Rating: PG
Summary: Vignette. How I'd like the show to end--on an up note, letting the viewer fill in the gaps.
Thanks: to Greg for the lyrics and to my fiance, Chris, for always encouraging me... (and who made me put in the fiance bit : p)

"What about that one, Janae?" Gregorius lazily pointed up at a lone cloud that crept slowly across the late day sky.

"A baby minotaur," she replied, quietly, as if she thought the cloud might hear her, and stop its progress overhead.

It had been a perfect day -- warm, but with a gentle breeze to cool the beads of sweat that had formed during hours of running over the rolling hills of farmland.

Janae worked a blade of grass around her fingers and repositioned her arm slightly, careful not to disrupt the feel of the ground beneath her, enjoying the dampness that was gradually seeping into the fabric of her tunic.

The wind picked up, pushing the clouds along. And as the sky darkened, casting shadows onto the billowy white forms, Gregorius broke the peacefulness, crying out, "There they are! There they are!"

Janae struggled to rise to her knees, quickly turning from side to side and finally craning her head over her shoulder to look behind. "Who?! Where?!" She sat back on her heels, sighing. "You're just trying to scare me again."

"No, Janae! Look!"

She followed his gaze, which was still fixed on the sky above. Dark clouds boiled over the far horizon, racing steadily forward.

"The Ghost Riders, silly; can't you see them?"

Janae studied the onrushing clouds, and felt a chill pass over her as they took shape. "I think I can see horses."

"Think?!" He gave her a nudge that nearly toppled her. "It's them! It's them..." he repeated less forcefully, almost reverently. "On horses snorting fire."

"Fire? I don't see fire."

"Sure there is." He knelt behind her and pointed over her shoulder. "See how the sunlight is bouncing off their snouts -- all golden?"

Janae tilted her head sideways and frowned. "I guess so... Those little clouds, right?"

"Yeah," he confirmed softly.

"Who are they?" she whispered back.

" 'Who are they?' " He shook his head in disbelief. "It's the Warrior Princess and the Amazon Queen. 'Who are they'?"

Janae's eyes lit up. "Xena and Gabrielle...?"

"Sometimes I can't believe you're my sister."

"Why?" She didn't like the sound of his voice or the look he was giving her. When he did that, it meant he thought she was stupid or too little... or both. She fought back the tears that began to build.

"Oh brother! Now you're gonna cry? C'mon, don't do that. I hate that." He sounded mad, but he draped an arm around her shoulders.

"I just... you have to know. Heck, everyone knows."

"But I don't."

He settled back onto the ground, pushing her down beside him as he pointed again to the "riders" that had nearly passed over them. "See, that's Xena on Argo and Gabrielle on Horse and that... over there moving off toward the sun, that's Joxer.

"After the Battle of Twilight, when Xena, Gabrielle, and Joxer fought alongside the Amazons and Centaurs to stop the Gods from making our lives miserable -- they did you know, always sticking their noses into everything -- they rode off, and as the dust settled, they say that the heroes climbed right into the sky.

"No one really heard anything about them again, not like before. Every now and then, a rumor would pop up, of a warlord being put in his place. But not like before.

"They'd saved us from the bad ones. The Gods were still around -- are still around, but they don't pester us as much. Something about Xena and a baby, and how they could get rid of the Pantheon for good. The Gods settled down. Kind of a pact, I guess. 'We'll try to be good (or at least not as bad) and you won't off us'... or something."

Gregorius laughed. "Can you imagine having the power, the courage, to mess around with those guys?"

"But they did? And they won?" Janae asked.

"Yep. And then they rode off; well, Joxer walked off (he never did care too much for riding) into the sunset. And, like I said, some say they went right up into the sky; that you can still see them sometimes, rolling by. They're watching out for us, even now."

"But the Amazons and Centaurs fought together?"

"Yeah," Gregorius whispered. "Xena could do that."

"So they'll never die?"

"Nope. They'll always be around, together, fighting for the greater good."

"Righting wrongs and singing songs?"

"Yeah."

They sat there together in silence, as the sky darkened and the first stars appeared, and dreamed of adventures - of warlords and kings, of a land in turmoil that cried out for a hero... and instead got three.

Author's notes:
See, I fill in the gaps with everyone settlin' down a bit, but riding out when the need arises. (Xena with the baby, Joxer with Gabrielle, but out of the public eye and playin' down the herodom shtick.)

Please take the time to write to Raye at summrbrez@thebookcase.org, and let her know how you liked the story!

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER:
Xena: Warrior Princess, and all characters who have appeared in the series, together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of StudiosUSA and Renaissance Pictures. The lyrics to "Ghost Riders In the Sky" are owned by the appropriate copyright holders. No infringement of copyrights or trademarks is intended in the writing of this fan fiction. This story is copyright © 2001 by Raye and is her sole property along with the story idea. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.