Callisto (Hudson Leick), a ruthless woman warrior leading a band of cutthroats on a bloody rampage, tells a terrified village survivor to spread news of the devastation and identifies herself as Xena. The real Xena (Lucy Lawless) learns of this cruel charade from Melas (Ian Hughes), a griefstricken young man who has lost his two-year-old son to the murderers and vows revenge on the warrior princess. Determined to stop the destruction, Xena and Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) set out to find the imposter. They sense this imposter was the one responsible for nearly killing Xena with a poison dart. After foiling an assassination attempt by Melas, Xena comes upon Callisto and her warriors, who are in the process of sacking another village. Xena lets loose with her chakram and to her amazement, it is caught by Callisto. Drawing their swords, the two charge each other on horseback and a fierce battle ensues which proves them to be almost evenly matched. But Callisto manages to escape with Xena's chakram, asking the warrior princess before she flees if she remembers Cirra -- a village Xena conquered in her dark past.
After the fight, Xena puts her "touch" on the throat of Callisto's warrior Theodorus (David Te Rare), forcing him to reveal Callisto's intentions. He tells her that Callisto's family died in Cirra when Xena and her army laid waste to the village, and that the woman warrior is determined to exact her revenge. He also reveals that Callisto plans to murder the Oracle of Delphi the following day and blame it on Xena. Meanwhile, Callisto is visited in her stronghold by a weasly little man named Joxer (Ted Raimi), who is desperate to become one of her warriors. She tells him he must prove himself by bringing her Gabrielle, which he attempts repeatedly, but to no avail. The next day, Xena, Gabrielle and Melas -- who now knows that Xena did not murder his son -- go to the temple at Delphi. Xena spots and charges Callisto in the crowd just as she hurls Xena's chakram towards the Oracle. The warrior princess manages to thwart the assassination attempt and jumps on her horse to pursue the fleeing Callisto.
Xena gives chase over the hills and valleys, finally managing to take Callisto prisoner. Meanwhile, Melas, consumed with grief and hatred, organizes a lynch mob bent on revenge.
When Xena returns with her captive and refuses to give her up to Melas and the crowd, they set fire to the jail. In the confusion, Callisto escapes and takes Gabrielle hostage. Xena follows and when she reaches Callisto's stronghold, she finds Gabrielle suspended from a rope over a huge vat of wood. After igniting both the rope and the wood with a torch, Callisto draws Xena into battle and a furious fight-chase on ladders begins. Eventually, Xena gets the upper hand and catches Gabrielle just as the rope gives way. She then saves Callisto from falling into the burning pyre, though the embittered warrior tells Xena that she hates her for doing so. In the end, Callisto is put in leg irons by a posse of citizens from Delphi, and Melas -- now aware of the near-tragic consequences of his blind hatred -- promises that she will get a fair trial for her crimes.
Guest Starring: Hudson Leick (Callisto), Ted Raimi (Joxer), David Te Rare (Theodorus), Ian Hughes (Melas), Kenneth McGregor (Akteon), Patricia Donovan (Old Woman), Toby Mills (Tall Man), Michael Hallows (Tall Villager), Henry Vaeoso (Fat Warrior)
Starring: Lucy Lawless as Xena, Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
Written by R.J. Stewart
Directed by T.J. Scott