Xena (Lucy Lawless) finds herself powerless to prevent the suffering of her greatest friend and ally, Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor). While Gabrielle faces the consequences of shedding innocent blood and taking pity on an evil deity, Xena must deal with trials of her own, including facing old nemeses Callisto and Ares, escaping the confines of physical and mental prisons, protecting her son and deciding how best to deal with her companion's unexpected offspring.