THE SHIPPER SEASONS XENA WARRIOR PRINCESS VIRTUAL SEASON NINE UNLEASHED Production #XWP188/SS55 Episode #9.08 Story By: Ryan, Aurora and LadyKate Written By: Aurora, LadyKate and Ryan Collage By: Aurora Images Gathered By: Aurora Logline When Ares agrees to take Darion on an outing for his tenth birthday, the event becomes a lot less joyous after Ares' past unexpectedly comes back to haunt him resulting in a day that Darion nor anyone else are likely to forget. Airdate August 15, 2005 TEASER FADE IN A battle raging in a large, open field. As the sight and the noise of the battle fade in, writing appears across the screen: ONE THOUSAND YEARS AGO As the camera zooms in, we see that the fighters, men and women, are wearing rugged clothes of animal skins and leather. They're armed with primitive spears and clubs. The camera pans to show, from the back, a man and a woman striding through the battlefield. They're both very tall; the man is wearing black leather armor and has long shaggy hair, the woman is in two-piece silver armor and a silver headpiece with long golden hair cascading down from under it. They are striding through the battlefield, swinging their swords and mowing down the warriors before them. The camera pans around and we see that the man is Ares--but looking very different from what we're used to. He is much more rugged-looking, with a thick beard and shaggy hair. He wears a necklace of teeth and leather armor. The woman next to him is a beautiful blonde with green eyes. Ares grins evilly as he guts a man with his sword. The woman laughs wildly as she throws a fireball towards a group of the men and sets them on fire. She continues to laugh as they scream. Zoom in on the fire, and then. DISSOLVE TO A fire burning low in the forest. The camera pulls back to show Xena around the campsite to reveal Darion huddled up in a blanket. He is sound asleep. GABRIELLE (off camera, sound upset): It's his birthday, for crying out loud... The camera pulls up to show Gabrielle seated on a log next to the fire looking frustrated. Xena sits across from her, staring thoughtfully into the fire. XENA (somewhat defensive): Eve tried her best--it's the council... GABRIELLE (sighs): I know. But he really wanted to have a birthday party with his sister, Eve and Klymene. (getting angry again) It's just for one day! XENA (looks up, obviously pained): Gabrielle, it's the Amazon ways. That's the way it's always been. Gabrielle gives a deep sigh as she stares into the fire. She looks back up at Xena. GABRIELLE: I guess I just never really questioned it until... (her voice trails off, and she chuckles bitterly) He's just a kid, Xena. He's sweet, funny--harmless-- Gabrielle is cut off by a scream behind her--it's Darion. Gabrielle starts slightly and stares at Xena, her eyes filled with sorrow. From their reaction, we can tell this is not unusual. Gabrielle gets up from the log and the camera pans over to show Darion. He is tossing in his sleep, obviously having a nightmare. Gabrielle walks over to him. DARION (cries out): Raise the roof! Gabrielle kneels down next to him and shakes him gently, but he pushes her away. DARION (crying louder): Momma...Daddy...come on! (louder) We have to get out of here! Lykia! GABRIELLE (softly, shaking him again): Darion, wake up-- He wakes up with a start and sits up, gulping for air and trying to bring his frightened breaths back to normal. Gabrielle wraps her arms around him and he clings to her. GABRIELLE (softly, shaking him again): Shh...Darion, it's okay...it was a dream. (softer) Just a dream. Darion's breathing returns back to normal and he calms down. GABRIELLE (stroking his hair): Shh... Darion, it's okay...it was a dream. (softer) Just a dream. He stops struggling and Gabrielle lays him back down on his bedroll. He closes his eyes as she strokes his hair. As his breathing grows steady, Gabrielle gets up, her face filled with sorrow, and walks back toward the campfire. She sits down. GABRIELLE (softly): He's just a boy. The camera zooms in on Xena's saddened expression. XENA (managing a smile): Tomorrow, we'll come up with something. Amazon village or not, he's going to have a great birthday. Gabrielle nods, then looks back at Darion. Move in closer on his sleeping form. DISSOLVE TO Sunrise. The sky is turning a soft pink. Birds are singing. Pan down to Xena and Gabrielle are asleep in their bedrolls. Suddenly, Darion comes running onto the scene, swinging his arms around. DARION (stopping just in front of their bedrolls): Xena! Gabrielle! Wake up! Xena and Gabrielle jerk awake, wide-eyed, reaching for their weapons. They see Darion standing in front of them. Close up of Darion's face. His eyes are big and excited. Pull back on Xena and Gabrielle. GABRIELLE (worried): What is it, Darion? What's wrong? DARION (smiles brightly): Nothing! XENA (slightly annoyed): Then what's with the rude awakening? DARION: It's my birthday! Gabrielle sighs and glances at Xena, who has put down her sword. Xena gives her a brief smile, then rolls her eyes. XENA: The perks of traveling with a kid. (She lies back down, yawns and places her hands behind her head, closing her eyes) Darion, it's hardly even dawn yet. DARION: Come on. We have to get going! (He starts tugging on Gabrielle's arm) Otherwise, I'll be late for my party with Lykia! Xena sits up, instantly awake. She and Gabrielle quickly exchange looks of distress. DARION: I can't wait to see her, and Eve, and Klymene...I wonder if they've planned some kind of surprise! GABRIELLE: Actually... (glances at Xena, trying to think of a way to break the news) ...we aren't going to the Amazon village. DARION (disappointed): I'm not having a party? GABRIELLE: Well--the Amazons have been really busy, and-- She trails off. Darion looks crestfallen. Gabrielle doesn't know what to say. She glances at Xena for answers. Xena thinks for a long moment, then looks at Darion. XENA: Well, since you were turning ten and it's such a big day for you--we figured we'd plan a really big surprise for you ourselves. DARION: Like what? Gabrielle gives Xena a puzzled look. Xena flashes her a grin. XENA: Now, if I told you right away it wouldn't be a surprise, would it? She rises slowly to her feet. XENA (calls out almost casually): Ares... Pan to Darion as his eyes light up with anticipation. There is a "whoosh" and a flash of light; in the next moment, Ares appears, his hands folded casually on his chest. ARES: You rang? XENA (almost with a straight face): Ares, we've got--something of an urgent situation. As she comes closer, Ares looks at her quizzically and suspiciously, knowing she's up to something. ARES: Let me guess. A warlord. (off Xena's head-shake) An army. (off her head-shake, again) A monster. (off her "you've got to be kidding" look, sighs) No, of course not--you wouldn't need my help for any of that. (he raises an eyebrow) Are you sure it's urgent? XENA (comes even closer; in an almost husky voice): Oh, very. (She puts her hand on his shoulder) ARES: Well, I hope so, because there's a good battle about to happen between-- Xena puts a finger to his lips, shushing him. XENA: Today is Darion's birthday--he's turning ten. And you're going to give him a special present. (she smiles mischievously) A visit to Mount Olympus. Ares' bemused expression turns to complete shock. Xena smirks at him. Pan to Gabrielle, who can barely hold back a smile. Zoom in on Darion's face, his eyes growing wide with excitement, as we: FADE OUT ACT ONE FADE IN Close up of Darion's excited face. Pull back for a full-body shot of him as he starts to jump up and down. DARION: Yesss!!! He runs up to Ares and hugs him tightly, wrapping his arms around Ares' waist. DARION: This is going to be the best birthday ever!!! Ares looks uncomfortable, not knowing how to react. Gabrielle looks at them with a mix of amusement and concern while Ares looks helplessly at Xena. ARES (pries Darion off him): All right. Enough of that. That's no way for a grown man to act. DARION (puzzled but excited): A man? ARES (grins): Sure. Ten years old--that's almost old enough to be a warrior. Darion grins and juts out his chest, strutting a bit. Gabrielle shoots Xena a slightly alarmed look. GABRIELLE (quietly): Maybe this isn't such a good idea... ARES (smirks): Maybe not. Darion looks from Gabrielle to Ares, obviously crushed. DARION (to Ares): Oh, come on--you promised! ARES (warily): I haven't promised anything yet. DARION (to Gabrielle, almost crying): I didn't get a birthday party and you said I could have a surprise instead--it's not fair! ARES (shakes his head, muttering under his breath): A grown man. XENA: Come on, guys. Birthdays only come around once a year. I'm sure Darion would love a tour of Olympus. DARION: I would, I would! XENA (to Ares, raising an eyebrow): Well? It's not going to kill you, you know. Ares looks from Xena to Darion and back to Xena. Ares sighs, defeated. ARES (grumbling under his breath, to Xena): I can't believe you're talking me into this. (louder, to Darion) All right. DARION (pumps his fist in the air): Yes! Pan to Gabrielle, who looks uncertain. XENA (to Ares): I'm sure he'll behave... DARION: I promise! XENA (continues, to Gabrielle): And I'm sure Ares will, too... GABRIELLE (looks meaningfully at Ares): Well? ARES (innocent look): Don't you know me, Gabrielle? GABRIELLE: I do. That's the problem. ARES: Fine. (raises his hand and crosses his fingers in a sarcastic tone) I promise not to let the kid grow up too fast. DARION (tugs at Ares' vest): Come on, let's go! GABRIELLE (pats Darion on the shoulder): Have a good time, Darion. DARION (grins): I sure will! (to Ares) Hey, can you show me one of your temples, too? That would be so cool! ARES (sarcastic): Love to. But (looks at Gabrielle) not without permission from a higher power. GABRIELLE (sighs): All right, all right...you can show him a temple. Ares picks up Darion in his arms; Darion waves excitedly to Xena and Gabrielle, and disappears with Ares in a flare of blue light. Xena and Gabrielle look at the spot they had been and then at each other. GABRIELLE (chuckles, disguising her anxiety): I hope he doesn't get in trouble. XENA (impatient): It's Olympus, Gabrielle. What trouble could there be? CUT TO Outside view of Olympus. CUT TO Inside. In a long hallway, Ares and Darion appear. Darion is chattering excitedly about something. DARION: That was so funny the way you zapped that priest (points his fingers out) --zap! zap!--and made him run out of the temple whimpering! ARES: Hey, no one steals from the God of War...especially not one of my own priests. (sighs) People have no respect for the gods anymore. DARION: Well, you sure taught him a lesson, huh? ARES: Oh yeah. I'm sure he'll never show his sorry behind in my temple again. Darion looks around the hall at all the gold, the decorations and the ceiling, thrilled. DARION: So, this is where you live? It's so...big! Ares and Darion walk down the hallway. DISSOLVE TO Ares' chambers. The place is decorated much the same as his temples are with weapons and murals of battles on the walls, except this place is a lot brighter and isn't dirty. It's pristine. The walls are stone with silver flecks in them that shine in the sun and there are silver candleholders lined on all the walls. The doors open and Ares and Darion walk in, Ares closing the door behind him. Suddenly there is a bark and Horace comes running up to Ares and stands up, putting his paws on Ares' legs. DARION: This is your dog, right? Ares nods. Darion pets him on the side and Horace gives him a quick lick. DARION: I think he wants to play. ARES: He always wants to play. He's incredibly needy. Ares looks down and gives Horace a quick pat on the head, then a large bone appears in his hand. Horace barks happily as he takes the bone from Ares' hand. He wags his tail and prances proudly toward the back room with the bone between his teeth. Darion walks around the room. There are some chairs and a large black and red couch, along with a large wooden table draped with black fabric along one of the walls. DARION (awed): Cool place! It's...it's even bigger than the emperor's palace in Rome! ARES: Well, I would think so! You know, a god is still a little more important than an emperor. There is the faint sound of swords clashing. Darion perks up and looks around the room. He walks toward a big chair near the wall in the back, with what looks like a round mirror in front of it. There is a light flickering in the mirror. Darion cocks his head and moves toward it, curiously. Zoom in on the mirror--we see that it's a portal which shows a battle going on. Pull back to show Darion as he approaches and cranes his neck to get a better look. Pull back on Ares. He raises his eyebrows, sighs and shrugs with a sarcastically regretful expression, then extends his hand and shuts the portal down as if with a remote, turning off the picture just as a warrior is about to get stabbed through the chest. The screen goes black. DARION (looks back at Ares): What was that? ARES (smirks): Oh…something Auntie Gabrielle wouldn't appreciate. Darion walks up to the portal, examining it. It's just like a black mirror. He looks up, the camera following his eyes. Above him on the wall is a mural of Xena fighting off some enemies, chakram in hand, a wicked grin on her face. DARION: Wow! Xena... (turning to Ares) Hey, did you know--(he puts his hand on his belt) I have a chakram too? (He proudly shows Ares his wooden replica chakram) Just like Xena's? ARES: That's, um--great. Suddenly Ares perks up as if he has heard something, and straightens up. ARES: Wait here, kid. DARION (looks at him): Why? Where are you going? ARES: I'm needed somewhere else. DARION: Ooh, can I come with you? ARES: Um--no. Not a good idea. (pats Darion on the head) Don't go anywhere. Ares steps back from Darion and vanishes in a flash of light. Darion stares at the spot where he vanished. DISSOLVE TO Xena and Gabrielle are walking through a quiet forest, leading their horses behind them. GABRIELLE: You know, it's funny... XENA: What? GABRIELLE: I've almost forgotten what it's like when it's just the two of us. Xena gives her a somewhat troubled, defensive look. XENA: Things haven't changed that much. GABRIELLE (thoughtfully): Yes, they have. I have Darion...and, well-- (chuckles) Ares is around a lot. (after a pause) And Haimon-- (she trails off, lost in thought) XENA (gently): Gabrielle...you're my family, you know that. Nothing is ever going to change that. Gabrielle is silent for a moment. Then, she turns almost brusquely toward Xena and smiles at her. GABRIELLE: I'm glad things have turned out the way they have. Xena gives her a thoughtful look and nods. CUT TO Ares' chambers. Darion is walking around the room, looking at everything, interested and curious, looking at the weapons and battle murals on the walls. He is holding the wooden chakram in his hand occasionally tossing it in the air and catching it when it comes down. Darion moves further around the room. There are some drapes of fabric hanging in front of an open door that leads to a small back room. DARION (curious): Hmm... He moves the fabric away from the door, walking into the room. Inside, there is a large ornate wooden table draped with black velvet. On the table are scattered maps and a pitcher of wine with a goblet that is half full. Walking around, Darion wanders into a far corner of the room and sees a row of niches in the wall, with a small statuette in each niche. DARION: What's this? He starts to pick up the statuettes one by one, examining them curiously. As he picks up one of the statuettes, there is a sudden noise. Darion looks up, alarmed. A panel in the wall slides open silently. Darion gasps and steps back, the statuette dropping from his hand with a clatter. Then, overcome by curiosity, he moves back toward the opening in the wall and peers inside. There is a steep stone stairway leading down, with a dim glow of red coming from below. DARION (fascinated): Cool... Hesitantly, Darion steps through the opening and starts making his way down the stairs into the glowing red darkness. CUT TO Ares' temple. Ares is standing in front of a king, his arms folded across his chest, looking unimpressed and impatient. KING: So, you see why we need your help? ARES: Yeah, I see why. I just can't believe you're asking for it again. (Off the king's speechless shamefaced look.) This is the fourth time you and your neighbor have gone to war. And every time you ask for my help, I comply. This feud hasn't gotten any better so I say that it's time I let you work it out by yourselves. I've got better uses for my time. KING: But Lord Ares-- The king doesn't get the chance to finish what he is saying because Ares disappears. The king looks after him, disappointed. CUT TO Darion is walking down the stairs. The red glow gets brighter as he gets further down into the room. Darion steps off of the stairs and looks around. He stares at the red glowing aura and walks toward it slowly. As he gets closer to the light he finds that the red glowing is coming from a black sphere that is sitting on top of a stone pedestal. A red glow occasionally flashes inside the black sphere. Darion stares at it, transfixed. CUT TO Ares appears in his chambers on Olympus. He looks around but doesn't find Darion. Ares sighs. ARES: Exploring, huh? (chuckles) Boys will be boys. (He walks around the room, looking) Kid? CUT TO In the dark room. Darion picks up the sphere and examines it. At the bottom of the sphere is a hollow imprint in the shape of an Ares rune symbol. Looking around, Darion sees a silver rune symbol on a chain--it looks like Ares' old pendant--hanging from a peg in the wall. DARION: I wonder what this does... He walks over and picks up the pendant. CUT TO Ares' chambers. ARES (looks around, then raises his voice): Hey, kid! Still no answer. Ares stares at the empty room, starting to get worried. He glances at the room where Darion had been exploring and walks in. He stops and looks around. Pan to the corner. Ares sees the open panel in the wall. Zoom in on Ares' face. He looks very concerned. Ares strides toward the corner and sees the statuette lying on the floor. ARES (worried): Oh, great... CUT TO In the dark room. Darion hesitates, obviously curious but scared. Finally, his curiosity getting the better of him, he presses the pendant to the imprint on the sphere--just as there is a flash of blue light behind him. ARES (yells off-camera): What do you think you're doing! Darion jumps, startled, and whirls around to find Ares standing behind him. At the same moment, a red and white fog starts to rise from the sphere. Darion shudders and drops the sphere and the rune symbol. In slow motion, the sphere falls to the floor, shattering into a million pieces. Darion looks down at the shattered pieces as the red and white fog rises and grows thicker. Ares rushes up to Darion and forcefully grabs him, pulling him away from the fog. DARION (frightened and ashamed): I--I'm sorry--I didn't mean to... The fog grows thicker. Lightning goes off in the fog as it swirls around the shattered sphere. There is a bright burst of red light and when the light and smoke clears, a woman stands it its place, stretching her arms. She is a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and green eyes, wearing a silver outfit revealing her midriff and a silver headpiece with beads hanging from it. She looks around the dark room, curiously, and then her eyes land on Ares. A grin appears on her face. WOMAN (seductively): Hello, Ares. We move in on Ares who is still holding Darion close to him. Darion looks nervous. Close up of Ares' face. He looks troubled and wary as we: FADE OUT ACT TWO FADE IN Ares and Darion stare at the woman in front of them. She smiles at Ares and walks toward him slowly. WOMAN: What? Not even a hello? (As Ares remains silent, anger fills her voice after each word) Maybe you don't remember me. ARES (not letting his guard down, firmly): I remember you, Enyo. Enyo begins to circle around him, looking him over, studying his clothes, checking him out in a blatantly sexual way. Then she stops in front of him. ENYO (raises her eyebrow, unimpressed): You've changed. ARES (coldly): You haven't. ENYO (smiles bitterly): Well, you didn't give me much of a chance, did you now? She looks down at Darion. He holds the wooden chakram pressed tightly against his chest. His hands are shaking with fright. He gulps, his eyes wide. Ares' hand is draped protectively across Darion's body. She smiles and then looks at Ares. ENYO (sarcastically): How sweet. You have a son. (sighs) And who's the mother? Let me guess-- (contemptuously) --a mortal? (Ares is silent, staring at her) Well, I see that one thing hasn't changed. (smirks) You still can't keep your hands off those mortal females. Not to mention…other body parts. Ares remains silent. Enyo begins to get more enraged as she talks. She paces back and forth, absorbing her surroundings. ENYO: Well, no matter. (grins) We had some good times--(annoyed) --until you dumped me because you didn't like my...special qualities. (sighs) But you can't make me jealous no matter how hard you try. I'm a goddess. (filling with hatred) They've got nothing on me. She whips around, staring at Ares. Her eyes are glowing a bright red. Pan on Darion as he cowers in fright. ARES (sarcastically): You know--you really shouldn't hold a grudge after all this time. ENYO (as if hearing the word for the first time): Oh yes. Time. (hissing) Do you know what time became for me when you stuck me inside that thing? (indicates the pile of broken sphere on the ground). An instrument of torture. (voice filling with rage) Oh yes. It has been a long--long--time. She glares at Ares, and raises her hand to create a blaze of fire. She screams in fury as she launches the fire towards Ares and Darion. Ares, with a tight hold of Darion, quickly moves out of the way. The fire explodes on the ceiling, causing a bit of a cave in. A grin appears on her face. She launches another fireball and Ares grabs Darion and ducks out of the way. He then stands up and in anger, launches a fireball towards her. She quickly deflects it with her hand. The fireball explodes on the side wall. Dust fills the room. Enyo laughs wickedly as Ares stares at her nervously. ENYO (chuckling): You know--I forgot how much I enjoyed doing that. (She sighs and stretches) Well--now, I think I'll go get some fresh air. (She winks at him and gives him a sultry smile) Catch you later--War God. Lightning begins to flare up around Enyo. She grins, laughs wildly and vanishes and in a flash of red light, lightning and smoke. The light dissipates and the room becomes almost pitch black. Ares spins Darion around and looks at him, gripping his shoulders. ARES: What did you think you were doing? DARION: I... (gulps) I...I'm sorry. I was just...curious. Darion looks away and begins to sniffle, tears coming to his eyes. His sniffling turns to sobs and Ares looks intensely uncomfortable, not knowing what to do. Finally Ares pats Darion's head rather stiffly. DARION (wiping his tears): Am I in trouble? ARES: I don't know about you. I am. Darion looks up at Ares nervously. DARION: Who...who was she? Ares looks away. [FLASHBACK] A quick flash of the battle we saw in the beginning of the teaser. Ares--with a thick beard and shaggy hair, a necklace of animal fangs around his neck--is fighting next to Enyo. Ares grins evilly as he guts a man with his sword. Enyo laughs wildly as she throws a fireball towards a group of the men and sets them on fire. She continues to laugh as they scream. [END OF FLASHBACK] Ares stares off into the darkness. [FLASHBACK] A temple comes to view, lit by candlelight. In the middle of the temple is a large bed with silk sheets. Enyo is on top of Ares, the covers draped over her, as she fiercely kisses him. ENYO (breaking the kiss): Together...we're unstoppable. [END OF FLASHBACK] Ares looks down at Darion. ARES: Lets just say...she's bad news. Close up of Ares' grim face. CUT TO Inside a temple to Ares. There are two priests and a priestess working in the temple. The priestess is lighting candles and the priests are washing down the alter stone that has bloodstains on it, clearly left there by a recent sacrificial offering. There is a flash of red light behind them. Pan back to see Enyo standing in the middle of the temple. The priests and priestess do not see her--she is invisible to them. Enyo looks around the temple, taking in her surroundings. ENYO: So this is a temple to Ares, God of War. She scans the interior of the temple. ENYO (sighs, shaking her head): You've really mellowed out, haven't you? No carnage anywhere? (looks at the priests and priestess who are keeping the place tidy) That's pathetic. (looks up at the ceiling) What has happened to you while I've been gone? (shakes head) Nothing good, I can see that. Enyo sighs, unimpressed, and walks toward the door of the temple. She begins to disappear when something catches her eye. She appears fully and gazes upward. Over the door of the temple is an image of Xena's yin-yang chakram carved into the stone. Enyo cocks her head looking at it, interested. [FLASHBACK] Enyo standing in front of Ares and Darion. She looks at them and sees the wooden chakram that Darion holds in his hand. [END OF FLASHBACK] Enyo raises an eyebrow, staring intently at the carving, then spins around and rushes toward one of the priests. She grabs the priest by the shoulder and he gasps. She is still invisible to him, so it looks like he is hanging in mid-air. He struggles, frightened and gasping. The other priest and the priestess look at him, terrified, not knowing what to do. Enyo appears in a flash of red and white light. The priest and priestess stare at her, eyes widening. The priest that she is still holding onto shakes nervously. ENYO: I need information. PRIEST #1 (stuttering): Who- who are you? Enyo grins and sighs, looking sweetly at him. ENYO: Relax. (she sets the priest down) I'm not going to hurt you-- The priest coughs and nervously adjusts his robes. ENYO: --much. The priest looks up at her, terrified. ENYO: Now. Tell me what that is. She points to the chakram carving above the doorway. PRIEST #1 (still nervous, stuttering ): That's the cha-cha-cha- ENYO (sarcastically): Bless you. (she grabs the priests by the collar and picks him up again as he whimpers; her eyes glow red) Now spit it out! PRIESTESS: It's the chakram of Xena, the Warrior Princess! ENYO: Xena? She drops the priest and he falls to the floor, rubbing his neck and whimpering. Enyo whips around and turns to the cowering priestess. ENYO (curious): Who is this--Xena? PRIESTESS (gulps): She's...she's a favorite warrior--of Ares, God of War. ENYO (narrows eyes): Oh really? (mockingly) Just how favorite is she? PRIESTESS (nervously): Well... ENYO (smiles sweetly): Now, let's make a deal. She paces around the temple, then turns to the priests and the priestess just as the priest she had picked up by the collar before scrambles to his feet, still rubbing his neck. ENYO (turns to them): You're going to tell me everything you know. And I will spare you a very painful death. The priests stare at her. She grins. CUT TO Xena and Gabrielle walking through the forest, leading their horses. GABRIELLE: I wonder what Darion is doing right now. XENA: Having fun. (smirks) Probably getting in some kind of trouble. (off Gabrielle's alarmed look) Just kidding. Gabrielle chuckles and shakes her head. There is a flash of blue light in front of them and Ares appears with Darion. GABRIELLE: Darion? (she steps toward them) Done with the tour already? (smirking, to Ares) Don't tell me Darion was too much for you to handle. (to Darion, teasing) You've been a good boy, haven't you, Darion? Darion looks away, tearing up. Gabrielle looks at him, suddenly troubled. ARES (very serious): The fun is over. XENA: Why--what's wrong? GABRIELLE (kneels down in front of Darion): What's wrong, sweetie? Darion stares down. After a long moment of silence, Gabrielle touches Darion's chin and moves his head so that he is looking at her. GABRIELLE (gently): Darion, come on-- DARION (blurts out): I've been very bad! GABRIELLE: Oh, that can't be true! (She smiles at him and then turns to Ares, her expression changing to a frown) Ares--have you been giving him a hard time? You should-- DARION (cuts her off): Some really mean goddess got out and it's all my fault! (he starts to sniffle) Gabrielle shakes her head, confused, and glances up at Xena and Ares. GABRIELLE: What is Darion talking about? ARES (sighs): It's true. GABRIELLE (stands up, disbelieving): You've got to be kidding! (she laughs) Darion set loose a goddess? DARION (looking down): I...I picked up this funny-looking round thing and--and there was this other thing that was like a key...and the goddess was inside it and she got out. XENA (stepping closer to Ares): What's this all about? ARES: A blast from the past. A thousand years ago, to be exact. Ares looks away uncomfortably. Xena is troubled and curious. Gabrielle moves closer to Ares. GABRIELLE (angry): How could you let this happen, Ares? You were supposed to look after Darion! Darion runs up to Gabrielle, standing between her and Ares, and grabs her hands, looking up at her. DARION: Please don't blame Ares, Gabrielle. It's not his fault. It's mine. (sniffles) It's all my fault! All my fault! He turns around and runs off into the forest. GABRIELLE: Darion! Gabrielle rushes off into the forest after Darion. There is a long moment of silence. Xena turns to Ares. XENA: Who is she? Ares is silent for a moment, looks away, then looks back at Xena. ARES: Enyo was a goddess from the island of Mysia, in the Aegean. I was the one who found her. She was not born war god, but she had a natural skill for war. XENA (bluntly): So she became your Warrior Queen. ARES: I took her under my wing--taught her everything I knew. XENA (wryly): I bet you did. ARES: We were the ruling gods of war--and, together, we caused mayhem throughout the mortal world. I didn't even care about worshipers back then--just... (move in slowly on his face) ...death. DISSOLVE TO [FLASHBACK] On Screen Writing: A THOUSAND YEARS AGO Two armies are facing off in a field. The leaders of the two armies on horses. They raise their swords and the soldiers of their armies attack. The battle quickly becomes bloody and fearsome. There is the sound of rumbling. Off to the side of the battlefield there is a flicker of red light and billows of black smoke appear in the air. The smoke gets thick until there is a bright burst of white light and a loud whinny and cackling sound. Out of the smoke charge two black Clydesdales with glowing red eyes and silver bridles. The two horses charge toward the battlefield, pulling behind them a gruesome black chariot, with razor sharp spikes on the wheels. The chariot's face has embossed depictions of people battling each other: some stabbing opponents in the gut, others chopping off heads and body parts and dead bodies lying on the ground. Standing in the chariot are Ares and Enyo holding the reins. Enyo looks exactly the same as she did when she was released from the sphere. They both have evil grins on their faces as the chariot races into the battlefield, mowing down people as it goes, the spikes of the chariot disemboweling some unsuspecting victims. Ares, Enyo and their chariot are invisible to the soldiers. The chariot stops in the middle of the battlefield. Ares and Enyo look around at all the fighting. ARES: You're good, Enyo. ENYO (grins): I know. ARES: Getting that fool of a king to follow you--believing you would help him in battle. ENYO: And you did the same with his brother. (chuckles) Nice touch. Little did they know that we'd be leading them in a battle against each other... Enyo draws her sword and thrusts it forward, stabbing one of the soldiers in the gut. He gasps and falls to the ground, dead. She smiles, satisfied and looks at Ares ENYO: ...or that we'd be fighting on whatever side we like. ARES (casually): Too bad for them. Enyo grins and jumps out of the chariot, brandishing her sword. Ares shakes his head and gets out of the chariot and joins Enyo in the fight. They fight side by side, killing soldiers on both sides, laughing as they kill. Enyo lays a good blow into one of the soldiers, thrusts her sword through his gut so that it sticks out the other side, then pulls it out, spins it around in her hand and then slices his gut open. He dies instantly. Ares grins and kicks the body to the ground; then, with his free hand, he sends a lightning bolt through the battlefield, killing half a dozen soldiers who turn to ashes. Enyo shakes her head, impressed. Ares lowers his hand and is breathing heavily. He looks at the blade of his sword. Blood drips from it. Ares moves the blade closer to his face. He closes his eyes and throws his head back a little, inhaling the scent of death around him. A close-up of Ares' face. He opens his eyes. They are glowing red. He looks like no Ares we've ever seen before--nothing more than a vessel for war and bloodlust. Pan over to Enyo, who is facing him. Her eyes are glowing read too. Pull back for a full view of the battlefield. Most of the solders are dead. Ares and Enyo stand side by side amongst the carnage, blood-spattered, their faces filled with bliss. [END OF FLASHBACK] Xena is sitting by a tree, her arms wrapped around her knees, lost in thought. Ares sits down next to her. CUT TO Darion is sitting next to a tree in the forest, in a position similar to Xena with his arms wrapped around his knees, except that he has his head down and is crying softly. There is a rustle of leaves. Gabrielle approaches and stands still for a moment, then sits down next to Darion. GABRIELLE: Are you okay? Darion wipes his eyes. DARION: I did a really bad thing, Gabrielle. She puts a comforting hand on his shoulder. GABRIELLE: I'm sure you didn't mean to, Darion. We all make mistakes sometimes. DARION (anxiously): But this goddess...she's really, really scary. GABRIELLE: Don't worry--we'll deal with her. Everything will be fine. (gently) Okay? Darion is silent. He sighs and then looks at Gabrielle. DARION (sadly): This hasn't turned out to be a very happy birthday. (looks away) Gabrielle looks at him, sympathetically. She pulls him toward her and hugs him. CUT TO Xena and Ares. ARES: Enyo and I...we were-- XENA (bitterly): A perfect match. ARES: Yeah. [FLASHBACK] Ares' chambers on Olympus. There is a flash of red and blue light. Enyo and Ares appear, fiercely and violently kissing each other. Ares moves his hands over her body and then pushes her against the wall of the room. She slams against it. He darts toward her and grabs her arms, pinning her against the wall. She grins and forces his lips onto hers and they kiss passionately. She wraps her leg around him, pulling him closer to her. DISSOLVE TO Enyo and Ares are lying next to each other in a bed covered with silky sheets, both naked. Enyo runs her hand over Ares chest and he looks at her. ENYO: I don't think I'll ever get tired of this. ARES: Oh really? Eternity is a long time. Let's just take it one decade at a time. Enyo grins and leans toward him. ENYO: Sounds good. Starting right now, hmm? (she captures his lips in a kiss; when she pulls back, he is grinning at her) What? ARES: You know, it's time we moved on to bigger and better things. ENYO (grins, her gaze trailing down his body): Bigger and better than what? ARES (chuckles): All these battles between mortals are starting to bore me. Oh, don't get me wrong--I love a good bloodbath as much as the next war god. But...we need more of a challenge. ENYO: Like what? ARES: I have a perfect one in mind if you're up to it. (Ares props himself up against the headboard of the bed and looks at Enyo) It's time to take down Zeus. ENYO (surprised): Your father? ARES: It's kind of a family tradition. Grandpa Cronus did it to Uranus; Zeus did it to Cronus--now it's my turn. I should be top god around here, anyway. I've had enough of my family looking down their noses at me because of what I do. It's time I showed them who's boss. ENYO: So you want to kill Zeus...how? ARES: I know there's at least one weapon out there that can kill gods. Maybe more. (smirks) Zeus has his little secrets. All we need to do is figure them out. ENYO (grins): I've got a little secret of my own. (she moves toward him and touches his face) I can do it. ARES (catches her wrist, suddenly wary): You? With what? ENYO (whispers): A kiss. (smiling) You see, I have an unusual ability. I can drain gods of their powers--their immortality. (seductively) A special kiss--that's all it takes. Ares stares at her silently. Enyo leans down toward him. ENYO: All you have to do... (whispers) ...is ask. [END OF FLASHBACK] XENA (gasps): The same ability Caligula had-- ARES (nods): Yes. And this ability...made her a little to powerful for my taste. Ares trails off, looking into the distance. [FLASHBACK] A hill overlooking a raging battlefield. Out of a great cloud of dust, a chariot comes rolling. A blood spattered Ares jumps off the chariot and stands atop the hill, throwing his head back, crossing his arms on his chest. There is a flash of red light behind him. He whips around to face Enyo. ENYO (angry): I've been looking all over for you. ARES (irritated): Can't the God of War enjoy a nice battle on his own once and a while? ENYO (furious): Ares, you have been ignoring me for days! Ares turns away and stares at the battle. Enyo leans in and starts to kiss his neck. Ares backs off a bit. ENYO (smiles, whispering into his ear): You're afraid of me--aren't you, God of War? ARES (chuckles, hiding his nervousness): Of you? That's ridiculous. ENYO (seductively): Then kiss me. ARES (brusquely): Not in the mood. ENYO: Your afraid I'll take your powers. (shaking her head) If I wanted to do that, Ares, wouldn't I have done it already? ARES: Maybe not--as long as you can use me. ENYO (getting angry): Use you? If you want to be top god, then you need me. Ares' expression turns vicious. ARES (growling): I don't need anyone. Especially you. ENYO (furious): If that's the way you want it...you'll be sorry. She stretches out her arms and, with a screech, launches two fireballs into the battlefield. The screams of warriors hit by the fireballs are heard from below. Enyo starts to stalk down the hill, her back to Ares. ARES (quietly): Enyo. Enyo stops, then turns around hopefully. ARES (forcefully): If you know what was good for you, stay out of my way. ENYO (viciously): If you know what's good for you--don't make me angry. She vanishes in a flash of red light. With a frustrated road, Ares creates a fireball in his hand and chucks it down at the spot where she vanished. [END OF FLASHBACK] ARES: After that, we were enemies. It wasn't too long before things came to a head. [FLASHBACK] Inside the gods' palace on Olympus. There are bright flashes of light. Ares and Enyo are battling it out in the main hall, each punch, kick and clash of their swords creating sparks. Enyo charges Ares and thrusts her sword at him, screaming. He parries the blade and pushes her aside. Their swords clash several times, both of them knowing all there is to know about the art of war. Ares knees Enyo in the stomach several times and then grabs her by the waist and throws her across the room. She hits the wall hard, causing some of the stones to be pushed in and dust to fly. Enyo shakes herself and stares at Ares as he walks up to her. She growls and throws her sword arm at him but he catches it. She growls and tries to kick him in the groin but instead he throws her down and plants his knee in her chest, pinning her down. She struggles, snarling and hissing. Ares leans down, his face now close to Enyo's. His eyes are chilly and menacing. ARES (his voice low and dangerous): I am the God of War. You can't win this fight. Everything you know about fighting, about war... Everything that the world knows about war... It's all because of me. You can't ever hope to take my place no matter how you try. Enyo glares at him. Then, with an artful moves, she pushes him off, jumps to her feet and vanishes in a red glare. Ares jumps to his feet just as Enyo appears behind him. He spins around to find her sword pressing up against his chest. He looks down at the blade and then at Enyo. Ares sneers. ARES: You know those toys aren't going to do you any good. ENYO: I'm not leaving that easily. I'll fight you 'till the end. You know I can. ARES: I know you can try. Ares hits her sword with his and their fight begins again. She lays some good blows into him but he parries her every time. She is filled with rage as she fights Ares but it is clear that Ares is enjoying this. He has a cocky smirk on his face. Sparks continue to fly and thunder erupts around them as they battle. For a moment Enyo manages to get the upper hand. She knocks Ares' sword from his hand, then flips herself over him and kicks him in the back. He stumbles forward and spins around to face Enyo. She screeches, laughs wildly and grabs his shoulders, bringing her face close to his as she tries to kiss him on the mouth. Her lips barely touch his when he manages to push her back. With a cry of fury, Enyo extends her hand and sends a lightning bolt toward Ares. He holds up his hand to catch the energy surge and it disintegrates in his hand. He grins wickedly, then thrusts his hand forward and shoots a lightning bolt into her. Enyo is thrown back across the room and hits the wall so hard that she knocks a hole in it. She lies in the rubble for a moment, then shakes herself and sits up. Ares walks slowly up to her. Her eyes meet his. She jumps up and punches Ares in the face. She tries to kick him in the stomach but he grabs her leg and flips her over so that she lands on the ground, face down. He plants a foot in her back as she struggles. ARES: You know, I did warn you. Enyo lifts her head up, struggling, her hair disheveled. Ares holds out his hand and a black sphere appears in it. ARES: It's a shame. To see a young... (glances at Enyo and raises an eyebrow) beautiful goddess in the prime of immortality reduced to a footnote in history. ENYO: What? ARES: I have more important things to do than fight you forever--I've got a world to wage war on. (he holds out the sphere toward her and stares at it) It's lights out for you. He stands back, taking his foot off Enyo's back, and stares intently at the sphere as Enyo scrambles to her feet. His eyes begin to glow red and the sphere gets a glowing red aura around it. The light gets brighter. A wind begins to blow through the hall, growing stronger. Enyo staggers as the wind begins to pull her toward the sphere. ENYO (shouting over the noise as she is pulled closer toward the sphere): What are you doing? What is this? ARES: A little present from Hephaestus. This is the price you'll pay for ever crossing paths with the God of War. The wind pulls harder at Enyo. A red and white fog begins to form around her. It sweeps her off her feet and she begins to disappear. ENYO: Ares!!!!!! Enyo disappears and a wisp of red and white smoke sweeps around the sphere and then enters it, filling the interior of the sphere with the smoke, the sound of Enyo's echoing scream finally dying down. The light fades and the wind stops. Ares continues to stare at the sphere. ARES (nonchalantly): Goodbye, Enyo. (sighs, genuinely saddened for a moment) I'll miss you. (grins) But I'll get over it. Close-up of the sphere as the red and white smoke floats around inside, with sparks of lightning. Close-up of Ares' face as he laughs. [END OF FLASHBACK] Xena is looking at Ares. ARES: I put the sphere in a secret room in my halls on Olympus. (shrugs) Haephestus devised a pretty good safety system... XENA: Obviously, it wasn't child-proof. ARES (chuckles, despite the situation): There's no such thing as child-proof. Xena stares at him and then stands up. XENA: So she's back... (looks down at Ares) She'll be after you again. ARES: I can handle her. CUT TO Ares' temple. The frightened priests stand before Enyo. ENYO: All right. I've heard enough about this (spitting out her name) Xena. Now tell me about their son. PRIEST#1 (confused): Their son? PRIESTESS: I don't know about any of my lord Ares' children. (mustering up the courage to question Enyo) Why do you need to know about his son? ENYO (hissing): Lets just say...I need to get his attention. What better way than going after his son? (thinks a moment) Well. Maybe going after his priests. She raises her hands, screeching, and sends out two fireboats, striking down Priest #1 and the priestess. They scream as they fall. ENYO (to the remaining priest, who cowers before her): You can live--to give Ares the message. (to the fallen priestess) And by the way--don't ever question a goddess. Enyo vanishes in red light and smoke as we: FADE OUT ACT THREE FADE IN Forest. Xena, Gabrielle, and Darion are walking through the forest, pulling Argo and Klio behind them. DARION (to Xena): But what about the goddess? GABRIELLE: Right now the only thing you should be worried about is your birthday. Darion nods, though he doesn't look too sure. XENA (confidently): Besides, Ares can handle her. ENYO (off-camera): Oh, he handled me all right. Enyo materializes in the middle of their path, startling the horses. She has a wicked grin on her face. Xena quickly grabs her chakram and steps in front of Gabrielle and Darion. ENYO (grinning): You must be Xena. They've told me all about you. (glancing at Gabrielle) And I take it you're the annoying little blonde that tags along behind her. GABRIELLE (angrily): Most people just call me Gabrielle. Gabrielle has a tight hold on Darion's arm. XENA (fiercely): What do you want, Enyo? ENYO (coolly): Revenge. Enyo screams as she pulls back her arm and launches a fireball towards Xena. Xena quickly pulls back her chakram and lets it fly towards Enyo. The chakram strikes the fireball in midair, causing the fireball to dissolve and the chakram to fly back towards Xena. ENYO (as Xena catches the chakram): Now I can see why Ares likes you so much. Enyo holds out her hand and a sword materializes. She grips it tightly. The camera pulls on Xena. XENA (whispering to Gabrielle): Get Darion and get out of here. Gabrielle nods and begins to head back into the forest with Darion as Xena begins to advance on Enyo. The camera pulls in on Enyo as Xena draws her sword and charges towards her. Enyo quickly dematerializes. Xena darts her head back to see Enyo reappear in front of Gabrielle and Darion. ENYO (angrily): You're not going anywhere. Gabrielle quickly draws her sais as Enyo makes a swift cut down with her sword. Gabrielle blocks the blow and with all of her strength, pushes the goddess back. Darion stays close behind Gabrielle. Before Gabrielle can make another move, Enyo leaps back up to her feet and in one quick step launches a front kick right to Gabrielle's chest. Gabrielle falls to the ground hard, dropping her sais. DARION (shouting): Gabrielle! XENA (off-camera): ALALALALA--SHEEYA! Xena flips forward, landing right in front of Gabrielle and Darion. She brings her sword up and blocks Enyo's cut. Enyo swings her sword around, trying to strike Xena, but Xena reads through her move and blocks the slash. ENYO: You know, for a mortal, you're not that bad. XENA (whipping her sword around): Oh yeah? Well, for a goddess, you're not that good. With a snarl, Enyo charges forward once again and her and Xena parry. Both seem equally matched. CUT TO Ares' temple. Ares stands over the bodies of the dead priest and priestess. He looks very grim. PRIEST #2 (gasping): My Lord...she's going after your son. ARES (confused): My son? PRIEST (barely holding on): She said she wanted to get your attention. Zoom in on Ares' face as understanding dawns. He quickly dematerializes. CUT TO Xena and Enyo continue to spar. The camera pulls over to Darion as he runs to Gabrielle's side. Gabrielle gets to her feet, grabbing her sais. GABRIELLE (softly): Come on, we have to get you out of here. DARION (worried): What about Xena... GABRIELLE (grabbing his hand): She'll be okay. The camera pulls back in on Enyo and Xena fighting. Finally Enyo gains the upper hand and knocks Xena down. Enyo raises a sword above Xena, but before Xena can make a move a fireball strikes Enyo's side, knocking her down. The camera pulls back to show Ares. Enyo quickly gets up off the ground, vengeance boiling within her eyes. Meanwhile, Xena has already gotten back to her feet, and makes her way towards Ares. ENYO (sarcastically): How sweet. Must be nice to have a God of War wrapped around your little finger. Enyo looks around, looking for Gabrielle and Darion, but they are nowhere in sight. She snarls with rage. She launches another fireball towards Xena, who easily ducks out of the way. The fireball strikes the tree behind her. Enyo laughs, obviously calculating the move. The impact of the fireball causes the tree to crack and start toppling. She then fires another fireball towards Ares, to keep him occupied, but being a god, he deflects it easily. Xena hears the tree behind her start to crack and flips hastily out of the way, dropping her sword in the process. As Xena lands on her feet Enyo sends another fireball at her. Xena manages to dodge it but the next bolt of energy strikes Xena in the breastplate and knocks her onto her back. Enyo laughs, throwing her head back, and quickly vanishes. ARES (shouts): Xena! As Ares rushes toward Xena, Enyo reappears right in front of him and slams into him, full-body, taking him down and landing on top of him. She pulls him into a forceful kiss, and before Ares can resist Enyo has him in a passionate power-draining lip lock. Ares begins to grow visibly weak as a surge of power starts to fill Enyo's body with a red glow. Pan over to Xena, who rises to her feet, still shaken. As she sees what's happening, she grabs her chakram and launches it towards Enyo. As the chakram whooshes through the air, Enyo breaks the kiss and looks up; the chakram hits her in the head, causing no real damage but causing her head to snap back. Xena catches the chakram. Enyo gets up, grinning in triumph. Ares scrambles to his knees; Enyo looks at him and then backhands him across the face, sending him to the ground. ENYO (satisfied): Payback's a bitch, Ares. She then turns to Xena and laughs. ENYO: See you around, Warrior Princess. Maybe next time you'll be more impressed. Enyo vanishes before Xena can do anything. Xena rushes up to the fallen Ares. He begins to regain some of his strength. She helps him back up to his feet. XENA: You all right? Ares look himself over. ARES (dazed): My powers. She took my powers. Xena looks at him in shock. XENA (trying to remain confident): Don't worry, we'll get them back. We'll stop her. ARES: Wait--there's something else you need to know... XENA: What? ARES (regaining his senses): She's after Darion. XENA (confused): What? Why? ARES: She thinks he's my son. XENA (forcefully): Come on, we have to go. Xena whistles and Argo gallops into the area. CUT TO Gabrielle and Darion walk through the forest. They stop by a small stream and Darion cups some of the water into his hands and takes a drink. GABRIELLE: We should be safe now. We'll wait here for Xena and Ares. Darion manages a nod, although he looks pretty depressed. Gabrielle quickly takes notice. She thinks for a moment, then comes up with an idea. GABRIELLE (trying to cheer him up): Did I ever tell you the story about the Titans? DARION: My grandma used to tell me stories about the Titans. She said they were giants that the gods imprisoned years ago. They were really mean. GABRIELLE: Well, did I ever tell you about the time that I freed the Titans? Darion looks at her in awe. CUT TO Enyo walking through the woods. She stops. From her point of view, we see Gabrielle and Darion from a distance. Gabrielle is talking to Darion, obviously telling him the story; he looks curious and excited. ENYO (with an evil smirk): Well, well, Ares. I'm so glad I didn't kill you. Now you'll get to watch your little boy die at my hands. She starts coming closer. CUT TO Darion and Gabrielle. DARION (thinks for a moment): Wow. At least I only freed one goddess! Gabrielle smiles--obviously this was what she wanted. DARION (thinks some more): Besides, Xena can stop her--right? Just like she did with the Titans? GABRIELLE (smiles and ruffles his hair): Of course she can. She's Xena. ENYO (off-camera): Lets not give her too much credit. Enyo appears out of the forest, walking towards Gabrielle and Darion. Gabrielle draws her sais, holding them in a defensive position. ENYO (to Gabrielle): You're either very brave or very stupid. GABRIELLE: Enyo, your war is with Ares--not with us. ENYO: That's right. With Ares--and everyone he cares about. (short pause) Give me the boy and maybe I'll let you live. GABRIELLE (forcefully): Stay away from him! He's not a part of this! Enyo laughs and forms a fireball in her hand. She pulls back, ready to launch it towards Gabrielle. Gabrielle quickly pulls back her hand and throws her sai straight towards Enyo. The sharp hand wedges itself into her shoulder and she drops the fireball on the ground, setting the grass on fire. Enyo looks at the sai lodged into her shoulder and gives Gabrielle a sarcastic look. ENYO (raises and eyebrow): Not bad... She removes the sai, pulls back her hand and whips it forward; the sai flies fast through the air straight towards Darion. Gabrielle quickly extends her hand, catching the sai by the blade. ENYO: ...for a sidekick. But I'm through playing games. Her eyes begin to glow red and she shouts in a terrifying voice. ENYO: Give me the boy! Gabrielle shields Darion with her body. GABRIELLE (shouts): Ares! ENYO (with a nasty laugh): Oh no. Ares can't help you anymore. In fact, he can't even hear you. Enyo slowly approaches Gabrielle. Gabrielle manages to kick her in the stomach, slowing her down for a moment. Enyo snarls, her eyes glowing again, and grabs Gabrielle by the neck, throwing her aside. Gabrielle rolls on the ground, dropping the sais as she falls. Enyo laughs and grabs Darion. ENYO: You're coming with me, kid. DARION (struggling): Let me go! The camera pulls over to Gabrielle as she begins to get up off the ground. ENYO (to Gabrielle, with a tight hold on Darion): Tell Ares I'll expect to see him later. Gabrielle charges forward just as Enyo begins to vanish with a struggling, screaming Darion in her arms. Gabrielle grabs Enyo's shoulder just as she vanishes, and in a flash of light Gabrielle vanishes with them. The camera pulls around to show the now-empty clearing. Dark smoke rises from the burning grass. CUT TO Xena galloping through the woods. Ares is close behind on Gabrielle's horse. CUT TO Xena and Ares ride into the clearing. XENA (shouting): Gabrielle! Darion! She notices the smoke from the burning grass. XENA (anxious): Enyo--she was here. ARES: Over there--look! Xena turns around to see Ares pointing at something on the ground. It's Gabrielle's sais. Xena dismounts quickly, looking around desperately. XENA (shouting louder): Gabrielle!! Darion!! Ares dismounts as well. Xena scans the ground, noticing the footprints. She crouches low to the ground. XENA (examining the footprint): Gabrielle...she was running. She follows the footprints until they stop. Another set of footprints is seen, and then a smaller set (obviously from Darion). XENA (whispering): They end here. Ares walks up behind her. ARES (softly): She vanished. XENA (determined, hiding her fear): We'll find them. Xena and Ares stand side by side, looking at the burnt grass and the tracks on the ground, as we: FADE OUT ACT FOUR FADE IN Where we last left off. Xena paces uncontrollably across the clearing. ARES: Damn it... (to Xena, embarrassed) This is my fault. Xena... (she turns to look at him) I'm sorry. XENA (trying to stay calm): They could be anywhere. Ares--can you still find them? ARES (shaking his head): She took my powers. She took everything--expect my immortality. A look of despair fills Xena's face. ARES (thinking for a moment): Wait a minute...her fortress. XENA: What fortress? The camera moves in on Ares. ARES: It was built on the site of her greatest battle--only a few hours' ride from here. It's where I think she'd take them. XENA (gives him a probing look): All right--then let's go. She walks briskly toward Argo. ARES: Xena. Xena stops and looks back at him impatiently. ARES (continues): Enyo is still a goddess--and now that she's taken my powers, she's even stronger than before. (short pause) We need a way to kill her. XENA (impatient): Last I checked, I used up all the god-killing weapons. ARES: Maybe not. As Xena stares at him in shock, Ares walks over to the other horse and mounts. ARES: We need to make a quick stop at one of my temples. Ares brings his horse around and gallops fast into the forest. Xena leaps in the saddle and urges Argo on, following close behind him. CUT TO A dark dreary dungeon. Enyo materializes with a tight hold of Darion, and Gabrielle with a tight grip on her shoulder. Gabrielle quickly lets go of Enyo and looks around to figure out where she is. ENYO (to Gabrielle): Now I understand why Xena could never get rid of you. You're quite the hanger-on. Enyo grabs Gabrielle and forcefully shoves her into an open prison cell. DARION: Gabrielle! ENYO: Oh, don't worry. You're coming with her too. She grabs Darion and pushes him in behind Gabrielle, then slams the door shut. She grabs a key hanging by the door and locks it shut. Then she closes her hand around the key as smoke appears around her fist. She opens her hand to reveal the melted metal from the key. She lets it drip onto the floor. Gabrielle looks around, Darion clinging tightly to her side. ENYO: Make yourselves at home. It's the last place you'll ever see in this life. And you better hope Ares gets here before I get too bored. Enyo laughs and vanishes in a flash of red light. Zoom in on Darion as he hugs Gabrielle. GABRIELLE: Darion--I'm not going to let her hurt you. You hear that? CUT TO A large temple to Ares. Ares walks in the door, Xena follows close behind him. He walks over to the stone altar in the center of the temple. He walks towards the edge and grabs onto the end. ARES (motioning to the other side): Here, help me lift this. Xena nods and grabs hold of the other side, lifting the large stone tablet off the altar. They drop the stone tablet, which reveals a hollow space in the altar. In it is a wooden box. Ares lifts it and opens it, taking out a familiar dagger with a curved blade. XENA (shocked): The Dagger of Helios? [FLASHBACK] From "Seeds of Faith": Montage of Shots -Xena holds the dagger to Ares neck. -Xena removes the dagger and throws it down and begins to walk away. -Ares grabs the dagger and advances towards Xena putting it around her neck. -Ares, in anger, throws the dagger. The dagger strikes the wall and sparks fly in the air. [END OF FLASHBACK] Xena gives Ares an uneasy look, obviously reliving that moment, then lowers her eyes. XENA: I thought you destroyed it. ARES (looking the dagger over): Why would I do a thing like that? A god-killing weapon could always come in handy, especially with all the talk of the Twilight. I just zapped it someplace safe. Of course, once you gained the power to kill gods, this thing was pretty useless. Xena glances at the weapon, then at Ares. XENA: Let's finish this. They head out of the temple. CUT TO Jail cell. Gabrielle is sitting on the ground with her arm wrapped around Darion. Both have the same expressionless look on their face. GABRIELLE (softly): I'm sorry we couldn't give you a better birthday, Darion. DARION: It's not your fault, Gabrielle. Darion notices Gabrielle's sadness. DARION (trying to cheer her up): You know, when I turned seven my mom accidentally left my birthday cake in the oven for too long. (managing a small smile) So she and Dad and Lykia got a loaf of bread instead and put frosting and candles on it and everything. A sad expression comes across his face and he looks away. GABRIELLE (softly): Darion...think about the good times you and your family had. DARION (quietly): Do you...do you still think about your parents? GABRIELLE (trying not to get choked up): Of course I do. (wiping a tear) Every day. I think about them--about the things I should have done differently--what I should have told them... DARION (whispers): Do you dream about them? GABRIELLE: I used to...a lot. Darion remains silent. GABRIELLE: But you know what else I think about? (adding joy to her voice) I think about the times we went to the river together, my mom and dad and my sister and I. We would sit in the sun on the riverbank and eat snacks, and dad would play ball with my sister and me and we'd swim in the river... Darion manages a smile. DARION: That sounds like fun. GABRIELLE (thoughtful): It was. DARION (softly): I miss them a lot... Darion wraps his arms around Gabrielle into a tight hug. DARION (whispering): ...but I'm glad I have you, Gabrielle. Zoom in on Gabrielle's face, as she gently strokes his hair. GABRIELLE (whispering): Me too, sweetie. Me too. DISSOLVE TO Ares and Xena ride fast through the forest. They approach a hillside overlooking a large lake. Ares examines the surroundings. [FLASHBACK] A fierce snowstorm. A battle is raging over a patch of frozen ice. It is where the lake is. Ares and Enyo are standing off to the side of the lake, watching the battle. Enyo looks at Ares and grins. She turns her attention to the battlefield. She points her finger and shoots a fireball into the ice. The ice splits where it hit. Slowly, the ice begins to crack underneath the feet of the soldiers. The soldiers realize what is happening and begin to panic. The ice cracks even more until eventually, it breaks off in large chunks and the soldiers fall into the icy water. They splash around trying to get to dry land but it is no use. Pan over to Ares and Enyo watching this, grinning. ARES: You know, this isn't very sporting. ENYO: No. But it is fun. Enyo raises her hand and a surge of energy flows from her hand toward the lake. The water begins to freeze again, trapping all of the soldiers under the ice. They scream and try to get out but are swept under the ice, the sound of them pounding against the ice and the muffled screams are silenced in a matter of minutes. Everything becomes deathly silent. Enyo looks at Ares. DISSOLVE TO Spring. The snow has melted. A young woman, in a white robe, is being held by two men. She is being led toward a large flat stone near the lake as she struggles and screams. They pull her to the slab and lay her on top of it, tying her hands and feet securely and gagging her. A man in a black robe comes up, holding a jagged dagger in his hand. He raises it above her and looks up into the sky. MAN: For you, great goddess Enyo, we make this sacrifice commemorating your victory. Pan over to see Enyo and Ares (invisible to everyone) looking on. The man brings the dagger down into the woman's chest. She convulses and dies. The man raises the dagger, dripping with blood, above his head. [END OF FLASHBACK] XENA: Ares? Ares snaps out of it, glancing over at Xena. ARES: Sorry. (looking around) The fortress is just beyond the lake. Xena nods and kicks her stirrups bringing Argo into a gallop. Ares looks back at the lake, and then gallops forward following behind her. DISSOLVE TO Fortress. The door creaks open. Inside the large ancient looking building is mostly cobwebs and old remnants of war. Xena enters, with Ares right behind her. ARES (looking around): If they're here, they're probably being held up in the dungeon. I know where it is. A loud battle cry is heard echoing throughout the halls. XENA (glancing down the hallway): She's here all right. (to Ares) You go find Gabrielle and Darion, I'll deal with Enyo. ARES (worried): Xena... XENA: You know where the dungeons are. Free them and get them out of here. ARES: I don't want you going up against her alone. XENA (brusquely): I don't want you going up against her--at all. She's already taken your powers; next, she'll take your immortality and then kill you. ARES (firmly): She's my problem, Xena. You shouldn't have to deal with this. XENA: Well, Ares, it seems that now she's my problem too. Give me the dagger. ARES: Look--why don't we go down to the dungeons together and then go after-- XENA: No. We have no time to lose. (repeats firmly) The dagger. ARES (reluctantly hands her the dagger): Be careful. They stand still for a moment, looking at each other. ARES (getting emotional): Xena--I-- XENA: Shh. She presses a finger to his lips, stopping him, then leans forward and gives him a brief, passionate kiss. As she pulls back, they exchange a small smile. Then Xena straps the dagger to her side and heads down the hallway. Ares heads towards a different door. CUT TO Main room. A big empty room, filled mostly with cobwebs, comes to view. Enyo stands in the center, sparring with the empty air. Xena's ululating battle cry--"A-yi-yi-yi-yi!"--cuts through the silence. Enyo stands still, then lowers her sword. Xena charges into the hall. ENYO: Where's Ares? XENA (casually): Never mind Ares. You have me to worry about. ENYO (scornfully): I should have known he'd be too much of a coward to face me. Or, wait-- (looks probingly at Xena) is he trying to free your son? Xena stares at her, realizing Enyo's misunderstanding. ENYO: No matter--it won't be long before he sees his dead girlfriend lying on the floor. XENA (drawing her sword): You mean dead ex-girlfriend. ENYO: I'm a goddess, Xena--or have you forgotten? XENA: Trust me, I haven't. Enyo laughs and charges towards Xena, their swords clashing. CUT TO Ares runs through a small doorway, entering the dungeon area. The camera pulls around as Gabrielle gets to her feet, Darion close beside her. DARION (shouts joyfully): Ares! Ares rushes over to the cell, looking the bars over. GABRIELLE: Can't you use your powers or-- ARES: My powers are gone--Enyo took them. He starts hacking at the lock with his sword. CUT TO Main hall. Xena and Enyo continue to duke it out, their swords clashing in a fierce battle. While Xena seems to be fighting with all of her strength, Enyo looks as if she is drawing the battle out. Enyo then in one swift move, spins around and then kicks Xena in the stomach, sending her to the ground. Xena's sword strikes the floor away from her. ENYO (grinning): You know Xena, for a special favorite of the God of War, you're really overrated. Enyo swings her sword down, but Xena spins out of the way and then jumps back on her feet. She grabs the Dagger of Helios off her side and leaps forward, making to stab Enyo. ENYO (laughs): A dagger? Please. She uses her free hand to grab the dagger by the blade--only to cry out in pain and let go of the blade, blood dripping from her hand. Taking advantage of her shock, Xena lashes out at her again; but Enyo regains enough focus to spin and deliver a kick that blocks the blow, knocking the Dagger of Helios out of Xena's hand and sending it across the room. Enyo then backhands Xena and knocks her down. Enyo stares angrily at the cut in her hand. ENYO (viciously): Well, Xena--you're full of surprises. I guess Ares finally found his god-killing toy. Too bad I was taking it easy on you. Enyo rushes fiercely toward Xena but Xena manages to roll over, grab her sword and jump to her feet. She and Enyo spar again. Pan to the Dagger of Helios lying on the floor. CUT TO The dungeon. Ares breaks the lock and the door swings open. ARES (to Gabrielle): Get out of here--I'm going back to help Xena. CUT TO Enyo and Xena are sparring. ENYO: Did you really think you could defeat a god? XENA (with a wicked grin): You know, whoever told you all about me must have left out a few things. They continue to fight. Xena delivers a few powerful kicks, making Enyo stagger back, but she can do no real damage. She manages to knock the sword from Enyo's hand but at the same time Enyo kicks her leg out from under her and sends her sprawling down on the floor. Before Xena can get up, Enyo raises a hand, a fireball forming in it. ARES (shouting, off-camera): Enyo! Grinning, Enyo snaps her head toward him. ENYO: Here to watch your Princess die, Ares? ARES (forcefully): Your war is with me. Enyo vanishes in a flash, then reappears next to Ares. ENYO (mocking): You? A pathetic has-been? Enyo holds out a hand and her sword reappears in it. In the background, we see Xena scrambling to her feet. ARES: You're the has-been, Enyo. There's no place for you anymore in this world. ENYO: No place, huh? (grins) Well--your place or mine. Either one will do. ARES (taunting): You? Take my place? Even without my powers, I'm twice the god you are. With a cry of rage, Enyo charges him. They spar. Enyo advances on Ares, backing him up against the wall. He gets in a few blows, but she is now clearly the stronger of the two. After a few moments she knocks the sword from his hand. She comes closer. ENYO: And now...a kiss good-bye. As she advances on Ares, there is a swishing sound behind her. She whips around to see the Dagger of Helios flying toward her; Xena stands across from her, lowering her arm. Enyo screeches and raises a hand to catch the dagger; just then, Ares, who is now behind her, grabs her arms. The dagger plunges into her chest just above the armor. Enyo lets out a long scream of pain and fury. As Ares releases her arms and steps back, she reaches toward the dagger, then staggers and falls back. A suddenly regretful look on his face, Ares catches her and eases her down on the floor. She coughs, blood trickling from her mouth. ENYO (looks up at Ares): You know...all those years ago...if you had wanted to stay with me... I really wouldn't have--betrayed you... (coughs) Pan to Xena who stands apart looking on, a grim, anguished look on her face. Ares darts a quick look at Xena, then looks at the dying Enyo. He clearly believes what she said. ENYO (her voice fading): I was a war goddess--but--I could love... Ares reaches out as if to caress her; then, he grabs the handle of the dagger and yanks it out of her chest as she cries out. Ares rises to his feet, his face changing to a stern, hard look. ARES: I couldn't. With a groan, Enyo dies. A blue glow envelops Ares body and he throws his head back, his powers returning. After a moment the glow fades. Ares sighs and tucks the dagger into his belt. Xena approaches Ares and stands next to him as they look at the dead body. She takes his hand. XENA (gently): You all right? ARES (after a moment's pause): My powers are back. (pauses, then looks at Xena) You? XENA (winces slightly): Never better. Gabrielle comes in and breathes a sigh of relief. GABRIELLE: Xena! You're all right-- ARES (sarcastic grin): So am I--thanks for asking. XENA: Everything's fine. Where's Darion? GABRIELLE: Don't worry, he's safe. (with a sad look) You know, he still hasn't had a very happy birthday-- Xena looks at her with a smile, obviously thinking of something. DISSOLVE TO Campsite. Night. The fire has died down, and Darion is huddled in his bedroll. The camera pulls over the campsite to reveal a half-eaten birthday cake and some toys. Xena and Gabrielle are seated on two logs sitting next to the fire. GABRIELLE: That was great. XENA: If the boy can't come to the Amazons--there's no law that says Amazons can't come to the boy. GABRIELLE: I'm so glad Lykia could make it. And Eve and Klymene, too... XENA: Who knew my daughter could bake such a good birthday cake. GABRIELLE: Want another slice? XENA: No, thanks, I, uh-- (looks sheepishly at Gabrielle) I have a date. (she rises) You and Darion are going to be fine on your own? GABRIELLE (smiles): Sure. CUT TO Xena and Ares sitting on the edge of a cliff over the sea, looking at the moon. ARES: We work pretty well as a team, don't you think? XENA (chuckles): Ares, I'm not looking for a sidekick. ARES: I am. XENA (smirks): In your dreams. There is a brief silence. Both of them turn serious. ARES: Xena...back when Enyo and I were together, I was-- (trails off) After a brief pause, Xena finishes for him. XENA: --different. ARES: I guess you could say that. XENA: So...I'm not the only one with regrets about the past. ARES: Xena... (shakes his head) ...we're not in the same boat. Xena turns and looks at him in the moonlight, then reaches out, takes his hand and laces her fingers with his. XENA (gently): Close enough. Pull back to show them sitting on the cliff, the moon big and bright above them, as we: FADE OUT THE END [Olympus failed a child safety inspection during the production of this motion picture.]