Hercules is being carried through the sky by Hera's Phoenix. After managing to survive a bumpy ride, he lands safely in a wagon of hay back at Cheiron's academy. Strife decides he needs another way to get even with his half-brother. The god decides to go after his best friend, Iolaus. As the cadet Nysus, the god frames Iolaus for stealing a large amount of dinars from Kora's inn to pay his late tuition. After suspecting “Nysus” is the real culprit, Jason and Hercules stage a conversation while “Nysus” is nearby. They discuss leaving dinars at the inn so Kora thinks she just misplaced them.
When Strife goes to Kora's inn to snatch the dinars he thinks are there, instead he runs into Hercules. “Nysus” finally reveals himself to be Strife. The two engage in an epic battle. Hercules wins. Iolaus' name is cleared when Constable Tarsus is informed about Strife's plot to frame the cadet. Later, Hercules tells Jason that he's going to take the chalice they took from the Phoenix's cave to his father, Zeus.
Starring: Ryan Gosling (Hercules), Dean O'Gorman (Iolaus), Chris Conrad (Jason)
Guest Starring: Kevin Smith (Ares), Joel Tobeck (Strife), Angela Dotchin (Kora), Michael Daly (Tarsus), Ross Duncan (Fiducius), John Steemson (Leonidas)
Teleplay by Mark Edens
Story by Rob Tapert & Liz Friedman
Directed by Chris Graves