The warrior archangels Michael and Raphael, convinced that Xena will never be consigned to Hell voluntarily, are discussing what to do when they are interrupted by a handsome, cocky and extremely ambitious archangel. He brags that he will toss Xena into Hell and personally head up the troop of angels that will keep her there. He appears at Cyrene's tavern just as Gabrielle and Eve are inspecting the smoldering Hell mouth and tells them that the portal won't close until Xena descends into the underworld as heir to Mephistopheles' throne. Meanwhile, a young girl, Aliyah, offers her services to a strangely irritable Xena. As she thanks the warrior princess for helping the people of Amphipolis, Gabrielle and Eve approach with the handsome archangel, who grabs Xena and drags her towards the Hell mouth. As Xena frees herself and tackles him, he introduces himself as Lucifer. Xena is about to stab him when Eve reminds her she can't kill a "servant of God." Oddly, Xena helps him up and escorts him away like they're old buddies. A troubled Eve tells Gabrielle that a cancerous evil has taken root in Xena's heart and is destroying her soul. Back at Cyrene's tavern, Gabrielle and Eve warn Xena about the evil that is overtaking her. With a mischievous smile, Xena reveals that she plans to turn Lucifer into the King of Hell by showing him how much he'll like the dark side. To set the trap, she arranges a romantic picnic with Lucifer during which she shamelessly flirts with him. Appealing to his vanity and lust for power, Xena suggests that he stay on Earth to rule with her. Meanwhile, throngs of newly arrived men and women are entering the gates of Amphipolis when Eve, Gabrielle and Aliyah notice a mob encircling two fighters. Gabrielle races over to intervene and is shocked when she sees Virgil kicking an injured and helpless young man. Eve quickly realizes that Virgil and the others in the bloodthirsty mob are gradually being contaminated by evil. She tells Gabrielle that the Hell mouth is a magnet, drawing people to Amphipolis and feeding their dark sides to create Hell on Earth. That night, Lucifer conceals a dagger under Xena's bed before Xena begins to seduce him. As things heat up, Lucifer grabs the dagger but is stunned when Xena, having anticipated his tricks, swiftly disarms him and puts the knife to his throat. When Xena releases him, he storms out. Meanwhile, Virgil, whose heart is growing ever darker, insists that Eve and Gabrielle take him to Xena so he can pledge himself to her mission. Eve is hanging an Elijian banner in the temple when a rowdy mob led by Virgil enters carrying Xena on their shoulders. She announces they've come to give Lucifer a huge farewell bash. When Eve objects, Gabrielle, whose own heart is beginning to blacken, knocks her unconscious. A riotous celebration gets underway. Xena and Lucifer are hoisted above the drunken revelers, who cheer as Xena pours glittering gold oil over them. Lucifer is soon blind with lust and just as he and Xena are about to make love, Michael and Raphael burst in with their squadron of warrior angels. An intense battle ensues between Xena, Gabrielle, Virgil and the archangels and Xena is ultimately forced to the brink of the Hell mouth by Michael and Raphael. Lucifer suddenly switches sides and lunges at Xena, but she wins him back with her powers of persuasion and the two emerge from the battle unscathed. Back at Cyrene's tavern, a jealous Gabrielle scolds Xena for not throwing Lucifer into the portal. As Lucifer enters the room, Xena explains that by keeping Hell's throne empty, she and Lucifer will ensure that the portal will burst, merging the kingdoms of Hell and Earth which they will rule together. Convinced Xena needs her help, Eve reaches out and touches her mother's blackened heart, breaking up some of the darkness there. Xena recoils and later orders Lucifer to kill Eve. Eve runs for her life, hotly pursued by Xena and Lucifer. She reaches the temple where she is surprised to find Virgil. Ready to resort to violence, she eyes two swords on the wall but is grabbed by Gabrielle as Xena arrives. Eve sends Gabrielle flying and manages to get hold of the swords, but Lucifer charges her and knocks one away. Just as he is about to strike, Xena, to everyone's surprise, intervenes and disarms him. When Xena admits to having tricked him, Lucifer is consumed by wrath and his heart blackens completely, causing him to morph into a hideous demon. Xena hurls her chakram, knocking over oil from an urn and several candles to ignite a wall of fire. As the portal of Hell rushes towards them, Xena kicks the burning Lucifer into the bottomless pit. DISCLAIMER All Hell broke loose during the filming of this motion picture.