Xena and Gabrielle wake up the next morning from a long nights sleep. They find The New Challenger still lying on the ground sleeping. Xena calls to him to try to wake him, but he doesn�t answer. She calls to him again, but The New Challenger still doesn�t answer. Xena and Gabrielle think he�s in a heavy sleep. They let him sleep a while longer and decide to walk down a path of grass leading to a lake.

Xena and Gabrielle walk down the dirt grassy path. Xena gets an eerie feeling that someone is watching and looks in different directions to find out who�s watching them. After a few seconds, a few men walk towards them. They seem innocent. Gabrielle takes her sais out thinking they mean no harm to her and Xena. The men take their swords out to fight thinking Xena let her guard down. Gabrielle takes her weapon out too. The men run towards Xena and Gabrielle to attack them. After short time later while fighting, The New Challenger intervenes and walks towards the men who are fighting Xena and Gabrielle. The men see The New Challenger walking towards them. They run towards him and try to attack him. The New Challenger tries to convince them not to fight, but they won�t listen. He takes the two men and forces them to kneel down by sweeping their legs from under them. The New Challenger puts his hand on their shoulders.

�Who put you up to this?� The New Challenger asks.

�A man who calls himself the king of the street fighters sent us,� The men answer.

�Figures,� The New Challenger replies disappointed about what he heard, but is not fazed and looks up at Xena and Gabrielle.

�He wanted us to distract you so he could attack you,� the men explain.

�Figures, he wont stop will he?� The New Challenger asks

�Apparently not,� Xena replies.

�That demon is my younger brother. Don�t follow him or do what he tells you, if you do, you�ll become exactly what he is. You�re better off going out and doing something good for others instead of destroying yourself,� The New Challenger warns the three men.

The three men look confused and look at one another and run the other way.

�What took you so long to show up?� Xena asks her brother.

�I wanted to catch up on some sleep while I had the chance, but I had an uneasy feeling that something was about to happen and heard a commotion so I got up and came out here,� The New Challenger replies.

The New Challenger, Xena and Gabrielle gather their things and walk to a diner in the village.

�So, tell me, how long has this family feud been going on?� Xena asks as they walk.

�A little over ten years,� The New Challenger replies.

�He still acts the same way, by the god�s, what a baby?� Gabrielle says.

The New Challenger and Xena laugh at Gabrielle�s reaction. When they arrive at the local diner, they happen to see Meg works there. Meg sees them walking in and hurries towards them.

�Where have you been?� Meg asks Xena and Gabrielle.

�I didn't know you worked here!" Xena replies shocked, "We met someone we haven�t seen in a long time.�

�And who might this be?� Meg asks.

�This is one of my other older brothers, The New Challenger. We haven�t seen one another in a little over ten years,� Xena replies.

�Well, time goes fast. Sit down, how have you been?� Meg asks.

�With me? Same old-same old. My brother? Too much,� Xena replies.

Meg looks at The New Challenger.

�Why is that?� Meg asks.

�My brother is trying to get revenge over me and destroy my reputation,� The New Challenger replies.

�Your brother, wasn�t he the one who joined that tournament to become the best Street Fighter and demolished all those guys?� Meg asks.

�Yeah, he took my place instead because he became jealous of me," The New Challenger explains.

"Yeah, they had that in the news. It was some weird thing that happened," Meg says.

"All the Street Fighters were anticipating me to be there but my brother showed up instead,� The New Challenger explains.

Meg is disappointed, but waits for The New Challenger to continue explaining.

�Is he still out there waiting?� Meg asks.

�Yeah but he won�t give up until he proves he can beat me� The New Challenger says.

�Well, do something before something bad happens,� Meg says.

�It�s not that easy,� The New Challenger replies.

After The New Challenger, Xena and Gabrielle finish talking to Meg, they walk out the dinner and continue down a narrow road. They see a place to stop and decide to rest where no one sees them. A nice breeze fills the area as the birds chirp in the trees. Sirens and roaring cars are heard off in the distance from car races and chases. After a few moments, a flock of birds suddenly scatters from a tree nearby. Xena and Gabrielle look up.

�Oh great,� The New Challenger says looking up at the birds flying out of the trees, �He�s nearby again.�

The New Challenger follows his senses to find where Akuma is hiding.

They see a rock cave off in the distance. They stop at the opening of it.

�He�s in here, can feel his presents,� The New Challenger says looking in the cave, �He hides in dark caves sometimes and meditates before he strikes.�

Xena walks toward the opening of the cave.

�Don�t go in there,� The New Challenger warns his sister.

�If we go in there together, he won�t attack us right?� Gabrielle asks.

�He will. He�ll kill both of you without caring,� The New Challenger replies.

�We need a big place we can trap him in without having him be outside,� Xena suggests.

�If it was anywhere else besides the cave, people'd be around him,� The New Challenger asks.

�Aphrodite�s temple,� Xena thinks to herself.

�Who�s she?� The New Challenger asks.

�Come, I�ll introduce you to her,� Xena replies.