Once upon a time, a long time ago in a land far, far
away, there lived a young girl named Diana. Diana was an orphan and
she lived with her step-mother and two mean, lazy step-sisters.

Now, Diana always tried to believe that her real
mother was still alive somewhere, maybe wandering around with
amnesia or something, because Diana just knew that her real mother
was kind and nice and would never, ever leave her little girl with
these horrid people if only she remembered that she had a little
girl.

Diana's step-mother and step-sisters were always
teasing and ridiculing her because she would sit for hours in her
favourite willow-tree, reading her beloved books or just
day-dreaming about when she grew up and became a princess –
did I mention that Diana also believed that her long-lost mother
was a queen? No? Okay – well, Diana just knew that when her
real mother, the queen, came for her and made her a princess, she
would take Diana far, far away from the mean step-mother and
step-sisters who made her life miserable.

One day, all the little girls in Diana's class
were invited to a birthday party. Diana wanted to go, too, but her
mean old step-mother said no. Diana stomped out to her tree and
cried.

"It's not fair!" she wailed. "Oh,
why won't my real mother come and take me away from
here?"

"Because she's dead," said a voice.

Diana looked up and gasped. There before her stood a
mighty warrior woman and another young woman, leaning on a staff,
smiling sweetly at Diana.

"Aw, Xena," said the young blonde woman.
"Do you have to be so … harsh?"

"It's a harsh world, Gabrielle," said
the warrior, stroking the muzzle of her golden horse.
"Isn't that right, Argo?"

"Gosh," said Diana. "Are you really
the Warrior Princess?"

"Yep," said Xena. "We're passing
through your village on our way to rescue a princess."

"Wow, can I go, too? I could help you,"
said Diana.

Xena raised one eyebrow.

"Nope," she said.

"Aw, why not?" asked Diana. "Please
– I won't be any trouble, I promise. I hate it here
– no one loves me."

Xena started to speak again, but Gabrielle stopped
her with a smile and knelt down in front of Diana.

"What's your name?"

"Diana," said the girl.

"Well, Diana, you can help us right now,"
said Gabrielle, gently. "Argo needs water and Xena and I need
to rest for a little bit before we go. May we sit under your
tree?"