FADE IN

Outside Lila's house in Potidaea. Gabrielle and Darion are sitting on the porch. It's a gray, cloudy day.

GABRIELLE (obviously close to tears but trying to put on a brave face):
     I'll come back soon, okay? Maybe we'll find Lykia and she'll come back with me. (Darion nods) And I know you'll have a really good time staying here with Lila and Sarah.

DARION:
     Can't I come with you? I promise I'll be good.

GABRIELLE (shocked):
     Darion! Do you think I want you to stay here because you've been bad? (She shakes his head) It's not that at all...it's just that the kind of life Xena and I have--it's just not right for a little boy. (stroking his hair) You know--always on the road... (sighs and looks down) ...always fighting...

DARION:
     I like being on the road with you.

GABRIELLE:
     But don't you think it would be nice for you to stay in one place for a while? You know, sleep under the same roof every night...have regular meals every day... (Darion makes a face and she smiles at him) ...play with other kids...

Darion's face lights up for a moment, then turns wistful.

DARION:
     I'll miss you. (after a brief pause) And Xena.

GABRIELLE:
     I'll miss you, too. (she hugs him tenderly) Don't worry, it's only for a short time. I'll be back soon.

They pull apart and Gabrielle looks at Darion, clearly uncomfortable.

GABRIELLE:
     Darion... (she lowers her eyes, then looks up again) ...I wanted to tell you--about what happened--just before you and Haimon came out here... (Darion looks away nervously) I know you were really scared...

DARION (softly):
     You thought that man wanted to hurt me. That's what Haimon said.

GABRIELLE (smiles wanly):
     He did? (sighs) Yes, sweetie, I thought he wanted to hurt you.

DARION (nods uncertainly, then looks questioningly at Gabrielle):
     That man...he was really, really bad, right?

A pause as Gabrielle looks at him hesitantly, obviously not knowing quite what to say.

GABRIELLE (lowers her eyes):
     Right. (she gathers Darion in her arms again) I'll never let anyone hurt you. You know that, don't you?

DARION:
     Yeah.

GABRIELLE (kisses the top of his head):
     I love you, Darion.

DARION (looks up and kisses her on the cheek):
     I love you too.

The camera pans to Xena and Eve, who come out of the barn leading their horses, saddled and ready for travel; Xena is also leading Gabrielle's horse. Xena stops and looks wistfully at Gabrielle and Darion, who are still hugging.

CUT TO

Xena, Gabrielle and Eve riding along a road with Xena in the middle. All three women look lost in thought.

GABRIELLE (snaps out of her reverie and glances at Eve):
     So, are you glad to be going back to the Amazons?

EVE (absent-mindedly):
     Yeah...I guess so.

XENA (glances at her):
     Eve, is something wrong?

EVE (sighs):
     I'm just--confused.

XENA (gently):
     About what?

EVE:
     Virgil and I... (she trails off and looks down)

GABRIELLE (looks at her and smiles):
     You're in love.

EVE:
     I'm not sure...but--we really care about each other. (pauses) There are so many things...if we're going to be together, what am I going to do about my duties to the Amazons?

XENA (gives her a probing look):
     That's not all that's bothering you, is it?

EVE:
     He tells me he's forgiven me.

GABRIELLE (gently):
     Then I'm sure he has.

EVE:
     Maybe. But can he ever forget?

XENA (grimly):
     That's the way it is, Eve. You can try to make up for the past, but you can never run away from it.

GABRIELLE:
     That's so true... (off Xena's sharp look) Xena--I was thinking about something Ares said to me, back in that village--right after I killed Taphius.

XENA (sharply):
     What did he say?

GABRIELLE:
     That I keep running away from who I am now...from the responsibility that comes with being a warrior.

Xena gives her a long, anguished look.

CUT TO

A close-up of a sword plunging into a man's chest, then being yanked out, glistening with blood. We hear the cacophony of battle: clashing metal, neighing horses, shouts, grunts, and screams.

The camera pulls back to show a battlefield where a battle is raging. A montage of battle scenes follows:

* a warrior on horseback is struck by an arrow in the chest, clutching at his chest and slowly crumpling off his horse;
* two warriors spar with each other; one of them loses his footing and falls, and the other raising his sword to finish him off;
* a riderless horse gallops across the field, neighing in fright;
* a hand swings a mace and brings it down on someone's helmet.

The camera pulls further back to show Ares standing on a rock over the battlefield, surveying the battle, his face impassive, his eyes hooded.

There are two flashes of light on both sides of him, and Zeus and Hera materialize standing next to him.

ARES (coldly, still looking at the battlefield):
     Mom. Dad. To what do I owe the pleasure?

ZEUS (with mild reproach):
     Son. I was hoping that by now, we would have gotten past our--estrangement.

ARES (sarcastic):
     So you two decided to pop in here just to tell me you love me.

HERA:
     No. To tell you that after everything you did for us, we thought it was time we did something for you.

ARES (steps back and eyes them warily):
     Exactly what do you mean by that?

ZEUS:
     Not just for you. (he pauses as Ares watches him intently) You, Xena, Gabrielle and Eve braved Hell itself to bring us back. Your mother and I felt that you all deserved a--reward.

ARES:
     Took you long enough.

ZEUS:
     What we are offering you goes against our--usual rules. It had to be weighed very carefully.

ARES (wryly):
     Oh yeah. Olympian red tape. (pauses) So what exactly is this offer?

HERA:
     A chance to change your destinies.

A close-up on Ares' face, taken aback but clearly interested, as we:

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER