FADE IN

The fortress. Men and women are gathering in the center of the fortress. Ares walks up onto the platform, wearing his usual vest and stops, looking out at them. Pandion is off to the side. Through the entire scene as he speaks, the camera slowly pans around him for a view of Ares on the platform and further around until his back is to the camera and the soldier's faces are seen. Inspirational battle-music plays quietly.

ARES:
      Brygus is not a god. He's a mere mortal disguising himself as one with a ring given to him by Artemis.

CUT TO

The village. Xena is standing on a platform next to Gabrielle addressing a crowd of villagers, in much the same way that Ares is standing in front of his men. The camera pans around during this scene in the same way it does in Ares' scene.

XENA:
     And he can be defeated. He can be killed, if we can only separate him from that ring

CUT TO

The fortress.

ARES:
      While Brygus hides in the Halls of War, we'll be preparing for an attack. Tomorrow, I will train each and every one of you the way I trained my best warriors as the God of War.

CUT TO

The village. The villagers listen to Xena; they look uncertain.

XENA:
     We can prove that Brygus, under Artemis' orders, is the cause of all this.

CUT TO

The fortress. The soldiers listen eagerly to Ares.

ARES:
     Once you're ready, we will attack the Halls of War. Brygus will never know what hit him.

CUT TO

The village.

XENA:
      And we will bring him back here and he'll tell the truth. Then maybe you'll believe Artemis isn't all she says she is.

VILLAGER:
     And if he doesn't?

Close up on Xena's face with a nasty grin.

XENA:
     He will.

DISSOLVE TO

The setting sun; then the rising sun.

DISSOLVE TO

Montage:

-- The fortress. Men and women are standing outside the fortress walls, swords in their hands fighting in pairs. Ares walks around all of them, studying them.

-- Ares stops one of the younger soldiers from swinging against his partner and takes the soldier's hand, showing him how to properly swing at the opponent. He demonstrates, then lets the boy do it himself. He swings and is able to aim toward his opponents side. They stop fighting and the boy grins. Ares grins, too.

-- Ares is swinging around his sword in a few fancy moves, twirling and lunging and thrusting at the air. Several warriors stand watching him in awe as he fights with such agility and skill. Then Ares stops and turns to the men. He nods and the men start to fight each other, practicing the swings and thrusts of the sword that almost mimic Ares'. He smiles in satisfaction.

-- Ares is fighting with one of the female warriors as Iona watches beside them. Ares enjoys sparring with her as she jumps and holds her own against him very well. He's able to knock the sword out of her hand and he gives her a grin and she returns the look with a challenging grin of her own as she picks up her sword and nods with a "shall we go again?" look on her face.

DISSOLVE TO

The sun sets.

DISSOLVE TO

The courtyard of the fortress. Ares is standing in front of a bench with a bowl of water sitting on it. He dips his hands in and splashes his face with water, then sits down on the bench. Pandion comes out of a doorway from another part of the fortress.

PANDION:
      So? What's the verdict?

ARES (rubbing his face with a towel):
      They're all fast learners. They'll do well.

PANDION:
      Are they ready?

ARES:
      We'll soon find out.

He leans against the wall and closes his eyes.

PANDION:
     You look tired. (pauses) It's tough being mortal, isn't it.

Ares opens his eyes and looks at him.

ARES (flexes his fingers):
     Sometimes. I'm getting used to it. (pauses) Hands-on training is really not my thing.

PANDION (smiles):
      You're good at it. (joking) If you ever need a job, you should keep that in mind.

Ares gives him a curious look.

CUT TO

The sun rises.

CUT TO

Ares is on his horse outside the fortress. He has men in front of him in full armor, on horses and on foot.

ARES:
     It's time. This time tomorrow, Brygus the God of War (sarcastically) will be no more.

Ares turns his horse and heads off, the army following him.

CUT TO

Outside the village, Ares' army rides up in the distance and stops. Ares looks down toward the village.

CUT TO

Gabrielle and Darion are walking through the marketplace with Xena looking at the fruit on the stalls. A murmur attracts Xena's attention. She turns to see Ares riding up, with Pandion and Iona behind him. The sun glints off of the bronze metal of his breastplate as he slows his horse, Quirinus, to a stop. Xena looks at him. She is clearly troubled but also impressed in spite of herself. Seeing her expression, Gabrielle smirks a little and nudges Xena with her arm.

GABRIELLE:
     Your knight in shining armor.

Xena chuckles, her gaze sliding from Ares to Pandion and Iona behind him--and then further back, to the hill outside the village, where the army with Ares' red banners can be seen standing. Her face hardens, unreadable.

XENA:
     I take it this isn't a social call.

ARES (serious):
     We're going after Brygus. (pauses, grinning slightly) I figured you wouldn't want to sit this one out.

XENA:
     No. (to Gabrielle) I've got to go.

GABRIELLE (nods, understanding):
     Be careful.

CUT TO

Ares, Xena and the army ride through a forest.

DISSOLVE TO

The entrance to the Halls of War in the side of a tall cliff. Xena, Ares and the rest of the army ride toward it and stop.

XENA (softly, seriously):
     You ready for this?

ARES (grins):
      I didn't get dressed up for nothing, did I?

Xena gives him a small, tense smile.

Ares dismounts from his horse, followed by Pandion, Xena and Iona. Ares walks toward the entrance to the cave and looks into the dark beyond, then finally enters, slipping into the darkness. Xena follows, drawing her sword, and Pandion and Iona do the same, the rest of the army slowing following as well.

DISSOLVE TO

Inside a dark building with weapons hanging on the walls of a long, dark hallway. Xena comes in cautiously, Ares at her side, and they look around. In the dim light they can see that there are many hallways leading in different directions.

ARES:
     If he's anywhere, he'll be in the main chamber. (points down one of the hallways) That way.

Ares walks forward. Just as he does, the entire interior lights up with a row of fire along the the walls in a stone ledge. The fire races along the walls and down all the hallways until everything is lit up as clear as day. Ares and the others stand back in the center of the room, the army still coming inside. There is a flash of blue light as Brygus appears in front of them all. He grins when he sees Ares.

BRYGUS:
     Welcome. (grins) And good-bye.

Brygus disappears. Xena, Ares and the others look around cautiously and curiously. Then from all of the hallways, soldiers of Brygus begin to appear as if from nowhere, well armed and well protected by armor and helmets. Brygus' soldiers begin to spill into the room and surround Xena, Ares, Pandion, Iona and the other soldiers who have already entered, Brygus' soldiers circling them with swords drawn.

After a moment of no activity as Xena and the others watch in silence, one of Brygus' soldiers charge toward them and the fight begins.

Ares' soldiers fight well, noticeably better than their previous fight with Brygus' men. They are able to hold their own, swinging and kicking and spinning under and over the blades, shifting from side to side as each sword thrust jabs toward them, intending to kill.

Xena and Ares, and Pandion and Iona fight back to back. Their movements are swift, cutting down every one of Brygus' warriors that come near them. Xena and Ares are clearly the far superior fighters--but even Ares, as he fights against one of the men, slips up momentarily and Xena intercepts the blade that was headed straight for Ares' side. She plunges her sword into the soldiers side and looks at Ares as she pulls it out, the soldier falling down dead. Ares nods his thanks and she nods right back, then turns and the two of them take on another opponent.

As they fight Brygus' men and defeat them one by one, more men continue to come rushing forward from somewhere inside. Pandion looks up as he cuts down one of the soldiers, then glances over at Ares who is dispatching a man.

PANDION (shouts):
      They keep coming!

Ares looks over at him and then glances at Xena. She sees the look in his eyes and shakes her head.

ARES:
      I'm going in.

Ares charges forward, jumping over several fallen soldiers before Xena has a chance to stop him. He attacks a few of Brygus' soldiers, knocking them out or killing them, before he races down one of the halls and out of sight. Xena runs forward to follow him but is intercepted by several soldiers and forced into a fight.

CUT TO

The hallway. Ares runs down the hallway, now devoid of soldiers.

CUT TO

The main chamber. It's empty but lit as brightly as the rest of the temple. Ares runs in and stops, looking around, seeing the map on the wall, the throne high up in the back of the room and the chair where Brygus had him tied to before.

BRYGUS (off-camera):
      I knew you'd get past them. (Ares turns to see Brygus now standing on the throne) You prepared to duke it out with a god? (eyes him) In your condition? You remember what happened last time...

Ares walks forward casually, holding his sword.

ARES:
      The question is, are you ready.

Brygus jumps down from the throne. At the same time, he sends a lightning bolt toward Ares. Ares jumps out of the way, landing on the ground as the bolt flies past him and strikes the wall in the back, creating a hole in the wall and setting the map ablaze. Ares looks back at the burning map and Brygus looks down at him with a sideways grin.

BRYGUS:
      I think my question is more important.

Ares gets to his feet and swings toward Brygus. Brygus ducks out of the way.

BRYGUS:
      That has no effect on me, remember.

ARES:
      Not right now, it doesn't. (he swings again and Brygus ducks again) But you're not invincible.

Ares attacks, pushing Brygus back. Brygus draws his sword and swings to counter the blow from Ares' sword. As he does, sparks fly from the blades. They begin sparring, flashes of light around them as they do.

CUT TO

Xena kills three more of Brygus' soldiers. She jumps over and kicks one to the ground who was about to kill one of Ares' men. She slaps her foot into Brygus' soldier and sends him sliding across the floor, hitting the wall on the other side. Turning, her hair flowing behind her, she looks at Pandion and Iona who seem to be doing well with their opponents, then at the rest of Ares' soldiers--some whom are dead and lying on the ground--and then rushes into the back of the room, following the path Ares had taken. Pandion sees her leave out of the corner of his eye, then swings to meet another sword, breathing hard.

CUT TO

Ares and Brygus fight. Brygus throws a fireball at him which he narrowly dodges out of the way of, and it explodes on the side of the wall sending rocks crumbling to the ground.

CUT TO

Xena running down the hallway. She sees flashes of light in front of her.

CUT TO

Ares is thrown against the wall by the force of Brygus' kick. He lands next to the throne.

Xena comes running in, seeing Ares down and Brygus standing above him. She takes her chakram from her belt and aims it toward them, throwing it. It splits into two and ricochets off the walls, back and fourth.

XENA:
      Brygus!

Brygus turns around to see Xena standing there as one of the chakram halves fly toward him, lodging in Brygus' side.

Pandion appears from behind them, looking tired but determined.

Brygus stares at her and then grins, pulling the chakram out and dropping it to the floor.

BRYGUS:
      You'll regret that.

He sends several fireballs toward her that she has to dodge one after the other as she runs along the wall, missing each one by a hair. She flips and spins in the air as he sends a final fireball toward her. The flames graze her leg as she comes down, and she grits her teeth from the burn.

Ares watches from behind, seeing Brygus' hand at his side and the light shining off of the ring on his finger.

Xena catches one half of her chakram, giving Brygus a mocking look.

XENA (sneers):
     What a waste of firepower. Typical god.

Meanwhile, Ares starts to move in on Brygus from behind.

BRYGUS:
     You're starting to annoy me, Warrior Princess!

He raises both hands and launches two fireballs at the same time. Xena flips, lands on her back and at the same time deflects the fireballs with the sword and half of the chakram.

Brygus raises his hands again. Ares lunges quickly and grabs his left hand. Brygus snarls and yanks his hand away. He pushes Ares back so forcefully that Ares' head hits the side of the throne behind him and he falls, face down. Brygus sneers and walks over to stand over Ares.

BRYGUS (mocking):
      And that's the end of Ares, God of War.

Brygus raises his hands toward Ares who is unmoving on the floor and Xena charges forward. In slow motion, Xena runs and Brygus stops short and looks at his hand. The ring is gone. Surprised, he glances down at Ares who has turned over, blood from a cut on his forehead dripping down the side of his cheek. Ares stands. The ring is in his hand.

ARES:
     More like a new beginning.

Ares slides the ring onto his finger past the knuckle and in an instant, he's engulfed in a blue light, his head thrown back as the power overcomes him and awakens something primal he hasn't felt in months. Xena watches with apprehension and a slight feel of ecstasy as she seems to feel the power he does, radiating off him. The wound on his forehead and the ones on the rest of his body disappear as if they were never there. He opens his eyes. He flexes his muscles, rolls his shoulders and neck as he feels the strength coursing beneath his skin. Then he locks his eyes on Brygus, much more menacing than before.

ARES:
      How does it feel to stare into the face of your destruction?

Before Brygus has a chance to say anything, Ares raises his hand and sends a clear bolt of energy toward Brygus, picking him up off the ground and hurling him toward the back of the temple. He collides with the wall and slides down.

As Brygus quickly struggles to stand, Ares disappears and reappears in front of him. Sword in hand and he attacks and Brygus is forced to defend himself. They get in a few skilled swings, Ares fighting like a mortal still even as a god--but with much more raw power behind every forceful blow. Ares pushes him back toward the other wall, past Xena and Pandion as they watch Ares fight with a fierceness he hadn't displayed previously. Brygus is pushed against the wall. He tries to kick Ares but Ares merely knocks his leg away and punches him hard in the stomach. Brygus doubles over. Ares stares back at him, then kicks him sideways, knocking him to the floor. Brygus falls into the corner beneath the nearly burnt map still hanging on the wall. Ares raises his sword.

Xena comes up behind him, grabbing Ares' sword arm.

XENA:
      Don't. We need him.

Ares hesitates for a moment, then lowers his arm, looking back at her.

CUT TO

The village. Gabrielle is talking to Darion on the porch, kneeling down in front of him. There is a flash of blue light and she turns to see Ares appearing with Xena by his side and Brygus on the ground in front of him, his hands held behind his back. Gabrielle stares in shock.

GABRIELLE:
     You're a god.

Ares gives her a brief, thoughtful look before taking Brygus' hands and hauling him to his feet. He and Xena walk toward a building, Gabrielle and Darion following.

CUT TO

Inside a building. Ares, Xena and Gabrielle are standing in front of the villagers, Brygus kneeling at their feet.

XENA:
      Tell them what you've been doing.

Brygus is silent . Ares takes out the dagger from his boot that he'd taken from the temple and puts it to Brygus' throat.

ARES (snarls):
     Tell them.

The dagger to his throat doesn't sway him. Xena bends down and puts the pinch on him.

XENA:
      You've got 30 seconds before you suffer a slow and painful death.

He gasps, blood dripping from his nose.

BRYGUS:
      All right. (coughs) All right.

Xena takes the pinch off and he catches his breath.

BRYGUS (looking at the villagers):
     Every village between here and the Aegean Sea that's been destroyed--that was my work.

There are gasps and murmurs in the crowd.

XENA:
      Tell them why!

BRYGUS:
      It was for Artemis. To make the villages seek her protection.

One of the villagers charges forward, swinging his fist in anger.

VILLAGER:
      I had friends in one of those villages. You killed them all!

BRYGUS:
      They wouldn't submit to Artemis. It served them right.

The crowd gets angrier and begins to close in. Xena nods toward Ares and Ares picks up Brygus by the shoulder, hauling him to his feet.

Brygus snarls and struggles, breaking free of Ares' grasp. Some of the villagers gasp, stepping back as Brygus prepares to lunge at Ares.

BRYGUS:
      You will pay for everything, Ares! Everything!

Brygus charges forward. Just then, Ares pulls out the gold dagger, the blade of it shining in the light, and stabs him as Brygus charges to attack. Brygus' eyes go wide and he looks down at the dagger in his stomach, blood around the wound. His eyes go back and he falls. Ares holds the dagger up, covered in blood, then looks down at Brygus lying on the floor of the building, gasping for breath.

Close-up on Ares' face. He looks grim.

BRYGUS:
      Killing me does not stop...Artemis. Her reign will only continue to grow. (coughs) It's already begun...in Ephesus... You cannot stop...

Brygus coughs, coughing up blood. Ares kneels down, as do Xena and Gabrielle around him.

BRYGUS (looking up at the ceiling):
      Praise Artemis, the one...and only.

He lets out his final breath and goes limp. Ares, looking remorseful, stares at him and then at the dagger in his hand. He drops the dagger and it clatters to the ground, then glances back at Xena and Gabrielle. Xena squeezes his shoulder. Pull back for a view of him standing with Xena and the crowd of villagers, with Gabrielle and Darion, around the fallen Brygus.

DISSOLVE TO

A mound of dirt, with rocks piled on top of it in a shady grove outside of the village beside a small stream. Ares stands, placing the final rock onto the pile. Pull back to show him standing silently looking at it as Xena stands beside him.

ARES:
      I made him, you know. Just like you've made others.

He holds out the dagger that Brygus had given him years ago, and that he had used to kill Brygus with. The blade is now clean and polished. He lies the dagger across the pile of rocks and steps back.

Then he looks down at his hands, seeing the ring still on his finger. Xena follows his look.

XENA:
     I'll understand if you want to keep it. (she looks him in the eyes and continues softly) It might not make you immortal--but it would keep you safe, and give you back the power that is your birthright. It belongs to you.

Ares is silent, looking at her. Then he walks past her to a patch of dirt between some trees. He holds out his hand and sends a flame toward the ground, setting it ablaze. It burns hot and white. He looks down at his hand and touches the stone ring, then slowly slides it off his finger. Xena watches him intently as he holds it up as if contemplating it. Without another thought, he tosses the ring into the fire and it sends sparks shooting in all directions. A faint bluish tint, the remains of his powers, begins to rise from the flames and dissipates into the air around them.

XENA (looking at him, moved):
      You gave it up.

ARES (turns to her):
      I let Artemis take my powers before. (firm) I'm not going to give her the chance to do it again. It's better this way. (pause) Besides... (with a small, reflective smile) the god thing? (shrugs) Been there, done that.

Ares steps closer to her.

Pan down to show the fire beginning to die down.

ARES (voice-over):
     The God of War is my past.

The last of the bluish haze rises from the fire.

CUT TO

Ares standing close to Xena.

ARES (looking into Xena's eyes):
     My future is with you.

Ares raises his hand, cupping her cheek in his palm and leans forward, bringing their lips together in a tender kiss.

As they begin to kiss slowly and sensually, Xena raising her hand behind his head, the camera pans down to where the fire had been. There's a small, dark stone in the dirt, smoke rising around it.

CUT TO

The village. In a building, Ares is sitting on the edge of a bed, looking down at the floor. He's wearing his leathers again.

Ares looks at this hands.

DREAM-ARES (echoing off-camera, in Ares' mind):
      You'll regret it all.

The creaky door opens across from him and Xena walks in, holding a small brown sack. He glances up at her and she gives him a small smile.

XENA:
      You ready to head out?

ARES:
     Yeah. (pauses) Just thinking... Being at the head of an army was fun, but it's not all it's cracked up to be.

XENA (teasing):
     So, I told you not to get into any fights and you went ahead and did it anyway. Don't you ever listen to me?

ARES:
     Sometimes. (He looks thoughtful for a moment and chuckles)

XENA:
      What?

ARES:
     You know, I went off on this mission because I wanted to do something on my own, and we still ended up working together. (chuckles again) For the Greater Good...I guess?

XENA (smiles, moving closer to him):
     Mm. That must be annoying.

ARES (stands up, smiling back):
     I can deal with it.

XENA:
     Don't forget these.

She opens the bag and pulls out his gauntlets. He smiles and she takes one of his hands, slipping the one gauntlet over his hand and fastening the straps. She does the same to his other wrist and when she's done, he flexes his arms.

ARES (grins):
     It's good to have them back.

XENA (huskily):
     It's good to have you back.

She leans forward and kisses him. He wraps his arms around her, his hands on the small of her back, pulling her closer as they deepen the kiss.

After a few moments of kissing, Ares slowly pulls back and Xena looks at him.

ARES:
     I have something for you, too.

Xena watches him curiously as Ares steps back, pulling something out of his vest. It's a small, brown pouch. He holds it out to her and she takes it. She opens it, pulling out a small, gray, unpolished stone.

She holds it up.

ARES:
     I found this in the fire. (she lets the stone lie in her palm as she looks at it) What's left of my godhood. (he puts his hand over her hand that is holding the stone, then looks into her eyes) I don't think it could be in better hands.

Ares moves his hand away and she glances at the stone once more before closing her fingers around it. When she looks up at Ares, she is misty-eyed, deeply touched by his gesture. She leans forward and kisses him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

DISSOLVE TO

Outside in the village. The horses are standing nearby, Gabrielle is standing in front of Makis and Rena, smiling.

GABRIELLE:
     Thank you for everything.

MAKIS:
     No. Thank you. (glances over at Xena who's standing beside Ares in front of Iona and Pandion, and then back at Gabrielle) If it weren't for you two, we'd still believe Artemis' lies.

GABRIELLE:
      No lie can last forever. Just listen to your own conscience; it'll help you out more often than you think.

She and Rena hug.

Pan around to show Ares standing beside Xena, looking at Iona and Pandion.

ARES:
      Now that Brygus is defeated, there's no reason to keep the army together.

IONA:
     There is a reason. We'll always honor you no matter what.

PANDION:
     We'll fight for you whether you're with us or not. (pause) Nicos will be okay.

ARES (to Xena, somewhat facetiously but with a serious undertone):
     So I guess it's back to being your sidekick.

Xena grabs the reins and then stops, looking at him with a small smile but also a hint of seriousness. She takes his hand and laces their fingers together.

XENA:
     Partner.

She squeezes his fingers and he smiles back, grinning more now.

ARES:
     I can live with that.

Xena smiles, mounting. Ares follows, and Gabrielle does as well, pulling Darion in the saddle behind her. They turn their horses around and ride out of the village.

DISSOLVE TO

Night. The stars shine bright. Xena, Ares, Gabrielle, Darion and Samuel are sleeping in a clearing in the forest beside a campfire. Ares is sleeping beside Xena, both of them covered by their fur blankets. Close in on Ares' face as he sleeps.

DISSOLVE TO

Inside Ares' dream.

Montage:

-- Ares blasts a mountain side with his fireballs, glee in his eyes.

-- Ares disappears and reappears in a flash in a forest.

-- Ares walks through a wall of fire.

-- Xena, on her back, with Ares on top of her placing his hands on her bare stomach and causing it to glow red hot. She throws her head back and gasps at the pleasure he's creating.

DISSOLVE TO

At the campsite, Ares opens his eyes. He looks up at the stars and then turns on his side to look at Xena sleeping beside him. He reaches out and brushes the hair away from her eyes, then touches her hand. On her finger is a ring with a tarnished bronze band and the gray stone securely fastened to its center.

ARES (whispers, his look content):
     No regrets.

Ares rests his head, closing his eyes once more. Close in on Xena's peaceful look as she sleeps, then close in on their hands as her fingers slowly close around his as we:

FADE OUT

THE END

[Ares resolved his midlife crisis during the production of this motion picture.]

Xena: Warrior Princess Shipper Seasons Season 10 Episode 6 The Power and the Glory II Story By: Aurora Written By: Aurora Edited By: LadyKate Collage By: Aurora Images Gathered By: Aurora Cast Xena Lucy Lawless Gabrielle Renee O'Connor Ares Kevin Smith Darion Alexander Gandar Brygus Tom Norman Pandion Bruce Simmons Zarek Rick Altress Iona Candice Plex Rena Meg Ippen Mikas Richard Andarus Original Airdate March 30, 2010 Ares resolved his midlife crisis during the production of this motion picture. DEDICATED TO KEVIN SMITH All characters and storylines that have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess are a copyright and trademark of Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No infringement was intended during the writing of this script. All original characters and storylines are a copyright of the respective authors and of the Shipper Seasons. No script may be reproduced on a website elsewhere without the author's consent. © Shipper Seasons www.shipperseasons.com

This script is provided by GDev Resources.