Ma'el left the safety of his laboratory in the hidden cave. He graciously walked through the forest to the glowing hearth in the distance. When he reached it, he sat beside the warm glow of the fire. He listened as the warrior princess sharpened her sword.

"Ssssssssssssssssla, Sssssssssssssssssla, Ssssssssssssssssla…" She looked up at him and smiled, "Hello Ma'el. Gabriel and I were hoping you'd visit us again tonight."

Ma'el nodded.

"Have you received word from your people? Are they coming for you?" The strawberry blond asked.

Ma'el saddened, "It is what I have come forward to share with you this evening. Indeed I will be leaving this beautiful planet. My people have just discovered a new way of traveling that will make my journey home much swifter than I had hoped."

Xena put down her sword, and looked up at him, "What about us? Will Da'an send more of your people and more of this 'technology' you've warned us about?"

Ma'el nodded, "Yes. As I have told you many times, Gabrielle, Da'an is ruthless."

Gabrielle said, "There must be a way to stop him. I can't believe that all those different species have to die. I wish there were more Taelons like you."

"It may not be the fate of this world, Gabrielle," Ma'el said brushing back her hair from her face.

"But you said yourself that the Taelons would only bring destruction to us."

"Not if I can help it," Xena said, resuming her sword sharpening. "I don't care what type of 'technology' your kind bring, they haven't met the sword of Xena yet."

Ma'el closed his eyes, "If only it were that simple, my friend." He stood. As he did a light in the form of a donut opened a hole in the sky. Through it popped a small craft.

Xena and Gabrielle stood gapping at it.

Ma'el gestured, "Technology."

The craft hovered above them and landed. From it came a slender built Taelon, still in his energy form.

Ma'el stood, "You have arrived, Da'an. So soon."

"I felt the urgency in your voice. You will be relived of duty, Ma'el. I will take over in your place."

"No, Da'an," You have no right.

"I have the right the Synod has given me." he answered.

Xena jumped to action and placed herself between the two Taelons, "Listen here, I don't care what powers you think you have. I've fought gods and won before and I'm not afraid of you. You just take yourself and get off my planet."

Da'an took a step back and gestured, "Amusing natives. From your reports, I remember reading that this aggression can be harnessed. I should like to see the research."

Ma'el took the chance and started to run to the laboratory. Da'an attempted to pursue, but was stopped by a cat calling warrior princes. Gabrielle was able to follow Ma'el.

Out of breath, they both reached the hidden cave. "What do you plan to do?" Gabrielle asked.

"I am going to destroy my work. All of it." Ma'el said. "They will not learn from me how to conquer you."

After everything was destroyed, Xena came running in, furious. She ran up to Ma'el and got in his face. "You tell me right now who you people are."

"What do you mean?" Ma'el said, "I've shared just about everything with you and Gabrielle.

"While fighting Da'an he just turned into some sort of savage," she said.

Ma'el closed his eyes and said, "Atavus." Then he said, "Our lives are in danger. He has been severed from the commonality and has reverted to his natural state."

"And he's shooting at me with fire from his palms," Xena sneered. "I don't really wanna kill him, but I will if you don't tell me how to catch him."

Ma'el shook his head, "No Atavus has been caught before."

"Then I guess I'll have to improvise," Xena said with excitement in her eyes. Just then they heard something that the entrance to the cave and all three ran to see.

Xena jumped and screamed, "Aiyaiyaiyaiyaiyaiyaiyai!"

Da'an was stunned and looked all around for her, she landed on his shoulders and grabbed his glowing hands, "Now what?" she asked, as Da'an danced around furiously.

Ma'el ran forward and and grasped the hands of his fellow Taelon. He closed his eyes and concentrated.

Gabrielle asked frantically, "What are you doing?"

"I am attempting to reestablish him to the commonality," Ma'el said.

Several moments later, Da'an's face softened to a smooth skin. Xena jumped off of his shoulders. Then Ma'el's limp body fell to the ground in a heap.

"Ma'el!" Gabrielle said, running to his side and turning him over, "Ma'el! Are you alright?"

Then Da'an said, looking down in confusion, "He is gone."

Xena grabbed Ma'el's neck, "What do you mean? What happened to him?" she demanded.

"You misunderstand, that body that was once Ma'el is now emptied. But Da'an has embraced the void."

"I don't understand," said Gabrielle. "Are you saying, YOU'RE Ma'el?"

Da'an nodded, "Only during my attempts to reconnect him to the commonality, my consciousness was merged with his."

Xena let go of him, "And just why should we believe you?"

"You needn't believe me. You may kill me if you wish," Da'an said.

"You don't sound like the vicious Da'an Ma'el always spoke of," Xena said.

Da'an nodded, "I taught you well." Then he turned to go, "I will be returning to Taelon now, that is if I can attempt to fly this new ship."

Gabrielle ran up to him, "But Ma'el…"

He lifted a hand and corrected her, "Now, I am Da'an."

As he flew the ship away from the planet. Xena and Gabrielle smiled at each other, trusting that Ma'el, now Da'an would some day save them from the Taelons.

The end.