The Quest

While taking Xena's body back to Amphipolis, Gabrielle is greeted by her Amazon tribe. They take Gabrielle and the casket to their home, where she decides to stay and to commit Xena to an Amazon funeral. However, the new Amazon regent – Velasca – wants Gabrielle to surrender the Rite of Caste and offically make her the new queen. Naturally, she doesn't take Gabrielle's refusal well. Meanwhile, Autolycus steals the Dagger of Helios, but has no idea why. It turns out that Xena's spirit has possessed him and has a plan to return to life. Problem is, time is running out, especially with the Amazons set to cremate her body.

Summary
A grief-stricken Gabrielle is on her way back to Amphipolis with Xena's casket when she is ambushed by several club-wielding thugs, who attempt to steal Xena's body and claim it as their own trophy. She drives them off with some help from Iolaus, who was passing through the area. After comforting Gabrielle about her loss, Iolaus leaves to deliver the sad news to Hercules. As she presses on, Gabrielle is suddenly surrounded by several Amazons, who drop down from the trees on ropes. As they remove their masks, she is happy to see the smiling face of her close friend Ephiny. When Gabrielle asks to talk to Queen Melosa, Ephiny informs her that Melosa was challenged and killed in combat by her adopted daughter Velasca, who steps forward to introduce herself as the new Amazon Queen, at least for the time being. Clearly no fan of Velasca's, Ephiny is delighted about the arrival of Gabrielle, who it turns out is legally entitled to become the new Queen having inherited Terreis' right of cast. Surprised by the situation, Gabrielle decides to go back to the village with Ephiny to think things through.

In a clever plan to reclaim her body, Xena's spirit invades the body and mind of Autolycus, the king of thieves, as he pulls off an ingenious theft of the precious dagger of Helios. After fleeing with the dagger and a small wooden book, Autolycus is stunned to hear Xena's voice inside his head, asking him to steal her dead body from the Amazon village. She explains that in order to reunite with her body, she needs Ambrosia, the food of the gods. Revealing that the map contained in the wooden book he has stolen will show him the way, she tells him that the dagger is the key to finding the precious substance. Meanwhile, as Gabrielle visits with Ephiny, she learns that the cold-hearted Velasca, who is the late Queen's adopted daughter, wants to reclaim Centaur lands which would inevitably provoke a war. Ephiny pleads with Gabrielle to assume her rightful position as Queen and offers to give Xena a proper Amazon funeral, after which Gabrielle can take Xena's ashes to Amphopolis like she promised. Gabrielle finally agrees after the power-hungry Velasca approaches her directly, urging her to step aside.

As preparations for the coronation get under way, Autolycus, still possessed by Xena, sneaks into the village disguised as an Amazon. The ceremony soon begins and despite Velasca's attempt to halt the ritual, Gabrielle dons the Mask of the New Queen. Meanwhile, Autolycus breaks into the hut containing Xena's body, only to be surprised by Gabrielle and several armed Amazons. Recognizing the king of thieves, Gabrielle assumes that he's come to steal Xena's body for profit, despite his protestations. When Xena's casket is loaded onto the funeral pyre lit with flaming arrows, a panicky Autolycus, propelled by Xena, flips through the air, lands on the coffin, and begins patting out the flames. Quickly attacked by the Amazons, he fights in true Xena-esqe fashion, using her chakram to full advantage. Realizing that Xena has somehow possessed the body of Autolycus, an astonished Gabrielle jumps onto the coffin as Autolycus, who has flipped up onto Argo's back, lashes his saddle whip around the coffin's handle. The two gallop out of the village, dragging the casket with them. When Ephiny refuses Velasca's order to round up a party to pursue them, Velasca throws her in jail.

Meanwhile, Autolycus, serving as the channeler for the warrior princess, brings about a heartfelt reunion between Xena and Gabrielle. Xena confesses that guilt about her evil past made her lose her will to live, but she has come to realize that her destiny is to continue to fight for good. Gabrielle and Autolycus set out to find the Ambrosia after hiding Xena's casket in the river. Upon arriving at Ambrosia Hall, they look up to see a hole in the shape of the dagger of Helios in the center of the ceiling, surrounded by hanging vines. But before they can reach it, Velasca and her Amazons charge in and take them prisoner. While torturing Autolycus, Velasca finds the dagger and, realizing it's the key to the Ambrosia, hurries to Ambrosia Hall. Autolycus frees himself and his comrades with a makeshift lockpick and while Ephiny is retrieving Xena's casket, her companions race to the Hall. There they find Velasca, who is thrilled that she's about to become a god, climbing up the vines towards the ceiling. Xena, now in the body of Gabrielle, and Velasca engage in a feverish battle, fighting each other while clinging to the vines. As Ephiny arrives with Xena's body, Velasca manages to reach the ceiling and places the dagger inside the hole. An enclosure instantly opens, revealing the Ambrosia. Velasca grabs it, but loses her hold and the Ambrosia tumbles into the pit of bubbling lava below, hitting Gabrielle in the chest on the way down. Wresting the dagger away from Velasca, Gabrielle sends the Amazon crashing down onto one of the spikes surrounding the pit. Quickly placing the residue of Ambrosia left on her chest on Xena's lips, Gabrielle is overjoyed when her friend awakens at last. Later, Xena thanks Autolycus for helping save her life by promising him a favor.

Disclaimer

 * Xena's body was not harmed during the production of this motion picture. However, it took weeks for Autolycus to get his swagger back.

Background Information

 * This episode was produced to give Lucy Lawless time to recover from a pelvis injury she suffered from during a Tonight Show appearance and to keep production of the series going in the meantime.
 * The plot was inspired by All of Me.
 * According to Michael Levine, ten minutes of footage had to be cut.
 * Autolycus' "Hey, I paid for an hour" line to Velasca was originally an ad-lib.
 * At the end of the episode, Autolycus decides to take Xena up on her offer of her owing him a favor. He collects on this favor in "Vanishing Act".
 * Because of "Encounter" (which premiered the same night), Iolaus' presence suggests Ceryneia is nearby.

Memorable Quotations
"Ah, another day, another defilement."
 * –Autolycus

"Well, I'm just giving you your chance to thank me." "I thought I already did, but if you need to hear it again, then thank you for helping to bring me back. If you ever need a favor, it's yours." "Bringing you back? Oh, ho! No, no, no. I let you experience what it's like to be Autolycus. You were in there. You were controlling my bodily functions. That's not something I do for everyone." "No, you don't often let people see who you really are, either. I was in there. I know. Despite all your bluster and bravado, Autolycus, you're a nice person. I knew I could trust you. I always will." "Yes, well, yes, there you have it. Thank you. Uh, but if it's all the same, I think I'll keep that favor thing in mind. It might just come in handy one day for the King of Thieves."
 * –Autolycus and Xena

Guest Stars

 * Bruce Campbell as Autolycus
 * Melinda Clarke as Velasca
 * Danielle Cormack as Ephiny
 * Michael Hurst as Iolaus

Other Cast

 * Jodie Dorday as Solari
 * Alexander Tant as Xenan [scenes deleted]
 * Kirstie O'Sullivan as Woman
 * Christian Hodge as Man
 * David Fitchew as Vendor
 * Michael Dwyer as Ruffian #1