Off on a fishing trip together, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo), Iolaus (Michael Hurst) and Jason (Jeffrey Thomas) are engaged in a little friendly competition over who can catch the biggest fish when they're reminded of an incident in their youth that nearly destroyed their friendship. The memory takes them back to their teenage years...
Young Hercules (Ian Bohen) and young Iolaus (Dean O'Gorman) arrive at the palace of their young friend Jason (Chris Conrad), who has recently been crowned King of Corinth. After some fraternal teasing back and forth, Jason reveals that he's planning to approve the royal council's recommendation to impose a curfew on everyone under the age of 18. When Hercules suggests that Jason may be more interested in playing politics that in doing what's right, Iolaus proposes a chariot race between the two to settle the argument. Towards the end of the race, a little girl suddenly darts out in the path of Hercules' speeding chariot. He is able to swerve at the last moment and sweeps her out of harm's way as Jason's chariot thunders past. When the girl reveals that she is the sole survivor of an attack on her village by the Ghidra -- one of Hera's particularly nasty pets -- Hercules vows to kill the monster and Jason and Iolaus agree to join him.
On their journey, they come across beautiful young Medea (Jacinda Barrett) bathing in a lake. Hercules is embarrassed when his friends insist on moving in to get a closer look but as they near the shore, they realize the young woman has disappeared. When Medea suddenly reappears, she is pressing a Bowie knife to Iolaus' neck. Hercules offers an apology and when Jason tells her that they're heading for Mt. Solayis to kill the Ghidra, she asks to come along. Smitten by her beauty and daring, the boys welcome her. They soon come upon a razed village being looted by armed bandits in the wake of its destruction by the Ghidra. Leaping into the fray, the four heroically drive off the bad guys and before they leave, Medea stuns her companions by miraculously reviving the murdered son of a grief-stricken villager. As they continue their journey, Medea reveals that both her parents are mortal and she doesn't know where her powers come from. She tells Hercules privately that her stepfather treated her terribly because he was jealous of her powers. When she confesses that she wishes she had stood up to him instead of running away, Hercules offers to help her confront him once and for all. Explaining to his friends that he and Medea need to take a quick detour, Hercules asks them to round up the boat they will need to finally get to Mt. Solayis and promises to catch up with them shortly. But by the time he and Medea arrive in her home village, the Ghidra has already destroyed it and killed her parents.
Later aboard the boat, Hercules and Medea appear to be falling in love and Jason is obviously jealous. But Medea is moving a bit too fast for Hercules, who is still a virgin, and is offended when he pulls back from her heated embrace. When they go ashore the next day, she is still angry with him and begins hanging out with Jason. Hurt by her behavior, Hercules soon becomes enraged when he and Iolaus come upon Jason and Medea in the midst of a passionate kiss. A fight breaks out and Hercules sends Jason flying headfirst into a tree. As he stomps off, Iolaus follows, intent on convincing his friend to give Jason another chance.
When Medea goes into the forest to make a poultice for Jason's wounds, she encounters the little girl Hercules "saved" earlier. But the innocent-looking child morphs into the evil Hera, who has been in cahoots with Medea all along. Hera tells Medea she must continue to keep Jason and Hercules apart to prevent them from conquering the Ghidra. But when Medea returns to Jason, he insists that he must help his friend. Medea is unable to stop him so Hera intervenes, striking him down with lightning bolts. Horrified by Hera's actions, a tearful Medea uses her powers to heal Jason. Meanwhile, Hercules and Iolaus have found the two-headed fire-breathing Ghidra in its lair. As they defend themselves against the hideous monster, Jason and Medea show up to join the fight. Together, they succeed in killing the creature. Medea apologizes to Hercules as Jason explains how Hera used her to try to turn them against one another. Suddenly, the little girl/Hera appears and tells Hercules that she wants him dead to teach her philandering husband Zeus a lesson about fidelity. Hera is then swept up in a swirling wind, taking Medea with her.
Starring: Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Michael Hurst (Iolaus)
Guest Starring: Dean O'Gorman (Young Iolaus), Chris Conrad (Young Jason), Jacinda Barrett (Medea), Ian Bohen (Young Hercules), Jeffrey Thomas (Jason), Narelle Swenson (Little Girl/Hera), Vanessa Guy (Teenage Girl #1), Benjamin Banse (Villager), Carol Seay (Woman), Ian Harrop (Fisherperson), Alan De Malmanche (Servant)
Teleplay by Robert Bielak and Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman
Story by Robert Bielak
Directed by Charles Siebert