-> Written by Creator/RJStewart
-> Directed by Creator/AndrewMerrifield and Creator/CharlesSiebert


The devoted friendship between Xena and Gabrielle is severely threatened when Gabrielle gives birth to the child of Dahak.

! Tropes

* AnimalStereotypes: When Hope is born in a stable, all the other animals are panicking except for a single goat.
* BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil: Xena is warned that Dahak entering the world would break this balance and lead to the end of goodness.
* BurnTheWitch: Some villagers try to do this to Gabrielle.
%%* ButICantBePregnant
* TheDragon: Hope to Dahak, at least in time.
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: Discussed. Some of the Knights believe that Hope will eventually lead to Dahak entering the world, which would mean the end of all good.
* ExpressDelivery
* FakingTheDead: Gabrielle claims to have throw Hope from a cliff, but viewers see she's still alive. [[Recap/XenaS03E11MaternalInstincts That will have consequences]] [[Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys and not just on this show.]]
* FetusTerrible: Hope, of course.
-->"You carry within you the child who will bring a new order to the world--the child of darkness."
** Later graduates to EnfantTerrible. Best exemplified when she strangles a guard to death with his own medallion, offscreen. Xena enters the room to find the guard dead with horrible chain marks in his neck, and Hope innocently sucking on the medallion.
* KnightTemplar: The Knights of the Pierced Heart.
* MorningSickness: Gabrielle
* OhCrap: After insisting she's not pregnant, Gabrielle freezes up.
-->"It moved."
* OurBansheesAreLouder: They're also intangible when they want to be and freakin' crazy. They also worship Gabrielle due to her being pregnant with Dahak's child.
* SurprisePregnancy
* WackyCravings: Gabrielle
* WhamShot: Hope in the basket.
----
->'''Disclaimer:''' ''[[NoAnimalsWereHarmed Despite witnessing the bizarre and somewhat disturbing birth of Gabrielle`s Hope, no farm animals were harmed or traumatized during the production of this motion picture.]]''