Amazon village square. The older Amazons are tending to the wounded. Eve is wrapping a bandage around Myopi's arm, while Gabrielle is tending to a younger Amazon whose arm seems to be broken.

Xena comes up behind Eve as she finishes bandaging Myopi's arm.

XENA (softly, to Eve):
     You all right?

Gabrielle walks up behind Xena.

EVE (shaking her head):
     I saw someone...this girl I was fighting. (With a guilty look) She was one of the Amazons I enslaved when I attacked them--years ago. (the camera pans on Xena's uncertain face) I... (with an effort) I ordered her thrown overboard when I couldn't sell them. She must have somehow survived.

Gabrielle looks shocked; Xena looks sick for a moment, then puts a comforting hand on Eve's shoulder.

EVE (softly):
     The leader--I think she may have recognized me. I can't remember seeing her here before, though.

VOICE (off-screen):
     Her name is Andromache.

The camera pulls around to show Othila, one of the members of the Amazon Council, and one of the older Amazons (in her forties).

OTHILA:
     She was in the Amazon tribe under Marga's rule. She was always challenging Marga; she wanted the Amazons to be stronger, to attack others, to seek more land and more power. After your--

She stops herself; Eve looks away quickly.

OTHILA (continues):
     After Livia's raid, when the tribe was weakened, she thought she'd seize the chance. She issued the royal challenge to Marga and lost. Then she and about a dozen other Amazons tried to overthrow Marga. They were banished, and Andromache said they would try to rescue the sisters Livia sold into slavery. But they never came back.

EVE (remorseful):
     Until now.

GABRIELLE (confused):
     But there were at least fifty women here. You said Andromache only had about a dozen followers.

OTHILA:
     Somehow their numbers have grown. (noticing Eve's guilt) My Queen, you cannot blame yourself--

EVE (brusquely):
     Of course I can.

There is a tense silence.

EVE (continues):
     What do we do now?

XENA:
     Don't underestimate them, Eve. They know this village--these lands. And they believe all this is rightfully theirs. (grimly) This will be a fight to the death.

Eve thinks a moment, then looks resolute.

EVE:
     If we let it be a fight.

XENA:
     What do you mean?

EVE:
     We can try to talk to them, offer them a place in the tribe. They're still Amazons. After all the losses the Amazons have already suffered--can we really afford to lose more?

GABRIELLE (uncertain):
     They just attacked and slaughtered innocent villagers. That means--

EVE:
     That means what? That they don't deserve a second chance?

A tense silence.

EVE (to Gabrielle):
     Gabrielle, you once talked about ending the cycle of violence. Now--

GABRIELLE (bitterly):
     Now I've learned that sometimes you just can't do that, no matter how much you try.

EVE:
     But have you even tried?

Xena and Gabrielle exchange uneasy looks. Gabrielle looks down, clearly disturbed.

XENA (reluctantly):
     Eve is right. (to Eve) Talk to them. But be prepared for--anything that happens. You can't trust them.

EVE (smiles wanly):
     Don't worry. (To Othila) Get the children to safety. Then take four women with you and go to the settlement--see what you can do to help the survivors.

OTHILA:
     Yes, my queen.

She walks away.

EVE:
     We need to find someone who'll be willing to go and negotiate with these--outlaws.

Antiope steps forward.

ANTIOPE:
     I'll go.

Xena, Gabrielle and Eve turn to her, surprised.

EVE (warily):
     Why you?

ANTIOPE:
     Because I think I know where to find them. And I know one of them--very well.

Xena, Gabrielle and Eve look at her expectantly.

SIX HOURS BEFORE THE BATTLE

Lanis settlement.

The village is in complete ruins. The fires are dying down with most of the houses burned to charred rubble. There are dead bodies and wounded people lying everywhere.

A body lying face down, on the top of another body, starts to move and then rolls over, landing on the ground face down. The man who was pinned under it sits up. It's Teras, the village leader. He is bloodied and bruised, and in very bad shape. He stumbles to his feet and starts to walk unsteadily, then stumbles and falls.

DISSOLVE TO

Teras stumbling through the village. A brown horse, neighing in alarm, runs through the village street.

TERAS (weakly):
     Here, boy!

The horse neighs, eyeing him nervously, then comes to a halt.

TERAS:
     Good boy.

He breaks into a cough, wiping the blood from his mouth. Then he grabs onto the horse's bridle and starts pulling himself up into the saddle. He falls with a groan, then picks himself up again and resumes his effort. Finally, with a supreme effort, he manages to straddle the horse.

TERAS (urges the horse forward):
     Yah!

The horse trots off, then speeds up.

CUT TO

Forest. The Renegades head through the forest. They have blood on their faces--most likely from the dead villagers--using it as war paint.

Andromache stops and turns to the other Renegades.

ANDROMACHE:
     Our cause is even greater now. Livia, the woman who slaughtered our sisters, is leading the Amazons. I thought I had recognized her. After Phania's story, there is no doubt.

PHANIA (the brown-haired Renegade with the scar who fought Eve before):
     I'd never forget her face.

ANDROMACHE:
     We kill her--then the rest will follow like sheep.

One of the Renegades looks towards Andromache.

RENEGADE #1 (uncertain):
     That other Amazon that fought you...

ANDROMACHE (angrily):
     What about her?

RENEGADE #1:
     She won't be easy to defeat.

ANDROMACHE:
     Nothing worth taking is easy. (thoughtfully) That woman--her armor, that round blade at her belt--I could swear it was Xena--the legendary Warrior Princess. Maybe all those stories are true--about her and Gabrielle coming back.

RENEGADE #2 (fearful):
     Xena and Gabrielle? My Queen--

ANDROMACHE (angrily):
     They're just two women. We take out their Queen, the rest of the tribe will fall. (determined) I know it. We have to kill Livia--and anyone else who stands in our path.

Pan to Melanippe, who stands apart from the other Amazons, looking troubled.

CUT TO

Forest. A small abandoned cabin comes to view. A large group of Renegades stand outside the cabin.

CUT TO

Inside the cabin. Andromache pulls a couple of the floorboards loose. Melanippe and four other Renegades have gathered in the cabin. Andromache reaches underneath the floorboards and pulls out a small bottle with a wick at the end of it. It looks to be a bomb of some sort.

ANDROMACHE:
     I hid these here, years ago, when I was planning a rebellion. It's time we put these to use.

RENEGADE #1:
     There aren't that many.

ANDROMACHE:
     That's why we have to use them wisely. We're not storming the village yet.

There's a shrill whistle outside the cabin. The Renegades leap to their feet, drawing their swords. Andromache quickly puts the explosives back in the hiding place.

VOICE (off-camera):
     One of the Amazons is coming!

ANDROMACHE (somewhat puzzled):
     One?

CUT TO

Outside the cabin. The Renegades come out, swords drawn. A few other Renegades are standing watch outside. A lone Amazon approaches; it's Antiope.

MELANIPPE:
     Antiope! Sister!

ANDROMACHE (turns to Melanippe):
     So this is your little sister. (sword drawn, she approaches Antiope) Sister or not, she's probably a spy.

MELANIPPE (imploringly):
     Andromache, don't--

Antiope takes out her sword. Melanippe looks bewildered. Antiope drops the sword to the floor.

ANTIOPE:
     I'm here to talk.

A tense silence; finally Andromache sheathes her sword.

ANDROMACHE:
     So talk.

CUT TO

The Greek city of Ascania comes to view. We recognize this as the city from "Grey Areas" that has ownership of the Lanis settlement.

CUT TO

A dining room. King Melodic and his queen are at a large table, dining with courtiers. The din of conversation fills the room.

The doors burst open with a clatter, making everyone look up in alarm. A guard comes in.

KING MELODIC (shocked):
     What is going on?

GUARD:
     Sire...a messenger just rode into the city, badly wounded...with bad news...

Alarmed mutterings among the dinner guests in which one can make out the words "War," "Attack," "We're in danger!"

KING MELODIC (rises quickly):
     Where is he?

The king strides toward the doors and rushes out into the hallway.

CUT TO

The hallway. Several servants have gathered, looking alarmed. Two guards are supporting a barely conscious Teras.

KING MELODIC (recognizing him):
     By the gods...you're from that settlement, Lanis!

TERAS (gasping):
     My lord...

KING MELODIC:
     What happened, man?

TERAS (barely able to speak):
     The settlement--attacked...destroyed...I rode as fast as I could--

KING MELODIC (distraught and furious):
     Attacked, by whom?

TERAS:
     The...Amazons.

He passes out, slumping on the guards' arms.

KING MELODIC:
     Get this man some help! (mutters) They will pay for this.

CUT TO

The forest. The Renegades are gathered around a campfire over which some rabbits and birds are being roasted. Antiope is with them, obviously uneasy.

MELANIPPE:
     I can't believe this. You're telling me that Livia changed. Livia, the Bitch of Rome, the woman who murdered and enslaved--

ANTIOPE (confidently):
     I'm telling you, Melanippe--she has changed. I have never seen anyone more devoted to the Amazon nation.

MENALIPPE (snaps):
     What does it matter? She's still a killer! You know, we managed to find five of the Amazons she captured. Five. Do you know what she did? When she found out that she couldn't sell them into slavery, she threw them overboard. In chains. (She points to the brown-haired Renegade who had been fighting Eve before.) There, Phania can give you a firsthand account...if you're not worried about losing your dinner. A few of them had managed to unlock their chains while still on the ship, and then free themselves when they were thrown overboard. They made it to a small island where we found them. They had to watch the others drown--dragged down by the weight of their shackles. Some of them were eaten by--

ANTIOPE (sickened):
     Stop.

MELANIPPE:
     And you accept this woman as your queen?

Antiope stares at her sister for a moment.

ANTIOPE (vehemently):
     I accept you as my sister.

MELANIPPE (taken aback):
     What are you talking about?

ANTIOPE (angrily, tears in her eyes):
     You and your friends slaughtered innocent villagers, Melanippe. And you call yourselves Amazons?

ANDROMACHE:
     Yes. The true Amazons--ones who would never tolerate interlopers on their lands.

Antiope shakes her head.

ANTIOPE:
     Andromache--there is no need for us to go to war. Our numbers are already small enough.

ANDROMACHE (snorts):
     Thanks to your new queen.

ANTIOPE:
     Thanks to many things. The point is--we shouldn't be fighting!

CUT TO

A field outside the Amazon village. It looks like the same field where Xena saw Ares in the "Scorpion/Swan" scene in PATH OF VENGEANCE. She stops and looks around.

XENA:
     Ares. Come on out--you don't have to play hide and seek with me...

Ares materializes behind her in a flash of blue light.

ARES (chuckles):
     As if I could.

Xena turns toward him and manages a smile, although it looks a little forced, as if she is trying to read through him.

ARES:
     So...someone is picking on the Amazons again. If it's not one thing, it's another.

Xena looks troubled but is trying not to show it.

XENA (softly):
     War and bloodshed have always been part of this tribe. Whether I like it or not.

ARES:
     Well, if you could stop Artemis, I'm sure you can handle a ragtag bunch of Amazon outcasts.

Xena stares off into the distant, and there is a short silence between them.

ARES (continues):
     But you know...

XENA (warily):
     Yes?

ARES:
     They might have been better off with me as their patron god. I offered them my protection when Varia was queen. Of course, you had to show her the error of her ways...

Xena whips around and stares at him intently.

XENA:
     Is this about getting more worshipers? (off his heavy stare) It is, isn't it?

ARES (shrugs):
     Forget it. What's done is done.

XENA (awkwardly):
     So...how are things... (trails off)

ARES:
     ...on Olympus? (a note of sarcasm creeps into his voice) Great, just great. No one else has died. (after a tense pause, he shakes his head) More gods find their powers weakening. (he looks at her intently) We all know about Eve's dream--from Artemis.

XENA (in a near-whisper):
     What?

ARES:
     When the mortals turn their back on the gods, the gods will fall.

They stare at each other for a moment.

ARES:
     So right now, it's not just about ego. Having worshipers is--a matter of life and death.

XENA (quietly):
     Life and death....

He reaches out to stroke her face; she puts her hand on top of his and they stand still for a moment, looking at each other.

ARES:
     See you later.

He vanishes. Xena stands still, lost in thought.

FIVE HOURS BEFORE THE BATTLE

A small abandoned temple of Ares comes to view. The camera pulls around to show two rats fighting over a small crumb. The door creaks open and the wind brushes the dead leaves away from the entrance. The rats scurry off.

Footsteps walk towards the altar. The camera pulls up to reveal King Melodic. He approaches the altar, which is covered in dust.

KING MELODIC (uncertain):
     Ares, God of War, for years my people have lived in peace and I have not needed your service, but now things have changed. I am preparing for war and I ask for your blessing--in return for my city's allegiance.

ARES (off-camera):
     I'm listening.

King Melodic turns around to see Ares leaning against a pillar.

KING MELODIC (shocked):
     Ares, God of War?

ARES (nonchalantly):
     In person.

King Melodic looks to be star-struck, not knowing how to handle himself.

KING MELODIC (stammers):
     I--I didn't expect...

ARES:
     That I would actually answer? Well, I did. So, what do you want?

KING MELODIC (kneels and bows his head):
     Your help. Your blessing--for a war. It's--it's for a good cause, to strike back against barbarians who have savagely attacked my people. If it goes well, I pledge to you that I will rebuild this temple, resume the sacrifices--whatever it takes.

ARES:
     You have my blessing, and whatever help you need.

KING MELODIC (overjoyed, rises to his feet):
     Thank you, lord Ares. I will move on the Amazons right away.

Close-up on Ares, who looks momentarily taken aback.

ARES:
     The--Amazons. (pauses) You're going to war against the Amazons.

KING MELODIC:
     Yes, my lord. They are the ones who attacked my people. A settlement--built on their lands, it's true...but we had an agreement! They broke it unprovoked. I have no choice but to strike back.

The camera zooms in on Ares' troubled, conflicted expression.

KING MELODIC (doubtful):
     Are they--under your protection?

ARES (dryly):
     No.

KING MELODIC:
     So--I still have your blessing?

After a moment of silence, Ares nods slowly.

ARES:
      You do.

King Melodic smiles, satisfied with his approval, then tarries as if he wants to ask something else.

ARES (irritated):
     What else do you want?

KING MELODIC:
     Well...the thing is, my lord Ares...when we first had trouble with the Amazons a couple of months ago, Xena--

Pan to Ares, who flinches slightly.

KING MELODIC (continues):
     --the Warrior Princess, threatened that if I ever attacked the Amazons I'd have to deal with her. I, huh...

ARES (sarcastic):
     So you're scared that Xena will crush you and your army?

KING MELODIC (embarrassed):
     Well--she is a very great warrior, my lord--and one hears that she has your special favor--so I was wondering...

Ares reflects for a moment, then sighs.

ARES:
     Don't worry about it. I'll deal with Xena.

King Melodic smiles in acknowledgment.

KING MELODIC:
     Thank you, my lord. In your name--I will lead the attack myself.

A grim-looking Ares vanishes in a flash of blue light as we: