FADE IN

Xena sitting on Argo in front of the gates. She dismounts and walks up. The guards see her and extend their weapons.

GUARD #1:
     No one passes--

XENA:
     I have business inside.

She walks forward.

GUARD #1:
     Stop her.

The other guards corner her. She grabs them and knocks their helmets together, knocking them out cold. She then turns to the third guard and grabs him, taking his weapon and throwing him aside. She steps back and jumps, propelling herself up onto the wall above them. The remaining guard watches her in awe as she lands on the fortress wall and disappears behind it.

CUT TO

Inside the fortress. Xena is walking briskly along the base of the wall. She sees Zarek standing a distance away. He turns as she approaches. Zarek barely has time to react with surprise before she lands a hard punch to his face and he goes down. She stands over him as he gathers to his feet, his lip bleeding.

ZAREK:
     How did you--

XENA:
     I told you that you didn't know who you were messing with...

Xena draws her sword and Zarek does the same.

XENA:
     Why were you attacking that village?

ZAREK (swings at her):
     I have my reasons.

Xena dodges his blade and pushes him back, knocking him to the ground with one swift kick and pinning him to the ground by planting a firm foot on his chest. She bends over, pressing harder, making him yelp in pain.

XENA:
     I'll not ask you again...

MAN (off camera):
     Xena.

Xena looks up to see Pandion walking toward them. His face is bruised, his lip is broken, and he looks worse for wear but he seems okay. Recognizing him as the man that she'd seen with Ares at the campsite when he left, she steps back. She grabs Zarek by the collar and pulls him to his feet, holding him by the neck firmly as Pandion walks up.

PANDION:
     Let him go.

Xena looks from Pandion to Zarek and finally gives him a casual "okay" look, grinning a little as she pushes Zarek back so hard that he stumbles and falls again. Pandion looks at two soldiers standing nearby and nods toward them. They nod back and when Zarek stands, they grab his arms preventing him from leaving.

XENA (looking from Pandion to Zarek and back):
     I take it he wasn't following orders?

PANDION:
     No.

The soldiers take Zarek away as he struggles against them. Xena turns to Pandion.

XENA (looks around):
     So this is what Ares has been up to. Building an army, destroying villages...

PANDION:
     What Zarek did was not part of the plan. He's let his hatred of Artemis control him.

XENA:
     Then I suggest you keep him on a tight leash.

Pandion nods.

XENA:
     Where is Ares? I want to talk to him.

Pandion looks down, Xena's expression reflects concern.

PANDION:
     Ares isn't here. (he looks up) Brygus took him.

XENA (determined ):
     Then we'll get him back.

PANDION:
     Easier said than done. (pause) Are you prepared to go up against a god?

XENA (shocked):
     Brygus is a god?

Pandion nods slowly while Xena takes in this information.

XENA:
     I've dealt with gods before. You might say it's my specialty. Find out where he is.

Pandion looks at Xena, unsure.

CUT TO

Inside the dark room where Brygus has Ares captured. Pan around to show Ares slumped in the chair, his back covered in lash marks from the whip. He's drifting in and out of consciousness.

DISSOLVE TO

Ares turns his head, his eyes still closed.

DISSOLVE TO

Inside Ares' dream.

Ares stands watching from the hill.

He feels a presence behind him and he turns around to find Xena standing there.

ARES (bewildered):
     You weren't there when I took Asponica.

XENA:
     No. But you were. (she walks around him) It affects you, doesn't it? (looking out onto the battlefield where the whipped people now lie dead outside of the city walls) The blood. The death. (she turns back to him) It feeds you, the God of War inside you. Except...

Pan around to show that Ares now stands in front of her looking like mortal Ares, with short hair, his shirt off, showing the whip marks he's received from Brygus' beating.

XENA:
     ...now you feel their pain. Now...you're one of them. And you question yourself, what you were, what you are... (Ares looks down) You never thought it'd come to this, did you?

ARES:
     No.

XENA:
     You have regrets, don't you?

She waves her hand and he looks down at his hand, a cut appearing on his palm and a small trickle of blood streaming out of it.

After a long moment, Ares looks up, clenching his fist.

ARES:
     No.

XENA (mocking):
     No?

ARES:
     I don't regret.

Xena grins and morphs into an identical look-a-like to Ares, except with a much darker stare and colder eyes, and in full leather.

GOD OF WAR (voice deep):
     You will.

All goes black.

FLASH TO

Ares opens his eyes with a start and looks around. Brygus is standing in front of him.

BRYGUS:
     Good. (grins) You're awake.

CUT TO

The fortress. Xena is standing in the war room, now with Pandion and Iona.

XENA:
     And you have no idea where he might be.

PANDION:
     He's a god. He could be anywhere.

XENA:
     But his army couldn't. (Pandion looks at her) They'd need a place to stay. (she looks at the map lying on the table in front of them, scanning it until she finally points to an area along a cliff on the coast) There. I bet he's there.

PANDION (examines where she points):
     The...Halls of War.

XENA (nods):
     Exactly. You say he's been taking Ares' temples for himself. As temples go, that one's pretty important.

Pandion nods and smiles.

PANDION (admiring her):
     Ares sure knows how to pick 'em. (Xena looks away slightly; Pandion changes the subject) We'll gather the men and head out.

XENA:
     I'll go, but I don't need an army.

CUT TO

Outside the fortress, Xena is riding Argo, Pandion and Iona ride up. She looks back.

XENA:
     I can do this on my own--you don't need to come.

PANDION:
     Face a god on your own. Are you crazy?

XENA (grim chuckle):
     I've been called worse than that.

Pandion smiles.

IONA:
     We're coming with you.

XENA:
     Then we'll get him back together.

She rides off, Pandion and Iona following pursuit.

CUT TO

The village. Steam from the fires that have been put out rises from some of the buildings in the village as several villagers work around the buildings to pick up any charred debris left by the fire. Rena and Makis stand looking at one of the burnt buildings as the roof crumples to the ground and a couple stands near it, sobbing at the loss of their home. Rena and Makis exchange a sad look and then walk on.

CUT TO

The shrine to Artemis. Part of it has been damaged by the flames that swept through the town. Rena and Makis walk in and stop, looking at the statue.

RENA (hurt):
     This village has been attacked, and she was not here to protect us like she promised. (pause) What Xena said... (sighs) I just don't know who to believe anymore. (Makis puts a comforting hand on her shoulder)

Gabrielle appears behind them.

GABRIELLE (calm):
     What Xena said is true.

The two of them turn around to see Gabrielle standing there, holding Samuel in her arms. She walks over to the altar and picks up some scrolls that have been touched by the flames--partly burnt and crumbling.

GABRIELLE (to Rena):
     You asked me before what she did to Xena and me in the past. I didn't want to explain because I wanted to respect your faith. (she looks at the partly crumpled scroll and opens it, reading ) "Guide us to our destinies, great goddess. Show us the way and we will follow." (she closes the scroll and looks at Rena and Makis) You don't need Artemis to guide you to your destinies. (pause) Artemis is dying--like all the gods.

RENA (shocked):
     What?

GABRIELLE:
     It's the Twilight. The only way she can survive is by acquiring more worshipers. And she's willing to do anything to gain them. She tries to destroy the Amazons. She started a war. She took Ares' powers. And now she's destroying villages that refuse to follow her, and forcing people to worship her out of fear. Is that really the kind of god you want guiding you?

Gabrielle sets the scroll back down on the altar, turns around and walks out. Rena and Makis look after her, then at each other.

CUT TO

Inside the dark room. Brygus is staring at Ares.

BRYGUS (sneers):
     You're a stronger man than I expected, Ares. I thought you'd be nothing without your powers.

ARES (wincing from the pain but still cocky and sarcastic):
     So, speaking of powers--how did you become a god? Must be a thrilling story.

BRYGUS:
     Indeed. (he turns around) Lets just say, Artemis can be...very generous.

ARES:
     Artemis... (realization dawning) The powers she took from me...

BRYGUS (nods):
     What better way to use them than to give them to her most loyal servant? (pause) Artemis is...busy elsewhere right now. She needs me to govern over Greece while she's away.

Ares looks at him curiously.

ARES:
     And she sent you after me, is that it?

BRYGUS (looks down at Ares):
     She wants you to pay for what you did to her brother.

ARES:
     I didn't kill Apollo.

BRYGUS:
     Technically, no. That doesn't make you any less of a traitor to the gods.

Ares stares at him for a long moment.

GUARD (off-camera):
     Sir.

Brygus turns around to see the large guard standing in the doorway.

BRYGUS:
     What is it? I'm busy.

GUARD:
     Several riders have been seen traveling along the road in this direction. The Warrior Princess is leading them. (quick pan to Ares, a flash of hope crosses his face)

BRYGUS:
     The Warrior Princess. (grins, turning around, looking down at Ares a bit mockingly) Here to save her boyfriend. (leans toward Ares) Well, then... I'll give her what she wants.

Ares stares at him, puzzled. Brygus punches Ares in the face, knocking him out cold. He slumps over in the chair.

BRYGUS (nods toward the guard, casually):
     Drop him off in the forest--where she'll find him.

The guard nods and walks up to Ares beginning to unlock the chains holding him to the chair.

DISSOLVE TO

A rider on horseback rides fast through the forest with Ares lying across the back of the horse, still unconscious and now in full armor again. The horse stops near a dirt path. The rider pushes Ares off the back of the horse. He falls and rolls on the ground. He lies unconscious next to the road as the rider gallops off.

DISSOLVE TO

Xena, Pandion and Iona ride down along the road. Xena looks toward the side of the road and sees the shape of a body lying beside it. Zoom in on Ares' face which is facing in her direction. Her eyes widen.

XENA:
     Ares...

She quickly pulls Argo to a halt and jumps off the horse, rushing to his side.

XENA:
     Ares.

She kneels down and touches his face. He's still out cold. She frowns with concern.

XENA (gently shaking him):
     Ares. (he doesn't respond) Come on...

She pats his cheek, noticing his breathing and he moans slightly but does not wake. Leaning forward she gives him a deep kiss. He responds to her kiss and she cradles his head in her hands as she pulls back and he opens his eyes.

ARES (smiles, relieved):
     Xena...

Xena smiles back at him. She touches his face, seeing the cut on his head from the hilt of Brygus' sword. She notices another few bruises and cuts, too. She frowns.

XENA:
     Brygus did this to you.

ARES:
     That's not all he did. (he touches her hand and squeezes it reassuringly) I'll be fine.

Xena smiles back at him slightly, then helps him to his feet. He's slow to rise and he leans against her shoulder.

XENA:
     We'd better get you back and fix you up.

CUT TO

Xena (with Ares behind her), Pandion and Iona ride through the gates and into the fortress.

CUT TO

Ares is seated on his bed, his armor off. Xena is sitting behind him, gently cleaning the whip marks on his back as he winces.

ARES:
     Yep. Mortality hurts. And sometimes, it really hurts.

She reaches her hand around, touching his shoulder.

XENA (reassuring):
     We'll get you fixed up and you'll be better in no time.

Ares looks off into the distance.

XENA (still cleaning the wounds on his back):
     Something on your mind?

ARES:
     Everything's on my mind. (pause) He just let me go. (Xena turns to him curiously) He said it was good that you were coming for me, and he let me go. (rubs his head) Could have done without the wallop to the head, though.

XENA:
     So he captured you, beat you, then let you go. (nods understanding) He's up to something.

Ares nods.

ARES:
     There's something you have to know. Brygus is--

XENA (finishes for him):
     --a god. I know. Pandion told me.

ARES:
     You don't know. He's not just a god, he's the God of War. And I mean literally. The powers that Artemis took from me--she's given them to Brygus.

Xena takes this information in, pondering it.

ARES:
     That isn't all. My temple on the Areopagus... Brygus took it for Artemis and she turned it into a shrine to Apollo. (Off Xena's startled look). My men and I went to take it back... (shakes head) I couldn't do it. He was still my brother, even if we were enemies.

XENA:
     Brygus has also been destroying those villages because they won't follow Artemis.

ARES (shrugs):
     She's desperate to preserve herself. And she's planning something. Artemis put Brygus in control of Greece while she's away. (Xena listens intently, thinking about this) I don't like the sound of that. (he shakes his head, frustrated) This isn't how it's supposed to be! (he stands up, then winces at the pain and sits back down) She's given the powers of the God of War to a warlord, one who doesn't understand or respect that power. (looks at Xena) I told you once before, the Godhood of War is a sacred trust. It's not to be used in the service of some other god's petty greed to annihilate people who don't follow her way.

Xena gets off the bed and moves around, standing in front of him.

She puts her hand on Ares' shoulder and squeezes it. He looks up at her.

XENA (gently):
     We'll find a way to stop him.

CUT TO

Xena and Ares are walking along the wall of the fortress, Ares in his leathers again. They see Zarek walking toward them, looking unhappy. Xena stops walking.

ZAREK (coming up):
     So you've come from that Artemis-loving village. (pause) And I hear that you aren't one of them.

XENA (defensive):
     Your point?

ZAREK:
     If you don't believe in what they believe in, why do you stand up for them?

XENA:
     I help anyone who needs it.

ZAREK:
     Then you are a fool. Anyone who sides with them is one of them. And we must destroy Artemis' worshipers before she becomes more powerful.

Ares steps forward.

ARES:
     We went over this before, Zarek. As long as I'm around leading this army, we're not doing to Artemis what she has done to others.

Ares walks past him.

ZAREK (from behind):
     Then I challenge you! That will decide who should lead this army.

Xena looks from Ares to Zarek and back. Ares moves closer to him.

ARES:
     I accept.

Xena gives him a concerned look and pulls him to the side, away from the others.

XENA (speaks softly):
     What are you doing?

ARES:
     He has to know his place if he's going to be in my army.

XENA:
     You've just been beaten by Brygus. You can't take Zarek on.

Ares takes her hands and kisses her lightly.

ARES:
     I have to--now or never.

Close-up on Xena's face as she looks at Ares, her expression a mix of anxiety and respect, as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO