SUCCESSION

A woman by the name of Mavican is after Xena's "job" in Ares' eyes.  But, after one "action packed roll in the sack," he informs her that she's not the one.  No, his standards are higher – and Xena never asked him for anything.  "That's how I knew she was the one."  Elsewhere, after a fight where Xena did most of the work, Ares finds Gabrielle complaining to herself.  "I'm not a kid anymore."  But, after an understanding word or two, he vanishes as quickly as he appeared.  Enter Mavican.  "I understand that killing you is the best way to meet her."  Mavican then throws a javelin at Gabrielle, but Xena steps in.  Mavican declares that she's Xena's successor.  (She's trying to convince Ares of this by killing Xena.)  Ares complies by saying, "Let's take this where we can't do any harm."  He opens up a portal that sucks them in and the "game" begins.  Gabby finds herself in a spotlight in the middle of a vast darkness.  Xena, however, finds herself facing Mavican in a clearing – both without weapons.  Fight!  Mavican gets kicked  and takes a long tumble down a wooded hillside.  But, when the sun sets, Gabrielle and Xena have switched places.  (It turns out that, in the spotlight, Xema is able to watch Gabrielle but can't directly communicate.)  Gabby and Mavican cross paths at a campfire and Gabby gains the upper hand.  "Ares said that Xena couldn't kill you.  He didn't say anything about me, so don't do anything stupid."  Just then, Mavican gains control again, knocks Gabrielle out, and locks her in a cage.  She then jabbers on and on about herself... until the sun rises.  And, with the sun, comes the switching of Xena and Gabrielle again!  Yep, now Xena's in the cage!  This, of course, delights Mavican and she refuses to be talked out of her actions.  She starts throwing her handmade spears at Xena until Xena fakes getting pierced through the gut with one.  Mavican, thinking herself the victor, gets close enough to where Xena is able to grab her and kick herself loose from the cage.  Mavican escapes.  Xena goes poking around by a stream, clearly planning something, when Ares show up.  Xena learns that Ares would like Gabrielle to kill Mavican.  Later, Mavican tries to attack Xena – who has set up a trap and almost has her captured completely... when the sun sets again.  Gabrielle, now cluelessly facing Mavican, gets another quick beating.  Mavican explains that Ares has put Xena in the same body as Gabrielle... and if killing Gabby means Xena's death (even if it means only killing her indirectlly), than so be it.  Gabby grabs a staff she sees leaning against a tree and this triggers the trap that Xena set up.  Mavican gets knocked over but manages to injure Gabrielle's shoulder and Gabby runs away.  Suddenly, Ares appears to Xena once again.  Ares gushes compliments and ends by saying, "I can't believe I took her for granted for so long."  He then reveals that he has given up on Xena... "and what makes you think I was talking about Mavican?"  "This is about Gabrielle," says an angrier Xena.  Meanwhile, Gabby has found a deep pit in the back of a cave and taken refuge by a fire.  It is then that she finds a note tied to the staff.  In essence, it warns her not to kill Mavican.  But Ares shows up and tries to sweet talk Gabrielle into seeing things his way.  He even gives her one of her sais to kill Mavican with.  Soon enough, Mavican walks in and Gabby looks ready to fight.  All the while, Xena is pleading that she will not kill.  Fight!  "Ares wants me to kill you.  If I do that then he wins and we all lose," says Gabrielle finally.  Sun's up!  And it's Xena's turn.  "Your destiny is to be forgotten," she tells Mavican as they fight, Xena trapping them in the cave.  This notion eventually really gets to Mavican and she calls on the god of war for help.  Ares appears, opens the portal that leads back to the world, and allows only Xena to exit through it.  "I said you could [ask for help]," explains Ares, "I never said you should."  With that, he abandons Mavican.  Back on planet reality, Xena expresses that she is proud of Gabrielle, Ares expresses that his offer is still open, and Gabrielle thinks that maybe Ares did some good after all.

CHAKRAM

Ares tells Kal (a god a war in this particular region) to back off of Xena.  He also mentions something called the "dark chakram."  Apparently, Ares stole it years ago.  Later, Kal forces a monk (Brother Kalib) to take the light chakram from the white side of a stone yin-yang.  (There, we see the dark chakram is missing.)  Elsewhere, the newly resurrected Xena and Gabrielle are being taken care of with food, drink, and blankets, when Amarice returns Xena's broken chakram to Xena.  "What is this thing, anyway?" Xena asks.  When Gabrielle reacts with surprise, Xena simply shrugs her confusion off as post-resurrection haziness.  Later, in the market buying new outfits (including sais), the gang is attacked and Xena is almost defeated!?  ("Kal will have you!")  They soon inform Eli that something's wrong with Xena.  ("You usually pulverize guys like that.")  We learn that Brother Kalib is (or was) a scholar and a friend of Eli's.  Next, they all decide to seek Kalib out; Eli believes the answer might lie in his ancient texts.  On their way, Joxer asks Eli for advice about how to tell Gabrielle that he loves her.  Gabby has the "my path is not the same as yours" heart to heart with Eli.  While hunting, Amarice is knocked out in an ambush and Xena is taken away by Kal.  Gabby finds Amarice and they begin to track them down.  But, at Kal's place, the war gods fight, Xena remembers bits and pieces of her chakram, and then she escapes as the other two clash steel.  Xena meets the gang in the woods.  Soon enough, they discover that Kalib is dead, so Eli decides to look for clues in his scrolls.  "Go get some rest," he advises.  Joxer stumbles upon Xena in the bathhouse and asks her for advice.  (Have no expectations; no strings attached.)  Then, Ares appears and tries to take advantage of Xena's innocence... until Gabrielle walks in.  "Ares wants something.  So does Kal.  What is it?" asks Amarice.  "It's the same thing we need to get Xena back completely: chakram of light," answers Eli.  According to Eli's research, only the purest soul can touch it without being destroyed.  Also, it can kill a god!  (This explains why Ares and Kal are involved.)  Later, unsure if she's supposed to be as she was before, Xena prays for a sign – and Gabrielle shows up to encourage her that they're doing the right thing.  Next, the gang ambush the place where the stone yin-yang lies.  Xena grabs the chakram and runs out wielding it.  Although this startles Ares, she drops the weapon claiming that she can't kill.  With that, the gang quickly takes refuge inside the ambushed building.  In the hustle and bustle, Joxer corners Gabrielle and lets her know he's in love with her.  From outside, Ares tries to negotiate with Xena for the chakram.  It is then that they learn that the power to kill a god will be diffused if only they join the two chakrams together.  (This would make the weapon useless to Ares and Kal.)  Finally, the baddies break through the doors and fight while Xena places her broken chakram on the stone yin-yang and witnesses its repair.  Ares tries to grab Eli (to shove him aside) but, clearly feeling his power, backs up afraid and unsettled.  Then, Kal hovers over Gabrielle with his sword.  That's when Xena snaps into action and kills Kal with the newly forged chakram.  Again, Ares tries to talk Xena into handing over the weapon.  Instead, she combines the two into a whole newly designed yin-yang-like chakram!  And, with that, the WHOLE Xena is back!  Fight!  Why did she do it?  "No one deserves that kind of power," explains Xena.  Eli splits and the gang head back to Greece.