FADE IN

Temple of the Fates.

A dreary looking place comes to view. The wind can be heard howling outside, as the bare trees clatter against the stone walls. The camera pans to the Loom in the center of the temple. It looks to be unraveling itself, as some threads start to dissolve into thin air. The three Fates are weaving away at what is left of the Loom.

Suddenly there is a flash of blue light and Ares appears in front of the loom. He looks confused, as he notices the condition the Loom is in.

ARES:
     What is going on?

CLOTHO:
     The Twilight --

LACHESIS:
     --is affecting--

ATROPOS:
     --all of us.

Atropos, the crone, begins to cough loudly.

ARES (uncertain):
     Is there a way to stop it?

Clotho, the child, looks up at him sympathetically.

CLOTHO:
     Foolish god. You can't stop death.

The Fates get back to work.

ARES:
     Eve told me about the choice we had--mortality, or eternity as a ghost. (He sighs) I want to know how much time we have left.

LACHESIS:
     The prophecy--

ATROPOS:
     --will come to pass--

CLOTHO:
     --after god turns on god--

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

LACHESIS:
     --and one god's powers--

ATROPOS:
     --increase another's.

ARES (shakes his head, almost shouting):
     Just tell me how much time!

CLOTHO:
     You--God of War--

LACHESIS:
     --will be--

ATROPOS:
     --the next to fall.

Fear begins to fill Ares' face. He is speechless. The Fates don't seem to be too concerned. He turns back to walk away.

CLOTHO:
     Wait.

Ares stops and turns around. Clotho, the child, is rummaging through the vanishing Loom. Finally, she pulls out a small thread. It's only about three inches in length, and the edges are frayed.

CLOTHO (holding it out to Ares):
     This is for you.

Ares reaches out and touches the end of the thread. A bright flash of light fills the screen, as Ares trails his finger across the thread and experiences a vision much like he did in "This is Your Life Pt. 1 and 2."

He takes the thread from Clotho, and puts it tightly in his fist.

ARES (stumbling for words):
     I don't--

CLOTHO:
     The threads of our past--

LACHESIS:
     --will bind together--

ATROPOS:
     --our future.

CUT TO

Mount Olympus. The gods are standing in a semi-circle in front of the thrones where Zeus, Hera and Athena are seated. The gods seem to be in the middle of an argument, Artemis, Apollo, and Hephaestus are going back and fourth about something. They are all talking at the same time; all the words come out as jumbled sounds. Ares is standing off to the side with Aphrodite nearby, watching them silently. She is wearing blue, instead of her usual pink.

Finally, Zeus stands up from his throne and raises his hand.

ZEUS (voice booming):
     Enough!

The hall momentarily shakes from the power that he commands and the gods immediately quiet down.

ZEUS:
     That's better. Now (looks at them) I know we all have doubts about the news Ares has brought us from Eve--

He glances at Ares, then back at the other gods.

APOLLO:
     Yeah, how do we really know Eve's telling the truth? For all we know, she just wants us to give up our powers willingly and become (spits out the word angrily) mortals!

ARTEMIS:
     You can't trust her. She was born for a single purpose...to destroy us. (glances at the rest of the gods) You all know what the prophecy said long ago. Nothing has changed. Except now, she really does have the power to get rid of us, once and for all. (pan to Ares in the corner who looks down)

ATHENA (stands up, addressing the entire room):
     Why would she lie to us? (looks at Ares) Why would she lie to him? Xena once had the power to kill us all-- (looks down) --and many of us suffered at her hand. (looks at the gods) But Eve helped bring us back from the dead. Why would she want to destroy us...again?

ARTEMIS (sarcastic):
     You know, Athena is right. We might as well just give up. Let Eve and Eli and that God of his take everything.

The room falls silent for a moment. Athena glares at Artemis.

ZEUS:
     Until we know more, the safest course of action is the one we have been pursuing up to now. Doing what we can to ensure that our worship is strong.

HERA:
     Husband--are you sure this is truly best? (Zeus continues to look ahead) Maybe Eve--

ZEUS (looks directly at her):
     We are still gods. We should be the masters of fate, not its slaves.

HERA:
     But the Twilight--

ZEUS:
     Can we trust someone who was put on this earth to bring about our demise? The least we can do is make sure her message is not a trap. (looks out at all the gods) There will be no change in our plans.

Hera looks uncertainly at him. With a sigh, she gets up; she and Zeus walk down from their thrones and walk away hand in hand, vanishing in mid-stride. Athena vanishes next, followed by Artemis and Apollo and then the other gods. Ares begins to walk down the hall; Aphrodite follows him and taps his shoulder.

APHRODITE:
     You've been awfully quiet.

Ares does not respond; Aphrodite grabs him by the shoulders and spins him around to face her.

APHRODITE (softly):
     What is it, bro?

ARES:
     I went to see the Fates. They talked about god turning on god--

APHRODITE (interrupts, exasperated):
     Come on, Ar--don't you know better than to believe their cryptic mumbo-jumbo? They told me I would be going through a major change pretty soon, so just to spite them, (points to her dress) I went and changed into this.

ARES (serious):
     You know what else they said? That I'd be the next to fall.

Aphrodite's expression soon turns serious. Suddenly, with all her might, she lunges at him and pushes him to the ground. The bulky God of War hits the floor, knocking down a vase behind him.

ARES (angry):
     What in Tartarus--?

APHRODITE (dusting her hands off):
     All right, you've fallen. Now how about you start acting like the God of War and drop this whole God of Paranoia thing.

Ares scrambles to his feet and stares at Aphrodite, who is looking completely serious with her arms folded across her chest. He manages a grin. Aphrodite smiles back.

ARES:
     Who knew you of all people would knock some sense into me.

APHRODITE (giggling):
     Literally. Bro, I'm full of surprises. (looks at him probingly) Soooo...anything else you want to talk to me about? You know--the Goddess of Love?

Ares gives her a guarded look and Aphrodite shrugs.

APHRODITE:
     Okay, whatever. Just trying to help. I better get going.

Aphrodite vanishes in a flash of light. The camera focuses in on Ares' hand as he runs his finger across the thread the Fates gave him.

ARES (softly):
     Me too.

DISSOLVE TO

Early morning. Xena and Gabrielle are riding toward a large city in the distance, Darion riding with Xena.

GABRIELLE:
     It's hard to believe Antigone is now a mother. (chuckles) It isn't long since she was only a child herself...and she was so angry at the world.

XENA:
     She's had to grow up fast.

Close-up on Darion's thoughtful face; then pan to Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE:
     It's been just over a year since we were here last. So much has changed--for everyone...

XENA (nods slowly, still thinking):
     Yes, it has.

DISSOLVE TO

The dinning hall of the large palace in Thebes. A long table is spread out with all kinds of breakfast foods, from fruit and cheese to bread and eggs.

Pan to Xena and Darion, who sit at the table eating.

Gabrielle walks in, looking at bit queasy. Xena glances up at her as she walks up to the table.

XENA:
     Hey. Feeling better?

GABRIELLE:
     It comes and goes. (takes a seat next to Xena) Was it this bad for you?

XENA (smiles):
     With Eve, I had morning sickness almost every day for the first few weeks. With Solan... (looks away, suddenly somber) I barely even knew I was pregnant until the last month or so. It's different every time.

GABRIELLE (rubs her head):
     Well, right now, I feel like--I don't even want to get out of bed in the morning sometimes. (looks at the food on the table) Or eat anything--even though it looks delicious.

XENA:
     Been there. It'll pass.

GABRIELLE:
     I'll have to start shopping for a new outfit.

Xena smiles and puts an arm around Gabrielle's shoulder.

Antigone walks into the dinning hall.

ANTIGONE:
     Xena, Gabrielle! It's so great to see you.

XENA:
     Antigone.

Xena and Gabrielle rise and Antigone hugs them both in turn.

GABRIELLE:
     Hello, Antigone.

ANTIGONE (looks at Darion):
     And this must be Darion. (puts a hand on his shoulder) Hi.

DARION:
     Hello... (thinks about etiquette for a moment) Queen Antigone.

ANTIGONE:
     Just Antigone. (she sits down) You must be famished from your journey. Please--help yourselves. I'm so glad you could come for the celebration.

GABRIELLE:
     The baby is doing well?

ANTIGONE (smiles):
     Yes, he's beautiful.

XENA:
     The news was quite a surprise.

ANTIGONE:
     To me as well. (hesitant) Actaeon and I weren't planning to start a family yet. When the healer told me I was with child...I wasn't sure whether to welcome the news or not. You know things (looks away) hadn't been easy between us.

Pan to Gabrielle, who inclines her head in acknowledgment.

ANTIGONE (continues):
     But now...I wouldn't trade this for the world.

GABRIELLE (smiles and pats her hand reassuringly):
     I know you'll make a wonderful mother.

ANTIGONE:
     I hope so. (after a brief pause) By the way, a good friend of yours is coming too.

Xena and Gabrielle look at her questioningly. Before Antigone can continue, there is a knock on the door. A guard enters.

GUARD:
     Your majesty, Hercules is here.

XENA (pleased):
     Hercules!

ANTIGONE (to the guard):
     Well, show him in!

The guard bows and exits.

ANTIGONE (to Xena):
     I was just about to tell you--

Hercules walks in. Antigone rises and walks toward him.

HERCULES:
     Antigone! It's great to see you. Congratulations!

They hug; then, Hercules looks at Xena and Gabrielle, surprised and pleased.

HERCULES:
     Well, look who's here.

Xena rises. They clasp arms in a traditional greeting. Gabrielle walks up to Hercules, smiling.

GABRIELLE:
     Hello, Hercules.

HERCULES (steps back and looks at her, slightly surprised):
     Wait a minute, have you gained weight or are you--?

Gabrielle nods and smiles a little, patting her stomach which is bulging out slightly.

GABRIELLE:
     I am.

HERCULES (warmly):
     Congratulations. (looks from her to Xena) We always seem to meet at--interesting times.

GABRIELLE:
     Thanks. (changing the subject) But this is Antigone's special day.

HERCULES:
     You're right, of course.

His smile suddenly fades as he turns to Antigone.

HERCULES:
     Not to spoil the happy occasion, but I have some troubling news. (zoom in on his face) On my way here, I saw a large army headed straight for Thebes. From the looks of it--it wasn't friendly.

There is a brief silence.

XENA (caustic):
     Don't we always pick the best time to visit.

Pan over Xena, Gabrielle, Antigone, and Hercules' troubled faces as we:

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER