rolereversal1

Role Reversal

Disclaimers:

Legal: This story was not written for profit and is not intended to infringe on the rights of anyone who owns a claim to Xena or any of its characters.

Divine Intervention: I wrote this before the whole 5th season twilight of the gods mess.� The Artemis you see portrayed in this story is not the same loser who tried to whack Eve.

Time Line: In relation to the Xenaverse as we know it, this story would take place sometime in the very end of the 2nd season.

Logic: I realize that the events taking place in this story are hardly logical.� When you get time travel mixed in, it rarely is.� Just ignore that fact and don't go too much deeper, otherwise you'll just get really confused.

And just FYI, the different fonts help distinguish the different time periods.

That said, I hope you enjoy the story.� It's my first writing attempt, so go easy please.

If you have any comments, please send them to : [email protected]

Thanks,

Trinity

� �Melinda Pappas and Janice Covington walked slowly up the hill holding hands.� When they reached the top, Janice pushed back the brim of her hat for a better view of the dig site.� The ancient village of Potadeia lay before them.� "That's where the gate was," Janice said pointing at a wide trench, "and that was probably a row of houses.";
Mel's only response was to wrap her arm around Janice.� They were both very proud of this effort.� It was their first dig together, and after several months of fundraising, they had finally gotten to the site described in the scrolls.� Once they found them, that is.� Jack Kleinman had somehow ended up with them, and luckily Janice had tracked him down within a few weeks.� Now they were observing the first excavations of a city that was part of their heritage.��
In the early morning sunlight, Mel leaned down to kiss Janice when the silence was suddenly shattered by one of the workers shouting, "Dr. Covington!"� Janice sighed and stole a quick peck before moving down the hill, pausing to throw a grin over her shoulder and say, "Don't go anywhere, I'll be right back."
Janice found the man waiting at the bottom of the hill where he informed her of a new discovery.� Janice thanked him and said that she'd be right there before turning to make her way back up the hill.

� Xena and Gabrielle walked slowly up the hill overlooking Potadeia.� The bard had decided that it was time for a visit home, and after a rather awkward few days, they were leaving, much to Xena's relief.�
Suddenly, Xena tensed and pulled out her sword.� On the hill above them, about a dozen soldiers stood, weapons drawn.� The pair backed slowly down the hill until they reached even ground, then waited.� It wasn't long before all the soldiers came charging down the hill waving swords and maces.� In the fierce battle that ensued, Gabrielle was separated from Xena.� All the enemy fighters had headed for Xena and formed a circle around her.� Not one had engaged the bard.� She was just about to go and help her friend when she heard a low chuckle behind her.� She spun to see Ares standing there.� Before she could say a word, he stretched out his hand towards her and a violent wind sprung up.� The bard dug into the ground with her staff, and screamed for Xena.�
The warrior looked up to see her friend's plight, but as she tried to flip over her remaining opponents, she was struck down and fell on the ground hard.� Through the milling legs before her she could see the portal closing.� Gabrielle had disappeared.� She got up and screamed, "Gabrielle!"� But then a right hook sent her sprawling again.� Ares laughed, and with a final glance at the still battling Xena, he was gone.

� Janice had just gotten to the base of the hill when a sudden wind whipped around her.� With one hand she clamped her beloved hat down on her head as she stared around in shock as the wind grew stronger.� Then everything faded away momentarily.�

When the wind died down, she was in the same spot, but things seemed slightly different.� She shook her head to clear away the sudden fuzziness and then heard strange clanging sounds.� She turned just in time to see a man rush at her with a sword.�
"What the hell!", she yelled as she ducked away from his swipe and came up swinging.�
She was soon in fight mode and a rush of adrenaline coursed through her veins as she got a solid hit to her attacker's face.� Before he had finished sliding to the ground, another man was rushing towards her.� She grinned as she ducked under his punch and surprised him with a punch of her own.�

Xena looked over at a new sound and her heart leaped as she saw Gabrielle...but it wasn't.� Other than the clothes and combat skills, there was an excitement playing over the woman's face.� She was clearly enjoying the fight.� Xena focused her attention once more to her opponents and with two skillful slashes left them bleeding on the ground.�

Janice had dealt with two men already, but the last one proved to be more difficult.� She dodged another blow and kicked away his sword.� He quickly responded by backhanding her across the face.�
After a touch to her lip revealed blood, Janice yelled furiously, "I didn't come to this damn hill to get smacked by some smelly lunatic!"� Then she pulled out a knife and threw it at the soldier.� At such close range he couldn't possibly dodge fully, but an instinctive movement kept the knife from his chest, and instead it stuck in his arm.� He glanced from the weapon embedded in his shoulder to Janice's wrathful face and suddenly took off running.�
"Where the hell are you going!� That's my favorite knife!"� With this angry yell, Janice dashed after him.�

After slashing her last opponent, Xena looked up just in time to see the last soldier with a knife stuck in his arm running away from the mystery woman.� Her eyes widened as the woman hit the man from behind with a flying tackle and knocked him out with a savage punch to the jaw.� Then she pulled the knife from his arm and wiped it on his armor, placing it back in its sheath with a decisive nod.� Then she dusted off her clothes and looked up.

Janice saw the woman before her and was struck silent for a moment before she moved closer and held out a hand.� "God she looks like Mel."

�"Hi, I'm...," she began before noticing the puzzled look facing her.� She frowned and dredged up her ancient greek, before trying again.

Xena watched the woman carefully, not sure whether to trust her.� Maybe she had been sent here by Ares.� But, she had helped fight off the attackers.� And why was she wearing such strange clothing?� She waited as the woman began to say something in a strange language unlike anything she had ever heard before.� The woman stopped for a minute, and then continued, "Hello, I'm Janice Covington."

Janice took the hand the warrior offered, and nodded as she replied, "Xena."

Both women just looked each other over and then tried to speak at once.� "Wait," Janice interrupted, "I think I know a few things you don't.� I'll go first.� We might as well sit down, this will take a while."�
She then told a little about herself and how she met Mel, then launched into the whole story of the Xena scrolls, their discovery and recovery, and where the scrolls had led them.� Xena just sat nodding or sometimes smirking a little, especially when Janice told of her fight with Ares, and she even groaned a little when she learned of Joxer's descendent.� She had decided to believe Janice, at least for the time being.� There was something about her that spoke to the warrior, and she wondered what her own descendent Melinda turned out.� From the way Janice spoke of her, she was nearly perfect.� Xena's eyebrow rose at the thought and she carefully watched Janice's face as the younger woman mentioned Mel again.��
"Hmmm...I wonder.."

Finally, Janice was finished with the story, and Xena told the archeologist of what had happened just before she appeared.� "Somehow, you must have been switched.� But I don't know if that was Ares intent. �I have a feeling he just meant to send Gabrielle somewhere."

"If we just switched places, then Gabrielle will be fine," Janice reassured her, "Mel will take care of her.� She's good at that.

That said, she stared off into the distance, missing her gentle partner already.

� Mel stood at the top of the hill and waited for Janice.� Then she saw the red-blonde head coming up the hill.�

Gabrielle looked up and saw those blue eyes looking down at her, so she quickly jogged up to meet her.

At the top of the hill Mel and Gabrielle both froze and stared at each other.� "Why would Janice switch from her ever-present khaki pants and shirt to a skirt and skimpy halter top?� Where was her hat?� Why was she carrying a big stick?"

Gabrielle just continued to stare at "Xena" and wondered what could possess her friend to change clothes.� And where was her sword?

Finally, she spoke aloud, "Xena, is that you?"

Hearing the woman speak ancient greek snapped Mel out of her puzzled thoughts.� ";No," she replied slowly, "I'm Melinda Pappas.� Xena was one of my ancestors though."

"Ancestors," the bard squeaked, and then tottered as the world began to spin.� "Oh no," she groaned, ";not that."� Her wishes were denied as she toppled to the ground in a dead faint.� Luckily Mel kept her head and managed to get the bard down the hill and into her tent.�
After settling her in bed and reviving her with some water, she was able to calm the woman enough to tell much the same story that Janice had told Xena, painting her incorrigible partner in such noble shades that Gabrielle immediately saw through it, though she didn't say a word.� When she was done, Gabrielle told her own story.� How she and Xena had been visiting Potadeia and about Ares and the portal.�

"I don't know why he would have sent me here, though I'm sure it's part of one of his stupid plans to get Xena back."

Mel nodded and replied,"I should go find Janice.� She needs to know about all this.� You can wait here.� It wouldn't be good for anyone to see two Dr. Covington's wandering around."

� After an unsuccessful day of trying to get Ares to come and chat, Xena had made camp and was sitting in front of the fire sharpening her sword.� Janice sat across from her resting her chin on folded hands and staring into the flames.� Although she was apparently absorbed in the weapon before her, in reality Xena was carefully studying Janice.�
Outwardly, there weren't many differences between her and Gabrielle.� Her hair was a few shades lighter, and she was slightly taller than the bard, but the biggest differences were not entirely physical.� Her expressions and mannerisms were not the same, and Xena could not see the aura of innocence that was an almost tangible thing with Gabrielle.� Janice had the look of someone who had seen and been through a lot.�

A while later, Janice snapped out of her trance with a small sigh and took off her hat.� She stared at it a minute and then set it down with obvious effort.� "As much as I hate to part with this hat, I have a plan."

Xena set down her sword and waited for her to begin.

"Ares obviously meant to send Gabrielle somewhere.� But I'm pretty sure that he never wanted to send me here.� Now, you look almost exactly like Mel.� Do I look like Gabrielle?"

Xena stared into familiar mist green eyes as she responded, "You're nearly identical."

"Good," Janice continued,";� Here's my plan.� If you dress me up like Gabrielle and pretend that nothing happened.� If Ares tries to send me back thinking that I'm Gabrielle then maybe we'll just switch back again."

"It's worth a try," Xena replied thoughtfully, "He was obviously going to use Gabrielle to get me to do something.� And for him to go so far as to kidnap her, it must be important.� We can deal with him tomorrow though.� For now let's get some sleep."

Xena spread out the bedrolls and was asleep soon after, but Janice lay awake for some time.� She missed Mel and it was hard for her to drift off without her partner cuddled up next to her.� Her last thought before sleep took her was a wish that Gabrielle had good fashion sense.

� Mel was getting very worried, she couldn't find Janice anywhere, and no one had seen her since that morning.� As she rejoined Gabrielle in the tent, something clicked.� "Gabrielle, where were you when Ares sent you here?"

"I was just starting up the hill.� Why?"

"That's just where Janice probably was," Mel replied quietly, "I think you two were switched."

"Then Janice is probably with Xena."

"She'll probably have a great time then," Mel said with a wry smile that Gabrielle recognized, "She loves getting in trouble."

The translator's mind wandered for several seconds as she wished that she could be exploring ancient greece with her energetic partner.� Then her thoughts returned to the present.�

"We need to dress you like Janice so that no one asks any questions."

Soon the dark-haired woman had produced a pair of khaki pants and a shirt.� After searching the entire tent she also managed to find a belt with a sheathed knife attached to it.� Gabrielle changed into the new outfit and Mel pulled back the silky red-blonde hair.� Gabrielle made a small fuss about the knife, but Mel told her firmly, "Janice always carries a weapon."

"Just like Xena," the bard murmured remembering how many times she'd seen the warrior pull a dagger seemingly out of nowhere.

After a few more finishing touches the taller woman took a step back.�"There, all you're missing is the hat."

"Do I really look that much like her?" the bard asked, staring into a small mirror.� Mel reached for a picture and after looking at it for a few seconds, passed it to the bard.� "It's called a photograph," she added as explanation.�
It was a small rather fuzzy picture of Janice complete with hat sitting at her desk with her feet propped up.� One hand was resting on her gun hilt, and the other was holding a lit cigar.� Even out of focus, it captured Janice perfectly from the rakish tilt of her fedora to the mischievous glint in her eyes.�
After a long look at the picture, Gabrielle raised her head to see Mel playing with a chain around her neck.� Then Mel looked up and Gabrielle was caught in familiar blue eyes with a very unfamiliar expression.� The plain gold ring hanging on the chain sparkled dully in the dim light of the tent.

� Janice peeked out of the bushes and looked around.�

"Xena," she hissed, "I can't wear this!"

Xena looked amused as Janice slowly came out from behind the clump of greenery.

"I feel ridiculous," the blonde woman complained, "I've never shown this much skin in my life!"

"Well, you are� taller than Gabrielle," the warrior noted as she looked at the shorter than usual hemline, "you're just lucky that's not her other shirt.� It's even smaller."

"Smaller?� My socks use more fabric than this!"

Done with her complaining, Janice picked up the bag that contained her real clothes, as well as her gun, knife, and whip.� She pulled out the battered revolver and checked to make sure it was intact.� Xena looked at the gun with interest and asked what it was.� After satisfied that all six chambers were loaded, the archeologist spun the weapon on her finger.�
"This is called a gun.� It's a very powerful weapon.� This one has saved my life several times."

"A weapon?� How does it work?"

"Do you have an apple or something?"

Xena looked puzzled, but fished one out of her saddlebag.

"Now," said Janice, "this is your enemy.� Toss it up in the air for me."

The warrior complied and then watched in amazement as Janice whipped up the gun and fired, hitting the apple dead on and sending it exploding into mushy fragments.� The gunshot echoed through the woods as Janice expertly reloaded the gun and put it away.

Seeing Xena's amazed expression, she grinned.� The warrior quickly recovered and pulled out her chakram.�
"I may not be able to explode fruit, but I can slice it."

She pulled out a second apple and handed it to Janice who tossed it in the air.� Xena hurled her chakram through the air, and it ricocheted off a tree to slice the apple cleanly down the middle.� Half landed in Janice's hand, and Xena caught the other half.� She neglected to catch the chakram however, and upon turning around, the pair saw it embedded in Ares' chest.

"Show off," he muttered darkly as he returned the weapon.

"Just making breakfast," she replied nonchalantly.

The God of War was about to respond when he suddenly remembered he'd kidnapped Gabrielle the day before.

"What are you doing here?" he then demanded.

"That little windstorm was nice," Janice replied bitingly, "but I guess you're losing your touch."

Ares looked off-balance and could only say without his usual smugness, "Once I figure out what happened, I'll be back."

"If you need any help, be sure to let us know,"; Janice answered sarcastically.

He didn't respond, and instead chose to disappear with a scowl.

"Damn," Janice growled, "who knows if he'll even try again.�"

She kicked the nearest tree in frustration as her shoulders sagged.

"If Ares won't switch you back, the we'll just find some one else who will.� All the gods have the power to send people through time.� We just have to find one who will be willing to help us," the warrior said reassuringly, "but that might be the hardest part."

�� CONTINUED IN PART TWO....

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