1. Sins of the Past

Xena rides through the remains of a village her army destroyed and meets a hungry boy whose parents died in the attack. Ashamed of the damage she has caused, she decides to abandon her weapons. Her attempt to walk away ends when she sees Draco's soldiers rounding up villagers. She retrieves her chakram and drives the attackers off.

The villagers fear Xena's reputation, but Gabrielle sees someone worth following. Unhappy with village life and an arranged marriage, she asks to travel with Xena. Xena refuses and heads for her childhood home in Amphipolis. Gabrielle follows anyway, talking her way past a Cyclops and finding a ride along the road.

Xena confronts Draco and asks him to leave the villagers alone. He offers to make her his partner, but she rejects him. Draco then plans to burn Amphipolis and blame the attack on her. Xena learns the plan from his lieutenant Hector and tries to warn her mother, Cyrene. Neither Cyrene nor the townspeople trust her. When the attacks begin, a crowd turns against Xena until Gabrielle persuades them to let her go.

At her brother's tomb, Xena admits how lonely she has become and how difficult it is to start again when everyone remembers her crimes. Gabrielle tells her that she is no longer alone. Xena returns to defend Amphipolis and challenges Draco to a fight above the floor of the meeting hall. With help from Gabrielle, she wins, but chooses to spare him in exchange for his promise to leave without harming anyone. Draco honors the agreement and kills Gar when his own man tries to attack Xena.

Cyrene finally embraces her daughter and accepts her apology. Xena refuses the villagers' offered reward and leaves to continue making amends. That night Gabrielle finds her camp again. This time Xena lets her stay, beginning the partnership that neither expected.