Congratulations, Livia.
I've had tougher games of tag.
I wasn't talking about the battle.
Oh, the battle's good.
No, I was talking about you being named
the emperor's official successor.
Then our plans
are on target.
And soon…
…you will be the most powerful woman
this empire has ever known.
Then no one can stop us from
exterminating the followers of Eli…
…as traitors to Rome…
and the gods she honors.
Ga… Gabri…
Where are we?
The baby…
Where's Eve?
Octavius was…
supposed to bring her to us.
Sometings gone wrong.
We've got to get outta here
and find them.
Gabrielle, I don't recognize this place.
Are you ladies lost?
Well, that depends.
Where are we?
-At the foot of Mt. Etna.
-Mt. Etna?
How did we get here?
Ares…
Ares! Come out!
I know you're here, someplace.
Beg pardon, but…
…Ares hasn't been seen in these parts
since the legendary Xena d*ed…
…about years ago.
years?!
In the 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.
XENA, THE WARRIOR PRINCESS
♪ Xena Warrior Princess ♪
Are you saying that we've been out?
I mean, that Xena has been dead
for years?
-We gotta get to Rome.
-Why Rome?
Because that's
where Octavius was headed.
He'll know
where I can find Eve.
You!
Do you know anything about
a roman big sh*t named Octavius?
He's probably a general,
or a commander.
Only commander I know of
is Livia.
The… emperor's bitch.
Excuse my language…
…but when Augustus lets
her slaughter harmless people…
…like the followers of Eli,
I just lose my…
Eli?
Do people still follow
his teachings?
You're not from around here, are you?
Thank you.
I really recommend the beans.
-Pardon me.
-Meg… It's Meg.
No, Xena, you were identical.
Here, gimme that.
I'll getcha a fresh one.
-If I were you, I would lay off the starches.
-Oh, pardon me again.
You know what?
Shorty you kinda look
like her.
Only Gabrielle wasn't so butch.
Meg!
Go on, shake your moneymaker, will ya?
We got bardburgers
burnin' back there.
-Ah, shut up.
-You hush up!
-No, you hush up!
-Oh, yeah? You hush up first!
-I gave you the best chow…
-What?!
Is that you?
Gabrielle?
Xena?
Joxer…
What're you gonna do now?
All I know is,
I've got to find my baby.
You know, I looked for you for years.
I only quit after…
…after old Argo d*ed.
Argo…
There'll never be another like her.
Come with me, girls.
Xena, meet Argo, the second.
-Is that really Argo's daughter?
-Yeah.
Only thing is,…
…I never let anyone
ride her.
Xena?
Let's see what you can do.
Joxer, she's beautiful.
Hey, Dad!
Can you come here
and take a look at this?
Hey, boy. Come here.
I want you to meet somebody.
See?
I want you to meet
Xena and Gabrielle.
This… is Virgil.
It's a privilege to finally meet you.
See?
Apple didn't fall far from the tree.
-You have a son…
-Yeah.
That's great.
Hey, you know, that…
roman friend of yours…
He…
He swore you two were alive,
after I saw you dead.
Funny…
Roman fr…
You mean Ocatavius?
-Yeah.
-Did he have Eve with him?
Yeah, but… he left…
…after he saw
Ares drag your bodies away.
-Where is he now, Joxer?
-Rome.
-That's where we're headed.
-Wait a minute.
You might not
get there, because, you know…
Things have changed a lot
since you were last here.
You better let…
Virgil and I take ya.
-Good.
-This Octavius isn't gonna be easy to find.
The emperor's holding a victory march
for his champion, Livia.
-The city's packed.
-Yeah, yeah, see? So…
…it's all settled.
I'll go get my armor and…
…delouse my sword and…
Hey! You know…
It'll be like old times again.
Get the horses ready. Hey, boy,
don't forget my prunes, yeah?
The crowd's got 'em spooked.
Think you can get them to a stable?
Yeah. What are you gonna do?
I'm gonna take in the victory march.
Xena, you know
how degrading they are.
Yep, and everyone who's anyone's
gonna be there.
Octavius is Augustus Caesar.
Ave, Caesar.
Rome rules the world!
Xena?
Octavius…
Where's my daughter, Octavius?
-That's her?
-Livia.
-Champion of Rome.
-That's Eve?
Hail, Augustus, emperor of Rome.
I render to you
the spoils of battle.
Your triumph and tribute
pleases us, Livia.
Accept our imperial thanks…
…and the thanks
of a grateful nation.
Now wave and close the curtain.
Do it!
Caesar!
-What have you done to her?
-Done?
-You saw, she's incredible.
-She's a warrior for Rome!
She's alive. Considering all of Mt. Olympus
wanted to k*ll her,…
…wanted to crush the bringer of twilight.
What more did you expect?
I'll tell you what I expected.
I expected to raise her myself!
To show her a way
beyond the blood and the v*olence!
But you weren't there!
She was sent away
as a child…
…and raised in the provinces,
with every advantage.
She had the best tutors,
the best training!
For what?
I saw the slaves.
She's a monster!
She's the greatest warrior
Rome's ever known.
And she's going to be my wife.
No daughter of mine
is going marry Rome.
She doesn't know she's your daughter.
I never told her.
-Then I will!
-Why?
So the gods
can hunt her again?
Only this time you won't fool them
into thinking she's dead.
Please, Xena!
I love her.
Think of Eve.
As my wife,
the gods will only know her as Livia,…
…Rome's champion.
As your daughter, Eve, they'll k*ll her.
Can't sleep?
I feel like
there's no way home.
What do you mean?
I gave away one child once.
And this time I wanted to do
right by Eve.
But I woke up and my child had been
ripped from my arms.
Xena, she's alive.
There's a chance that you can still be
in her life.
It's not gonna be easy.
She has my darkness
inside of her.
She has Callisto's spirit.
Those are tough odds to b*at.
You did it.
I had help.
She has us.
Xena, she can change.
Like mother, like daughter.
Go to her and talk to her.
She will see the truth.
Ok.
You're right.
Whatever turned Eve,
we can turn her back.
Like mother, like daughter.
-One crop this season!
-This is my shop.
Great.
We'll meet you back here later.
Xena, are you sure
you don't need help?
Yeah, I could come with ya, you know?
I'm still Joxer, the M…
Joxer, the M…
Thanks anyway.
Wish me luck.
Fortune favors the brave.
I'll say.
-You have a way with words.
-Words, schmords…
You should see him shoe a horse.
Now, that's something to see.
Citizens! Your attention!
Your attention, please!
Attention!
To commemmorate her victories…
…Livia has commissioned a new temple…
to Ares.
Your offerings… are appreciated.
Cough it up, citizens!
Come on. Pay your respects.
Money for the god's temple?
Blow it out your ass, titan.
-Let go 'a him!
-It's not a request.
Look, you can't force us
to give money to the gods.
You're one of those Eli believers…
I believe that you have a right to choose
whatever faith you want.
-Now let him go.
-Or you'll do what?
-We're not lookin' for trouble.
-Too bad.
You already found it.
Get 'em!
The woman's mine!
Get them!
Now you'll taste
the steel of Joxer, the Mighty!
Gods!
Stop!
Or the old man gets it!
-Let's go, tough guy!
-Come on!
You are worse than a wasp!
Death has no sting for gods,
remember?
-Give up?
-I'll give you somethin'.
If you were mortal,
I'd cut out your heart.
Xena…
Kiss this.
Charming.
Move and I'll k*ll you.
Take it easy, Livia.
It's not how it looks.
Then how is it?
For years,
I thought Xena was dead.
And now she shows up,
not one day older.
I had to kiss her, make sure
she was real, not an impostor.
You're telling me that you had
to kiss her to I.D. her?
Think about it.
If Xena is still alive,
chances are that Eve is too.
And if she is,
then I'm the dead man.
Because Eve is the bringer
of twilight.
Eve is dead, and you know it.
-Who asked you?
-Livia, don't.
No, let her go.
She'll be back.
And if Eve is alive,
she'll lead us right to her.
It's all my fault.
If I hadn't opened my big mouth,
we wouldn't be in this mess.
Gabrielle's furious with me.
Are you kidding?
After all the times
you helped her and Xena?
I mean, saving 'em from the the bacchae,
and dryads,…
…and not to mention Callisto
all those times.
Listen, now, why don't we not mention
any of that to her?
I mean, I don't want her to feel
that she owes me, you know?
Nobody knows what's going on.
In fact, nobody deserves to be here.
I don't get it.
I do.
They're followers of Eli.
That's Eve, isn't it?
-Better known as Livia.
-All right, listen up.
You pick a champion
to fight me in the arena.
To keep it fair,
I'll provide the weapons and armor.
If he wins, you go free.
I win, and you die.
That is not salvation. That's slaughter.
You're above that.
-How would you know?
-Ask yourself that question.
You sheep would do well
to choose him as your champion.
Yeah, you're the one.
Hello, Octavius.
I see the years
haven't robbed you of your… stealth.
No, just my child.
But don't worry.
I'm not gonna k*ll ya.
Not today.
I believe that you truly do care
for my daughter.
I'm going to save her.
Are you in or out?
Save her from what?
Marrying me?
Xena, I love her.
And what's more, Livia loves me.
Fool.
She doesn't love you.
She loves the god of w*r.
Ares…
What's he got to do with this?
Everything. Who do you think
tapped into her dark side?
He seduced her with promises
of absolute power.
That's a lie.
Livia's hard, but she's honorable.
Ares is going to be
at the bacchanalia tonight. So am I.
Livia has posted guards
with orders to stop you on sight.
I'll deal with that.
When I catch up with Ares,
I'm going to give you a signal.
Be watching.
And find a way to get Eve
close enough to overhear us.
But why?
Because Ares has her standing
on the edge of an abyss.
She can't even see it.
So you be there.
You be watching when I give the word.
Livia, I'd like a word with you.
Hit me.
Don't tempt me.
I was kinda hopin' you'd be back.
I gotta know what happened.
I thought you were dead.
It's a nasty rumor.
No, no, see, I mourned you.
For years, I mourned you.
Yes, you looked positively grief-stricken
when I saw you today at the arena.
What?
That rough-and-tumble with Livia?
-You're not jealous…
-Of a roman wannabe?
Hardly.
Well, you're right.
She's not you.
Because if I thought for one moment…
…that you being here
meant we had a second chance…
Yes?
I'd drop her like a nasty habit.
You and Ares?
I'd sooner see the empire destroyed
than leave it to you.
Ares…
Still pickin' up on me
after all these years.
I'm flattered.
But you're not the only one
with insight.
I picked up on som'in', too.
Wanna hear?
-No.
-Livia…
…or should I say Eve?
-I don't know what you're talking about.
-Yeah, you do.
Both times I've seen you
it's been because Livia's been there.
The arena, the bacchanalia.
Bet you're gonna try
and see her now, right?
Right.
See? I figured out,
whatever you did to cheat death,…
…I must've slowed up
by putting you and Gabrielle on ice.
But not Eve.
And so for years,
she kept growing…
…into Livia,
champion of Rome.
Keep out of my way.
The moment it hit me, I knew.
I don't know why I didn't see it before,
but I didn't. I swear.
And that's supposed to make it ok?
No, it's supposed to make you see
that it wasn't personal.
It doesn't get more personal than when you
corrupt my daughter the way you did me.
See? That is just my point.
It's not the same. Nobody's the same
as you, Xena, not for me.
Then let me take her away.
Ares, the other gods
don't need to know.
It's not my call.
But the offer… is what it's always been.
You and me together,… a child…
…and I take Livia's secret
with me to the grave.
Otherwise…
You'd condemn to death
a woman you claim to love?
No.
But I'd condemn her daughter.
What are you doing?
That? It's nothing.
Are you writing?
Yes.
I write… or…
at least I try, but…
…I'm nowhere near as good as you.
You're a bard…
I… I write poems.
Epic poems.
I had no idea.
Why didn't you say so?
'Cause Dad doesn't like it.
I think he wishes
I was more like him.
You know, a real hero
instead of writing about one.
Virgil…
You are a hero.
You were willing to risk your life
fo fight Livia…
…and try and save all our lives.
Well, that's nothing compared
to the stories about what you've done.
Virgil…
All the stories I… told you
about me being a hero are…
They're inspiring.
I'll say.
I mean, that's why I write 'em down.
So everyone who reads 'em might try
to find the courage to be a hero, too.
And I did.
Runs in the family.
I didn't come here to fight.
I came to talk.
About what? Ares?
Well, you can have him,
if you live long enough.
It's not about Ares.
-I want to talk about you.
-Me?
-You don't know the first thing about me!
-But I do.
I know your first laugh,
your first tears.
I know your first breath.
I'm your mother.
You're my daughter.
Your name is Eve.
Well, Ares was right
about one thing.
You're incredible.
It's an incredible story.
But the bottom line is…
Ares now knows I'm your mother.
-You're in grave danger.
-You're insane!
Why would I believe you?
You are my daughter.
When the other gods find out,
you're g…
Shut up!
You… are not… my mother.
Rome… is my mother.
You're the one I want
to fight to the death.
Tomorrow, in the arena.
Just you and me.
Livia! It's Livia!
Livia!
Livia, commander
of the legions of Rome,…
…is here as your champion.
Announce the match.
Would you deny the people their sport?
Announce the match!
The first match will be fought
by Livia, defender of Rome,…
…against the champion
of the followers of Eli,…
…Xena.
-k*ll her!
-Execute the traitor!
Go, Livia!
-Destroy Xena!
-k*ll Xena!
Glory to Livia!
Down with Xena!
Today you die, Xena!
We don't have to do this.
I know.
-Make her suffer!
-Begin.
Rip her to pieces!
Eve, I know you're angry!
Come on, Xena!
Give us time.
Our time ran out
years ago.
Cut her head off!
I will never give up on you, Eve.
Never!
I'm Livia!
-k*ll her!
-Acaba com ela!
Finish her!
I'm not going to k*ll you, Eve.
You're my daughter…
whether you know it or not.
I love you.
Then let me die.
k*ll her!
Let her die!
m*rder her!
Our champion chooses mercy!
Life for us all!
Life!
Life for us all!
Life!
-Let her live!
-Show mercy!
I'll make you wish
I'd never been born.
No, Eve.
Thank you, Xena!
-Eve?
-Bless you, Xena!
Thank you, Xena!
Eve!
Eve!
Eve!
We've gotta go after her, Gabrielle.
She'll do something terrible.
We've gotta save her from herself…
…and the gods.
TO BE CONTINUED…