I felt the portal close and then looked at Queen Melrose. She had been quiet the entire time.


    "Sorry about that!" I said, rubbing the back of my head, but Melrose smiled and shook her head.


    "No need. It is a treat to hear my Goddess talk to you so fondly. I feel blessed to know that you both took the time to help me. It would have been much easier for her to suggest electing a new queen rather than this," Melrose said fondly.


    "It is always easier to do what is easiest, but that doesn''t make it the right way. You are not a bad person, and Tallia clearly saw that, or she would not have stopped me. I did not have all my thoughts or memories in order at the time as well, so you are not the only one to me," I said, and then grinned. "Now, would you like to go on a date?"


    "It would be my pleasure. I think that I will take down the boards to let some light in. Now that my thoughts are together and the darkness is gone, I want the light again to fill the room," Melrose said as she looked around.


    I had already prepared the spell and was just waiting for her to say the magical words.


    "I was wondering when you would ask!" Iughed, and Melrose gave me a strange look.


    "Hmmm?"


    Instead of answering her, I stamped down, and magic surged from me. I had my Cat-Robin scope out the building, and I knew where all the windows were. All I had to do was target all the wood and turn them all into end tables. You could never have enough of them, and women loved to put shit on things.


    "Waaah?! Did you do this to the entire building?!" Melrose eximed, and I nodded.


    "Yes, I turned all the wood into end tables to save time. I am the one that promoted this activity, so now I fixed it. I hope you don''t mind that I made them all into end tables. I wasn''t sure what else to make with them," I exined, and Melrose smiled warmly.


    "Well, now it really does feel like things have changed, and you can never have enough tables," Melrose said, but then her dark skin brightened up as she turned away. "Do you mind if I have the room to get changed? I assume that you were inviting me toe with you, so I will need beach clothing."


    "Perfectly fine. I will take De to do the same ande right back," I said, and Melrose nodded as I left the room.


    De was waiting with 8 other guards now, and they all looked at me as I closed the door behind myself.


    "How are things?" De asked, and I nodded.


    "I think that things should return to whatever normal was before Xena came here. Your Queen is doing much better now, and she is getting changed. Have the girls watch her room, and I will take you to go get changed," I exined, but De dropped one eyebrow, giving me an incredulous look.


    "Why would I need to get changed? I am the Queen''s guard captain. I am already changed and ready to do my job," De said, and I smiled.


    "Because you areing with us! I thought it would be nice to have more people, and you are going to need to stay by the Queen''s side so she doesn''t get lost when we go to the beach," I exined and De rolled her eyes but nodded before motioning for us to go.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "I need some direction," I said and opened a portal above the city, making De step back in shock.


    I had it t, but I got why it was shocking. It was like cutting the air to create a screen, and then you could see the water below.


    "Oh my gosh! That is so cool!" De eximed, and I chuckled.


    "Can you point me to your house?"


    "It is next to the docks, so if you can make a portal there, we will be close," De said, and I nodded before making a new vertical portal.


    "You first," I said, and De stepped through before me, and I quickly followed.


    The docks were busy with dark-skinned women unloadingrges of fish while looking up at me with surprise. I heard a few people talking about a god being in Bramma and then followed De to her house with a  grin.


    "It is quite small," De said as she opened the door, and I could see that it would be fairly small for two people, but it had a warm atmosphere.


    "I think it suits you," I said as we walked in, and De blushed slightly before heading into the bedroom.


    "I have some beach clothing here; it isn''t much, but it should be enough. I can bring a nket if needed," De said as she pulled out a bright yellow swimsuit and a few towels.


    "Leave the towels; there will be more than enough there already. I think this will look good on you, but I will let you change," I said and then left the room.


    Once in the main room, I looked around the small shack of a house. The furniture was nice but simple.


    "Where are your parents?" I asked, and Deughed slightly, poking her head out of the door.


    "They died a few years ago. I am the only one that lives here now, but don''t worry; I manage," De said but then blushed again.


    I shook my head and smiled. "I understand. It can be hard to talk about the past sometimes, but it is fine. I like when I can get you away from everyone else for a little bit. You seem to be more rxed and cute, kind of like in the inn when you drank that potion."


    De blushed even deeper until her cheeks were coral, and then she stepped out of the bedroom with her bright yellow swimsuit. She blushed even brighter now that she had put it on, but I just gave her a thumbs up as she changed into some sandals.


    "Let''s go; we don''t want to keep the Queen waiting," I said, grabbed her hand, and was about to open a portal.