long. Her tears flowed free at the sight of her sister emerging from the dark hallway behind Xena. She met up with Angela halfway across the floor, �promise me you�ll be careful,� she said as she gathered her sister up into another tight embrace.

�I promise,� Angela whispered back. At that moment, another surge of adrenaline coursed through her veins. She shuddered with it.

Maddy felt her sister�s muscles flex involuntarily, but refused to let go, �are you ok?�

�Yes,� Angela whispered, �soon.�

Maddy�s mind flashed for a moment, �I think that I just got another memory of you,� she said stepping back from her sister, but not completely releasing her.

Xena, who had been standing directly behind Maddy, quietly said, �so did I. And the others changed.�

Angela shuddered again. She closed her eyes for a moment in an effort to will down the rush. She reopened them, praying that she would see her sisters face. She did. �I hope it�s a good one.�

�It�s vague,� Maddy replied.

�I guess you knew that you were leaving,� a familiar voice broke the silence.

Angela turned to see the Amazon queen standing in the center of the room, �Varia... for some reason I thought you were using the Atma Dagger.�

�We started the ceremony, but my scouts retrieved the Cronus Stone before it was completed.� the Amazon informed her.

�What do you mean �retrieved�?� Xena broke in.

�It was stolen two days ago. Whoever did it was good, but not good enough. We have him locked up.� the Amazon stated flatly.

�Well then... I guess it�s time,� Angela whispered as she turned to her sister, �I promise I�ll be careful.�

Maddy hugged her sister fiercely, �I trust you.�

Xena wrapped her long arms around both women, �take care of yourself, Angie.�

Angela felt a pang of anguish as she regretfully pulled herself away from her sister and made her way over to where Varia stood, �let�s get this over with.�

Varia locked eyes with Maddy, �Gabrielle, you have my word as an Amazon Queen that I will do everything I can to bring her back.� They vanished.

Maddy buried her head in Xena�s shoulder sobbing. The dark haired woman looked down at her friend, knowing exactly how she felt. �C�mon Gabrielle, let�s go wait in the office,� she said softly as she led Maddy inside.

**********

Varia brought her charge to a wooded area just outside of a great battle between the Amazons and a large army comprising the armies of three warlords. Though heavily outnumbered, the Amazons were on the offensive. The training that Angela had supplied them with on her first visit was paying off. �Ok, here is what is going to happen,� Varia began, �the god Hermes is in that army. He is the one cutting everyone down.� she said as she pointed him out, �he is working his way to Gabrielle. When he gets to her she�ll fight him for quite a while, but because he is a god, he won�t tire. He will try to kill her. He looks at it as payback for Xena killing the Olympians. Ares will interfere just in time to save her, but she will be crippled. Without the goddess Athena alive, he can�t heal her. According to Ares, Hermes was trying to alter the future. This will send Xena on a rampage trying to find ways to kill an immortal. It'll consume her.� the queen paused for a moment, � she gets dangerous. You have to keep Gabrielle from Hermes.� She looked at Angela, who was studying the battle intently, �think you can do it?�

�I�ll be dammed if I don�t,� she pulled her gaze away from the battle and looked at the Amazon Queen, �how long has it been since I was last here?�

�Less than a year.� the queen replied.

�And how far into the past is this for you?�

�About four weeks, so you won�t have any problems with the stone and getting back.� the queen informed her.

�Good enough,� Angela took a deep breath, �I best be movin� then.�

�Good luck,� Varia said patting Angela on the back.

Angela turned and smiled at her, �luck is for the ill prepared. But thanks anyway.� She turned and ran into the battle. Her senses went into overdrive. Her emotions left her. She became, once again, the killing machine that she had been bred and trained to be.

She ran into the fray, effectively unsheathing her sword, deflecting a blow from a soldier and slicing him neatly down the center of his body. His body split apart and fell in two pieces. A soldier that had been running at her skidded to halt and ran in the opposite direction screaming. She chased after him, cutting down any soldiers that happened in her path. She quickly gave up the chase however, and made her way towards Gabrielle. She heard Xena�s battle cry in the distance. Looking around to pin point the Warrior Princess she saw that she was on the opposite side of the battle field. �What the hell is she doing all the way over there?� she said aloud in wonderment. She couldn�t dwell on it. Hermes was closing in on the bard and she had to run.

The god�s sword clashed with Gabrielle�s. She fought furiously. He was momentarily taken back by her skill. He had expected an easy kill, but she was good, as good as the Warrior Princess. He decided to bide his time and wear her down.

Gabrielle used everything she had in her arsenal against the soldier that had attacked her. She saw an opening and swung her body around shooting her leg out and sweeping her opponent. She brought her sword down on him, but he was too fast. It confused her for a moment, humans couldn�t normally move that fast. She realized with a heavy heart what she was up against, but refused to falter. She knew Xena would be there soon, she could hear the battle cry drawing nearer.

A soldier stepped in Angela�s way as she approached the two combatants. He swung his sword at her with great force which she merely derailed with her own and used the momentum of the arc to complete the circle her sword was making and cut him across his midsection. She never felt the sword cut through his spine. It was a clean slice. He fell apart with a guttural scream that went on for what seemed an eternity. It had turned the heads of everyone in the vicinity, including Hermes.

The god looked at this woman who so much resembled the Warrior Princess. He took in the long black mane, the focus and determination in her emerald green eyes and the same walk. �Hiya Hermes,� was all she said before she viciously attacked him. �Even the voice is the same,� he thought.

**********

�I have a memory of Angela fighting,� Maddy looked up at Xena who was sitting across from her at Angela�s desk.

�Mine are still fuzzy,� Xena replied with solemn eyes.

�She�s fighting a god,� Maddy whispered.

�Was he after you?�

�Yes,� Maddy choked out.

�Was it Ares?� Xena asked.

�No.� Then she stopped for a moment as a new memory flashed, �Oh no...�

**********

The battle raged on. Gabrielle protected Angela from anyone attempting to help the god. She caught a glimpse of Xena pulling a rider off of his horse and mounting it. She ululated her battle cry once more and cleared a path for herself towards the bard with her sword. Gabrielle felt a slight wave of relief at the sight. She turned to see how Angela was doing. The raven haired woman had taken a deep gash in her left thigh, but fought on as though it didn�t exist. Gabrielle feared for her. She watched as Angela dealt out mortal wound after mortal wound to the god who, after the initial, fleeting pain, merely shrugged it off.

The bard fought off another attacker as she watched Xena approach. She turned back to see Hermes sword take another bite out of Angela�s leg.

Angela knew that the gashes in her leg were deep. She put the pain out her mind and forged on. She noticed that, though he was a god, he still felt pain, albeit it was minimal, but he felt it. Every time she cut him, it slowed him down, just for a minute. It was her only defense. She began to change up fighting styles on him to keep him guessing. She went from Chinese to Japanese to 17th century Spanish and back again. These styles were the creme of the crop and were effective enough to slow him down. Every time she switched, he was visibly taken back. But she was losing blood fast. She tried to put it out of her mind. �Just a few more minutes,� she kept telling herself.

Gabrielle could see the blood literally pumping out of Angela's thigh. �XENA!!!� she screamed.

The Warrior Princess heard the call over the din of the battle. She spotted the bard and the fight raging behind her. �Angela? By the gods, what is she doing here?� she said aloud to herself. She kicked the horse she was on hard and mowed down anyone in her path. As she neared, she could see the wounds in Angela�s leg. She brought her horse to an abrupt halt in front of the bard and sounding out her battle cry, did a double flip off of the horse and landed squarely on Hermes� chest.

Hermes pushed the Warrior Princess off with his godly strength and resumed his battle. But this time, it was with Xena.

Gabrielle helped Angela off of the battle field and into the nearby woods. Under the cover of the foliage, she began dressing Angela�s wounds. She whistled for Argo II, who came trotting up within moments, and retrieved Xena�s medical pouch and a water skin. She tied on a tourniquet and began to deftly stitch up the deep gashes. After the first wound was closed up, the bard realized that her patient was about to pass out. She forced Angela to drink some of the water before she did. Gabrielle continued to close up Angela�s wounds. She peered over a bush that they were hiding behind to see how Xena was fairing.

Xena fought the god heart and soul. She effectively kept his back to where Gabrielle was taking Angela. If he were to beat her, she knew that he go looking for them.

As she fought, Xena noted that the god before her wasn�t much of a fighter. It had been his godhood that kept him from truly losing. �So which one are you?� she asked between parries.

�Hermes... at your service,� he said with a bit of a flourish.

�Figures, I could tell you weren�t much of a warrior.� she said with an evil grin.

�Now you die, Xena,� he spat out as he stepped back. A large fireball appeared in his hand. He willed the fireball to grow in intensity and launched it at her.

�Now that is not nice,� Ares scolded as he caught the fireball and threw it back, hitting Hermes square in the chest and sending him back over thirty feet to land on his back. He turned to Xena, �I�ll take over from here. You go tend to your descendant Xena. Hermes was altering the future as payback for the Olympians. And since... number one: nobody messes with my chosen. And number two: I owe you one, well... here I am.� the God of War said with a smile.

�Thank you.� Xena said in earnest and dashed off to help her friends.

Angela was still unconscious when Xena arrived. �how bad is it?�

�She�s lost a lot of blood, but her heartbeat is strong. I think she�ll pull through.�

Xena could hear the touch of uncertainty in the bard�s voice. She hid her own fears behind her mask. The warrior knew that Gabrielle was quite adept as a healer and that everything that could be done, already was. �Keep an eye on her, I need to build some sort of litter to get her out of here.� With that, the warrior headed deeper into the woods, collecting branches that would suit her needs. When she was happy with her search results, she retrieved a rope from Argo�s saddle bags and began construction.

Angela began to stir. Her eyelids felt heavy as she tried to open them. The bard put a reassuring hand on the side of her face and whispered, �sshhh, you�re going to be ok.�

Through a foggy haze, Angela heard the bard�s words. She tried to speak, but nothing came out. She tried again, and in a hoarse whisper, �Gab... Gabrielle...�

�Don�t talk,� the bard said in a soothing voice, �save your strength.� She reached for the water skin and put it Angela�s lips, �try to drink some of this.� Angela complied. �We need to keep fluids in you.�

Angela took in as much as she could. When she had finished and the bard had put the water skin to the side Angela spoke almost inaudibly, �thanks. Are we... safe?�

�Yes,� the bard said smiling down at her friend. �Your eyes are clearing up. That�s good.�

�I�m starting to focus,� Angela sighed.

Xena, after finishing her work, came upon them, �litter�s built. We have to get her on it.�

�Xena, she�s awake.� the bard said with a grin.

Xena smiled at this and knelt down opposite the bard. �how do you feel?� she asked as she checked Angela�s pulse and ran a quick check over the bandages.

�Like I�ve lost...� she took a breath, �a lot of blood... have two wicked gashes in my leg... and about ten stitches in each one.�

�Sounds about right,� the warrior smiled.

�Here,� the bard said as she offered the water skin to Angela again, �try to drink some more before we move you.� Angela complied once again.

In no time, Xena had Angela strapped down to the litter and they were on their way back towards the Amazon village.

**********

�Oh Xena... thank God she is alive,� Maddy sighed in relief.

�I know Gabrielle, but it�s not over yet.� Xena dropped her gaze for a moment, �how long has she been gone?�

Maddy looked up at the clock on the wall behind Xena, �it�s been ten minutes.�

�The other memories I had are completely gone.� the raven haired woman sighed in relief.

�You never told me what they were.� Maddy stated inquisitively.

�Angela was forced to try and kill me.� Xena whispered. �that�s all I had.�

�But Xena, she would never...� Maddy protested in vain.

�No, Gabrielle... she would. They started the ceremony because they lost the stone. It would have been after the incident. But then they found the stone.�

�So you think Varia took her further back to stop whatever happened.�

�Yes. Thank God.�

**********

Angela awoke to find herself in familiar surroundings. Her eyes refused to cooperate for the better part of almost five minutes before caving in to her will and opening with a heavy flutter. She heard a slight noise to her left and saw the Warrior Princess bringing a water skin over to her. Wordlessly, Xena tilted Angela�s head up and offered the water. Angela drank what she could and her head was then gently laid back down on the pillow.

Xena quietly pulled a chair up next the bed and began changing the dressings on Angela�s thigh. She spoke softly, �you�ve been out for the better part of the day. Everything looks good, you should be up and around in no time.� Angela gave a slight nod of understanding. �I want you to rest now. Gabrielle will be in a little while with something for you to eat.�

Angela tried to reply, but was unable to find her voice. She closed her eyes for a moment in concentration. �Xena,� she said hoarsely.

The warrior spoke soothingly, �it can wait. Talk to me after you eat. Sleep now.�

Angela was unaware of how long she had slept. She awoke to the comforting sound of her sister�s voice, �c�mon Angela, I need you to wake up.�

Angela slowly opened her eyes and saw the bard checking over her wounds, �Gabrielle,� she sighed.

�I see you are awake,� the bard smiled, �it�s about time sleepy head.�

�How long?�

�About three candle marks since you saw Xena.� the bard picked up a bowl of soup from the table at the far end of the hut and set it down beside Angela�s bed. She propped some pillows up behind the injured woman to sit her up as straight as possible, �how�s that?�

�It�s ok.�

�I have some soup for you. It�s Xena�s recipe... so it�s not very good, but... it will help you get your strength back.�

�Oh joy.� Angela sighed. Her stomach churned at the thought of Xena�s famous cooking.

�Do you want to try and do this on your own, or do you need me to help you?� the bard said holding the wooden bowl filled with soup.

Angela looked at the bowl then up at the bard sitting on the edge of the bed, �how about we meet half way. you hold the bowl and I�ll try to work the spoon.�

�Sounds like a plan,� the bard said cheerfully.

A short while after Angela had finished eating, Xena entered the hut, �did she eat?� she asked the bard.

�Yeah, and she ate most of it.�

�Xena,� Angela began, �that shit is disgusting, but I have to admit... it certainly does pack a punch.�

�Don�t I know it. Just be glad that it was Gabrielle that cooked it up. She puts some stuff in there to make it more... more.� the warrior was at a loss for words.

�I make it more palatable,� the bard interjected.

�Yeah, like she said,� the warrior said as she pulled up a chair, �are you up to telling us what happened, or would you rather wait?�

�Xena,� the bard shot her friend a look, �give her more time.�

�No, Gabrielle, it�s ok. I wanted to tell her earlier, but I couldn�t.� Angela took a deep breath and related the story to them. When she was finished, the room was quiet. �c�mon guys, you could hear a pin drop in here.�

�Angela,� the warrior took the injured woman�s hand, �I have no idea how to thank you.�

�There�s no thanks needed Xena. Keeping things right so that I still have my sister and our best friend is all the thanks I need.�

�So I guess everything is going good with you guys?� the bard asked.

�What I had hoped for is half of what I have. And it gets better every day.�

**********

�How long has it been?� Xena had folded her arms on the desk and was resting her head on them.

�Twenty minutes,� Maddy�s voice sounded small. Her mind flashed again. �I just got another one.�

�Yeah me too,� Xena�s voice was muffled by the desk.

��Yeah, me too what?�� Angela asked as she limped her way into the office.

Maddy shot out of her chair and ran towards her sister. As she gathered Angela up in her arms, her mind flooded with images. Her memories had returned.

Xena stood up out of her chair and slowly made her way around the two women to stand behind Angela. With an evil grin and a steel like grip she grabbed Angela by the back of the neck and turned her around to face her. Ice blue eyes bore into emerald green, her voice was like velvet, �Did you have to tell me that you beat me up a couple of times a week?� then a slow smile worked its way across Xena�s features, �glad to have you back.�

Angela spent the next two weeks at her sister�s. They spent a day and a half watching the entire Xena:Warrior Princess series. �So Maddy,� Angela began in slight confusion, �just what were they trying to say about your relationship?�

�Like I said, they took liberties with my scrolls.� she replied in a huff.

�I mean, I was there... I never saw any of that.� Angela thought for a moment, �and what was with that scene at the end of the finale. I mean, apparently, it�s water exchange, but...�

�UGGHH,� Maddy was almost furious and spoke as she stalked in circles around the room, �she was laying next to the fountain, right next to it... I had the water cupped in my hands....�

�Gabrielle, calm down,� Xena said as she sauntered into the room with a fresh bowl of popcorn, �Angie, you should have seen her screaming at the television when she watched this one.� she reflected on her friends reactions, �all of them as a matter of fact.� she added.

Angela smiled at her sister, �well, to be honest with you Maddy, I think as a show it�s pretty good. But it doesn�t do justice to your scrolls. The upside is that at least now people know who you were and the sacrifices that you both made.�

The End