Just weren't built to hold
a real god, were you?
Go away.
- Can you see your friend?
- No, but she's gotta be here.
These are the people that her parents
told me about. I'm sure of it.
I wish I could just
make out what he's saying.
I can't make it all out,
but it's something about
the return of a goddess.
They need to build
temples to her.
Prepare the way.
Xena, there she is.
That's my friend, Seraphin.
What is she doing?
Seraphin!
This way!
- I'm gonna get Seraphin.
- Right.
In a time of ancient gods...
...warlords...
...and kings...
A land in turmoil
cried out for a hero...
She was Xena...
a mighty princess,
forged in the heat of battle...
...The power...
...The passion...
...The danger...
Her courage will
change the world...
[font color="#d "]Sacrifice[/font]
[font color="#a "](Part )[/font]
We have to find her, Xena.
I've known Seraphin since
she was-- she was five.
I can't believe that she'd
be a worshipper of Callisto's.
More than that,
she was a sacrifice.
When we stepped in, Callisto decided
to take one of the other priests.
Do you think it's possible that Callisto
could end up like the other gods,
with temples and followers?
It's not like her. There
has to be something else.
I just don't know what.
The first thing is
to find your friend. Come on.
Hi, honey, I'm home.
Well,
there you are.
Hello, pumpkin.
Your Auntie Callisto's brought
you a little treat.
It is what you wanted, isn't it?
They called him
the-the Priest of the Flesh.
Now...
shall I carve or will you?
Most of them
are headed toward the river.
- They're going to regroup.
- Right.
Gabrielle, I want you to
take Argo. Go on ahead.
I'll catch up with you later.
How long have you
been watching me?
Since you broke up
Callisto's little party.
Looks like the new kid on the block
wants to create her own dynasty.
She's got a lot
to learn though.
I, uh--
I don't suppose she happened
to be wearing a pendant at all?
You mean the Hind's Blood?
No.
I heard the story, Ares.
Callisto kills Strife using
a dagger with Hind's Blood,
and then Hercules forced her
through gate into that other world.
What I want to know is,
how she got through that gate.
She's a goddess.
How long would it
have taken you?
Good point. Still, it's good she
didn't have it on her, because now--
Now she can't use it against you.
Or against any other god.
Callisto didn't come back for a
few temples, she wants it all.
Now, Xena,
you're going to need an ally.
Maybe we can...
come up with some arrangement.
Forget it. I'm not in this
for your petty revenge.
Callisto is not a true god.
She was mortal.
She's got no control,
no respect for any of us.
All she can bring is destruction.
And when she gets
an army of worshippers,
conquers the world, what then?
Then she's coming after you.
Priest of the Flesh has gone.
Glory to him.
Glory!
He will be replaced.
But the blood--
The time of the blood has come.
And this time there will be
no interruptions.
Glory to the blood!
The rebirth of the goddess.
Not happy to see me, are you?
Neither am I, really.
But I've got a plan to
solve both of our problems.
- Why don't you let me in on it.
- Oh, Xena.
I tell you about it,
and the first thing you know,
you'll be trying to stop me.
You just trust me.
You're gonna love it.
- Well, at least half of it.
- Oh, goody.
It's funny that I keep this thing
around. I don't really need it.
It's just for decoration...
and for fun.
I don't know if I'm toying with
you or you're toying with me.
Oh, you can't b*at me, Xena.
You can only--
You can only delay me.
Sorry, Xena,
but I'm on a schedule.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, I've been looking forward to
this reunion for a long, long time.
Oh, you're going back
through the gate.
But not before we
settle a few things.
Love to chat, but, gotta go.
I am really going to enjoy
tearing her limb from limb.
Seraphin,
what is wrong with you?
- We're trying to save your life.
- Gabrielle,
you don't understand,
I don't wanna go.
No, I know. You wanna be sacrificed
to the temple of Callisto.
Well, it's not going to happen.
- Who's Callisto?
- Who's--
You mean you aren't
being sacrificed to Callisto?
I'm chosen.
The Priestess of the Blood.
The rebirth of the goddess.
This isn't about Callisto.
It's about something else.
The goddess of Dahak.
It's about Hope.
Hope is gathering her following.
It can't be.
Yes. She's building a power
base of people to worship her.
And why shouldn't we
worship her?
I mean, we're not fools.
We look at how
the world is today...
and where is the happiness?
Where is the peace?
Seraphin, you have no idea
what you're talking about.
Hope is bringing
Dahak's destruction.
The Goddess Hope
is the savior of this world.
I must get back to Werfner.
The High Priest needs me.
Needs me for the goddess.
Your goddess k*lled my child.
It's okay.
Come on. I'll explain to you.
Hope is building
an army of the ignorant.
Incredible.
A mortal so stupid as to believe
Dahak will actually bring them peace.
They all deserve what they get.
I really don't know why you
continue to protect them.
Shut up, Ares.
- Hope must die.
- Oh, my thoughts exactly.
But my way.
I got a lot of options here.
I can raise a combined
army of all my warriors.
Hope wants to fight?
I'll be there. But on my terms.
Not to press a point, but, I can
really use an overall commander.
Your army means
nothing to me.
Taking this all
a little personally, aren't we?
Okay. When you realize
you're wrong, call me...
if you survive.
Are you okay?
Ares is right.
- About leading his army?
- Xena, are you sure that's best?
I'm taking it all too personally.
I can't afford that.
- It's okay to be angry.
- No, it's not.
Anger clouds the mind.
It prevents focus.
Hope still has a mortal form.
Maybe we can use that
to our advantage.
That's if we can
get past her powers.
She still hasn't
made an appearance.
It's possible that
she's not able to.
The rebirth that Seraphin
mentioned. Talk to her.
Find out what it means.
Do you think that
Hope is vulnerable?
That's exactly what I think.
And if I'm right...
we got a chance to k*ll her.
Wait.
This is the place of rebirth.
The cave of the Sister Peaks.
This is where the goddess is.
- Very good.
- Please, please.
We are only a servant
to the greatness of the godd--
Yes, I know who you
serve you little worm.
She and I are old friends.
I've given her
the Priest of the Flesh,
now she's waiting for
the Priest of the Blood.
And just guess
who gets that honor.
No, it can't be us.
'Fraid so.
We are not the chosen one.
The priestess servant.
She's the chosen one.
It's her blood.
What exactly do you mean?
If our blood could
release the goddess,
we would drive the sword
into our own chest,
but it won't.
You're gonna help her,
aren't you?
To release her.
We can talk to her for you.
Really?
No, you aren't listening.
I said everybody.
I want every w*rlord, every soldier
who ever professed an allegiance to me.
All of them.
This is going to be
the largest army ever assembled.
But this is Dahak
and his daughter.
And I am Ares,
God of w*r!
I will not end up some footnote
in the annals of history.
Dahak wants a battle
for dominion.
All right, I'll give him
one he'll never forget.
But we strike now.
So do as I tell you and go.
Do you remember the river
near your house?
I remember.
Your parents used to get so
upset at us for swimming there.
We would nod our heads and say,
"We'll never do it again."
But we'd go and we'd do it.
Didn't want anyone
telling us what to do.
I'm not going home, Gabrielle.
I found my place.
This isn't your place.
These aren't your friends, Seraphin.
What happened to the girl that
I knew who had a mind of her own?
I just can't believe that you'd blindly
follow Dahak and his followers.
I'm not as blind as you think.
Yes, I know Dahak has a plan,
and yes, I know people must die,
but it's for the greater good.
Don't tell me about
the greater good
because you have no
idea what it means.
And you have no idea
of the greatness of Dahak.
When the goddess is reborn,
she will return from
the Sister Peaks.
The bringer of the Destroyer
will wash the land of its sins.
On the rebirth,
it will come to pass.
Werfner the High Priest
has promised us this.
This rebirth,
what is that?
Can you explain it to me because
I don't know what it means.
It's a time when she
becomes her destiny and
she emerges stronger
and more powerful.
Let the Goddess Hope
touch your soul.
She already has.
Hope is my daughter.
Very good.
You molded her cocoon
from Janiclea's flesh...
as it is written.
With the Priest of the Flesh,
it wasn't that hard to figure out.
Now talk to her.
What-- What do you
want us to ask her?
Ask her if she understands
what I'm doing...
and exactly why
I'm protecting her.
You wanna die?
More than that.
I want oblivion.
I want my life to end.
I want it all to stop.
No nothing. No memories,
no Tartarus, nothing.
And I know--
I know she can do it.
Now, does she agree?
Goddess understands
and she agrees.
Should have been my child.
You know that?
That's okay.
You have such power,
it's almost scary.
Daughter of Dahak,
the power of her
father behind her.
Yes...
it's quite... scary.
Hey.
Every village has got
the same story.
People leaving home
to join Dahak's followers.
Disciples they're
calling themselves now.
Are they under
a spell or something?
No. They're simple people.
They're poor and
they're disillusioned.
That's all she needs
to draw them in.
What's wrong with her?
I told her about Hope.
About me and Hope.
And?
I don't know.
When she looks at me, it's like
there's somebody else in there.
How could this happen?
I mean, if I were to bet
what she'd be doing right now
That's the funny
thing about people.
Just when you think you've
got them figured out,
they show a completely different
side to their character.
I know what you mean.
You think we'll
ever get her back,
the Seraphin I know?
We're gonna do everything
we possibly can.
But, first, I gotta
deal with Callisto.
- And what about Hope?
- I don't wanna split my efforts.
Callisto is protecting Hope.
So whatever happens, I gotta
take her out of the picture.
The villagers mentioned a drifter who'd
been stealing food from the markets.
By the description, it sounds like
the priest we saw with Seraphin.
He's gotta be in the same
general area as Hope.
The Sister Peaks.
Right.
Look, Gabrielle, do not
turn your back on her.
She is not your
friend any longer.
She belongs to Hope.
Be back as soon as I can.
Okay.
You should of told us
you didn't eat.
We wouldn't have
brought back so much.
If we were immortal, we would
still like to eat all ki--
Quiet!
We've got a visitor.
Oh, she's so good.
I'll be right back.
A visitor?
We don't like visitor.
Oh, Xena, come on.
I know you're here.
Still trying to stop me even
though I'm doing you a favor.
You can do me a favor
by handing over Hope.
Oh, you figured it out, did you?
Well, no can do.
She's not quite up
to snuff at the moment.
She's cocooned, helpless.
She needs her Auntie Callisto.
You would just run her through.
That's the idea.
Yeah, well, I can't
let it happen.
See, I have plans for her.
Big plans.
Well, forget about them,
and hand over that monster.
What is this, some kind of martyrdom
phase you're going through?
I could k*ll you in an instant.
Nice try.
But that thr*at worked
when I was only a mortal.
But, I'm a god now, Xena.
Welcome to my world.
Now get ready to leave it.
Give me your best sh*t.
Oh, clever, clever girl.
You want me to use my
powers in here so all
these stupid rocks
come tumbling on me.
You're a god.
It won't k*ll you.
No, it won't k*ll me.
But it will keep me
locked up long enough
for you to get to my
precious little baby.
Oh, well, back to basics.
Ouch. Don't do that.
The best you can hope
for is a standoff.
And who do you really think is
going to tire out first, huh?
I gotta give you
credit for trying.
You should've kept running.
I couldn't use my powers in there.
But out here, well,
can you say, "Nighty-night?"
No!
Nighty-night.
Stay back, Ares.
I'm the one who gets to k*ll her.
Then I guess we got a problem,
'cause I just can't let that happen.
We had heard about the mother
of the Goddess Hope.
She's known as the Betrayer,
the one who selfishly
k*lled her own daughter.
- That's not how it was.
- We were never told her name...
because it was said to speak
it was obscene blasphemy.
I didn't know it was you.
- But I guess it makes sense.
- How does it make sense?
She's your daughter.
She's a balance of Dahak's power.
The Goddess Hope is
a balance of good and evil.
But born as a mortal,
she's one of us.
She's evil. That's what she is.
She's like her father.
She has a harsh father, yes,
that's why Hope was born
of a good person-- of you.
She can stand as a champion
for mortals, a leader for us all.
She is a m*rder*r. She doesn't care
about any of us. Even as a child--
Can you blame a child for not
understanding a power
that was given it?
A child without guidance.
Without her mother.
After the rebirth,
the Goddess Hope will have
the wisdom to know what's best.
She's your daughter, Gabrielle.
How could your daughter
be evil?
- Ares has got Hope.
- You saw her?
Yes, I saw her,
or something very like her.
She's in a cocoon.
What is Ares up to?
I know he's not taking her to Mount
Olympus because of other gods.
There's only one place
that she'd be safe.
What place?
The Halls of w*r.
We'll need every
bit of time we got.
We'll travel overnight by foot.
I think we can be there by morning.
And then what?
First things first.
Let's just get there.
Can you hear me?
Can you?
You and Callisto k*lled Strife.
You tried to k*ll me.
As you've probably figured out,
I forgive you.
Xena's not finished,
you know.
When she puts her mind to k*lling
someone, they generally get k*lled.
I know.
I gave her that focus.
I suggest you do something
to discourage her.
What is that?
The goddess.
She's speaking to us.
You have to leave, Gabrielle.
They're coming.
- Who's coming?
- Gabrielle.
- Priestess of the Blood.
- By the gods.
Priestess of the Blood.
Priestess of the Blood.
They're innocent people.
Hope knows I won't k*ll them.
Priestess of the Blood.
There was a hut on the other
side of the ridge. Run to it.
I'll meet you there.
- Okay, fellas, break it up.
- Stop her.
Come on.
Hurry!
You don't understand, Gabrielle,
they're trying to save me.
They're trying to save you
for a sacrifice.
They won't hurt us.
They wouldn't!
Right, they won't hurt
"the Betrayer."
But I would tell them...
that-that you realize
that you were wrong.
I can see it in your eyes.
They're coming.
- Xena.
- Gabrielle, up through the roof.
Climb down the tree and head
to the river through the forest.
- Come on. Your turn.
- No. Leave me here.
- Come on!
- No, Xena.
This is the area. The Halls of w*r
are around here someplace.
The entrance is
along these cliffs.
Xena,
about this rebirth of Hope.
What if it changes her?
It won't change her,
except to make her more
powerful and more evil.
I just can't help thinking that--
she was a child when
she did all those things.
My son was only a child
when she k*lled him.
Don't you dare
defend Hope to me.
I'm gonna head south and see
if I can find anything.
You stay here and don't let
her out of your sight.
You can sense her, can't you?
She's your daughter, Gabrielle.
She loves you.
Don't you know that?
She needs you.
Don't you think I know that?
I have thought of it every minute.
But I can't play "what if."
But it doesn't have to
be like that. She knows.
The Goddess Hope knows.
I can feel it.
And if Xena kills her, I--
Go to her.
Find her.
Warn her.
I will. And I'll tell her that
her mother loves her.
Oh, you are the savior
of the world, Gabrielle.
That was good.
With the connection Hope
has with her followers,
Seraphin should lead
me right to her.
You almost convinced me.
I'm not blind anymore.
You realize that we've given
Hope exactly what she wants...
Seraphin.
It was the only way we
could get to her in time.
If we waited, Hope would just choose
another Priestess of the Blood.
We thought this place safe.
You told us it was.
No. Safe was not
the word I used.
When Xena starts to move,
nothing is safe.
Once Hope is released,
we won't have to
worry about that.
Weren't you supposed to
bring Seraphin here first?
We-- We failed.
But we're looking.
I do have one card to play.
Something even Xena
won't see coming.
Be careful.
Yeah.
You and I have got
something to talk about.
Where are we?
What is this place?
Who are they?
We-- Are-- The Fates.
Yes, the Fates.
They spin the thread of life
for all you mortals.
What am I doing here?
Oh, I don't know.
Old time's sake?
To call in a debt,
remember?
You still owe me for getting
you to Chin ahead of Xena.
Now I'm calling
that favor in.
If Xena kills Hope,
this thread is cut.
If I have to die to keep Dahak's
evil from the world, then I will.
Th-That's Xena.
This is Xena's life thread.
That's right.
And if she kills Hope
The Fates agree,
I have the right to ask this.
- The debt is binding.
- The burden is--
- on Gabrielle.
- If Xena kills Hope--
Xena will die.
My Goddess,
I'm here.
I bring you my life's blood.
I bring you freedom.
The offering of
the Priestess of the Blood.
The rebirth of the goddess.
With this offering,
the goddess awakens.
Daughter of Dahak...
bringer of the Destroyer.
k*ll her!
No, Xena.
What do you think you're--