And In The End…

by AngelKim

Disclaimers:- I do not own XWP, or any of the characters in it. They belong to Renaissance Pictures, MCA and USA Studios. I am making no money whatsoever out of this, and it is just for the enjoyment of XWP fans.

Violence/Sex/Subtext:- Yes, the entire plot is centered around violence. No sex and no subtext. This fic is friendly to anyone that likes XWP, and I hope that you all enjoy it.

Summary:- The very last scene in Season Six… what the author thinks should happen.

Authors Notes:- I heard in the papers that in the very last episode of Season Six Xena was killed by the Samurai, and I bawled my eyes out for hours. I would like to be writing a nicer fic, but this is what has inspired me at the moment.

Dedication:- I want to do something totally different and dedicate this one to Xena herself. Even though she doesn't exist, I would like to say what an inspiration she has been to me over the years, and I know this is incredibly corny, but shit happens. I'm going to miss watching her every week.

Xena was getting desperate, her sword blows were becoming more frantic against the man before her. The sound of metal against metal was becoming duller in her ears. She knew that Gabrielle was okay, the bar was fighting only a few meters away.

But this Samurai.

The Warrior Princess didn't know why she had chosen to come to Japan with Gabrielle, all that she knew was that she had. The entire trip had been such a blur, such a trivial thing in their lives, up until this battle came about.

Maybe she was falling short of the mark? Maybe she wasn't as good as she used to be? Or maybe, just maybe, this man had always been better than her. The former warlord might never have been the best in the world… he might have always been.

She tried to stab in at him, but he left no openings for her to get through. It was like fight Ares, and she knew how hard that was. The Destroyer of Nations was caught up in the moment, and the samurai managed to knock her weapon out of her hands.

Shock registered briefly on her dark features. No one had ever knocked her sword out of her hand, not while she was gripping it that hard. Xena was getting lost, confused it what was happening, she was thinking too much…

There was only one thing to do now.

And that was to fight.

The tall beauty's features went rock solid as she let her warrior half take control of her actions. Nothing mattered except her opponent now. There was no one else in the world, not a man woman or child, just her, and her opponent.

Chakram in hand she went in for the kill, slashing in every direction, blocking blows before they had even started. It was like a demonic force had overtaken the proud woman, and now she was only fighting for one thing… to win.

They traded blows, both equally matched in skill and power. It was a sight to behold. The two best warriors in the world, each fighting for something, one for his men, the other for her pride. And the outcome of the battle hinged on one thing.

What was worth more.

Xena didn't want to lose, she knew that she couldn't afford it, a battle like this was taking the energy out of her as it was, but it was just going to get worse if it went on for much longer.

The sun was starting to fade overhead, and the sunset briefly caught the attention of the battling warriors. The swirl of oranges, red, purples, and blues filled the sky as they fought on, seemingly endlessly.

'This is how it will end.' Xena thought as she parried yet another blow, 'In front of the most beautiful sight I will ever lay my eyes upon.'

The swings from her chakram were starting to get weaker, but Xena knew that she couldn't give up, she had to fought it out until the end, even if she knew that it was hopeless.

But Gabrielle…

The bard would be so lonely without her, it would rip her shreds if the famed Warrior Princess left that life. And Ares, another man that cared so deeply about her, would he lose her to this samurai? Her life had been filled with people that had loved her, and they had all lost her. Hercules, Borias, Ares, Cyrene, Toris, Lyceus, Marcus, all victims to a terrible curse, but all willing to die for her.

It was her choice now, and only hers, she could run away… or she could stay until the dreaded conclusion. The proud woman's heart demanded that she stay to fight, and to win, but her head said something else completely. 'There will be plenty of other battles to fight. Why must you win this one?'

The answer was simple.

Pride.

If she could not beat the man that she was faced with now, she would never be the best. It was not a matter of whether or not the warrior woman died, it was the fact that she had done her bit, and she had proven that she had never known fear. That was what would make the raven-haired beauty remembered for eons, the fact that she would never be taken without a fight.

"XEEEENNNNNAAAA!" she heard someone scream from her left.

Before the great warrioress even had a chance to look around, she felt it.

'Stupid girl, stupid, stupid girl.' She thought as she glanced down at her stomach.

Because the mighty woman had been focused on her thoughts, and her decision to stay and fight, she had left an opening, just one.

And he had taken her.

The blade wasn't in her as she fell to the ground, holding her stomach in disbelief. How… she… she had… she had lost… to HIM. Thoughts raced through her mind as she tried to lift herself off the ground. None of her muscles were co-operating… she already knew that the wound was fatal, but that didn't mean that she couldn't…

The energy was draining from her faster than anything she had ever felt. Blood was coming from her mouth now as the once powerful beauty watched the sun set. She hadn't been lying when she had decided it was most beautiful thing that she had ever seen, it was more beautiful than a rose, more prefect than the dew drops of a morning.

And in the end, that was what counted… the small things in life made it possible to go on. And maybe, just maybe, the day would come when she finally learnt the meaning of true happiness. But for now, that day was too far to see.

The Destroyer of Nations, Warrior Princess and the most powerful warrior the world had ever known smiled slightly as her vision became blurry.

Lyceus… she would see him again… her brother… she could almost se him now… the fun they would have… the adventures, and the things that they would share, all part of what was waiting for her on the other side.

And holding that thought in her heart, mind and soul, she closed her eyes, and let the darkness come.

The End

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