Finally the showdown is upon us, the Olympians have discovered that Eve still lives. Now reunited with their daughter, Xena & Gabrielle must face the entire Pantheon in a battle to the death.

The burning sun beats down. A figure walks through the desert. Eve. Xena and Gabrielle, protected from the sun and wind with light cloaks, watch. Xena says Eve is lost, like she was, until she found Gabrielle. Gabrielle: "Xena, I don't know if I want to help her or … she killed Joxer." Xena: "And she's lost, just as I was. But I got lucky, because I found you. Now I have to try to help her find her way. Gabrielle, I understand if you can't go through--" Gabrielle: "Xena … let's save you daughter."

The Gods hold council on Mt. Olympus. Ares gets what-for for not telling the gods sooner that Livia was really Eve. Athena asks the Furies to appear. Ares: "I gave the Furies a chance at Xena. It didn't work out." Athena: "I know. My plan is a bit more … subtle." Aphrodite: "Can't we leave the bard out of this?" Athena: "Do you have a soft spot for Gabrielle?" Aphrodite: "She's my friend." Athena: "Aw, then don't watch."

Xena and Gabrielle sense trouble. A spear or something flies at Eve; Xena tosses the chakram and stops it. A tribe of nomadic-looking men race over the sand dunes to kill Eve. Xena and Gabrielle race down a dune to protect Eve. Lots of fighting.

A guy on a horse gets a rope around Eve and drags her off. Xena whistles for Argo II, and gives chase. She stops the guy and goes to Eve. Gabrielle rides up. Xena asks Gabrielle to bring some water. Eve tells Xena she should have let the men kill her.

The Furies appear to Gabrielle. They tell her there will be no peace for Gabrielle until Eve is dead, because of the problems it will cause between her and Xena. The Furies also remind Gabrielle that Eve killed Joxer. Furies: [who can only be heard by Gabrielle] … "Xena, Eve will only break your heart. There will be no peace for you until she's dead."

Xena looks at Gabrielle and sort of realizes something isn't right but her attention is turned quickly back to her suffering daughter. "She killed Joxer. Who will her next victim be?" Xena: "We've got to get her to shelter … Gabrielle?" "She killed Joxer. Who will the next victim be?" Gabrielle: "Xena … of course." A woman appears. She asks Gabrielle if this is really Xena, the legendary defender of the faith of Eli. The woman offers her home to the threesome. They accept.

They have dinner and chat about Eli. Gabrielle says Eli told her that every living thing could be saved through love. Eve says she can't be saved. Eve: "He was wrong. How can I be saved with the things I've done?" Xena: "Eve, maybe you should listen to what they have to say about Eli." Woman: "Eli teaches that even if you've done something really bad, you can find comfort in Love." Eve: "I've wiped out entire villages just because they wouldn't pay me tribute. I've drunk the blood of men that I have tortured to death. I killed their best friend!" Xena: "Stop."

"She's gloating about killing Joxer. Are you leaving her alone with Xena? Who knows what she's capable of?" The Elijian woman tells Xena that there is a man who is devout who baptizes with water to make a new start, a ceremony that Eli had started. She calls him The Baptist. Eve, Xena, and Gabrielle go to the seashore. The man is initiating people in to the Way of Love. The man looks at Eve. He says he sees horrible suffering. He holds out his hand. Eve goes to him. As the man baptizes Eve, a blazing light shines down on Xena.

Xena: "If that's the way it must be … then I'm ready." Eve hugs Xena. The Furies come to Gabrielle. "Look at Xena. She's just setting herself up to be hurt again … You know there's no reforming Eve … She's just setting herself up to be hurt again." Poseidon's watery form appears just off shore. Further down the beach Discord, Hades, Hephaestus, Artemis and Discord appear. They begin throwing fireballs at the gals, one of which is deflected by Xena's sword and hits Poseidon who dissipates into nothingness. Discord draws her sword to attack Xena, only to be decapitated. Xena intercepts Hephaestus' axe and sends it back at him in full swing.

Olympus shakes. Athena and Ares appear. "So, you can kill gods," Athena says. Xena picks up the chains of Hephaestus, and tells the gods not to follow them. Athena: "You fools! If you'd waited for the Furies to do their work, we could have gotten through this without losing anyone." Ares: "You know, I'm just guessing, but I'm thinking Xena's gonna be pretty tough to kill." Athena: "We don't have to. Her daughter must somehow give her that power. It's Eve who has to die. And the Furies are still our best chance." Ares: "So, what we need is a distraction. Ooh, pick me."

Son of Cronos and Rhea, brother of Zeus, Hades, Hestia, Demeter and Hera, Poseidon is one of the six original Olympians. His mission is to give voice to the earth. Poseidon was commonly called the earth shaker and the earth encircler in The Iliad and The Odyssey of Homer. He pounds and shakes the earth and sea with his wrath and pleasure and answers to no one, except Zeus. His kingdom is the vast sea which he has populated with creatures of his own design. He rides the waves in a chariot drawn by dolphins but, curiously enough, his most honored creation is the horse. One story tells of some very clever mortals who devised a competition between the divine Athene, daughter of Zeus, and Poseidon, brother of Zeus. The contest would be for the two immortals to devise cunning gifts for the mortals, they, in turn, promised to show eternal gratitude to the victor. Poseidon devised the horse and Athene created the olive tree. Athens was named after the contest winner but Poseidon’s gift of the horse literally change the shape of the ancient Greek world.

Poseidon God of the Seas is dead. As one of the most interfering but also one of the most important Gods, Poseidon's demise leaves the seas virtually untamable. What will the future hold now both the Gods of the Earth and Seas have now become nothing but a note in history? Whatever the future holds for the Known World, the seas are no longer governed by the Mighty Olympian.

Sister of Ares, daughter of Zeus and Hera, the hand of Discord can be seen in every quarrel, feud and disagreement. Her eternal and unforgiving rage was the cause of fear and respect on Olympus, though despised by the Olympians they dared not confront her. She rode into battle with her brother and companion, Aries, but she was more generally known for the less deadly forms of conflict; political strife, personal contention, rivalry and wrangling.

Though short in stature, Discord was an Olympian God who was also short in temper. As Ares Godly protégé Discord was a force to be reckoned with in her own right. Unafraid to use her powers in her position of Goddess of Retribution, Discord would have undoubtedly killed Xena, Gabrielle, Eve and anyone else who threatened her position. Unfortunately for Discord, Ares neglected to teach her when to fight and when to wait for the right opportunity. By running sword raised at an angry Warrior Princess, Discord would make her last rash decision.

Hephaestus reveals how he became lame: at the climax of an undisclosed dispute, Hephaestus stood with his mother in defiance of Zeus. The Olympian, in his rage, caught Hephaestus by the foot and hurled him from the magic threshold to the earth far below. Three days later Hephaistos landed in Lemnos, broken and nearly lifeless. The goddess Thetis was partly responsible for saving the life of Hephaestus and he never forgot her kindness. She and Eurynome, mother of the Graces, had hidden Hephaistos from the wrath of his own mother after his fall. Hera was violently shamed at the sight of her lame son and would have done him further harm had not Thetis and Eurynome hidden him. He worked secretly with the two goddesses for nine years in a cave perfecting his craft before emerging to his rightful place among the Olympians. Years later, when Thetis went to Hephaestus for armor for her son, Achilleus, she was greeted by Hephaistos and his wife Charis with open arms. The armor he made for Achilleus was so bright, and obviously god-made, that the Trojans fled at the sight of such a divinely protected warrior. Those who didn’t flee were killed without mercy and stripped of their armor and their honor by the, seemingly invincible, Achilleus. Even the skill of Hephaestus cannot protect mortals from the web and weave of the Fates. Hephaestus fashioned his own mechanical helpers to assist him in his work. They are golden and in the form of living young women; strong, vocal and intelligent. He built tri-pods that move of their own accord to and from the feasts on Mount Olympus. He built the homes of all the Olympians and fitted them with clever locks that the other immortals cannot undo. With the help of his Cyclops, he hammers out lightning bolts for Zeus and all manner of subtle and gentle devices for a select few mortals.

Hephaestus is the Smith God and the husband of Aphrodite. When first seen with Hercules, he was portrayed as a shy, self-conscious and modest individual who was besotted with the goddess of love but was afraid she would reject him because of his ugliness. Since the announcement of the Twilight, he is made out to be a wicked bully who relishes the thought of killing Xena for some reason. Because of his blind quest to save his family, he meets his end in  and, as he dies, Aphrodite clutches at her heart, recognising that her husband is dead.

Gabrielle asks Xena how she can kill gods. Xena says the archangel Michael came to her as Eve was being baptized, and said Xena was chosen to be the mother of the messenger, and that as long as Eve lives, Xena can kill gods. Eve says she still doesn't know how she can live with herself, after all the things she has done. Xena says she needs to face someone she has wronged.

Gabrielle, Xena, and Eve go to Virgil. Eve unhoods herself. Virgil draws his sword and prepares to kill Eve. Xena stops him and tells him to put his sword away. Eve says she doesn't expect forgiveness. Virgil: "Good … because that's not happening." Eve: "If my death could bring your father back, I'd accept it joyfully." Virgil: "You know, my entire life I never saw my father be cruel to a man, woman, child, nor beast. He brought joy to everybody who knew him. And you … killed him." Xena: [to Eve] … "That kind of reaction comes with the territory." Gabrielle: "Where are you going?" Virgil: "My mother was mad with grief. She took my brothers and sisters to Athens to stay with some relatives. I'm going to catch up with them." Gabrielle: "I'm sorry, Virgil." … [gives him a comforting hug] Virgil: "Thank you."

Storm clouds gather. Eve thanks Gabrielle for writing her scrolls and preserving Xena for all the ages. It grows dark and starts to rain. Xena sees Ares outside, watching. Xena goes out, telling Gabrielle to watch the back. Gabrielle sees a shadow, and grabs her sais. Xena, out in the rain, yells for Ares. Inside, the ghost of (young) Joxer appears to Gabrielle. Gabrielle tells Joxer she misses him. Joxer: "Ow! Man! Materializing is not like it is in the brochure … Hi." Gabrielle: "Joxer? You … you're, um …" Joxer: "Yeah, I'm dead." Gabrielle: "I miss you Joxer." Joxer: "Then you shouldn't have let Eve kill me."

Gabrielle: [the Furies materialize and begin whispering and chanting in Gabrielle's ear] … "Joxer, I didn't let Eve kill you." Joxer: "Kill her, Gabrielle. Kill her before she kills someone else." "Good point." Gabrielle: "Hope?" Hope: "Xena's making a terrible mistake trying to save Eve -- the same mistake you made when you didn't kill me when you had your chance." Outside, Ares comes to Xena. Hope: "Only you can stop the cycle of violence. Eve must die. Xena won't kill her own daughter. You know how hard that is. Be brave, Mother … for Xena. You can do it, Mother. You must do it."

Ares: "You're not going to kill me, are you?" Xena: "Why ever not?" Ares: "Because I love you. Yeah, I love you." Hope: "You can do it. You can do it, Mother. You have to do it. You must do it … [Gabrielle reaches for one of her sais] … Do it, Mother. Kill her. Do it! Do it for Xena. I know you can. This is the decision Xena can't make. Kill her! KILL HER!"

Xena races back in the building. Gabrielle stabs Eve with her sais. Xena throws her chakram just as Gabrielle moves and the chakram hits Gabrielle in the head, slicing her head open. Xena goes to Eve, who is still alive but stabbed clean through, and then to Gabrielle, who is looking pretty dead. Ares vanishes. The Furies leave Gabrielle's head through the big hole in it. Xena says, "The Furies." She cleans Gabrielle's head wound. She cleans Eve wound. Eve asks if Gabrielle is okay.

Athena: "All you had to do was distract her. How was she able to stop Gabrielle?" Ares: "How does Xena do anything? She just does." Athena: "Alright, now we have no choice. We launch a full-scale attack."

Four gods appear in the room. Xena flips over a table to protect Eve and Gabrielle. Aphrodite pops in beside Gabrielle. Xena pulls a knife. Aphrodite says she wants to help Gabrielle. She takes Gabrielle into the other room, out of the way.

Xena protects Eve. The chakram flies around the room, whizzing and banging, firebolts fly. Eve's dress catches on fire; Xena puts it out. Hades tosses a bolt, Xena grabs a shield and deflects it but she is thrown back against the wall. Hades prepares to firebolt a defenseless Eve. Hades: "How did you think it would end?"

Xena grabs a bottle of whisky and breathes and Hades catches on fire and dies. Xena and Eve run into the other room. Xena sends Eve to Aphrodite and tells her to look after her; Aphrodite looks funny. Xena fights. She is shot in the leg with an arrow by Athena. Ares appears beside Eve. Demios charges but is cut down by Xena's chakram - Demios is killed. Athena dissappears. Xena throws her chakram and knocks the sword from Ares' hand, cutting his arm. Ares and Aphrodite both disappear.

Hades is one of the six Olympians. He and his brothers divided creation into thirds and each took a portion for their own. Hades chose, as his dominion, The Underworld.          When mortals kneel before the cold hearted Hades, he metes out somber justice and no one, once there, can ever leave his domain (except, of course, Hercules). The story of the abduction of Persephone is a touching explanation for the harshness of Winter and the sweetness of Spring. Hades was so overwhelmed by Persephone’s sweet charms that, instead of wooing her, he abducted her against her will and dragged her to The Underworld.          He and Zeus had plotted to abduct the young girl away in secret but their plans were foiled when Helios saw the evil act and told Demeter the fate of her missing child. Persephone was helpless against the wiles of Zeus and remained the unwilling captive of Hades. After several years Demeter found a way to force Zeus’ hand and free her daughter.          Demeter sat in her new temple at Eleusis and cursed the earth with famine. Seeds would not grow. Plowed fields remained empty. Zeus and the other immortals were worried that this would be the end of mortal life on earth and thus, their worshipers would die. One by one, the immortals begged her to forgive and forget but Demeter was unmoved.          Zeus sent Hermes to speak gentle words to Hades and persuade him to let Persephone return to her brooding mother. Hades was sympathetic but he was also intent on keeping his bride. He tricked Persephone into eating a pomegranate seed and by doing so she was forever bound to him. Persephone returned to the world of light to see her mother but her stay was only temporary.          Demeter was joyous when Persephone came to her temple and roused herslf from her destructive brooding. But her joy was tempered by the trickery of Hades and the honey-sweet pomegranate seed. The only one who could change Demeter’s heart was her mother. After pleas from Rhea, Demeter lifted her curse and allowed the earth to blossom and be fruitful again.          It was decreed by Zeus that Persephone would spend two thirds of the year with her mother and the remaining third with her husband, Hades. Each year when Persephone returns from the underworld, Demeter showers the earth with gentle rain and sweet breezes. Each time Persephone returns to Hades, Demeter hardens her heart and the earth is wracked with bitter cold and harsh winds.

Although it may seem that Xena was always doing favours for Hades, he has helped her out several times. Firstly, he agreed to allow Marcus to return to the world to help Xena recover the Helmet of Invisibility. He also judged Marcus a second time, allowing him entry into the Elysian Fields. Then, he gave Xena a chance to recover her stolen body from Callisto in "Intimate Stranger". Finally, he helped Xena find out where Gabrielle had gone after she 'died'. Obviously, Celesta's words of desperation about the possibility of losing her brother and Hades' compassion towards Marcus and Xena counted for nothing in the end. Xena killed him anyway.

Deimos was the nephew of Ares. Along with his twin brother Phobos they were the embodiment of Fear and Terror – well that was the plan. Deimos’ most threatening quality was possibly his irritating cackle. As one of the minor Gods Deimos should have stayed locked away in Mount Olympus this day.

Xena pulls Gabrielle and Eve from the burning building, with Eve half walking and Xena yanking Gabrielle along behind her out into the rain. Xena pulls Gabrielle to her and tells her no one is dying on her. Xena: "Neither of you is going to leave me. Gabrielle, you're the most pure thing in my life … [to Eve] … and you're my great hope. So, I'm not going to let either of you go."

Aphrodite appears. Xena asks her why she doesn't heal Gabrielle. Aphrodite says the gods can't heal without Athena's blessing, and that isn't going to happen. Xena: "Then take us to Olympus." Aphrodite: "Why?" Xena: "I want to offer them a deal." Aphrodite: "And you'll kill them if they don't accept?" Xena: "Please, Gabrielle doesn't have much time." Aphrodite: "Alright, I'll take you to Olympus."

Aphrodite agrees and takes them all to Olympus. Xena tells Aphrodite she should leave. Aphrodite strokes Gabrielle's head. "Bye, little one," she says. "Thank you," Xena says. Aphrodite leaves. "Mother," Eve says. Xena: "What is it, Eve?" Eve: "Nothing. I just wanted to say it. I've never called anybody 'mother' before." Xena: "I just wish I had seen you grow up. I bet you were a beautiful little girl." Eve: "I was. I liked spiders." Xena: "Me, too … okay, let's get you two out of here."

Ares: "Quite a load you've got there. Just … take it easy. I'm here to make you an offer." Eve: "Like she trusts anything you say, you lying bastard!" Ares: "We'll make you a god." Xena: "And what about Eve and Gabrielle?" Ares: "Gabrielle we can negotiate. But, Eve … she's our death warrant. She has to die." "You know, uh … this is the second time since you became Xena, Slayer of Gods, that we've faced off one-on-one and you haven't been able to pull the trigger … Argh!... Xena shoots Ares with a crossbow and throws the chains of Hephaestus around him. You shot me! I'm the god of War! Nobody shoots the God of War!"

She drags Eve and Gabrielle and Ares into the Great Hall of Olympus.

Athena sits on the throne. Eve falls to her knees. Xena: "I have a deal for you, Athena. You heal Eve and Gabrielle, and I'll leave you alone." Athena: "Xena wants to make a deal. I don't think that's going to be necessary."

Artemis shoots two arrows at Xena. Xena catches them and throws them back at Artemis and kills her. Xena: "You sure you don't wanna reconsider?" Athena tosses lightning bolts. Athena heads for Eve, and Xena stops her. They fight. Eve passes out. Ares moves toward Eve. Xena says heal my friends, and I'll leave you or you die now. Athena cuts Xena. Athena: "I will not be dictated to by a mortal!" Xena stabs Athena. Athena doesn't die. She doesn't feel a thing, because Eve is apparently dead and Xena's lost her god-killer powers. Athena: [Xena's sword plunges into Athena's stomach] … "I don't feel a thing, Xena. You've lost the power to kill gods." Ares reaches over and touches Eve and Gabrielle; they glow. Athena goes to kill Xena. Xena takes one final stab at Athena and this time Athena feels it. She bleeds through the wound in her stomach. She looks at Ares. She asks how he healed Eve and Gabrielle without her blessing. Ares says he gave up his immortality to save them.

"I'm sorry. But I have a thing for her," Ares says. Athena dies. Olympus shakes. Xena hugs Eve and Gabrielle. Ares watches. He looks at Athena's body. Xena looks at Ares. "Thank you," she says.

The children of Zeus and Leto, she and Apollo were born on the Island of Delos. Both are associated with the bow. Apollo is said to use the curved bow and Artemis uses the silver bow. She is one of only three who are immune to the enchantments of Aphrodite (the other two are Hestia and Athena). She is a friend to mortals, and dances through the countryside in her silver sandals giving her divine protection to the wild beasts, particularly the very young. She rides her silver chariot across the sky and shoots her arrows of silver Moonlight to the earth below. She, like the other Olympians, has favorites among the mortals but she could not protect the fine huntsman, Skamandros, from the spear of Menelaos at the battle for Troy. Unlike her brother Apollo, Artemis is not skilled in warcraft but she can punish and kill as the will of Zeus dictates.

Moon goddess, also of hunting and woodlands. Associated with fertility. She is Patron goddess of the Amazons. She is struck down by Xena (whilst on her god-killing spree) thereby leaving the Amazons without a goddess. The goddess of the hunt was ironically killed whilst stalking Xena on Mount Olympus. Having now joined the Olympian fatality list, Artemis leaves behind her twin brother Apollo the God of the Sun who wisely decided to stay out of the way of the warrior princess and her loyal army of followers - the Amazons. What will happen now to the strong, independant group of warrior women in the age of dying deities is something Gabrielle and Xena will have to deal with in the near future.

Athena Goddess of Wisdom. Her mother, Metis, was the first wife of Zeus and her name  might mean ’wisdom’. If this is true, then it would be more proper to call Athena ’The Daughter of Wisdom’ instead of ’The Goddess of Wisdom’. When Zeus saw that Metis was pregnant, he was afraid that the child, if allowed to live, would be his doom. He swallowed Metis to prevent the birth. It didn’t work. Athena sprang, fully armed and armored, from the head of Zeus but Metis was never seen again. Athena is the virgin goddess of intellect and invention. She is one of only three who can resist the charms and spells of Aphrodite. Hestia and Artemis are the other two. At the battle of Troy Athena, descended Olympus and strode between the two armies, only to inspire the Trojan, Pandaros, to a supreme act of cowardice. Pandaros, against all oaths, loosed the arrow that broke the fragile peace. The arrow injured Menelaos and the bloody war was resumed to the delight and horror of the Olympians. To avenge Aphrodite’s meddling, Athena gave Diomedes the ability to see the immortals on the battlefield and advised him to avoid them, but she suggested that if he sees Aphrodite, to attack her . Diomedes obeyed, and Aphrodite was the first immortal to be wounded on that bloody day . Athena is called the grim goddess because the snaky head of The Gorgon, Medusa is on her aegis, but Athene’s gift of the olive tree made her ’grimness’ tolerable. The city, Athens, was named in her honor. Her love and protection of Odysseus permitted the long suffering hero to finally return home to his wife and son again. She would assume the shape of men , women  and children to better serve as guide and protector of the resourceful Odysseus.

When Zeus is killed by Hercules, Athena takes command of Olympus. She believes in the prophecy that, if Xena's child is allowed to live, it will bring about the twilight of the gods. She is determined not to let this happen so she sets out to kill Xena's child. She sends her warriors to lay siege to Xena's home village but when Athena's favourite warrior, Illainus is killed, she retreats in mourning. Athena continues her fight against Xena in "Looking Death In The Eye". Believing Xena, Gabrielle and Eve to be dead, Athena continues her rule on Olympus for the next 25 years. When she finds out that Eve is still alive, she begins her campaign to end Eve's life once more. Xena then tries to reason with Athena, promising that she will spare her life if she will stop trying to kill Eve. Athena refuses and fights on, so Xena kills her.

By the sea, Eve plays with a spider. Eve tells Gabrielle she is sorry about Joxer. Gabrielle says he is at peace. Eve goes to let the spider go. Gabrielle and Xena stand beside one another. "It looks like you got your daughter back," Gabrielle says. "No, we got our daughter back," Xena says, and places a hand on Gabrielle.

And so that is it. Mount Olympus is in tatters, the Pantheon of Gods is cut in half and Ares the God of War is now mortal. Will the world miss the Gods of Olympus? Will there be anarchy in the streets now that there are no spiritual guides for everyday people to pray to? What we do know is that Xena, Gabrielle and Eve are together alive and well having conquered the almight force of the Gods. Who Was Responsible For The Twilight of the Gods? It  could be argued that it was Ares' fault for killing Eli and making him a martyr to his followers thus making the one God of Eli even more powerful. Powerful enough to decide to eradicate the Olympians from the face of the earth. Or was it the fault of the Fates - the daughters of Zeus himself foretold the Kind of the Gods his own demise. By speaking their message in riddles the Fates made Zeus believe that the baby Eve would take his place on Olympus, much like he had taken the place of his father Cronus. Had he listened to reason and stayed away from the child he would still be ruling the Earth today. It is strange to note that while each Olympian turned to active forms of violence against the Warrior and Bard after the death of Zeus, Ares became a voice of reason for Olympus for the very first time. Admittedly his efforts were for selfish reasons to start with but as time went on the War God became noble and somewhat honorable in his attempts to save the woman he loves. But even though the Ares and the Fates both contributed to the Twilight, each God sealed their own destiny. Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Athena, Artemis, Hephaestus, Discord - they all attacked Xena and Gabrielle with blind rage at what they saw as insolent mortals coming to overthrow them. Whereas the truth is that the God who gave Xena her powers would have conquered the Olympians anyway. The time for petty and cruel, self serving Gods is over and the era of Eli's One God is here. Will this devine entity be better than the previous group put together? or will He turn out to be another Dahok? Whatever the outcome may be the world is now a much more uncertain place but for Xena and Gabrielle with their daughter Eve, the world can wait awhile as they come to terms with what has become the dawning of a new world.