1. Fallen Angel

After Xena and Gabrielle's crucifixion, Joxer, Amarice and Eli recover their bodies in Rome. Elsewhere their souls are being carried toward Heaven when demons attack. Michael rescues Xena, but the demonic Callisto takes Gabrielle into Hell.

Determined to retrieve her friend, Xena becomes an archangel. Michael warns that taking away a damned soul's suffering means accepting its guilt and remaining in Hell instead. Gabrielle resists Callisto's attempts to corrupt her, but the demons eventually force her to consume their food.

Xena and the archangels arrive and free Gabrielle. Before leaving, Xena sees the whole of Callisto's pain, including the childhood loss for which she bears responsibility. She chooses to relieve it. Callisto is restored to innocence, while Xena becomes a powerful demon in her place.

Purified in Heaven, Gabrielle is furious at the exchange and distrusts Callisto's transformation. Michael explains that Xena now threatens both Heaven and the living world. To become an archangel capable of confronting her, Gabrielle must forgive Callisto. She does so and gains her wings.

Xena leads demons upward and battles Gabrielle and the other archangels. On Earth, Eli is consumed by guilt over the women's deaths. The redeemed Callisto appears to him as a guardian angel and guides him toward their bodies.

As Michael intervenes in the supernatural battle, Eli and Callisto bring Xena and Gabrielle back to life. Their souls disappear from the abyss and return to their bodies, to Joxer and Amarice's astonishment.

Callisto touches Xena, then leaves with Michael, now able to rejoin her family in Heaven. Xena and Gabrielle reach for each other as they awaken. The rescue has depended on forgiveness on both sides of their old conflict, although Xena appears disoriented by her return.