MONDAY FAN FICTION REPORT - 8/31/98
[Previous report was for 8/29/98]

Hi all,

Slow news night tonight but some wonderful new and updated fiction :)

GENERAL FICTION:

THAT FIRST NIGHT by Lela Kaunitz
Sweet vignette recounting the events of that first night a reformed warlord and a girl from Poteidaia ever sent together. -- 2 pgs.
https://ausxip.com/fanfic4/thatfirstnight.html

ALTERNATIVE FICTION:

SUMMER GAMES OR HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BARD by Rooks
From the gifted bard who's brought us great fanfic pieces like YOU CAN'T JUDGE A SCROLL BY ITS CASE and most recently THE FARMER'S TALE comes a charming new story that further marks this writer's fiction as one of the most original around. This newest tale is an enchanting package full of surprises. It begins ominously enough with the Warrior Princess discovering her partner in a rather...compromising position. In an attempt to explain, the embarrassed bard then begins a tale Xena is herself somewhat familiar with - only Gabrielle tells her about the parts she didn't know. The bard recalls their journey to Calydon to warn the people of a killer boar loose in the area. She recalls too their encounter there with the princess Atalanta - an athletic beauty determined to prove herself...and very much fascinated with the warrior and bard who befriend her. It is a friendship that soon finds Xena trying to keep the flirtatious princess from getting killed - and finds Gabrielle considering...new possibilities. Rooks characterizations are exceptional with a Xena and Gabrielle that are very different people but also very well-matched partners and equals. With the characteristic blend of humor, romance, and SURPRISES that increasingly define a Rooks tale, this is one read that will leave you shaking your head in amazement and sporting one decidedly satisfied grin! A MUST READ folks! VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! -- 74 pgs.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/4865/summer1.html

CRADLE OF DESTINY by Danae
A VERY clever resolution to the chain of events set forth in the episode SACRIFICE II which links a seemingly inconsequential incident from Gabrielle's past with the destiny she would one day fulfill. It begins in the treasury of King Gregor's castle that moment we saw in the episode CRADLE OF HOPE when a very young Gabrielle accidentally bumps into Pandora's box sending it to the floor and breaking it open. To the warrior and bard the box appeared empty but unbeknownst to them the Hope of mankind was indeed inside. Once released it takes residence inside the bard whose gentle heart and optimism mark her as a kindred spirit. It is that hope within Gabrielle that will eventually draw the attention of an evil god plummeting the young bard and her partner into a nightmare seemingly without end...until Hope once again makes its presence known. Wonderfully written story with a fascinating plot and a very viable solution to the dilemma our two heroines found themselves in at the end of season three. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! -- 7 pgs.
https://ausxip.com/fanfic4/cradleofdestiny.html

CYBEREPIC by Redhawk
Parts 5-6 are now available. This talented bard's second uber-Xena story is a Cyberpunk tale set in the 21st century in a North America torn by war. As the conflict rages on between the government and the power-hungry corporations, the last surviving members of the Red Wolves Clan struggle to survive, seeking vengeance on those who've harmed them and placing all their hopes on the shoulders of their enigmatic, fearless leader. Not suspecting the danger she's about to head into, Canadian Shannon Elias accepts a job as a courier - embarking on a mission that will take her into the heart of the conflict...and to a meeting with destiny. In these latest sections a heart surrenders to love while entire countries are crippled by a deadly virus. Redhawk's fiction is well-written, with an intriguing plot that successfully merges cyberpunk with uber-Xena. The uber-characters are original while recalling familiar elements of Xena and Gabrielle. Entertaining read. [unfinished] -- 19 pgs.
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Atrium/2385/CyberEpic1.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-)