While traveling, Xena and Gabrielle come across a bunch of Egyptian warrior women attacking a young, defenseless girl. Xena goes into action to save her and stops the Egyptians from killing her.
They take the girl, named Cassiopeia, to saftey where they find out. Cassiopeia is star-struck by Xena's presence and wants to know about the stories she's heard of the years, like sleeping for 25 years and killing the gods.
Xena goes off into the forest and meets up with Ares who had been watching her all day. He warns her about Cassiopeia, saying that she's an evil witch but Xena does not believe him one bit. He kisses her to prove he's not lying and that he loves her but she can't believe him, she wants evidence first.
After leaving Ares, Xena questions Cassiopeia about being a sorceress but Cassiopeia, completely bewildered, says she doesn't know anything about it. She talks about how her past is muddled and that there are years that she doesn't remember.
The next day, the Egyptian's come after them again while they are traveling. Xena goes to stop them. She meets an Egyptian woman named Ancktari, who is intent on killing Cassiopeia. Xena demands to know why. Ancktari tells the story of Cassiopeia, who is indeed a witch, from many years ago who had come into an Egyptian temple and killed everyone--for fun. The oldest priestess put a spell on her that would take her powers away from her until the moment that she killed. She would not know who she was or what she had done then until she kills.
While Xena is talking with Ancktaria, Gabrielle and Cassiopeia are attacked on the road by thugs. They fight them and Cassiopeia ends up killing to protect Gabrielle. She's shocked. When Xena returns, she finds that Cassiopeia has killed and realizes that Ancktari's story could come true.
At night, Xena explains to Gabrielle what Ancktari had told her but Gabrielle doesn't believe. Xena says they only have until sunrise for Cassiopeia to revert to what she was. Ancktari appears (snooping around them again) and learns that Cass has killed. They all prepare for the worst and, her story being true, when the sun rises Cassiopeia becomes evil and tries to kill them all. There is a fight, Ares appears and helps them out but is knocked down by Cass's powers, too. She is a very powerful sorceress.
Once she is gone, they realize that they have to stop her. Ares reveals that he knew her in the past, tried to train her when Xena was on ice but it didn't work out too well. Ancktari says they need to go to Egypt--that's where she'll be headed, to get her revenge and join the god Set.
Ares comes with them, despite Gabrielle's protest. They take a ship to Egypt to go under Set's radar.
While on the ship, Set sends a massive tornado toward them, over the water. Ares decides to transport Xena, Gabrielle, Ancktari to a temple in Egypt where they will be safe. They end up in the temple, but Ares is not with them.
In another temple in Egypt, Set and Cassiopeia are sharing a passionate moment when Ares appears. They spar with words for a few moments, Ares wanting them to leave Xena and Gabrielle alone and he'll give them Ancktari, the one they really want. Set mocks him for having a soft spot for Xena and Ares just throws it back in Set's face, mocking him about Cass.
In the temple, Xena learns from Ancktari more about Cassiopeia. She was a young girl who just happened to have the powers--she didn't learn them but they just became a part of her as she grew older. She lost her sister and her entire family to a warlord raid. She learned the art of a warrior, just like Xena did, because of necessity. She also learned the powers she possessed when she was attacked by bandits one time, and she began to study it more and more until it became her obsession.
Ancktari also speaks of a prophecy that a god and a mortal joined would be able and powerful enough to stop Set and Cassiopeia and Gabrielle immediately believes that this god and mortal is Xena and Ares. They have the special bond strong enough to defeat Set and his chosen one. Xena is very skeptical about it but Gabrielle is also very convincing, speaking of how neither she nor Ares have ever been able to kill each other. That's gotta count for something.
Ares shows up and reveals that he has cut a deal with Set--that they hand over Ancktari to him in exchange for sparing Xena and Gabrielle. Xena tells him she has a better plan.
Outside, she and Ares share a moment, talking about the upcoming battle and sharing a kiss to see if they really do share that special bond. Ancktari returns with soldiers.
At Set's temple, the battle begins. Set and Cassiopeia are strong but Xena and Ares, combined and powerful--with joined powers--are stronger. Ancktari comes there to stop them, as well as her temple soldiers. They fight and Cassiopeia tries to play the innocent card with Xena, playing on her guilt. Xena buys it for a second until Ares snaps her out of it. Ancktari kills Cassiopeia and Set mourns her. Ancktari falls dead because her life is tied to Cassiopeia’s (always has been, ever since she was brought back to life by Isis in order to bring Cassiopeia to justice) and Xena says her final goodbyes.
After it's all over, Ares transports Xena and Gabrielle back to Greece. Ares mentions to Xena how he was right about Cassiopeia and that she shouldn't always assume the worst from him. This catches her somewhat off-guard before he vanishes, then she and Gabrielle plan on head to a town to enjoy themselves now that the crisis is over.
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