By L. Crystal Michallet
Copyright © L. Crystal Michallet July 1, 2001
All Rights Reserved
Xena Warrior Princess, its characters, and all related materials are the property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. The
other characters are mine. Like the show, I am playing around with the historical time lines.
Author's Note:
This story was inspired by a short story, ?You Should Have?? that I wrote after FIN.
Credits:
As always, at the top of my list is a big thank you to my wife. She now realizes I am taking great liberties with her Moroccan
heritage, vague physical description and mannerisms and she doesn?t seem mind. My next thanks go to Bill the Semi-Bard, who
jumped on board as my beta reader, thanks Bill! The character of Nadrah is inspired by Sarina, the cutest little girl, who I met at
the Pasadena 2001 convention. You may see a picture of my inspiration of Nadrah, at: Xena's Little Fans. Lastly, this is for
Scotty. Thanks for still hanging around to check up on me from time to time. Your human form is dearly missed, but your
constant antics never fail to keep me amused.
Disclaimers:
First, let me explain my own views regarding disclaimers. For those of you new to disclaimers, they are the warnings that are
placed at the beginning of Fan Fiction stories. They warn the readers of any objectionable material that a reader may come upon.
For instance, those readers who do not wish to read a sub text story, either woman/woman or male/male, are forewarned in
order that they may leave the site. In no other form of reading are disclaimers added. Although it is true that many professional
books include a basic description of the novel, you will not be able to find any piece of professional literature that gives the type
of disclaimers that are found in fan fiction. It is because of this that I, as an author, believe that disclaimers are a courtesy, not a
requirement.
Secondly, since writing this story I have experience some negative views from Xena fans. Some fans do not want to imagine
that Xena and Gabrielle could be with anyone other than each other. It is because of these strong views that they have criticized
my way of providing disclaimers. The debates ensued around this topic until it was so overblown that some fans actually
wanted to have included into the disclaimer whether or not the story would end with a happy ending. They compared scenes of
violence, molestation and rape on the same level of a sad ending, or an ending where Gabrielle ends up with anyone other than
Xena. I have refused to comply to these critics for the following reasons:
1. I have, and always will provide disclaimers for topics that will affect an individual?s mental health, such as rape, violence,
molestation, etc. However, I do not necessarily consider a sad ending to be detrimental to an individual?s mental health.
2. To give a disclaimer that would warn the reader that either Xena or Gabrielle will be paired up with anyone but each other
would be giving away too much of the plot.
3. To give a disclaimer that would guarantee a happy ending would be revealing the plot to the readers. A reader wanting a
guaranteed happy ending is not only unreasonable, but demanding that the writer go against the story that is being created.
Happy endings are very subjective and hard to find in any form of literature. Even Annie of Avonlea ended sad. For some, The
Wizard of Oz was sad and even the well known children?s book, Alice In Wonderland has been picked apart to ad nauseum. So,
for readers to require a disclaimer stating that the story will either end "Happily Ever After" or "Not Happily Ever After," is, in my
opinion, being unreasonable.
To those of you who become offended by this, I thank you for getting this far in the disclaimers and I welcome you to close this
page and forgo reading what I have been told is a very entertaining piece of writing.
Now, my view on reading is that it is like a roller coaster ride. When you first sit in the roller coaster you are fully aware that
there will be twists and turns during the ride. Unless you?ve ridden it many times, the various twists and turns will be a surprise.
When you board the roller coaster you know full well that you will be taken on a thrill ride. What if, before sitting on the roller
coaster the ticket takers would draw out a map for you, explain to you where all of the twists and turns will be. At this point,
there will be no surprises for you and the ride would be predictable. It is for this reason that I, as a fan fic writer, have refused
to include a disclaimer that will positively state if Xena and Gabrielle pair up with anyone else and if the story will eventually end
?Happily Ever After.?
With that said, If, you are able to not prejudge this story solely on the basis of misconceptions or presumed assumptions, and
you want to be taken on an adventure, then fasten your seat belts, because I guarantee you a thrill ride that will stay with you for
some time.
L. Crystal Michallet - Romero
7/15/01
