The following is a bit of alternative fiction based on certain characters from the Xenaverse. It is not meant to infringe on anyone else's rights. If you don't agree or disapprove, please go read something else.
The green kerchief floated softly and lyrically to the ground landing in a dainty heap upon the dry surface. Not that any of the candidates noticed as they broke for it and ran. The first obstacle didn't appear to be that much of a challenge and only seemed to require that the competitor be able to leap over a barrier. But looks can be deceiving, as Joxer found out when he made a lengthy leap and got toppled to the side by an aggressive Amazon impediment. Xena laughed, but not at Joxer. She was really going to enjoy this.
The warrior princess' face took on the expression of glee, which kind of scared some of the other contestants, including Lyneaus. Kalai reached the barriers next and did a perfect tumble off of the shoulder's of her living obstruction. Arete simply punched her's out and used her body weight to carry her forward. Xena leapt on the barrier, balanced and than startled the heck out her's with her battle cry. It also startled Lyneaus, who was beginning to wonder if this whole thing was worth it. Xena didn't look behind to see how anyone else fared, although the other candidates used various methods (some more successful than others) to get around the Amazons. She would have been gratified to see Joxer gamely try again and succeed.
It was like that through the whole of the obstacle course, seemingly simple problems would manifest themselves some new surprise or other or not. There was no way to tell when or how someone or something would erupt to startle and delay the candidates somehow. Plus there was the other problem that arose. Some of the candidates themselves started pushing the others out of the way or using them as springboards or even the occasional punching bag. It got down and dirty.
Xena was having the time of her life. The challenge of pitting her mind, heart and body against crazy odds always stimulated her and this time she didn't have to deal with small time thugs or unimaginative warlords. She didn't mind the down and dirty part of the game (for a game was what it was to her) and she participated fully, often pulling some nasty tricks from her nonweapons repetoir on an unsuspecting candidate or a living barrier. She was a wonder to behold.
Joxer wasn't doing badly himself. Once he established that anything could happen, he simply got in flow with it (as per his instructions during that training that Cherise sent him to). Joxer decided that he wasn't going to try to win the race, since it seemed obvious to him that Xena was doing fine on her own. But he didn't see why he couldn't act as a living barrier to the living barriers. He even tackled some of the other male candidates who seemed like they were getting too close to Xena. His last tackle was when he found out that one of the candidates was armed.
His scream ripped through the air, causing Toris to leap to his feet and Meg to follow soon thereafter. They saw that Joxer was involved in a mighty struggle and watched helplessly as Maphaus somehow managed to push the taller Joxer away. Even from this distance they could see that the gangly man was terribly injured as he backpedaled away, with his hand to his shoulder and fell to the ground. They were on the playing field in an instant. Maphaus bolted as if he was still part of the contest. He knew who he was after now.
Xena turned back to look and saw that Joxer was injured, but she had problems of her own. She and Kalai were stuck dealing with a group of four armed and determined Amazons who had surrounded them at a tall climbing wall. So far all she and the young Amazon had managed to do was duck and dodge a lot. Xena watched carefully for a useful opening, one that wouldn't get the living obstacle killed, yet would allow Xena to take advantage of a distraction. That opportunity soon provided itself. The warrior princess leg swiped one of the taller Amazons, toppling her in the direction of her teammates and sending them, now unbalanced, clattering into each other. She grinned and got ready to run up the wall and was tackled at the "v" of her legs. She looked down in time to avoid a nasty swipe from a knife that would have cut an artery open at her thigh, which would have lamed her and most likely killed her, but not in time to avoid the weight of the man yanking her thigh joint loose from the hip. It pissed her off, first because deadly intent always pissed her off and second because her game had been ruined and third, and most importantly, because now there was no way she could make the run necessary to win the game. It angered her beyond words.
The warrior princess snarled and grabbed the man by the ears, her fingernails digging into tender skin and she yanked Maphaus up, hard. "You are Dead Meat, Maphaus." She intoned unnecessarily. The man had that figured out as soon as he saw her eyes. When he was far enough away from her vulnerable thigh she broke wrist of the hand that held the small sharp knife. He cried out in sudden pain. Then she grabbed his neck, with the intention of breaking that too.
Kalai cried out, "Xena! NO! You'll be disqualified!" Xena winced. She was already disqualified, but she didn't kill the man, only rendered him unconscious. Xena made an instant decision. The Amazons were still trying to unpile themselves, Maphaus had lamed her, and Kalai looked stricken.
She looked at the young warrior and jumped, a little less nimbly than usual, at Kalai, grasped her around the waist stared into the girl's eyes and growled, "Do Your Damnedest!" Then she hoisted the brown eyed Amazon with all her strength up and over the wall. Kalai sailed up, grabbed the ledge and headed downward without a word, but with a firm commitment in her heart. When she landed, she ran with a purpose.
Arete saw what happened. She saw Joxer go down and she saw Maphaus get up. She hadn't been able to stop the man because of several Amazon types with spears. But as soon as she saw Maphaus heading for Xena she determined to make sure to stop him. Those same Amazons soon found themselves scattered on the ground. Arete sailed under the rope trap, up the vine and swung across the muddy moat and was not on time to capture Maphaus and do him damage like she planned. Therefore she saw the whole thing, including Xena's heroic boost for Kalai. Arete realized that she was deeply deeply in love.
The blonde warrior made a snap decision and broke her promise. Now it was not a matter of fun. Now it was a matter of necessity. Arete ran as fast as her legs would carry her, scooped a startled warrior princess into her arms, swung the dark haired one around so that Xena had to clasp her arms around her neck (which meant that Xena caught on instantly to Arete's intent) and scrambled up the wall even as four angry Amazons descended upon a very unconscious Maphaus.
Getting over the wall was the easy part, but landing required Arete to swing Xena around again (which caused some major pain). But once the warrior was settled into Arete's arms she was quick to get into the rhythm of the woman's movements. Arete screamed, "Kalai!" even as she ran to catch up with the Amazon. The young one turned briefly, saw that the blonde's arms were full of warrior princess, and started to slow down.
Except Xena shouted, "No! Go! Go!" and waved her ahead. Kalai was indecisive for about two seconds, then started pelting away again. She wasn't sure of the warrior princess' intent, but knew that it was her job to protect the Amazon Queen. Then she thought she knew Xena's reasoning.
Kalai saw them rushing out at her and knew that it would only be a matter of dodging the Amazons, but that Arete was encumbered. Kalai made a decision. She used her body as a wedge to make a path for Arete by slamming the Amazons away and to the side. It slowed her down, but her intent worked. It also helped that Cynthia and Talus entered the fray and committed themselves to the same task. They too had seen Maphaus tackle Xena and Kalai sailing through the air. They also saw Arete scoop up the warrior and climb. They didn't even bother going up the wall. Now it didn't matter to them if they won anyway. The living barriers didn't stand a chance.
The final obstacle was the rocking log which swung over a mud pit several feet wide. It would require finesse and a lengthy stride. Arete was sweating, but she was still breathing fine. Kalai was only just ahead. Cynthia and Talus were making life tartarus for the Amazon barriers. (It was going to be lucky if any one of the Amazons chosen for that task could stand up for the dance that night.) Lyneaus was a long time out of the race as well as Hector. Althus stopped to help Joxer. Drakus was the only other individual taking the race seriously, and he was the other half of Maphaus' plan. He scrambled up the now unguarded wall and through the busy Amazon obstruction. He was closing in on Arete and started making that body motion which meant he was going in for the slam and then he was tackled by an Amazon devoted to her people. "Not in this lifetime," Helen growled as she punched the woman hater out.
Kalai made the jump onto the log and off just fine, of course. Arete found the whole maneuver tricky but managed to do the same. Xena hung on for dear life as Arete settled into a full out run for the finish line. Soon she and Kalai were running close together, their feet keeping perfect time. Kalai started to drop back, but Xena's intuition called out and the warrior moved around in Arete's grasp, snaked a long arm out and pushed against the slowing runner, "Run, Kalai, Run!"
Kalai called out, "You have to be on your own two feet Xena!" in a desperate plea. She didn't want to win the race now, but Xena kept pushing her.
Arete shouted, "Don't worry!" and the two Amazons dashed the final lengths of the course. Xena felt Arete shifting her weight and knew that her legs were going to be touching the ground in no time. She pulled every ounce of will she had (which was quite formidable) in preparation. Damn if she wasn't going to go over the finish line on her own feet. Xena found herself grinning again. She was going to give Cherise a shock.
She felt Arete drop her grip and pull away at the last moment, but Xena grabbed the woman by the halter, even as she paced the finish line. All three of them went over the line at the same time. Xena rolled to the ground as soon as she could. Arete followed soon after. Kalai was the only one who managed to stay on her feet.
Pandemonium swept the spectators, not to mention the judges' stand. It was Iolaus who called the race. "Tie!"