This ep opens on a dark moonlit night as we see an older gentleman in the forest searching for his dog. As his dog appears unfortunately so does another creature unseen by the man, until it's too late. The dog sensing the creature attempts to attack it but fails, thus the man is dragged away to his death. In the next scene a loving tribute is being made to Gabrielle by none other than Joxer. It would appear that Joxer has developed somewhat of a shrine at the last place he viewed his precious friend --Dahak's pit. Having faithfully brought flowers to her (daisies - her favorite) and spoken loving words, this act has enabled him to cope without her. (At this point the audience views Joxer's last scenes of Gabrielle as she falls down the pit). In a tender, quiet moment a hand from the pit grabs Joxer's arm as a startled Joxer returns to reality. Of course the form appearing from the pit is Xena and as she climbs out of the pit she says only two words, but these two words have a strong impact - "she's alive". Xena explains her vision to Joxer, whom seems reluctant to believe that anyone could've survived the fall, especially after witnessing it firsthand. Xena tells Joxer that Gabrielle would've returned to Potidaea to be with her family, so both head to the village. Upon arriving in Potidaea a festival is in full swing. As they approach a storyteller's booth Xena stops in her tracks as several children begin yelling for "a story". Xena is hopeful for a moment that she will see Gabrielle emerge from the booth, but alas her hopes diminish as a young male bard appears. Joxer becomes interested in the story and stays to hear it as Xena voices her disappointment in not seeing Gabrielle. Suddenly a strange and all to familiar feeling surfaces in Xena as she turns to take a long look at what appears to be Gabrielle only a few feet away from her. Gabrielle sensing something turns around to see Xena and slowly begins walking towards her. Both have their eyes intensely locked on each other as Joxer appears between them amazed to see Gabrielle alive. He passes out a happy man as Gabrielle grabs and kisses him and she proceeds to walk to Xena. Within reaching distance Xena and Gabrielle immediately embrace. As Joxer awakes, he decides to leave them alone for their private reunion and heads to join in more festivities. Xena relates her thoughts of Gabrielle's death as Gabrielle describes her survival - " I fell in a niche in the wall and was too scared to call your name so I just lay there for awhile, but Hope didn't survive". Xena explains that she had a vision of Gabrielle alive and this led her back to Potidaea and there was a feeling of a sense of danger around her. A hesistant Gabrielle at first , agrees that there is danger in Potidaea as a winded Joxer approaches and directs them to the forest where they find the remains of the older gentleman that was mentioned in the beginning of the episode. Gabrielle informs Xena that there have been other deaths of farm animals but none of a man until now. As they arrive at Gabrielle's home Xena is met by the usual unfriendly Heroditus (Gab's father), as Joxer attempts to be the perfect gentleman warrior towards Lila (Gab's sister) and Hecuba (Gab's mother). Heroditus continues the cold reception of Xena's arrival as she gets little information about Gabrielle's condition since her return home. Xena is to blame for everything according to Heroditus. Xena and Gabrielle head toward the barn to plan a strategy to kill the creature that is destroying livestock and now a human. During a rather intense lightening storm they wait out the creature. Raw meat is placed on a hook in the barn to lure the creature in. As Xena closes one of the entry doors she returns to find a wide-eyed Gabrielle staring at the bare hook. The lightening produces several shadows of the creature inside the barn as Xena prepares to do battle. Gabrielle turns to see the creature running to attack and quickly jumps aside as it attacks Xena, the creature all the while ignoring Gabrielle. Xena escapes the attacks and grabs for Gabrielle and returns to her home. The creature begins attacking their home but before any permanent damage is done it leaves. Xena explains that daylight must have it on the run. Xena sensing that things aren't as they appear makes the comment that she cut up the creature pretty bad, when in fact she didn't lay a hand on it. Xena informs Joxer of the true identity of the creature - Dahak's grandchild, The Destroyer. This realization also means that Gabrielle is really Hope. A reluctant Joxer is finally persuaded by Xena that this is not Gabrielle. As Hope discusses with Lila her desire to spend more time with her before she returns with Xena, Joxer and Xena begin planning Hope and The Destroyer's demise.Joxer insists that Xena can't kill Hope without dying herself due to the debt with Ares. Xena informs him that the debt was called off when Ares thought that Hope was dead. Xena reveals to Joxer that she didn't lay a hand on the Destroyer, she just said that for Hope's benefit. Xena explains the plan to Joxer----- to track Hope until she leads her to the Destroyer so they can both be killed at once. Joxer agrees that this is to be done for Gabrielle. Xena gives Joxer the back up plan and has him counting flocks of sheep to determine where the Destroyer might strike next. Xena arrives at Gabrielle's home to overhear Hecuba and Heroditus discussing Gabrielle traveling with Xena and what a mistake it is. Xena's informed that Gabnelle (Hope) and Lila are on a walk together. As Xena quickly approaches to catch up with Lila and Hope, Hope changes the true directions of their walk. Meanwhile Joxer falls asleep -- doing what else, but counting sheep. With Hope's shortcut they appear at a broken down bridge and as Hope nears the edge she uses her powers to weaken it more. As the bridge begins to fall apart Lila moves towards her as Hope purposely pulls Lila to the edge and quickly changes places with her - thus leaving Lila to fall to her death. Xena quickly jumps in and pulls Lila to safety, while Hope makes an excuse to leave. Xena tells Lila to go home and tell her family that all is well, while Xena plans for some search and destroy. Meanwhile Hope appears at the cave which houses the Destroyer to assess the condition of her child to see just how much damage Xena did. Hope approaches her child cautiously as the Destroyer still doesn't fully understand the strength that it has and the power behind the sharp spiked skin all over its body. The Destroyer continues to try to hug Hope and in doing so cuts her right leg. Hope seeing that her son has not been hurt realizes that Xena was using the Destroyer to get at her - thus realizing that Xena knows who she really is. Xena still searching for Hope spots her walking a parallel path and turns to follow her. Meanwhile Joxer awakes to see Hope walk past him and begins tracking her as well. Both Xena and Joxer draw their swords. (It appears that Joxer and Xena are tracking the same person,but here's what actually happens). Joxer snaps a branch behind Hope and she captures him, tying him up at the cave entrance for her son to eat at nightfall. Xena - sword drawn to kill Hope - stops directly in front of her only to realize that she is actually staring at Gabrielle. (yes, the real one this time). Xena drops her sword and both warriors share a warm touching, tearful reunion. As Gabrielle tries to explain what she remembers the events are similar to what Hope told Xena with one exception - Hope is alive, which a tearful Xena has to inform her of. Xena and Gabrielle return towards the village and her home to develop a plan of attack, while Joxer awaits an attack of his own. Xena returns to Gabrielle's home to warn her family when she is confronted by an angry Heroditus as she sees a beaten Hope sitting before her, blaming Xena for the abuse. Xena unable to warn Gabrielle's family for fear of Hope killing them as swords are pointed at their backs unbeknownst to them leaves to find Joxer. Meanwhile Gabrielle waits silently in the barn for Xena's return. Deciding she must warn her family of the danger, Gabrielle sneaks into Lila's room to warn her of Hope. Hope and Gabrielle confront each other while Xena saves Joxer's life and teases the Destroyer to follow her back to the barn. Hope is distracted by the Destroyer's moans and Gabrielle takes the moment to escape out the bedroom window heading back to the barn. As Xena returns to the barn she discovers that Gabrielle is not there but before she can react the Destroyer approaches. They battle only for a short time before the Destroyer overpowers Xena and pins her against the wall. Gabrielle enters the barn and shocked by what she sees takes the opportunity to pretend she is Hope.The Destroyer approaches her and as they hug gives Xena the opportunity to kill the Destroyer - she stabs the Destroyer between the shoulder blades with her sword and is swung backwards by the Destroyer's strength. Gabrielle immediately dodges the Destroyer's swinging spiked arms and rejoins Xena. Hope appears on the scene, angered by the sight of her son dying, she rushes towards him as his flailing spiked arm plunges into her shoulder piercing her lung. With the sudden shock of what has happened the Destroyer suddenly realizes that there are two people that look like his mother and he has just killed the wrong one. The Destroyer craddles Hope and as they are both dying, Xena and Gabrielle watch intensely until it's all over. Gabrielle and Xena begin discussing the vicious cycle of their lives and question if it is ever really over. Xena explains to Gabrielle that they each have questions but that they can still walk the road together for the answers.By Jennifer
