"THE PRINCESS & THE QUEEN" series -SCROLL VII: SACRAMENTS FOR SUBSTANTIATION

pt.23

Deep within the cave, Xena and Gabrielle stood as the heat continued to rise from the lava beneath them after the ground had broken apart into multiple smaller sections. They looked ahead in surprise as they saw mirror images of themselves standing on one of the floating chunks of earth. Xena scowled as she looked at their doppelgangers.

XENA
I'm gonna guess that you're the spirits that we've been talking to.

The Xena look-alike spirit nodded slightly.

SPIRIT XENA
Indeed.

XENA
Any particular reason why you look just like us?

SPIRIT GABRIELLE
Along with making it to the other side, you both must face what lies within.

XENA
We already did that inside of the spirit realm. What point is there to do it again?

SPIRIT XENA
You've faced each other's pasts, yes. But this is a test not for your partner to face, but for yourselves.

Xena smirked.

XENA
Like there's anything you can say that I haven't heard before.

SPIRIT XENA
We shall see. So are you going to proceed?

Both Gabrielle and Xena spoke at the same time.

XENA
No.

GABRIELLE
Yes.

Xena turned to face Gabrielle.

XENA
Gabrielle please just listen to reason here. This isn't safe. We could very well die extremely horrible deaths trying this.

Gabrielle looked at Xena.

GABRIELLE
Xena, we've gone up against political powerhouses, warlords, and crazed psychopaths. Faced entire army's when our side was severely outnumbered. Survived backstabbing and betrayals. Even stood toe to toe with some of the Gods themselves and somehow come out on top. How's doing this really any different than all the other things we've faced over our time together?

XENA
Battle is one thing. A person can survive being hit by an arrow or getting stabbed. A person can even live through getting hit a couple of times by a god
if they're not hit anyplace vital so it wouldn't necessarily be lethal. But it's a guarantee that falling into a lava pit definitely is. We fail in there, we are NOT coming back out.

Gabrielle scowled.

GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) I'm not stupid Xena. We both know that you should have no real trouble getting access, regardless of what you might say. I've seen you pull off far crazier feats with minimal effort. And I know that I can do this too.

Gabrielle turned away from Xena and faced the sea of lava and stone before her.

GABRIELLE
Even if you insist that I can't.

Then without another word and before Xena saw it coming, Gabrielle took off running. Xena attempted to grab her but she was already out of reach and Xena watched in disbelief as Gabrielle ran straight towards the ground's edge. She quickly chased after her.