The two Joxers, Callisto, Hercules, Ares and Gabrielle were gathered around the campsite in a circle with Xena in the middle.

"We all now know what Dahak has planned and that the Xena from this world is going to have a part in it. What Hera told Hercules and what Joxer told Ares confirms it. We must act quickly."

"But we don't know exactly how Dahak plans to create this…bridge between our world and his. And we don't know how we're going to stop him," Joxer said.

"Someone with immortal blood must be the key." Xena glanced at Gabrielle. "Right now, the only immortal we can count on is Gabrielle."

Gabrielle stood up with a very unsure look on her face. "I can't, Xena. It's not a good idea to use my powers, and besides...these powers are part of the godhood of war. If I give into that too much...I'm afraid what might happen to me."

Xena put a comforting hand on Gabrielle's shoulder. "It'll be all right. It's only temporary and you won't have to use much of your powers for too long when we go up against Dahak." She smiled. "And if we start to lose you to some dark force within you...I'll help bring you back like you've always done for me."

Gabrielle smiled and then nodded slowly. "All right. I'll do what I can."

"Good." Xena looked at the rest of the group. "We head for the Sovereign's palace immediately."

Ares stood up. "Whatever happens, I'm wherever Gabrielle is." Xena and Hercules looked curiously at him. "She's got my powers -- and if Dahak happens to defeat her, the godhood of war will seek its original owner. If I'm not around, it will be lost forever and that will be no good for any of us."

Callisto stood up, looking determined. "I know a shortcut to the palace and a way to get in without being spotted. If we enter undetected by Xena's guards, we'll have more of a chance at stopping whatever kind of attack she has planned."

Everyone packed up their things and began to head out, Callisto leading the way. As everyone was leaving the clearing, Xena looked at Ares who walked up to her.

"You know...you don't have to be right there with us when we go to stop Dahak from entering this world. You've not been mortal for very long, Ares, I'm not sure..."

"That I can handle myself?" He grins. "Please, Xena, I was the God of War. Even as a mortal, I'm more skilled than most people."

Xena chuckled. "We'll see about that." Xena paused. "Ares, what happened before..."

"You're not going to deny it, are you?"

"No," She looked into his eyes. "It was..." she said, speaking almost in a whisper, "...nice." Ares smiled a little and Xena shook her head. "Let's go. We can talk about it later."

Xena walked on in the direction the others had taken. Ares watched her, grinning a little. Yep, I'm definitely getting to her, he thought and then followed her.

x x x

Althea poured a glass of what looked like wine and handed it to the more vixenish version Xena, who sat rather awkwardly poised in a heavy high-backed chair. "I'm glad you've come. I'm going to be very busy and I need your assistance."

Xena did not look up, but answered, "Yes, I'll do whatever you want."

"Good. Dahak rewards obedience. And punishes traitors." Althea made a slicing movement across her own neck as she spoke the last sentence.

Xena attempted a laugh, which died on her lips. "Wouldn't wanna be a traitor."

"Excellent. As you may know, Dahak plans to make enter into this world tonight. And it must be perfect. Nothing can go wrong, do you understand?"

Xena nodded quickly. "Whaddaya want me to do?"

"Wise mortals know that all good things require . . . sacrifice." Althea's eyes flickered with the candlelight.

x x x

From atop a hill overlooking the town, Xena and her companions could see that there was a sudden flurry of activity surrounding the palace. "Something's going on. I don't like the look of this."

The rebel leader Joxer spoke up. "You mentioned earlier that Dahak sometimes possesses simple townspeople and uses them to attack his enemies. Do you think he may be planning something like that?"

"Could be."

"Then let me go back to my camp and get my forces ready. We'll be able to take some of the heat off of you when Dahak opens the bridge . . . wherever it is."

Xena nodded her acquiescence. "Go ahead."

Gabrielle spoke. "Why don't I take you?" She paused, blushing at herself. "I meant, I could get you there faster, and then I could help out if you need me . . ." she dropped off.

Rebel Joxer looked to Xena, who nodded curtly. "Let's get going, then."

The other Joxer chimed in. "Wait, take me! I, Joxer the Mighty, will aid you in your worthy cause!"

Gabrielle smiled knowingly at Xena. It's better to keep him out of this, anyway, her look said. Aloud, she said, "Call if you need me."

x x x

At the palace, things were in total chaos. Althea had remained hidden within her chambers for most of the day, and her followers were getting restless. Suddenly, her helper Xena walked out of the castle alone. In her hand, she carried a leather whip. She called out to one of the guards standing to one side of the gate. "You! Get some chains from the dungeon." To his partner, she yelled, "And you – build a bonfire. There's going to be a cookout." He looked confused by the wink that followed.

x x x

Xena, Hercules, Ares and Callisto were walking together toward the palace. It was around midday, and they were about to stop for a quick meal, when Callisto looked suddenly up at the sky. "Xena, look!" She pointed above the palace. "Watch those clouds. They're moving slowly, but in a pattern. It's as if they're gathering together."

Xena saw what Callisto was looking at, as did the other two. She spat the word out: "Dahak."

Gabrielle had used her powers to transport the two Joxers back to the camp, and was helping the one to get his troops ready and keeping a close eye on the other. She didn't want Joxer getting caught in the crossfire if they were attacked.

Word had spread about some townspeople who were stalking through the woods, attacking anyone who went near. Their faces were white, as if drained of blood, and their eyes were an icy shade of blue. None of the rebels had been killed, but a few had been injured and had brought the news back to the camp.

Rebel Joxer turned to Gabrielle for a moment. "I need you to do something for me. Althea is obviously planning for something to happen soon . . . maybe tonight. According to my spies, she hasn't been seen outside the palace all day. I need you to use your powers to find her. You can make yourself invisible, can't you?"

Gabrielle nodded, a little uncertainly. "I- I think so." She tried it. "Did it work?"

Joxer smiled. "Perfect."

The goddess made herself visible again.

"What do you want me to do when I find her?" Gabrielle asked. "Spy on her?"

The rebel leader raised one eyebrow. "I want you to kill her."

x x x

Xena and Callisto, followed by Ares and Hercules, dropped their makeshift lunches and raced in the direction of the palace. If Dahak was opening his bridge, they were going to be there to meet him. Xena would call Gabrielle once they got there, although she was hesitant to put her friend in so much danger. Maybe they could work things out without using her powers.

Finally, they reached the edge of the woods, but before they stepped away from cover, they stopped a moment to assess the situation. The weren't far from the palace now, and the clouds were gathering just to the east of it. They seemed to be forming over a clearing encircled by rough boulders. In the center stood a huge pile of wood and some vertical poles, much like the ones Xena had seen the Dahak worshipers use before when she had interrupted their ceremony so abruptly. It wasn't well-guarded yet; only a handful of makeshift soldiers seemed to be watching the place. The real threat was from the palace, which was now swarming with people. If they didn't make it to the bridge in time, they'd have a messy fight on their hands.

Callisto suddenly pointed to the sky. "Look! It's changing." Sure enough, the clouds that had been swirling were now moving faster, and the center of the circle began to dip down, as if some god were poking it with his finger from above.

"The bridge! It's forming. We've got to act quickly!" Xena began to move, but Callisto's hand arrested her.

"Wait. You can't go out there like this. You need a distraction."

"I can't ask you to do that!"

"Who's asking? Besides, I can be most helpful by taking care of things here. Althea will be a force to reckon with all on her own."

"But what about Gabrielle?" Xena asked.

"Call her."

Xena, anxious to avoid alerting the guards, said her friend's name. "Gabrielle." Nothing. "Gabrielle, we're ready for you." Still no shower of green sparks heralded her friend's return. Xena looked stricken.

The spike of cloud was now reaching down toward the ground. Callisto looked at Xena. "My friend, it's now or never. You've got to go without her."

Ares was about to protest, but Callisto gave him no chance. She darted off in the direction of the palace, screaming like a banshee. Yelling back to them for a moment, she cried, "GO NOW!"

They went. The three reluctant companions raced off toward where the bridge was forming. There were only three guards left there now; the others had gone off to see what all the ruckus was about. Xena charged at one with her sword, knocking him unconscious with the hilt. Ares prepared to slice the second guard open, but then shifted his weight and knocked him down with a kick to the head. Hercules grabbed one by the midsection and whirled him around in the air, dropping him some thirty feet away.

Ares looked nonplussed. "Showoff."

Xena led her two companions toward the center of the vortex, which nearly touched the ground. "Come on, Gabrielle, where are you?!" she yelled desperately. No answer came. The next moment, the three of them had vanished from the earth.

x x x

Gabrielle stared. "You – you want me to k-kill her?"

Rebel Joxer's gaze softened a little. "I know it's a lot to ask of you, Gabrielle, but you're the only one who can get in there now. And she's got to be stopped. Innocent people are going to die if you don't do this."

"But how can I –"

"She's mortal. And by all accounts, not a fighter. You can kill her quite easily with a fire bolt or whatever your weapon of choice may be."

"I see."

"So will you do it?"

Gabrielle faltered, then thought of Xena. Her life may depend on this, not to mention the rest of humanity's. "All right. I'm in." She tried to smile.

x x x

Callisto had made her way up to the castle, making noises that the other Callisto would have been proud of. A lot of people simply stepped out of her way, startled by her wild cries. Finally, though, she was surrounded by a group of guards. "Who are you and what do you want?"

"I want to see Xena. She's expecting me."

x x x

Gabrielle sighed. She was going to have to commit murder. And an innocent woman in her own realm was going to have to die for it. It wasn't going to be easy for her, especially considering all she'd been through this past year.

Rebel Joxer squeezed her hand warmly. "Thank you for doing this. Are you ready?"

Gabrielle nodded. "Yes. I'm going. Take care of Joxer for me, please?"

The rebel leader said, "Of course. He'll stay right by my side. I don't want anything happening to him, either."

The green light she gave off reflected in his eyes.

x x x

Gabrielle found herself standing in a room inside the castle. It was well-lit, and there were expensive tapestries hanging from the walls. It looked like she was in the right place. Then she felt something strange, as if someone were walking right through her. She nearly screamed. In front of her appeared the back of a young woman with brown hair tightly coiled into two buns on either side of her head. Her clothes were silky and black. She appeared not to have noticed Gabrielle at all.

The woman in black turned and sat down at a table. Gabrielle drew closer, remembering what she was here to do. I'm supposed to take her life, Gabrielle reminded herself, still trying to convince herself.

Then the woman's face turned toward her. Gabrielle gasped. "Lila?"

The woman's eyes were blazing now. "Who's there? Show yourself! Now!"

Gabrielle, forgetting the danger, made herself visible. "Oh, Lila! Is that you? It's me, Gabrielle! I- I'm here to find . . ."

"Althea?" the woman provided the name helpfully.

"Yes, exactly! Do you know where she is?"

"Yes. She's right here. And you've just walked right into her trap." Althea's lips rose up at the corners, and she erupted into a cruel laugh. "I've been expecting you."

x x x

Xena, Hercules and Ares found themselves standing outdoors. They were in a lightly wooded area with a peaceful stream nearby. A strange sense of calm was in the air.

Ares looked uncomfortable. "Where are we?"

Hercules answered, "It looks like the Elysian Fields."

"You mean we're dead and I get to spend eternity with you? Great."

Xena interrupted them. "If we're in Elysium, then where's everybody else? Something's not right here."

They walked a little further and came to a clearing near a clear blue pool. On a convenient rock sat a handsome young man with curly blond hair and brown eyes. Xena uttered a strangled little cry.

Lyceus stood up. "Sis. It's so good to see you. What's it been, fourteen, fifteen years?"

x x x

Callisto's hands were bound behind her. She was being led into one of the inner chambers. "You know, you didn't need to bring me here in all this state to see Xena. But I'm honored, just the same." She threw back her head and laughed heartily.

The guards said nothing. In a few moments, they stopped before a wooden door and one of them knocked. "Mistress Xena, there's someone here who wants to see you. Says you've been expecting her."

From behind the door they heard a muffled voice. "Bring 'er in."

Callisto was ushered roughly into a rather small boudoir, sparsely furnished. When Xena saw it was her, she hissed, "What exactly do you want?"

"Aww, Xena, I'm hurt!" The blonde woman gave her a phony pout. "And here I thought surely you'd have missed me!"

Xena smirked. "You'll make a fine addition to our . . . collection. Dahak can always use more sacrifices!"

Callisto smiled. "I wouldn't count on it. You see, I've got other plans for you."