Later that day, Xena and Gabrielle walk into the cabin, and they sit on the couch. Gabrielle snuggles up to Xena and says, "I'm so glad everything worked out."

"Cortez still has a long recovery ahead of her." Xena says. "But now, with the transplant, she will make a full recovery."

"Kira is so amazing." Gabrielle says. "To selflessly donate part of her liver to save Cortez, in my eyes, she's a hero."

Xena smiles as she kisses her forehead and says, "That she is Gabrielle."

All of a sudden, Aphrodite appears. She looks at them and says, "Hi ladies, sorry if I'm disturbing you, but I have some news."

Xena and Gabrielle stands up and Gabrielle asks, "What is it?"

"Athena is alive." Aphrodite says seriously. Xena and Gabrielle looks at Aphrodite shocked as she then says "When you two got to the warehouse and Ares had the idol, he summoned Athena's name." Aphrodite says as Xena starts to pace back and forth.

"Are there any more alive?" Gabrielle asks, confused.

"I don't know." Aphrodite says. "But Ares is blackmailing Athena."

Xena gives Aphrodite a strange look and asks, "Why?"

"To get back at you for rejecting him." Aphrodite says.

Xena and Gabrielle give her a confused look and Xena says with anger in her voice, "What! Are you serious!"

"Yes, I'm totally serious." Aphrodite says. "He first told her his version on why you two were reborn again."

"I can only imagine what he told her," Gabrielle says, annoyed.

"Then he convinced her to help him play mind games on you two. She started to have second thoughts, but then Ares threaten to get rid of her if she didn't go along with his plans."

"Why is he doing this?" Xena asks.

"I don't know. Ares told her that he wanted them to take over the world again, but I think it's about something else." Aphrodite says.

"Well I did kill her." Xena says.

And you're still not her favorite person Xena. "Aphrodite says. "I tried to convince her that Ares is only using her to get back at you."

"Did it work?" Gabrielle asks. 

"I don't know." Aphrodite says as she starts to pace back and forth. She stops in front of them and says, "She is scared right now. Ares has her convinced that if she doesn't help him take over the world, he will send her back to the spirit realm."

"Can he do that?" Gabrielle asks.

"I don't know. I don't even know if she fully has her powers again." Aphrodite says.

"If she retains her powers again, she can do some serious damage." Xena says seriously.

"That's why I have a favor to ask you two." Aphrodite says.

Xena and Gabrielle look at her strangely, and Xena says, "What kind of favor?"

"If we can get her on our side, we can take Ares down before he even decides to go full-blown on his plans to take over the world, or whatever his plan is."

"What! Hold on a sec!" Xena says, shocked. "Are you asking us to form an alliance with Athena?"

"Dite, did you forget that she had the furries mess with my head, and I almost killed Eve!" Gabrielle says angrily.

"And then I almost ended up killing Gabrielle!" Xena says.

"I didn't forget." Aphrodite says.

"She is the Goddess of Warfare Aphrodite!" Xena says.

"She's also the Goddess of Wisdom." Aphrodite says. "We need to find out what Ares's true plans are and stop him. If we get her away from him and get her on our side maybe she will use her powers for good now that she's alive again."

"You are asking us to go against everything we fought for, everything that makes parts of this world still good." Gabrielle says seriously.

"And what if she turns on us Aphrodite!" Xena says. She hasn't forgotten that I killed her and most of the Olympian Gods and Goddesses that were there at the time of the twilight!"

"Right now she's scared., I can sence it. If I convince her that the only way for her to break from Ares and switch to our side then I know she won't turn on you." Aphrodite says.

"But what if she does?" Gabrielle asks.

"If she does, then I will deal with her." Aphrodite says seriously.

"You can't take on both Ares and Athena!" Xena says. "It's suicide on your part."

"It may be just that." Aphrodite says. "But my sister is back, and if I can redeem her, I will. If I can't, then I will go down knowing that my last battle was about love."

"Aphrodite, this part of you scares me." Gabrielle proclaims.

Aphrodite smiles and says, "Most of the time, it's still all about me! This is just another side of me that's breaking through. Listen, I will give you two a day to think about this. I'm going to talk to Athena and try and convince her of my plan. I will let you know her decision." Aphrodite then disappears.
———-

The next morning Xena and Gabrielle walk out of their bedroom and Xena goes to the kitchen and starts to make coffee.

"I'm going to check my messages." Gabrielle says. "I still haven't heard anything from Racheal."

"Maybe she's busy with school." Xena says, as she puts  K-Cup in the Keurig and starts it up.

Gabrielle turns her laptop on and a message pops up from Racheal and it reads "Contact me ASAP. Mom and I need to tell you something."

Gabrielle gets a worried look on her face and says, "There's something wrong. I just got a weird PM from Racheal."

Gabrielle FaceTimes Racheal, and a video pops up with Racheal on the other end. "Hi sis." Racheal says.

"Hi Racheal, what's wrong?" Gabrielle asks with a concerned look on her face.

Racheal waves their mother over to the screen and Allyson sits next to Racheal. She stares at the screen, smiles at Gabrielle and says, "Hi Gabrielle."

Gabrielle smiles at her and says, "Hi, mom."

"Racheal and I have something to tell you." Allyson says.

Gabrielle notices that they are not at home and says in a worried tone. "Mom, why are you two at grandma and grandpa's house? Are they ok?"

"They're fine honey." Allyson says. "Yesterday, your father and I got into a huge argument. He knows all about you and Xena and your relationship. Some heated words were exchanged, and he said some things about you that made me snap at him."

"He didn't hurt you, did he?" Gabrielle asks with a worried look.

"No! But Racheal and I left and came here by your grandparents for a couple of days." Allyson says."He isn't in the right frame of mind right now."

Xena looks at a worried Gabrielle as she looks at the screen with a sad look on her face. "Hey! Listen to me. Don't blame yourself for this. You are not to blame." Allyson says, trying to reassure her. "Your father basically denied you, which I will never do. I am so proud of you, Gabrielle. You're an amazing woman, and I am so proud to call you my daughter."

"I just don't want you and dad splitting up because of me." Gabrielle says as a tear starts to roll down her face.

"No, honey! That won't happen." Allyson says. "Racheal and I are going to stay here for a couple of days and then for now, we are going to stay in the loft above my shop. We all just need to calm down right now." Gabrielle looks down at the floor then back at the screen. "Gabrielle, don't beat yourself up over this, ok." Allyson says smiling at her. "We have to go, but I just wanted to fill you in on what's going on. Now, where that beautiful smile that just brightens my world." Gabrielle smiles tenderly at Allyson and Racheal. "I love you, Gabrielle." Allyson says.

"I love you too mom." Gabrielle says.

"Talk later, sis," Racheal says. The video chat ends, and Gabrielle stairs at the screen as a she wipes away tears from her face. Xena walks over to Gabrielle and puts her hand on her shoulder. Gabrielle stands up, and they hug each other.

"Your mom is right Gabrielle, don't blame yourself for this." Xena says reassuring her.

Gabrielle looks at Xena, gives her a grin, and says, "I'm going to go to the stable and take a horse out riding. I'll be back."

"Ok." Xena says. "Hey, why don't you take Blaze out. She misses you." Gabrielle shakes her head yes then walks out of the cabin.
—————

At Ares castle, Aphrodite tells a shocked Athena her plan. Athena looks at her seriously and says, "You want me to team up with the woman that not only killed me but our siblings!"
"It's to save your life Athena!" Aphrodite says. "We have to stop Ares, and the only way he'll back down is if we all team together."

"And what if they turn on me?" Athena asks.

"They both asked me the same question about you" Aphrodite says. "Listen, you can join Ares and let him keep on blackmailing you, or you can join us, and we can save you. Your wisdom can help a lot in this world. But it's up to you if you want to be free." Aphrodite turns around and starts to walk away but she stops, turns to Athena, and says, "By the way, if you join us and turn on them, you will see a side of me that you've never seen before."

Aphrodite goes to turn around again but Athena looks at her seriously and says, "Aphrodite wait!!"

Meanwhile, at another castle in Olympus, Ares stands in front of a throne. He has a severe look on his face as he glances at someone and says, "Don't worry! We will rise again! Athena is back, and with our combined powers, we will turn the Earth back to what it was before. The people of Earth will have to bow to us again! I may have to start small, to get the right people on our side, but when it does happen, we will be the powerful force we once were, with more advance weapons. Just think, kingdoms will fall on their knees and bow to us again."

"Don't screw up!!" the voice seriously says.

Ares gets a smirk on his face, "I won't. I just need to get one person out of our way for our plan to work. Things are falling into place, and we will reign on Earth again!!"