NARRATOR: Previously on Xena. XENA: The child is Hope? I never meant to lie. I want to live with you. When all this is over, you be packed and ready to go. HOPE: We'll kill what they love most. Their children. Poison'll kill her if her powers aren't mature. Xena, she is my child! She is a body, a vessel, an instrument for evil. That is all! Solan. Hurts, doesn't it? Your mom is here now. Losing your family? (SCREAMING) CALLISTO: Rips out your heart, and your guts, your feelings. Welcome to the club. Xena, if I had just done what you said... I trusted you, and you lied to me. My son is dead because of you. (SIZZLING) (MURMURING INDISTINCTLY) (WHIP CRACKS) (MAN YELLING INDISTINCTLY) Three days now. She's been undergoing the purification ritual for three days. That's crazy! Look, we have to get her out! She could be dying in there. She was dying out here. You didn't see her after the death of her child the pain she was in, the despair. When she and Xena parted, she came to us. If we leave her in there, she's gone. She's already gone. Her only chance is to work through the pain. (VOCALIZING) (VOCALIZING CONTINUES) (WHOOSHING) ARES: Nice vocal. But you sure can't dance to it. I feel your pain, okay? But how much longer before you start doing something about it? My son is dead, you soulless bastard! What can I do about that? Just goes to prove what I've been telling you all along. No good deed goes unpunished. Saving people, defending the weak, trusting someone who betrayed you. Gabrielle. This whole atonement kick you've been on lately, it's not you. You're full of fire, bending the world to your will, full of rage and revenge. Accept it, Xena. Embrace it. You know what to do, who to kill. (GASPS) You're not real. (SNIFFING) You're in my mind. What difference does it make? You came here for the truth. And the truth is that Xena made us both. She shaped our lives, changed our fates. Killed our families. No. I killed hers. Solan died because of my daughter. Because of Xena, you had a daughter. Her hatred for Caesar took you to Britannia... Yes, but... ...straight to Dahak, where she deserted you. Isn't that right? Isn't that right? Yes. And you hate her for it, don't you? For betraying you. For failing you. You hate her, don't you? Don't you? Don't you? Yes! GABRIELLE: (SCREAMS) No! Gabrielle? (ULULATING) Xena? Stop her! (YELLING) (WHINNIES) (YELLING) (ULULATING) Xena. (GROANING) Where's Gabrielle? NARRATOR: In a time of ancient gods, warlords, and kings, a land in turmoil cried out for a hero. (PEOPLE SHOUTING) (BOTH GRUNTING) She was Xena, a mighty princess forged in the heat of battle. The power, the passion, the danger. (GRUNTING) Her courage will change the world. (SIZZLING) Help! Somebody help her! (BOTH GRUNTING) (CLANKS) Joxer, run! (GRUNTS) (CHAKRAM WHIZZING) Amazons, attack! (ALL YELLING) (BOTH GRUNTING) (BOTH YELLING) (GRUNTS) (ULULATING) Xena. Go on, Gabrielle. Run. Joxer! (YELLS) (GABRIELLE GROANS) JOXER: Xena, what are you doing? (YELLING) (GRUNTS) (GROANING) (SPURRING ON HORSE) (GABRIELLE STRUGGLING) GABRIELLE: Xena! (CLANKING) (LAUGHING) (SIZZLING) (SPURRING) (SPURRING) GABRIELLE: (GROANING) No! (ULULATING) (YELLING) (GRUNTS) (SPURRING) (GROANING) (ULULATING) (GRUNTS) (WIND BLOWING) (WAVES CRASHING) (WAVES CRASHING) (SCREAMING) Vengeance! (XENA GRUNTS) (SCREAMING) I hate you! (BOTH YELLING) CALLISTO: Absorb thyself in this great sea of the waters of life. Dive deep in it until thou has lost thyself. And having lost thyself, then thou shalt find thyself again. Even as it is written, "She had her dwelling in the great sea and was a fish therein." CALLISTO: Aleph am I. From mine unfathomable will, the universe hath its beginning. In my boundless wisdom are the types and patterns of all things. (AIR WHOOSHING) (GASPS) (SINGING) Glad that you're feelin' strong Thought I might lose ya Don't use words sing a song This is Illusia! Xena, be warned Xena, beware By closing your eyes you can see what isn't there Xena, be calm Open your eyes Lies may be truth and truth may be lies All right, Callisto. Cut the song and dance. What's going on? Where are we? (SINGING) Fate is a wheel It will reveal All you've become All that you feel Destiny knows what has to be You'll pay the price Nothing is free I'll be your guide Take the hand of your muse You just might lose your way in the land of Illusia Illusia is music A world built on rhyme It's carved out of space in the absence of time You've tasted how evil and good coexist The bitter and sweet of it (SINGING) All in the lips that you kissed (SINGING) Lion and bull Eagle and snake To live or die It's a choice you've gotta make Can you undo what you create Step through the wheel Follow your fate ALL: (SINGING) The Fates have a fix on you We can play tricks on you We deal in truths you're too troubled to face Gamble the worth of you on the rebirth of you Don't turn away Don't start to fade What's still unwritten you can erase (DOOR CREAKING) (SINGING) Your villainous infamy tortures your soul Descent into evil must levy its toll The darkness that rots you has brought you to this (SINGING) Surrender serenity Suffer sweet misery Sin seeks its cursed abyss (SINGING) Oh, Xena, with death there is always rebirth (SINGING) Come see with a vision denied you on Earth (SINGING) Illusia is waiting We'll show you the way But all consequences are your own creation And there's a price you must pay ALL: (SINGING) The Fates have a fix on you We can play tricks on you We deal in truths you're too troubled to face Gamble the worth of you on the rebirth of you Now is the time This is the place What's still unwritten you can erase (LAUGHING) Illusia is music A world built on rhyme It's carved out of space in the absence of... (METAL CLANGING) All right, Callisto. You like little ditties? Fine. I got one for ya. You're acting so strangely that I hardly know ya. But still I wouldn't trust you as far as I could throw ya. (GROANS) Ow! You're wrong not to trust one that knows you so well. I never betrayed you. That was... Gabrielle. (WIND BLOWING) Gabrielle. Is she here? The one who betrayed me, is she in this land? I'm merely your guide, dear, along for a grin. You'll get no free ride here. If you want to know more, then spin. (METAL CREAKING) (WHIRRING) (WATER TRICKLING) CALLISTO: Changeless, this great deep of elemental water remaineth forever pure. Because of this, it possesseth the quality of stability. From water do all forms have their beginning. (GASPING) (PANTING) The Elysian Fields. Only heroes wind up here. Dead heroes. Dead, naked heroes. (MANDOLIN PLAYING) (SINGING) Joxer, the Mighty Master of geography Here to guide you on your way Stick with me You'll never stray And if you're in a land that's new I'm the man who'll get you through Even when you're slightly nude (GIGGLES) (GROANS) (SINGING) I'm Joxer I'm Joxer the Mighty (THUDS) (GROANS) Oh! JOXER: (SINGING) We're in Illusia So much for the Elysian Fields theory. Yeah. (BOTH SCREAM) How did you... Joxer, go away! Can't you see I'm naked? Okay, but maybe I could help you out with... Don't! (SINGING) Being naked won't excuse ya Sing to talk We're in Illusia (OWL HOOTING) (BARKING) (DOOR CREAKING) (THUDDING) WARRIORS: (CHANTING) Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena! WARRIORS: (SINGING) Praise the winds of chance that blew Xena's back where friends are true We would fight to death for you Brave Xena (GROANS) When your mighty chakram arcs Throwing fierce magnetic sparks No one ever hits their marks like Xena Famed for prowess with a sword Who's as feared as is adored You've not lived till you've been gored (WATER SPLASHING) By Xena (SINGING) You're the warrior princess who's as strong as an oak (SINGING) You've got eyes that can tear out the heart of a bloke (SINGING) With one look you can wilt a flower (SINGING) Curdle milk or make men cower WARRIORS: (SINGING) Welcome home, Xena Welcome home (ALL SMACKING LIPS) XENA: Ares. I thought as much. But why the big production number? What's the point? (SINGING) You are the most divine delicious warrior WARRIORS: (SINGING) Xena (SINGING) A man can't help saluting your return WARRIORS: (SINGING) Xena (SINGING) And if you start my heart It's just the way you slash and burn Bewitching woman straining at the armor plate WARRIORS: (SINGING) Xena (SINGING) You singe me with the ardor you inflame WARRIORS: (SINGING) Xena (SINGING) And in my carnal heart There's not a sorry shred of shame WARRIORS: (SINGING) You and me love war Doesn't matter what it's for Pandemonium reigns and we're bludgeoning brains Give us war War, war Keep it down to a roar (SINGING) Words of wisdom Ares said (SINGING) When in battle keep your head WARRIORS: (SINGING) Warriors love war War, war. Yeah! I know this place, these people. That shop. I'm home. This is Poteidaia. Hey, look. It's Gabrielle. Gabrielle, you're back. VILLAGERS: (CHANTING) Gabrielle! Gabrielle! (BELLS TOLLING) Gabrielle! VILLAGERS: (SINGING) Over the bridge of tears she's crossed And she's paid a fearful cost Her blood innocence is lost, Gabrielle Now the past has set her free And she's traveled home to be With her old friends, you and me, Gabrielle (SINGING) You've been plucked out from the heart of our lives for so long (SINGING) Now we're grateful you've come back to the place you belong (SINGING) For what ails the panacea (SINGING) Surely waits in Poteidaia VILLAGERS: (SINGING) Welcome home, Gabrielle Welcome home Lila. (LAUGHING) Sister, I can't believe it! (SINGING) Villains, fools and kings have made their mark on you Leave their easy evil in the dust If your child had lived We'd surely make her welcome too VILLAGERS: (SINGING) You and me love peace With the ducks and goats and geese Wile the hours away Baking bread Pitching hay We love peace Peace, peace Simple joys that never cease (SINGING) Nothing changes but the time VILLAGERS: (SINGING) We don't even change our mind Villagers love peace, peace, peace ARES: (SINGING) Pulverizing foes requires strategy WARRIORS: Yeah! ARES: (SINGING) There's no mortal born who meets your skill WARRIORS: Yeah! (SINGING) Xena, join my vision Don't deny your destiny WARRIORS: (SINGING) You and me love war Doesn't matter what it's for (SINGING) Chop the tree down Burn the root (SINGING) Vengeance can be such a hoot WARRIORS: (SINGING) Warriors love war War, war (SINGING) Xena was no friend She worked to twist your mind Though you tried to change her deadly ways Take this scythe It's just a case of killing to be kind VILLAGERS: (SINGING) You and me love peace With the ducks and goats and geese (SINGING) Sit and watch the world go by BOTH: (SINGING) Vegetate until you die VILLAGERS: (SINGING) Villagers love peace, peace, peace ALL: (SINGING) We love war Peace is such a lovely state War can kill you so can hate Fear! Lies! Here the simple life's a delight! Smite and smoke and pulverize Pus and gore Just you put your hand in mine Sure your future's on the line! You've a son you must avenge Know you must extract revenge You must know that when Hope died she freed you! Don't be put aside by beauty Xena you must do your duty (ALL VOCALIZING) (VOCALIZING CONTINUES) VILLAGERS: Peace! Peace! WARRIORS: War! War! Peace! Peace! War! War! War! War! War! War! Peace! Peace! Peace! Peace! War! War! War! War! Peace! Peace! Peace! Peace! (YELLS) (BOTH GRUNTING) (YELLS) (GROANING) (GRUNTS) (SINGING) You're lost and confused But I understand This once beloved friend has been slain by your hand (SWORD CLANGS) You feel all alone Betrayed and adrift But maybe her loss can be viewed as a gift (MUSIC PLAYING) Now, I'll be your rock Your strength and support Your close confidant with whom you can consort I know you completely Come melt into me Unleash the power of your destiny You've proved to yourself Now that you've made the kill That you're just like me With as evil a will Our forces are meant to be merged into one The world will be panicked When our work is done Let the music of war With its lustful refrain Arouse us to heights with a passionate strain Imagine how awesome together we'd be So feel what I'm feeling Come melt into me (SINGING) Did that fill you with glee to kill your little friend Did that ease your suffering Or bring it to an end Let go (GASPS) All of your anger will poison you yet Unless you can just let go Nothing more need be said (PANTING) Dingdong. The bitch is dead. (SIGHING) (SOBBING) I killed Gabrielle. (DOOR CREAKING) GABRIELLE: You killed me. (GASPS) By the gods, Xena. (DOOR CLOSING) You killed me. I knew you were trying before, Xena, but I didn't know... No, no. (PANTING) I didn't. It was... None of this is real. Ares and Callisto and well, Joxer. I didn't kill you. I killed an illusion. If that's supposed to make me feel better... Look, I need time to think. (WHIRRING) (CRACKLING) What is that? Us. Somehow, it's all about us. (CRACKLING) (EXPLODING) (LIGHTNING CRACKLING) (BOTH GASPING) Everything about this Illusia place has been bright and cheery. The music, the colors. But this place is dark. It's meant to scare us. What if you're wrong? You got any better ideas? You're asking me? Well, that's a first. You know, ever since we've met, you've always made the decisions. Because you always take so long to reach one! (ECHOING) Always weighing the pros and cons! (ECHOING LOUDLY) (ECHOING FADES) What's causing that? We are. Or I should say, you are. There you go again. (ECHOING) You're always blaming me for everything! (ECHOING LOUDLY) Xena, why is it never your fault? (ECHOING CONTINUES) It's the past. (ECHOING) Each time we accuse each other about the past, the echoes start and we can't hear one another. Well, how do we stop it? (ECHOING CONTINUES) Tell me how you feel right now. Nothing about the past. Right now! I hurt inside! (ECHOING STOPS) Don't you? (SINGING) My heart is hurting beyond words The pain is tearing up my soul These days have seen my spirit die My life propelled out of control My wounds lie naked to the world My depth of suffering exposed This damaged past can never heal Until this nightmare book is closed (SINGING) My heart is hurting beyond words The pain is tearing up my soul Please tell me how can I retrieve The life that all this sadness stole Because of you this happened Because you had to carry out your vengeful, little plans (SINGING) It's you who should feel guilty Because of you my child is dead His blood is on your hands (SINGING) If only you had never brought me there If only you had done what you were told It's you who's to be blamed And you should be ashamed It's your fault! No, it's yours! How could you! How could you! It's your fault! It's your fault! (EXPLODING) (GRUNTS) It's Dahak! (SCREAMING) No! No! XENA: Gabrielle? (SCREAMING) Not again! No! XENA: I'm coming. Not again! Please! XENA: Hold on tight. No! (GRUNTS) Don't let go! Hold on! Don't let go! (SCREAMING) No! No! Xena, help me! Help! (SCREAMS) (XENA AND GABRIELLE SCREAMING) (XENA AND GABRIELLE SCREAMING) (EXPLODING) (WIND HOWLS) GABRIELLE: Blood. (SOBS) No. Not here. It's Dahak. This is where it started. (SOBS) I can't. I can't. No, Gabrielle! I can't! Look. Gabrielle, think. Everything about this world has been a torment. We've been guided through it for a reason. Whatever happens, we have to go through it together. (STONE RUMBLING) (RUMBLING CONTINUES) (ROARING) MAN: (SINGING) It begins very small Seems like nothing much at all Just a germ Just a speck Just a grain But the seed has been sown And before you know it's grown It has spread through your life like a stain And its power will strangle your love and your joy And its hunger consumes for it lives to destroy Hatred, Gabrielle. That's what we're fighting, hatred. ALL: (SINGING) Hate is the star It becomes who you are Not the hated but the hater has a torment that's greater It will eat you alive (CHAINS CLANGING) Consume you and spit you out (BOTH STRUGGLING) Hate's gonna win That there's no doubt about Hate doesn't care who you are Hate is the star (XENA GRUNTS) Learning hate is an art Even people who are smart Can be caught Can be crushed Can be creamed Hate has swallowed you whole Did you think you're in control Hate you thought Hate you spoke Hate you dreamed All your hate gave me substance Your lives are undone It's your eve of destruction Your hatred has won No! Gabrielle! (GONG DINGS) (MAN LAUGHING WICKEDLY) (SINGING) I never dreamed that we'd be distanced by a hate That all the trust we had would go (SINGING) How could I hate you How could it come to pass This awful twist of fate How could I hurt you This madness can't be so I can't believe it I never dreamed that any barriers could rise Or that I'd ever see the stranger in your eyes Our hearts were hurting both the same The hurt was tearing up our souls The fury in us made us blind We could not see beyond the pain If we can turn again to love If we can heal these open wounds We'll leave this hatred far behind So not a trace of hate remains BOTH: (SINGING TOGETHER) We'll overcome our damaged past And we'll grow stronger side by side To stand together through the storms We're safe 'cause love will be our guide (EXPLODING) (SCREAMS) (EXPLODING) (EXPLODING) (CHAINS CLANKING) (MAN LAUGHING WICKEDLY) (WHIRRING) (WHEELS CREAKING) XENA: Solan. It was him. Solan. He's why we're here. It's the way out. It's gotta be. He's here to lead us home. Come on. Solan? Come on. (GASPS) (GROANS) (MAN LAUGHING WICKEDLY) Xena, quick! I can't. (LAUGHING CONTINUES) Of course you can. It's no use, Gabrielle. (GROWLING) It's Ming T'ien. (LAUGHING WICKEDLY) I killed him. I killed you, you bastard! (LAUGHING WICKEDLY) You lied? You gave me your word. You lied. (LAUGHING CONTINUES) (LAUGHING CONTINUES) (SINGING) Yes, I lied Thought I could protect you from the truth Deliver you from evil Spare your innocence and youth That I could simply will it was the real untruth I was wrong I wore a mask to cover my deceit But underneath it all I couldn't keep away my doubt Now I'm left without a mask And one question left to ask I'm sorry Please help me Forgive me Don't hate me Don't leave me Forgive me Forgive me my debt as only you could Forgive me the hate Replace evil with good Forgive me and find out that you will be able to forgive yourself too My dear Solan I never told you that you were my son I didn't know the days we had left were so few If I only knew I'd have been with you I'm so sorry I couldn't be the mother you deserved And I regret that I missed your first step Your first word that I never heard Now it seems absurd Can you forgive me Open up your heart and let me in No matter if the Fates against us turn There's one thing through all of this I've learned That what I need from you is to forgive me I'm sorry Believe me Stop hating Stop hurting Forgive me Forgive those who'd harm you Do good for those who hate Forgive if not forget I know it's not too late Forgive me and you'll discover too That the love of your love Is you No! Ah! No! No! No! SOLAN: Mother? XENA: Solan. Go on. (SIGHING) SOLAN: I love you, Mother. I love you, Solan. XENA: I'll always love you. We're home. At last. (LAUGHS) (BOTH LAUGHING)