GENERAL COPYRIGHT/DISCLAIMER:

Xena: Warrior Princess, Gabrielle, Argo and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess, together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan poem. All other characters, the poem idea and the poem itself are the sole property of the author. This poem cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this poem may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.

NOTE: All works remain the © copyright of the original author. These may not be republished without the author's consent.

This poem contains possible Spoilers for the eps Gabrielle's Hope, Maternal Instincts, Armageddon 1, The Sacrifice 1 and 2, and Family Affair; there is much that is of my own imagination also. I "Hope" this poem allows you to gain a different viewpoint of things in the Xenaverse.

Constant Hope---

The first sound I recall besides mother's screams,

is a hiss from a woman with eyes like blue beams.

"Gabrielle.... It's a baby!" she says in some wonder,

and the look on her face says she’s struck by the thunder.

Next she hands me to mom, and whips out a sword,

to defend me against three nasty warlords.

As I snuggle with mom, she says, "Oh, you're my Hope,

and I always will love you and help you to cope."

It just felt so good, I was safe and protected,

and I don't know anything else I expected.

As the sword clashes ended we went somewhere warm,

and sweet mother fussed o'er me, so glad I was borne.

But soon came a time when things changed for the worst,

I don't even know why that my world came to burst.

On the neck of a man left to guard me, I wanted,

this fire gleaming silvery thing, how it taunted.

See I've always loved fire and burny small things,

why I don't know, they just give my heart wings.

So I grabbed it and pulled and to my intent wonder,

the man's eyes began bulging, his life I did sunder.

Mom still fast asleep, at her side I lay down,

but now Xena came in with a terrible frown.

For some reason we fled then, sweet mother and me,

from the tall blue eyed woman who wanted to see,

the shade of my blood from the inside to out,

so mom and I fled by a difficult route.

First horse, and then boat that she bought from a man,

but I knew she was worried when we came to land.

"Oh, my dear darling Hope, my Xena's relentless,

she'll track us forever, your trail must be scentless."

In a basket she put me with a wooden carved lamb,

and sent me down river, not that she gave a damn.

It was cold and scary out there all alone,

and I cried and I cried "Momma, come take me home."

But she did not come, and I knew my first hate!

To me she could do this? Was this how I rate?

==========================================

Constant Hope--- Part 2

So there I was off in the world all alone,

till a fiery hand grabbed my boat with a moan.

"My name is Dahak, and you are my daughter,

help me enter this world, and the innocent slaughter."

It sounded like fun, so I thought that I'd help,

since darn mom didn't want me or love me herself.

Dad taught me some tricks I could do with my mind,

and I thought how I'd show mom, then all of mankind.

Oh, I grew up so fast then, it seemed like just minutes,

Dad helped me find mom too, see, he had no limits.

In the camp of some Centaurs and Amazons there,

was my mean old mom, who for me didn't care.

And what luck, for there too was bad Xena I hated,

and her silly son Solan to bring death I was fated.

And I made me a plan, my vengeance to sow,

but I needed some help, so I freed Callisto!

See, she was a god, hated Xena and mom,

so I figured she'd work for not even a song.

While Callisto kept Xena too busy to think,

I snuck to the village to attack her weak link.

But when I saw mom there, now here's a queer thing,

I had thought that I hated her, even her name,

But she was so sweet I thought ,"Come on, Hope, trust her."

and somehow felt glad she had love she could muster.

For she cried when she knew who I was from that lamb,

and swore she still loved me just for who I am.

So I hugged her and lied about how I was there,

and I'm sure she believed me and thought I did care.

Then with mom's help unwitting I killed Xena's son,

and punished that bitch, by the gods that was fun.

I went back to mom to share my love with her,

but something had happened to put up a barrier.

For thanks to damn Xena, mom poisoned my drink,

and thought I was dead, just a coma I think.

Then they burned my body, which felt kind of nice,

and my sparks whirled away on the winds of the night.

The flames seemed a part of me; actually helped,

to bring me around, once more make me myself.

I have to admit Dad was in there someplace,

he came round and helped me to finish the race.

Now my ash floated down and I ate some guys life,

stripped off tasty flesh like I had used a knife.

Next I spoke to a campfire and heard my dad speak,

"Daughter, let me come see you, your help I do seek.

For I tell you again, daughter, bring me the blood,

of sacrificed innocence dragged through the mud.

Then I can come to you and we'll rule all,

we two can cause gods and mankind both to fall!"

"Well, why not?" I thought, "It might be a hoot.

I might as well help the old fiery coot."

===========================================

Constant Hope--- Part 3

My options were few for allies I had none,

So Callisto again, I turned loose to run.

For I needed to rid me of Hercules strong,

he was one who could stop me, who hated the wrong.

But that story is long and unhappy for me,

for Hercules lived and my plans ceased to be.

I was not enough strong, it was far too soon,

so for rest I went to a large ugly cocoon.

Inside I changed; grew out my burned flesh,

to look just like mom; I've a problem I guess.

Then Callisto and innocent blood set me free,

but came Xena and mom again just to fight me.

Twas Ares who saved me this time I was weak,

He and Dad made a deal for the power he'd seek.

Part of that was that we two would have a child,

the Wargod romped with me and passion we riled.

Now back in my temple, I safe should have been,

but soon felt the presence of mom once again.

I wanted to see her, can't even say why,

when I felt she was out in the forest nearby.

We met in the woods, she looked tired and grim,

and she jumped when she saw me, her fear at the brim.

"Hope," she quavered all worried and gaunt,

"what is it you want from me, please do not taunt."

"I'm not going to hurt you," I whispered, "it's true,"

The babe's growing inside me, like I grew in you.

Come, be my mother, come join in my dealing,

Please, mother?" I was shaken by the depth of my feeling.

"Hope," she said sadly, "That poison, please listen..."

and soft touched my cheek with her hand as tears glistened.

"I forgive you," I whispered and my heart gave a leap,

sweet mother still loved me, would be mine to keep.

"I'm so sorry... " she sighed, and I simmered with love,

"...that it did not kill you!", like a bolt from above.

My dreams turned to ashes, my heart filled with hate,

from the mother that bore me my love found no mate.

I left her and cursed my way back to the temple,

and caused her no harm though it would have been simple.

Then she and damned Xena attacked and fought through,

and too soon I was facing the warrior eyes blue.

To the edge of the volcanic pit I was driven,

I could not escape, was about to be riven.

=============================================

Constant Hope--- Part 4

Xena brandished a dagger with Blood from the Hind,

I knew I could die, but mom came from behind!

She rushed up and embraced me, and whispered my name,

then she spun us down into that pit filled with flame!

"Why, mother, oh, whyyyy?" I screamed as we fell,

but darn mom never answered her story to tell.

I thought I would die then, but dad came once more,

and bore me back safe with the flames of his lore.

So mom was now dead, and damn Xena had gone,

I crawled out of that pit to continue dad's song.

Soon I birthed my baby, my darling; come see!

And I vowed I would love him as mom had not me.

He was bumpy and blue, with claws on his hands,

the most most beautiful baby in all of these lands.

At first I hugged him and kissed him all over,

but his bumps soon grew spikes; holding him was no clover.

I still wanted to hold him, but darn his sweet spikes,

it hurt me to touch him no matter my likes.

When I'd no longer cuddle, he whimpered and cried,

calling me "Momma", but I'd rather have died.

My dear little child with fangs, spikes and scales,

soon needed to nourish, so I killed a quail.

He drank down its juice; what a clever young thing,

then ripped off the meat, while this song I did sing,

"My darling, my sweet one, I'll love you forever,

your momma is here, you sweet baby so clever."

He crooned back at me, saying "Momma", that's all,

he seemed to not know one more way he could call.

We were happy enough then, but I knew our need,

to find us a safe peaceful place we could feed.

Then I thought, Potidaea, to there we could go,

to meet dead mom's family and lay their lives low.

What a good idea that was, we went right away,

and I killed us a sheep for a snack on the way.

And when we got near, found a cave for my son,

to live in until my good work was all done.

==============================================

Constant Hope--- Part 5

Then I went to Potidaea, pretending to be,

my mom coming home, her dear family to see.

I soon met her sister, her mom and her dad,

and they looked like the family that I'd never had.

They took me right in, showered love and attentions,

and this gave my revenge on sweet mom new dimensions.

I stayed for a while, how to kill them was planning,

but then I thought, "Wait! My sweet baby's demanding.

He needs to grow up in a comfortable place,

filled with food he can catch without a big race.

What better a spot than here in Potidaea,

my mothers home town for my son's panacea."

So I stayed with them there while my son kept on growing,

and he hunted and ate, on his own he was going.

Then things progressed nicely one day to the next,

and it looked like my plans were all following the text.

My son killed and ate chickens and hogs and a sheep,

next a horse, then a man; my, that was a big leap.

It was all going splendid till one day at shopping,

a bad feeling came that removed the cream topping.

I turned around then, and damn! Xena was there!

I thought, "Now, what to do?" But she showed loving care.

"That's right," I thought fast, "I look just like mom!"

She rushed up and sobbed, "Gabrielle!" like a psalm.

Then this booby called Joxer ran up to me too,

and it seemed like old home week before he was through.

"I thought you were dead," Xena hugged me so tight,

And I smiled "Glad to see you," but wanted to bite.

Then I told her some lies of how I'd escaped,

and she seemed to believe me; boy, that took the cake.

When we went to my family I set up a trap,

so my dear son could kill her, wipe her off the map.

He attacked her at night in the barn, death the fee,

but the bitch would not die, and dawn caused him to flee.

I thought she had hurt him, was worried a bit,

so went taking mom's sister to see my poor kit.

My good "sister" Lila, was meat for his snack,

but Xena showed up so my plans went to wrack.

Then I managed to lose them and went to his cave,

and soon I was with him, worried sick for my babe.

But my precious was fine, with no wounds at all,

the War-Princess had lied, caused my fine mask to fall.

So she knew who I was, was determined to martyr,

her best friend's poor daughter, come fire or water.

I headed on home then, but attacked was by Joxer,

I hung him for baby, he was just too cocksure.

Then I told mom's parents bad Xena had beat me,

and they sent her packing, I'd fooled them completely.

=================================================

Constant Hope--- Part 6

Everything had gone fine, and my plans I still had,

but then I felt something that made me real mad.

I knew Mom was alive! She was here in the house!

I couldn't believe it! How'd she live, that darn louse!

To the room she was hidden I went straight away,

"Hello, there dear Mother!" with a snarl I say.

"Hope," she spoke softly, "why aren't you dead?"

"Not for your lack of trying, oh mother!" I said.

"I wanted to love you," she blinked back a tear,

"but I just had to stop you,", "for Xena?" I leer.

"Not just Xena," she gasped, "for the world bright and green,

I loved you but Dahak was just too obscene!"

Now I felt sparks of love for my mom, but was careful,

she had hurt me too much, so I lied, sort of fearful.

"I don't care anymore, one way or the other,

my son will kill Xena, and then you, dear mother."

The next thing I knew she ran out of the room,

and I heard my son bellow, knew Xena'd die soon.

I came out with a laugh, heard his roars from the barn,

then heard my son scream, my joy turned to alarm.

I rushed in at once then, by fear was distracted,

saw the warrior's sword in my son's back impacted!

"Noooo!" I cried out, ran in rage and great dread,

my sweet baby was hurt and it made me see red.

He spun around then and his hand spike stabbed deep,

my eyes opened wide, I was stunned, could not speak.

As perceptions dimmed fast, I saw Xena and mom,

and knew they had tricked my poor innocent son,

made him think mom was me, and then they betrayed,

so he attacked me, what cruel sense it now made.

My child he was dying, and I knew I was too,

"Momma, momma," he sobbed, his voice broken through,

the only word he could speak, and I hugged him right to me,

despite his pain spikes, he was still my sweet baby.

Eyes widened at mom and damn Xena who'd killed,

I could see Mom still loved me; her green eyes tear filled.

And wanted to tell her... something that I knew...

but could not get my breath, for numbness just grew.

As we sank down I thought, "Third times... the charm...

three times now I've died.... I can do no more harm..."

My dear son and I rode down death with compliance,

I thought, "Mother.... I love you..." and then there was silence.

Constant Hope---

The End