- Ares, God of War: [Ares hasn't appeared yet but his voice sounds] Xena, tell me, Xena: have you heard the story of the scorpion and the swan?
- Xena: You haven't even got the guts to face me.
- Ares, God of War: See, the scorpion needs to get across the river, and he asks the swan for a ride. And the swan figures: 'It's not much of a risk. The scorpion wouldn't sting the creature who's carrying him over the raging river.'
- Xena: My daughter's about to die because of you, and you're feeding me fairy tales?
- Ares, God of War: [He appears behind Xena and starts touching her] Bear with me, it's worth the wait. So, about halfway across, the scorpion tings the swan, and as they're both being swept to their death, the swan asks the scorpion: 'I was helping you. Why did you sting me?' And the scorpion answers...
- Xena: 'It's what I do.'
- Ares, God of War: Yeah, it's what I do.
- Ares, God of War: Hey, can I help it if I've played this like the malevolent genius I am? Remember what the scorpion said.
- Xena: Ares, the scorpion drowned.
- Varia: This woman has pleaded guilty to her crimes. Even she admits she can never do enough good to erase the evil that she has done, and yet, she's willing to keep trying. As queen of the Amazon nation, I hereby sentence Livia, killer of the Amazons, to death... So that Eve, the messenger of peace, may live.