"If the world thinks it knows death and destruction... Wait 'till they get a load of me" Ares

After the apparent death of Gabrielle, the Warrior Princess wandered the world heartbroken. Even in her fragile state Ares would not be deterred in his quest to claim Xena as his Warrior Queen. And so, under the guise of trying to help Xena find Gabrielle once more, Ares proposes to her. Xena - fearful that Ares would only bring Gabrielle back to kill her again - refuses the marriage proposal, knocking Ares flat on his back. However after finding no other ways in getting to Gabrielle, Xena accepts Ares' proposal requesting that the ceremony take place at the site of Gabrielle's death. When it comes time for Xena to say "I do," she bolts towards the lava pit and jumps. Ares follows her off the cliff and appears beneath her, catching her. In the woods, Xena explains to Ares that she suddenly realized that he had to have saved Gabrielle's life when she and Hope fell into the pit in order to use it later as a bargaining chip.

Angry that Xena has figured out his scheme, Ares offers a new deal in which he will spare Gabrielle's life in exchange for Xena's afterlife. Agreeing, a scroll appears in Ares hand which Xena signs. Placing the scroll in his pocket, he tells her that he has released Gabrielle. Xena kisses him, secretly lifting the scroll in the process, and takes off in search of her friend.

Why would Ares propose marriage to Xena? Maybe it would some way obligate her to run his army and take over the world in his name. But surely Ares knew that this wouldn't work on a woman as strong as Xena. Why did Ares want possession of Xena's soul? Surely Xena can't run his army or be his warrior queen in the afterlife. Maybe we're looking at Ares' intentions wrong - maybe Ares isn't interested in marrying Xena for her fighting skills and world domination. Could it be for, dare i say it, Love?

In Chakram, Xena has lost her darkside leaving her as innocent as a child. Inexplicably - Ares is still drawn to Xena and it's nothing to do with her battle prowess. The God of War is drawn to Xena the woman. Yes, he's been lustful towards her before but that was always when she could fight back. Later, when Xena regains her darkside, Ares once again sees the power of the warrior princess and knows that the place he was hoping to be is filled by Gabrielle. Ares wants Xena to need him like she needs Gabrielle, wants her to be devoted to him in everyway. He's tried separating the two and they always find their way back to one another. For now though Ares is satisfied that everytime Xena picks up a sword it is another chance that her darkside will lead her back to his side.

Ares is in bed with a female warrior named Mavican who believes she is worthy of being Ares' successor. He tells her he has high standards and that she is not the one so she can forget it. He moves towards the door and she throws a sword at him. He tells her he has stuff to do and that she had better not be there when he returns.

Xena is fighting bandits and she excludes Gabrielle who is annoyed about this. She goes to fill some waterskins at a well in a nearby temple. Ares arrives and tells Gabrielle he understands how she feels. Xena is too protective of her and does not appear to appreciate her fighting skills. He comments that Gabrielle is getting pretty good with her sais. She bends down to put them back in her boots but when she stands up he has gone.

Gabrielle gets ready to go. Mavican arrives and pierces both the waterskins. She wants to know where Xena is so she can kill her. She attacks Gabrielle and Xena arrives, asking what she wants. Mavican tells Xena she is her successor and that she by killing her she will prove to Ares she is good enough. They fight but Ares arrives and breaks up the fight. He sets up a contest between Mavican and Xena but Xena says she is not interested. Ares tells her she has no choice. He also sets the rules, saying that Xena cannot kill Mavican but Gabrielle can. Furthermore, if Mavican wins, she will be released but if Xena wins she has to stay. He opens up a portal and Mavican goes through. He then creates a whirlwind which drags Gabrielle through so that Xena has no choice but to follow.

In this world, Ares has fused the bodies together so they are as one person - Xena appears in the daytime and Gabrielle at night. Ares appears. He tells Xena that in order for Xena to remain focused, he needed to put Gabrielle out of the picture. However, if Xena dies then Gabrielle dies too. He tells her that he needs to see if someone else has Xena's fire. She tells him he is wasting his time with her; she is not coming back to him. He tells her he should not have ignored someone for so long. Xena thinks he means Mavican but he is talking about Gabrielle. He wants to see if she is capable of killing Mavican. Only then will he know that she is ready. Xena is watching Gabrielle and wills her to find the message she has left for her. Gabrielle finds the message which warns her not to kill Mavican. Xena says that is what Ares wants her to do but she doesn't know why. Ares offers to make Gabrielle his successor, telling her that she is someone who knows when to fight and when not to. Gabrielle listens and then asks what will happen to Xena. Ares tells her that Xena will be able to go home and live in peace, safe in the knowledge that Gabrielle is in charge. He offers Gabrielle one of her sais.

Mavican arrives at the cave and she and Gabrielle fight. Gabrielle wins but does not kill Mavican, even though she has the opportunity to do so. Mavican gets away from her and attacks Gabrielle again. It is now dark, however, so Gabrielle changes into Xena. She and Mavican fight on vines above a deep hole and Xena shakes them, trying to make Mavican lose her grip. Mavican is afraid and calls out to Ares for his help. At this request, Xena is allowed to go free. The portal opens and Xena goes through it. Ares turns his back on Mavican, leaving her dangling on the vines. Xena and Gabrielle are returned to their own world. Ares concedes that they have won. Xena tells him they have both won. Ares tells Gabrielle his offer is still open. Xena tells Gabrielle she will show more trust in Gabrielle in the future and Gabrielle says this means a lot to her. Ares leaves defeated once more.

As selfish and self-centered as Ares is, and always has been, Xena remains his one true weakness. Since Xena's emancipation from him, he has never let her out of his sight. It has always been Ares hope that Xena would rejoin him to become the Warrior Queen he so wants her to be. Even in her quest for redemption, Ares is still fascinated and captivated by the Warrior Princess and will take any opportunity to be with her.. even if it means siding with her against the Olympians. When it is discovered that Xena is pregnant, Ares (of course) offers his services to be the father. He even induces Xena’s dreams to make her fantasise about him.

Later, as Xena and Gabrielle are trying to escape the wrath of the Olympian Gods, Ares appears to Xena and offers to look after her child.

Ares: "Xena, I want to protect your unborn child from the other gods." Xena: "Why would you want to do that?" Ares: "Well, I've had a falling out with Dad, and as you know, I've always had a thing for you." Xena: "For me and my friend."

Ares: "I have feelings for you, okay? I care about you, damn it! I see your face everywhere." Xena: "Stop it! You stop it! You're so desperate you're trying to convince me you love me? Well, go on, say it ... say it ... say you love me ... the time for you and me has been and gone." Ares: "Well, it was worth a shot. I thought in your present condition you might be a little more gullible." Xena: "I am pregnant, not brain damaged."

Ares: "... I love you, Xena."

Since the birth of Eve, Xena's daughter, Ares has expressed his desire to be with Xena at all costs. Knowing the god of war the way she does, Xena disregards Ares as having ulterior motives. She is forced, however, to reconsider the veracity of Ares proclamations of love when he continually passes up opportunities to destroy Eve, whose birth was to signify the Twilight of the Olympians. Even going as far as saving the lives of Gabrielle and Eve.

However, it would be Ares' constant obsession with Xena that would lead to his own downfall. In 'Final Options' Ares steals the Chakram - a weapon given to her by Ares - and tries to create the ultimate weapon of evil by separating the light and dark chakrams again. This act would be the final straw. As soon as Xena and Gabrielle restored Ares' Godhood he became the sleazy war crazed God he always was. Realizing they can never be at peace in their relationship together as long as Ares reigns on Mount Olympus, the duo plan to be rid of him forever.

Knowing the havoc that can happen when the world is without the God of War, Xena knows she cannot simply try to dethrone Ares. It is then discovered that Gabrielle knows of the ideal way to remove Ares from the pair's life but keep him as God of War. When in Egypt, Gabrielle read some scrolls and learned about the 'Eye of Hephaestus'  which was used by Zeus as a sort of leash to keep tabs on his offspring. In their final battle with Ares God of War, it would be Gabrielle who would strike the Eye of Hephaestus with the Chakram and entomb him for thousands of years.

Now, with their main antagonist gone, Xena & Gabrielle could continue their journeys together knowing that not even a God could separate them.