ChakrA As the setting sun turns to a crimson red, a majestic ship sails across the ocean waves heading towards the land of the Pharoes.  (This world is blind and ruthless, how can something so wrong be considered right?  I hate it...Xena come back. -Ares? What are you doing here? ....I-uh-I-I Gabrielle, "What!?" Ares, "I'm in love with you." Gabrielle, "What!!?  Ares you must be dillusional, I will never love you." Ares, "but." Gabrielle, "Just go." Ares, "wh-what, but I-I..." Gabrielle, "Go." The nerve, now that Xena's gone he thinks he can just- -"Gabrielle." Gabrielle, "Xena??" -"No, Akemi, I have come to warn you of an impending doom, which will arise once the setting moon has been made red." Gabrielle, "What?   What do you-" Akemi, "The time is near, you must restore what has wrongfully been taken from your world..." Gabrielle, "wait! Don't go-" Akemi, "Hurry Gabrielle, our souls are in your hands-" Gabrielle, "What do you mean the moon has been-" Akemi, "Go now Gabrielle, you must, before it's too late.)" Hey captain, wake up!  We've arrived. Gabrielle, "Huh? What, it was a dream?...but it seemed so real..." Man, "Are you alright?  You seem out of it." Gabrielle, "Oh, I-I'm fine, thanks.  How long have I been out?" Man, "For quite sometime now, it's understandable considering what you've been through, Gabrielle are you sure your okay?  I kow what it's like to lose someone close to you." Gabrielle, "Yes, I know, I'm alright though Virgil.  I guess I was just a little more tired than I thought, thanks for the concern." Virgil, "Hey Gabrielle, I never really asked but...why here?" Gabrielle, "New places, new adventures, it's a fresh start, besides, I heard they were in need of a girl with a Chakram.  Get your gear and let's move out." Gabrielle to villager, "Excuse me miss, what city are we in?" Villager,"......" Gabrielle, Did you hear me?" Villager, "......" The villager walks right pass them. Virgil, "Guess they don't take much to strangers around these parts." Gabrielle, "Yeah, well we'd better look for a place to set up camp." As the two head in search of land to set up camp, all the villagers dissappear to their homes.  Meanwhile Gabrielle and Virgil find a quaint little forest. Virgil, "It sure is quiet out here, almost seems like we're in ghost town." -(whispers all around only Gabrielle can hear.....souls depend on you...<echoes on>......our souls....you...save us Gabrielle) Gabrielle, "Did you say something?" Virgil, "Yeah, I said it sure is quiet around here, almost seems like we're in a ghost town...." Gabrielle recalls the dream of Akemi telling her-before the moon is made red, our souls are in your hands.  The realization kicks in, Higuchi-Jappa.  We have to go back to the land of Jappa. Virgil, "What!?" Gabrielle, "We have to go back, somethings wrong." Virgil, "What do you mean, the lost souls have been redeemed, including Xena's." Just when Gabrielle begins to explain to Virgil-all the villagers appear out of thin air, attacking them.  The villager Gabrielle was trying to talk to launches a fierce kick, taking Virgil by complete surprise, knocking him head first into a tree-which knocks him unconscious.  Gabrielle somersaults and launches a head on kick, but she passes through her body.  Gabrielle than reaches for her Chakram and releases it, but it misses, it bounces off a tree and returns to Gabrielle, as she holds it she see's Xena's face-which is in great despair. In the middle of a battle she has no time to spare, again Gabrielle tries to attack the woman, and finds that everything she throws, passes through her body.  The other villagers appear behind her and grab her.  They all vanish taking Gabrielle and Virgil with them. As the setting moon falls, the light of dawn awakens Gabrielle, she finds herself tied up, kicking and trying to break from the ties, she unleashes herself from the binds, realizing she was stuck underneath her bed roll. Gabrielle, "VIRGIL!!!?" Virgil, "What!?" Gabrielle...a-another...dream, but- Virgil, "Are you alright?" Gabrielle, "What happened last night?" Virgil, "We went to sleep, you act as if you'd seen a ghost?" Gabrielle,"...a ghost...Akemi....Xena...we've got to go back." Virgil, "Back where?" Gabrielle, "Jappa, something's wrong." Virgil, "What?  How can you know something's wrong in Jappa." Gabrielle, "I had a dream the night we arrived in Africa, Akemi told me of an impending doom which will arise once the setting moon has been made red.  That I must restore what has wrongfully been taken from the world.  She said our souls are in your hands, that I must hurry before it's too late-" Virgil, "-Gabrielle, it was just a dream, you can't act out on your dreams, you're not making any sense." Gabrielle,"..and then last night I had another dream, we were attacked by the villagers, and you were knocked out, I was trying to fight them off but it was more like fighting a...ghost. What if I was right all along, that Xena's death was never meant to be, that somehow her death is what's causing this impending doom that Akemi's telling me about.  We have to go...now." Virgil, "Alright I believe you, let's go-" -well, what are you waiting for let's move out. Gabrielle, "Your arm!?" Virgil, "What about it." Gabrielle, "Virgil, your arm is..gone." Virgil, "Yeah, it's been like this ever since Livia cut it off, don't you remember?  It was after she killed my father-you know Joxer.  You act as if this is the first time you've seen it gone." Gabrielle, "Virgil...Virgil!?.......Virgil, where'd you--go.  Was he just a dream too, or was he real??  What is-" -Remembering the words of Akemi, before the moon is made red, our souls are in your hands. Gabrielle, "Jappa, I have to hurry before it's too late."  As Gabrielle heads out all of the villagers appear again...ready for blood. Gabrielle thinking to herself, I don't have time for this...your just an illusion-three of them attack and Gabrielle is hit-realizing it's no illusion she readies herself, grabs her sais and defends herslef from the villagers.  All of the villagers have surrounded her ready to attack at any given time, not knowing what to do Gabrielle reaches for her Chakram holds it up, and releases it-watching as it flies around hitting every single villager and blasting them into thin air.  Gabrielle throws her hand up in the air where her Chakram eases itself gently into her hand.  <What a powerful and destructive weapon, Gabrielle thinking to herself> With no time to spare Gabrielle heads towards the dock-chakram in hand, noticing that all the ships and the ocean itself have vanished. Gabrielle thinking only of getting to Jappa, yells in frustration, what's going on, I don't have time for this I have to get to <~)(~Jappa...............~)(~> ......Mysteriously Gabrielle finds herself in Jappa. Gabrielle, "Akemi.......Akemi.  Realizing the only way to talk to Akemi is in her dreams she....." Gabrielle, "c'mon chakram don't fail me now, I have to see Akemi." She releases the Chakram, ready to let it knock her unconscious, only to find that her Chakram is floating in the air, hovering and glowing, it moves to the left and then the right. Gabrielle, "What you want me to follow you...alright." As Gabrielle takes a step she enters another dimension, not knowing where she is-only seeing her Chakram still hovering she grabs it, and replaces it on her side. Gabrielle, "Akemi?  Akemi are you here??" Akemi, "Yes, I'm here." Gabrielle, "Where am I?" Akemi, "Your in the land of Chakra." Gabrielle, "How-" Akemi,"...did you get here?  The Chakram, our souls are in your hands...the Chakram isn't what you think it is.  It is the key." Gabrielle, "Key??" Akemi, "The key between your world and this, the land of eternity, the land of the living, the land of Chakra." Gabrielle, "Chakra you mean Chakram." Akemi, "It's what you call, the Elysian Fields, Tartarus, Heaven and Hell.  When the two chakrams of light and dark are combined they're transformed into that Chakram you hold there, a key.  That Chakram was meant to be carried by Xena, Xena was it's protector, watcher, she was the one who was to see to it that no evil would ever possess it.  Whoever possesses that Chakram-the key, can open doors unimaginable to the known world." Gabrielle, "Is Xena-" Akemi, "Here?  No, she was never meant to be here, you see those who carry and protect the chakram-" Gabrielle, "Wait, I thought there was only one?" Akemi, "Gabrielle, the land of Chakra, and all three of the Chakrams go back in time-farther back in time then before the titans.  The land of Chakra is where everything was born from.  Your gods, man, woman, good.......and evil.  Gabrielle, Xena's death opened doors, doors that were never ever to be opened.  As a protector of the key-the chakram, it's their destiny to see that the land of Chakra be protected from evil forces who would stop at nothing to take over, and control all." Gabrielle, "These doors you keep talking about, what has been opened?" Akemi, "Evil, Gabrielle, Evil has escaped this world and entered your world." Gabrielle, "How is that possible?" Akemi, "You now carry the Key-the Chakram, only it's not your destiny to protect the land of Chakra-you couldn't handle the everything that goes with it, your dreams opened the portal to which Shikiro used and entered your world.  The world is doomed Gabrielle, once Shikiro enters the sacred Temple of the Chakram and creates a Chakram of destruction, your world will never have existed and everything you hold dear to your heart will have vanished.  It's already begun, these illusions you've been having, Virgil, Africa, the villagers, it's all Shikiro." Gabrielle, "Shikiro?" Akemi, "She is feared as the most evil tyrant because she brought evil into the land of Chakra, into your world.  Hell-Tartarus, pain, despair, those are Shikiro's creations of amusement.  Xena's destiny as yours, were predestined before you were ever born." Gabrielle, "What does Xena have to do with the key and what's-" Akemi, "Gabrielle, the land of Chakra is a mysterious place that is not meant to be understood, just know that Xena must be brought back to life.  Go now Gabrielle, go to the Temple Of  The Chakram.  There you'll be shown the way." Gabrielle, "But-I-I still don't know-" Akemi, "Hurry!  There's no time to waste." Now inside the Temple of The Chakram, Gabrielle removes the key and places it on the altar, specially fitted for the key.  "Xena I know you're out there somewhere, please show me what to do." <From the "prayer," Gabrielle is given a vision of Xena and herself holding the chakram of dark and the chakram of light.> "What does this mean, I need Xena back in order to destroy Shikiro?  What about the key??" Gabrielle thinking to herself, of course, Xena and I are destined to walk through life together, she is the key of dark, and I am the key of light.  The chakram of dark and the chakram of light, once Xena is brought back we have to split the chakram in two, Xena controls the chakram of dark, and I control the chakram of light.  It all makes sense, and when the two are joined together, we're-it's unstoppable.  Xena was the protector of the neutral Chakram-the key, but separate, we're both the protectors of light and dark. With this newly found information Gabrielle must hurry and find a way to bring Xena back into the world before Shikiro ends it.  Still in The Temple Of The Chakram, Gabrielle tries to remove the Chakram, but finds it's untouchable, she tries again but a powerful bright light hits her and knocks her to the ground. -"ow!  Great, as if I didn't have enough to worry about, what's next??" -<a magical chime, and a breeze of wind, a mysterious figure appears.>- "Hello little one."      Gabrielle turns around and see's Aphrodite. Aphrodite,"Is it true, what they've been saying about Xena?  That she's...." Gabrielle,"Yes, she sacrificed herself in order to save the 40,000 souls after destroying the evil Yodoshi." Aphrodite,"I'm so sorry Gabrielle...is there anything I can UUGGHH!!!! Gabrielle,,"NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Asd a crash of light bursts into Aphrodite, the mighty Olympian is knocked across the temple.  Gabrielle rushes to her aid but.... -Where do you think you're going!? Gabrielle,"Who-Shikiro!!  UUUGGGHHHH!!!!!" Shikiro immediatley throws Gabrielle across the temple and heads straight for the key.  Inches from the key-she is hit by the fierce powerful shield that protects itself.  Again Shikiro tries to grb the key, but again she's hit. Gabrielle is grabbed from behind and is taken away, she turns around and finds that Aphrodite has zapped both Gabrielle and herself to a safer place, Mount Olympus. Aphrodite,"Are you alright?" Gabrielle,"Yeah I'll be fine..but the chakram-it's still in the temple." Aphrodite,"It'll be fine, it protects itself, beside since it's Xena's maybe she's the only one who can remove it." Gabrielle,"...maybe your right...." Aphrodite,"So, what can I do to help?" Gabrielle,"Bring her back...your a God, you have the power!" Aphrodite,"Gabrielle, I would love to help, but I can't do it alone, I'll need help.  I'm not sure the other Gods would be willing to save the life of the woman who brought upon the twilight of the olympian order, but I'll try to convince Cupid, and you talk to Ares." Gabrielle,"Alright." Aphrodite,"I'm sure Cupid will help, good luck with Ares." As Aphrodite heads off in search of Cupid, Gabrielle calls out for Ares, and asks for his help.  Ares being himself asks for something in return, and says,"let's just say you owe me one."  Meanwhile Aphrodite and Cupid have returned both ready and willing to bring back Xena. Cupid,"What' up." Ares,"You...and...you.??" Aphrodite,"What?!" Ares,"Air-head and her little errand boy, of all the Gods you chose-oh, right...Xena's little killing spree wiped out most of the Gods, so now I'm stuck with.....them!" Gabrielle and Aphrodite,"You pig." Cupid,"Alright, we need to get Xena's body, where is it?" Gabrielle,"...A-After finding her decapitated body, hung up like a piece of meat-and retrieving her bloodied head-I was to burn her body, and collect the ashes to take to Mt. Fuji.  As I did.  I couldn't part with her, so I took her ashes with me to the land of the Pharoes--" Aphrodite,"What?" Gabrielle,"The ship-her ashes were on the ship!" Ares,"So let's go to the ship." Gabrielle,"You don't understand, the ship-it dissappeared, as well as Virgil, the ocean itself--Shikiro!  I don't understand-I-I don't know if it was all a dream or reality...no I'm sure it was real, illusions, that's what they all were-Illusions.  The ship is still in the land of the Pharoes-" Cupid,"Let's go to the ship then." As they all "Zap" themselves to the ship, they arrive safely, Gabrielle goes in first leading the rest to the ashes.  Now with the ashes of Xena, Gabrielle asks the Olympians if the three of them are powerful enough to bring Xena back, even though she's just ashes.  "Of course we're powerful enough, no need to worry." Replies Aphrodite.  Cupid,"The safest place to bring her back would be Mount Olympus, if anything were to go wrong at least we'd be prepared." Gabrielle,"Alright, Mt. Olympus it is then." Gabrielle gives Xena's ashes to Ares, who spreads her ashes out on a table.  From there Ares, Cupid, and Aphrodite hold out their hands and begin. A bright light emit from there hands, as all of the olympians are concentrating on bringing Xena back to life, Gabrielle awaits her arrival leaning out from behind the olympians to get a glimpse of Xena.  Slowly the ashes turn from bits of powder into a form, the bright light starts to shine even brighter, from that form, a mold of Xena's skeleton emerges, and from the even brighter light that shines from the mighty Olympians hands, the bright light moves all around and above Xena's skeleton, the light as if the sun was right in front of them, blinds Gabrielle for a moment.  When Gabrielle's vision returns she see's Xena's face, the bright light turns from yellow, to red, to blue, then finally thurns white.  The bright white light busts through the entire room blinding everyone.  The burst of white light moves from the entire room into Xena's body, as everyone's vision returns they all see a figure, the light begins to fade from the olympians hands.  With their vision fully restored they all see Xena, laying across the table.  Gabrielle moves from behind and runs up to Xena. Slowly Xena opens her eyes. Gabrielle,"Xena...Xena." Xena,"Your a sight for sore eyes." Gabrielle tearfull with a smile begins to cry as she embraces Xena.  Xena turns to her right and sees Ares, Cupid, and Aphrodite... Xena,"Thank you." Gabrielle,"I've missed you so much, I-I can't believe your really back." Xena,"Even death couldn't keep us apart, I'll always be with you...no matter what.  I love you." Gabrielle,"and I love you...Xena there isn't much time, we've gotta get your chakram back, and destroy Shikiro...... With the help of Ares, Aphrodite, and Cupid Xena is brought back to life, only to find out that she and Gabrielle are the protectors of the chakram's, and they must destroy Shikiro, with the help of Akemi, Ares, Aphrodite, and Cupid. Xena,"Things could get dangerous, it's for the best that you stay behind, the world needs love and war, you'd all be better off here at Mt. Olympus. Aphrodite,"This time I'm gonna stay and fight by your side, besides your gonna need all the help you can get." Ares and Cupid,"She's right." Ares,"Face it Xena, this is one mission where you need all the God Of War fighting by your side...and them too." Cupid,"Besides, we've got a few tricks up our wings." Gabrielle,"Alright, it's settled then, we'd better get going." Xena,"She's right, so where's this temple." As they all zap themselves to the Temple Of Chakram, they arrive to find the key is still there.  Both Gabrielle, and Xena walk up to the key and each places their hand on it.  The chakram begins to glow, and from that glow the chakram rises into the air and splits into it's former self, the Chakram of Light and the Chakram of Dark.  Xena and Gabrielle raise their arms up into the air where both Chakram's return to their protectors.  --Now that you've recovered both of the keys, you must stop Shikiro before it's too late. Xena,"Akemi?" Akemi,"It's good to see you again, all of you, but I come with  tragic news, Shikiro has been killing everyone she comes in contact with, the world is crumbling beneath us, everything is being destroyed, look-the moon-it's begun." Gabrielle,"The moon....it's turning red!" Cupid,"We have to find Shikiro." Gabrielle,"but-how do we find her-" Xena,"We trap her." Akemi,"Whatever you do, do it quickly, once the moon is made red, existence as you know it will come to an end." Xena,"We have to find her, or else the world is doomed." ~~To be continued~~ copyright©-Chakra-olympu513o1-DecembeR 13,2001 <XenA:VirtuaL SeasoN 7>