The Journey Begins

Summary
Teaser

Three men are running along the riverside, one of them stops to take a drink from the river. As he stoops down to quench his thirst a female figure composed of water rises out of the river and pulls him under, drowning him, the other two men run on. The two men finally find Hercules and Iolaus fighting some men in a tavern after they threaten the owner and his wife. After the fight they both hear the men's pleads who tells them that there sister has been captured by the gods. The pair head off and reach a cave, inside they find the young girl chained to a wall, as they both attempt to free her, three worshipers of the gods arrives, and Iolaus is knocked out. Hercules manages to defend himself against them, when suddenly Zeus appears. He begs him to stop, telling him that Hera wants her dead. Hercules tells Zeus, that hes going to free her. Zeus tells Hercules that if he did that he would be in big trouble with Hera, but Hercules doesn't care. Hercules unchains the young girl and she is reunited with her brothers.

Hercules and Iolaus head home while joking about fighting again--Iolaus thinks he enjoyed it while the Hercules denies that. Hercules arrives at home, and as he enters his bedroom, he sees Deianeira sleeping in their bed, but all of a sudden as he enters further, a huge fireball comes and strikes Deianeira while she sleeps, leaving only charred covers. Hercules is shocked, and immediately runs to the children's room, but he is too late as the moment he comes within sight, they too are struck by a fireball. He hears an evil laughter outside, and rushes outside to see the fireball rising into the sky. Knowing the source he swears a lifetime vengeance on Hera.

Act One
Amphpolis 10 Years Ago

In Amphpolis a 17-year old Xena and a group of young men storm out of the barn, swords in their hands. Xena launches into an early version of her trademarked war cry. Another group of men, the very young and the elder, swarm out of the houses. Among them is Lyceus. Cortese's warriors are waiting for them, masks on their faces, standing erectly, weapons clinched. The young men are outnumbered and out-skilled, but they bravely run forward to meet their enemy. One boy clumsily drops his sword and is gutted. Another boy sees him fall and shouts. Xena overpowers a warrior and stands above him, her sword at his throat. He looks frightened. She looks like she is enjoying the moment. She uses the tip of her blade to remove his mask. She slides her sword back to his throat when suddenly she hears a cry. With her sword still at the warrior's throat she turns around. A shower of arrows pours down at the villagers. A few villagers fall down, while many of the others run for cover. Xena looks back at the battlefield and notices Lyceus crumpled on the ground. Xena runs through the shower of arrows to Lyceus. She lifts him onto her back and carries him to the closest barn. Xena enters the barn and lays Lyceus down and Lyceus's eyes are closed. Xena screams, and outside Cortez is watching Xena and smiles.

Present Day

Arcadia Hercules, Xena and Iolaus

Xena walks along with a bucket on her shoulder. She's wearing a red dress and humming. Xena moves over to a well. A men talk about Xena and attempt to attack her. They attack her and a fight ensues, Xena beats them all. Xena them calls them all Pathetic, and tells them all they can't learn to fight better than that, and they are never going to defeat Hercules. Xena pleads she wants him dead.

Hercules is building a wall at his mother's house. Alcmene tells Hercules, he's working too hard. The two talk about Iolaus.

Xena meets Iolaus on the road.

more to be added...

Potedia Gabrielle and Richard A young girl named Gabrielle, who is 18-years old is talking to her sister Lila. Gabrielle volunteers to get water from a nearby well outside of town, Lila worried asks if she will be okay, especially after the tragic event that happened to her when she was 15 years old. Gabrielle tells Lila she doesn't remember it, but promises to be safe.

Over in the forests, Richard a 21-year old, young wannabee warrior, is putting the finishing touches to his sword, when hes attacked by Barbarians, elsewhere not far from the fight, Gabrielle is fetching water from a well when Richard looses his necklace, he rushing into the distance to take on the last man and defeats him. Richard returns to gather his things, and finds Gabrielle watching him. Richard asks her what shes doing there, Gabrielle tells Richard she watched him fighting those Barbarians before, and hands his necklace back to him. She tells him her name is Gabrielle. Richard asks why shes here, and tells him she wants to be a real hero one day. Richard tells her hes no hero. Richard offers to help her back to her village, with her buckets of water. As the pair head off, two more Barbarians show up, and Richard and Gabrielle are forced to flee into the forest to get away.

Mt Olympus  On Mt. Olympus Hera is sitting in her throne, and is approached by both Athena and Aphrodite who are concerned about Ares involvement in a certain warrior princess named Xena. Hera isn't concern because she knows that her stepson Hercules may finally be stopped by her, and when Aphrodite asks if immortality is forever, and ponders if there's an end, Hera tells her not to worry. Zeus appears and informs them that he took care of a certain event many years ago, and that there will be no end to the gods.

Later, Athena talks to Ares in the main hall of Mt. Olympus and asks him why he is so interested in Xena and has been training her for years. Ares asks Athena, that she herself saw something in her ever since she vowed to protect Amphpolis many years ago following the death of Xena's brother.

Act Two

Arcadia Hercules, Xena and Iolaus

Potedia Gabrielle and Richard

Mt Olympus 

Act Three

Arcadia Hercules, Xena and Iolaus

Act Four

Arcadia Hercules, Xena and Iolaus

Potedia Gabrielle and Richard Richard leads Gabrielle home to Potedia, and Gabrielle thanks Richard for saving her. Gabrielle asks Richard how long he has been traveling on his own, Richard replies that he is yet to find a suitable traveling companion, and that he hopes one day a hero out there would be willing to guide him. Gabrielle tells Richard she hopes to see him again some day. Richard tells her that he hopes so, before the pair part ways. Gabrielle arrives in Potedia and is reunited with her sister Lila, who is overjoyed that she is safe.

Epilogue 

Arcadia Hercules, Xena and Iolaus

rest to be added

Starring

 * Hercules
 * Xena
 * Iolaus
 * Gabrielle
 * Richard
 * Ares
 * Athena

Recurring

 * Hera
 * Zeus
 * Aphrodite
 * Darphus
 * Lila
 * Cortez

General

 * This is the first episode of The Legendary Journeys.
 * This episode marks the first appearances of Hercules, Xena, Iolaus, Ares, Athena, Aphrodite, Zeus, Hera, Darphus, Richard, Gabrielle and Lila in the series.
 * Hercules, Xena and Iolaus all meet for the first time in this episode, whereas both Richard and Gabrielle have separate storylines until the fourth episode.
 * The Journey Begins follows three separate stories in the pilot episode;
 * Hercules and Iolaus meet Xena and get involved in her conquest to take down a village.
 * Gabrielle meets Richard not far from her home village, and the pair face off against a hydra.
 * The gods on Mt. Olympus Zeus, Hera, Athena and Aphrodite question there immortality, and Ares later recalls an event from his past with Xena.

Continuity

 * The opening flashback featuring the death of Hercules wife and children by Hera, is further explored in a later episode titled The Other Side.
 * The opening flashback featuring the death of Xena's brother and the attack by Cortez on her home village Amphpolis is further explored in the season 1 final The Battle of Amphpolis.