The Royal Challenge (Episode)

Episode 12 of season 1 "The Royal Challenge"

TEASER

Corinth Night

Hercules and Iloaus

When Zeus reverts back to his true form, Hera appears as disembodied eyes and speaks to Zeus, telling him his continued watch over mortals and humanity makes him weak. Zeus then tells Hera, it's worth it.

Amazon Territory Night

ACT ONE

Amazon Territory Night

Corinth Night

As Sisyphus escapes through a secret passage, Queen Karis and Daphne are waiting and knock him out by hitting him in the head as Iolaus grabs him. Hercules takes Sisyphus back to Hades. Hades tells Charon to take Sisyphus to Tartarus. Hercules asks Hades a favor so that Daphne and Timuron can spend one night together. Hades agrees, but tells Hercules that he will have to borrow a body. Hercules realizes Hades mean his body. Hercules arrives at Daphne's chambers and as he is about to enter, Timuron's body splits from Hercules', leaving Timuron corporeal and Hercules in spirit form for the rest of the night.

Amazon Territory Early Morning

ACT TWO

ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

EPILOGUE

The Amazons and Centaurs hang out at the Amazon village where an uneasy peace is formed at last between the Centaurs and the Amazons. Melosa mentions that the peace wont be easy, but its a good start. Xena and Tildus shake hands and finally put there long feud in the past. Gabrielle, Ephiny and Phantes arrive and Phantes mentions Gabrielle has told alot of stories of her adventures with Xena. Eponin hands Ephiny her staff, Ephiny holds it out to Gabrielle, telling Gabrielle its hers. Gabrielle refuses to take it at first, but Ephiny tells her An Amazon Princess doesn't refuse a gift from another Amazon and she accepts it. As Xena, Gabrielle and Richard are accompanied by Amarice who, though still impetuous, wants to gain more experience of the world.

During sunset in the hills, Xena, Gabrielle, Richard, Amarice and Argo walk along. Amarice is excited about seeing the world and is happy to join her new friends, she and Richard walk off ahead. Gabrielle asks Xena if shes mad at her because she didn't tell her about the Right of Caste. Xena tells her she isn't mad, Gabrielle then tells her how great its going to be being an Amazon, as well as promises no more secrets between them. Xena moves a different way from Gabrielle following Richard and Amarice, as she continues walking talking about her next adventures coming, she eventually notices Xena walked off in another direction and runs to catch up with her.

Starring

 * Hercules
 * Xena
 * Ilaous
 * Gabrielle
 * Amarice
 * Richard
 * Zeus (disguise as a mortal, briefly true form)  
 * Hera (voice only and disembodied eyes)
 * Ares
 * Athena

Trivia

 * The Hercules story of this episode ends during Act One, and the remainder of this episode focuses on the Xena story with the Amazons. This is the first episode in the series where the Xena plot of an episode takes up the majority of the episode.
 * Zeus, Athena and Hera make cameo appearances in this episode.
 * Amarice joins Xena, Gabrielle and Richard on adventures at the conclusion of this episode.
 * Ares relationship with the Amazons is mentioned in this episode.
 * Originally the Hercules and Xena stories were both going to be split into two separate episodes, but were expanded into a 2-part arc, when both stories ran too long.