As Joxer (Ted Raimi) places flowers on Gabrielle's (Renee O'Connor) memorial at Dahak's shrine, Xena (Lucy Lawless), convinced that her friend is still alive, pulls herself out of the abyss. She tells Joxer she had a vision about Gabrielle and believes she must have gone home to her family in Poteidaia. Xena then takes off for Gabrielle's village with Joxer right behind her. When they arrive, Xena spots Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) and the two reunite with a tearful embrace. As Gabrielle explains how she survived the fall and eventually made her way back home, Joxer suddenly comes running up to them. A group of villagers has gathered around the remains of a shepherd. Everyone believes a rogue bear is responsible, but Xena knows otherwise. Later that evening, after getting a cold reception from Gabrielle's family, Xena and Gabrielle go out to the barn to wait for the beast responsible for the carnage. Around dawn, the monstrous creature bursts out of the darkness. A fierce battle ensues and Xena manages to escape the beast by blinding it with the light from a lantern. She and Gabrielle run back to the family house with the monster close behind. But when the sun rises, the monster retreats. A bloodied and battered Xena realizes that she's just faced Dahak's grandchild, The Destroyer. She tells Joxer that Gabrielle really isn't Gabrielle -- it's Hope (Renee O'Connor)!
Naturally, Joxer doesn't want to believe Xena. But Xena explains that when the monster did not attack Hope in the barn, she realized Hope's true identity. Later that day, Gabrielle's sister Lila (Willa O'Neill) tells Hope that Xena wounded the creature. Concerned for her son, Hope sets off for the creature's lair, bringing the unwitting Lila with her. Xena follows and soon catches up with the pair. When Hope sees Xena, she creates a distraction, forcing Xena to stay with Lila. Xena sends Lila home and continues after Hope, when she comes across the real Gabrielle. Hope arrives at The Destroyer's lair and finds him unscathed. She realizes that Xena is onto her. Meanwhile, as Xena and Gabrielle reunite, they devise a plan to destroy Hope and her evil son. Xena finds the creature and lures him to town. Xena runs into the barn with the Destoyer right behind her as Gabrielle enters with open arms. Thinking that Gabrielle is Hope, the monster embraces her as Xena thrusts her sword into his chest. Suddenly, Hope bursts through the door and finds her son mortally wounded. Thinking that his mother betrayed him, The Destroyer seizes Hope, plunging his deadly quills deep into her chest. Mother and son slump to the floor in a deadly embrace.
Guest Starring: Ted Raimi (Joxer), Willa O'Neill (Lila), Geoff Snell (Herodotus), Lisa Crittenden (Hecuba), John Smith (Shepard), Nancy Howie (Girl #1), Alexandra Hoskins-Smith (Girl #2), Mark Viniello (The Destroyer)
Starring: Lucy Lawless as Xena, Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle & Hope
Teleplay by Chris Manheim
Story by Liz Friedman & Chris Manheim
Directed by Doug Lefler