"How did this happen? When did it happen?" Xena demanded, she was starting to feel like her old self, there was a problem and she was the one who had to fix it.

Michael shuffled uncomfortably, glancing at Eli, "We don't know how it happened, but it happened about a year ago. When you came to me asking about Gabrielle and the fact that you couldn't hear her thoughts anymore Eli looked into it. He couldn't find Gabrielle anywhere; this was about two years ago now. Then last year she finally emerged, leading an army into battle. We don't normally get involved in wars between mortals but when she started eradicating followers of Eli our God demanded that we act. None of our plans have succeeded so far and now we need your help."

Xena glared at Michael, she could feel the anger pumping through her veins. "You mean to tell me that you knew this whole time that something was wrong? You have been telling me to be patient and to wait, that nothing was wrong! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?!" she shrieked, moving towards Michael wanting to strike him, to release her anger in her favourite way.

"Xena stop!" Eli pleaded, "We couldn't tell you, we knew that you would want to find her, and then help her. There wasn't anything you could do; we thought the knowledge would torment you, you have always been a woman of action and that isn't always possible here."

"So why tell me now? Why after all this time if I can't do anything to help my friend?" Xena spat, glaring at them both, furious that once again Gods were trying to control her.

"I told you, nothing else has worked. Now our God wants her stopped, and you're the only one that can do it." Michael stated evenly.

"Stop her? You mean kill her?" Xena replied, the realisation of what they were asking her hitting her.

"No Xena, not kill. I know you can find another way to get through to her, to change her back to our Gabrielle." Eli calmly interjected.

Xena took a calming breath, relieved that they would give her a chance to redeem her friend, not that they had had a choice, but it was easier this way. "And how exactly am I supposed to do that from here?" she asked.

"Our God has granted me the power to return you to Earth. To give you the chance to either save Gabrielle or stop her. Though there is a small catch, if you die before redeeming or stopping Gabrielle then your soul will return to the Elysian Fields to remain for the rest of eternity. You have to earn the right for your soul to be reborn, and you can only do that by saving Greece and the followers of Eli. If you succeed, however, then you can live the rest of your days on Earth and return here when you die. If you don't redeem Gabrielle then her soul will go to Hell, there is nothing I can do to change it" Michael explained solemnly. He knew that Xena would think nothing of the risk to her own soul, especially as the reward was much higher than the risk, but he knew she would be far more careful with Gabrielle's.

"So all I have to do is save Gabrielle and then I can live with her and Eve? Piece of cake. Send me back." Xena confidently replied, smiling despite herself. She had always liked a challenge.

"Very well. We will be sending you back to Amphipolis. Eve is already waiting for you; we were confident you would help us. Good luck Xena, do not fail us." Michael said as he walked towards her with Eli following on his heels. They placed a hand on each of her shoulders, Eli smiling and Michael looking grave. Xena felt a jolt through her body and then there was darkness.