SATURDAY FAN FICTION REPORT - 6/6/98
[Previous report was for 6/5/98]

Hi guys,

Short one tonight with offerings from two very popular talents. This is an all alt. report which features the first appearance of the story HOLY WAR in the alt. section :)

ALTERNATIVE FICTION:

PROMISES KEPT by Missy Good
After another of her LOOOOONG absences ;-) this bard-extraordinaire returns with the sequel to LEAP OF FAITH which finds the warrior and bard getting on with their lives, making plans for both the weeks ahead...and the years they plan to spend together. For Xena this involves some final preparations for their upcoming trip to see friends and family...for the bard it means taking the first steps in turning a wish into reality. There are things about a Missy story that just seem automatic these days - solid, sensitively-drawn portrayals of our two heroines, beautiful writing with rich images and lots of heartfelt exchanges, a terrific supporting cast and one of the most heart-warming depictions of the Xena/Gab relationship in fanfic. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
http://home.att.net/~merwolf/promise1.htm

HOLY WAR by ProudWarrioress
Chapter 16 - THE JOURNEY - is now available. ProudWarrioress' tale is a novel which inspired by THE PRICE goes way beyond the episode in terms of scope, creating a story of such magnitude and such impact that it can only be described as a saga of epic proportions - a blockbuster of XWP fan fiction. Set after the events in THE PRICE, this novel begins ominously with the thoughts of a warrior as he prepares to go to war - not an ordinary warrior but a leader among men - a warrior getting ready to unleash the greatest terror Greece has ever known as he leads his army on a holy crusade to recover the Chosen One promised long ago to his people - a prophesy Telmark, Supreme Commander of the Horde, is determined to see fulfilled at any cost. It is this new and deadl y threat which Xena and Gabrielle find themselves facing when they join the massive army of several allied Greek City states preparing to do battle with the Horde. At the head of the army is Marmax, the commander from the episode IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE who thanks to Xena and the bard found peace for his own people but now must fight a battle for the very survival of Greece. Despite their mounting fears, Xena and Gabrielle agree to help the allied force and soon find themselves in a familiar situation - heavily outnumbered, facing savage Horde warriors - with little hope of survival. For Xena the solution is to start awakening the darkness within herself and to try to make sure Gabrielle is safe but what the Warrior Princess never suspects is that once again she is spending too much time trying to fight the Horde without considering what their motivations could be - what they want...or whom? In this latest chapter the Horde consider a change of plans while Xena finally accepts a truth that has been in her heart for the past three years. The story has the feel of great film epics like SPARTACUS or the more contemporary BRAVEHEART. The battle s cenes are so well-written and so carefully choreographed that they stand out vividly. ProudWarrioress' depiction of the Xena/Gabrielle relationship, as in her other stories, is one of deep friendship, loyalty, sacrifice and unquestionable commitment. She uses a shifting point-of-view technique that gives us a very thorough insight into the minds of both our heroines and their enemy. This story is an experience you will not soon forget. A MUST READ for every Xenite, it carries my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!!
http://members.tripod.com/~ProudWarrioress/fanfic/fanfic.html

For those of you reading this post who are not familiar with the term alternative (alt.), it refers to ADULT stories that add a romantic element to the relationship between Xena and Gabrielle, depicting them as more than just friends.

Happy reading!

Lunacy 8-)