Ok here's what I've got so far. And what can I say? My denial 'bout the
finale even exceeded Gabrielle's when it came to Hope being good/evil :-)

Gabrielle reached her leg as far as it would go, feeling for the jar that
held the ashes of her beloved companion in it. Ah! There it was. The bard
kicked it up to arm level, and reached out with one hand to grab it. She had
to be careful though, she was in a dangerous place on that mountainside.
When she caught it, she forced herself to climb back up to safety. She stood
up, and noticed with dismay that the damned samurai was there. How many
times to do you have to beat someone senseless before they give up?
Gabrielle wondered. I can't wait to get back to Greece with Xena where at
least you can beat someone up knowing they'll come back with a few of their
buddies and you can get some exercise.

"I will not allow you to bring her back to life, and I will have your head
as well to avenge the dishonor you have brought on me." he said.

Gabrielle sighed. I don't have time for this.the sun is setting, she
thought. Then she realized she had the chakram in her hand. "Dishonor this!"
she exclaimed as she threw the chakram at him. After successfully hitting
him, it came back to her and she caught it. By the Gods.how did I do that?
Her thought was amazed and she stood there looking at the chakram for a
moment. With a shrug, Gabrielle ran to the fountain. She paused to take a
deep breath, then she noticed Xena's spirit approaching. Her heart leapt
with joy. Soon we'll be together as it was meant to be.and the bard knew the
thought was not just hers. She smiled at the Warrior Princess. "Well let's
get this show on the road!" Xena nodded and put her hand on the bard's
shoulder. Just then, one of the souls from the Higuchi massacre approached.

"Xeeeeeennnaaa." it whispered. "You must not let her restore you.we may be
free from Yodoshi, but in order for all the souls to be granted a state of
grace, we must be avenged. Stay with us or we will be lost forever."

The Warrior Princess and Gabrielle exchanged glances. This was news to
them.surely saving Higuchi from another fire and defeating Yodoshi was
enough.apparently they were wrong. The bard looked up at Xena for an answer
on what to do next. For a few tense moments, Gabrielle had thought Xena was
in a trance, until she smiled at her.

"Nah." said Xena to the spirit, and drapes her arm around the bard's
shoulders, and nods at her to continue "We're going to Disneyland. Your
deaths were caused by your own ignorance. Take my advice and next time your
town's on fire, go jump in the water." Xena smiles as the spirit starts
turning a pissed-off purplish red color and Gabrielle's immersion of the
ashes in the water begins to restore her to mortality. Once she's fully
alive again, Xena hugs her companion, ignoring the rantings of 40,000
spirits who won't be getting any more saki. "Let's go Gabrielle."

"Are you sure that was the right thing to do Xena? I mean it is 40,000
souls." Gabrielle stops cold in her tracks as she realizes what their
redemption would have cost her and the only person who makes her life worth
living.

"Gabrielle, I did all I could for them. I freed them and repaid my debt to
Higuchi by saving it from another fire.with your invaluable help that is.
Even if the fire only started because they attacked me while I was trying to
honor a friend." Ecstatic over being mortal once again, the Warrior Princess
hugs her bard again and this time also kisses her on the forehead.

"Well alright but what's this Disneyland you mentioned?"

"Aphrodite mentioned it once. Gods can travel in time don't forget, and
allow mortals to do the same. Ares did it once for Iolaus to stop Callisto
when she and..." Xena breaks off, not wanting to bring up Hope.

"Ok but how do we find Aphrodite to send us there?" the bard asks.

"Oh please like I could be found if I didn't want to be!" Aphrodite
exclaims, arriving in a cloud of pink hearts. "You wanna go to Disneyland
right? You'll love it there! Rides, sun, food, shirtless guys.and so many
hapless people not knowing the love of their life is just a zap away!" The
Goddess of Love puts herself in the middle of the surprised duo, arm in arm
with both of them. "And what are we waiting for?" she asks as she takes them
to sunny modern-day southern California.

"Where are we? Is this Disneyland?" Gabrielle asks, looking around the
alley way at the strange buildings and.whatever it was they were standing
on.it wasn't dirt that's for sure, maybe stone.

"Of course not.you guys need some new outfits if you want to blend in."
Aphrodite states as she zaps Gabrielle into a punk outfit and Xena into a
blue summer dress.

"What the..Aphrodite what are you doing? What's wrong with our clothes?"