DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Xena stuff is the legal property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. All other characters that appear belong to me. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. No relation to Buffy.

Second Chance
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Callisto was riding alone, deep in her thoughts. Suddenly, she felt that she was being watched. Her hand slowly slid to her waist and a few moments later, a dagger flew towards the bushes. She screamed her battle cry and got off her horse, her sword and chakram ready.

The dead soldier's companions, who were astonished by Callisto's attack, quickly pulled themselves together and attacked themselves. Unfortunately for them, as soon as they got out of the bushes, Callisto threw her chakram and killed four. She caught the chakram and started to wield her sword.

"You can't be serious, Gabrielle," Xena objected.

"I am, Xena. I…"

Gabrielle stopped when she noticed that Xena tensed. She looked ahead and when she saw what Xena was looking, she also tensed.

"Callisto," she said.

"Yes."

A woman smiled when she finally sighted the object of her quest in the distance. It had taken her quite some time to finally catch up. Unfortunately, it looked as though she might lose again. She hurried.

"Hello, Xena," Callisto said when Xena and Gabrielle came closer. "So nice of you to come and help me."

Neither of the two friends responded as they engaged the bandits. There were many bandits, but the three women kicked some serious ass. Finally, when the fourth woman came, they decided that they wanted to be somewhere else.

"Thank you, Xena," Callisto started, but stopped when she saw the fourth woman. Her eyes became black and her voice deep and thunderous. "Hello, Glauke. Looks like you're too late again."

Callisto pointed her sword at herself.

"No!!" Glauke cried.

Xena threw her chakram and knocked the sword out of Callisto's hand.

"Beat it, Xena!" Callisto said in the unnatural voice and grabbed her chakram.

Xena grabbed her dagger, but Glauke was faster and knocked the chakram out of Callisto's hand with her staff.

"Don't let her kill herself, just knock her out," she said and attacked.

Xena hesitated for a moment, confused, but finally took Gabrielle's staff and attacked. Gabrielle decided to get out of the fighters' reach. During the fight, Glauke made sure that Callisto didn't get her hands on a weapon. She was a good fighter and together with Xena's help, they quickly knocked Callisto out.

"Quickly, draw a circle around us," Glauke said when Callisto fell on the ground.

Xena didn't understand what was going on, but she obeyed.

Glauke took a stone out of her bag and put it on Callisto's head. Then she started to chant.

Gabrielle came closer and she and Xena watched as black smoke started to come out of Callisto's body. It was sparse at first, but it soon became thick and finally coalesced into a solid form darker than night.

The demon screamed and tried to escape, but was stopped by the circle which Xena had drawn. The demon then attacked Glauke. Glauke fought back and kept chanting. Finally, the demon screamed as it was sucked into the stone on Callisto's head. Soon it was gone and Glauke put the stone back in her bag. She took a deep breath and got up.

"Thank you for your help," she said to Xena.

"What happened?" Gabrielle asked.

Glauke looked at her.

"She was possessed by a demon. I killed it."

"Possessed? Since when?"

"I don't know exactly. It must have been several years."

"What happens to her now?" Xena asked.

"That depends on how long she had been possessed. She will not remember anything at first, but she will eventually regain her memory. I will stay with her until she wakes up."

"How did you know she was possessed?"

"I'm a demon killer. I sense it."

"I see."

"Do you know her?"

"You could say that."

"Then it would be good if you stayed with her."

"I don't think so. We were enemies."

"I see. Still, you're the only one who knows her and doesn't seem to have the urge to kill her. So, will you stay?"

"We will," Gabrielle said.

Both Xena and Glauke looked at her, surprised.

"Gabrielle, are you sure?" Xena asked.

Gabrielle nodded.

"Yes."

"Okay. Then we'll make a camp."

"Good."

Glauke picked up Callisto as though she were a child and waited for Xena to decide where to go.

Xena and Gabrielle had just finished setting up the camp when Callisto woke up with a scream.

"Mama," she whispered, curled up like a fetus and started to cry.

"It's okay, Callisto," Glauke said softly and caressed her, "you're safe now."

Callisto jerked, surprised, and looked at Glauke.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I am Glauke. Tell me, what is the last thing you remember?"

Callisto looked at Glauke, confused.

"I buried my family yesterday," she said and started to cry again.

Glauke sighed. Suddenly, Callisto noticed her hands. She stared at them, confused, and then looked at the rest of her body.

"What happened to me?" she asked Glauke and looked around. "Where am I?"

"You were possessed by a demon and you have grown up. We are near Corinth now."

"What do…"

Callisto heard some noise behind Glauke and she looked. When she saw who was there, she screamed. She tried to back off, but Glauke grabbed her arm and held her. Callisto started to hit her like a child.

"You're safe, Callisto. Xena isn't going to hurt you."

"Let me go!" Callisto demanded.

"Callisto!" Callisto froze, frightened. "You are safe here," Glauke continued. "Xena will not harm you."

Callisto glanced from Glauke to Xena and back. She was scared, but Xena apparently wasn't after her, at least not right now. She calmed down a bit and looked around again. She noticed a young woman with strawberry blond hair. She didn't know her, but she had a feeling that she knew her somehow. She was confused. Glauke let her go.

"You are safe, Callisto," Glauke said softly and smiled. "You will soon regain your memory again. Xena and Gabrielle will help you."

Callisto looked at Xena with fear in her eyes. Xena got up and approached her. Callisto wanted to back off, but Glauke gently stopped her.

"She won't hurt you," she said and went to Gabrielle.

Callisto stared at Xena, terrified.

Xena stopped a couple of paces short of Callisto and kneeled.

"I'm sorry, Callisto," she said, looking straight into Callisto's eyes, and paused. "I won't hurt you."

She got up and returned to Gabrielle.

Callisto stared after her with disbelief, the Destroyer of Nations had apologized to her, a little girl from a small village.

"Are you hungry?" the young woman, Gabrielle, asked.

Callisto hesitated and then nodded.

"Come," Gabrielle said and offered her a plate.

Callisto slowly approached her and took the plate. She made sure that Xena was on the opposite side of the fire. She slowly ate the broth, never taking her eyes off of Xena.

"Well, I have to go now," Glauke said after she finished eating.

"Can I come with you?" Callisto asked.

Glauke smiled.

"I don't know you, Callisto, and I couldn't answer your questions. Xena and Gabrielle will help you."

Callisto threw a fearful glance at Xena.

"We will, Callisto," Gabrielle said and smiled.

"Good bye," Glauke said and left.

"Good bye," Xena and Gabrielle said in unison.

Xena got up, took some weapons and went to Callisto. Callisto gulped, afraid.

"These are yours," Xena said and gave her the weapons which were still covered with blood.

Callisto took them, confused. She knew the sword and the dagger, but she had no idea what the round thing was and she cut herself. She licked the blood and put the weapons beside her.

"I'm going scouting, Gabrielle," Xena said.

Gabrielle nodded and continued to clean up the dishes. Callisto quietly observed her for a while.

"Gabrielle?" she finally said.

Gabrielle looked at her.

"Yes?"

Callisto hesitated. Gabrielle quickly put away the dishes and went to Callisto.

"Don't be afraid," she said and smiled.

Callisto smiled shyly.

"That's better," Gabrielle said. "Now, what do you want to know?"

Callisto's face became serious again.

"Have we met before?" she asked.

"Yes."

Callisto thought.

"You are Xena's friend?"

"Yes."

"You don't look like… like…"

"Like a warlord?" Callisto nodded. "I'm not. I'm a bard."

"A bard?" Callisto asked, surprised.

"Yes."

Callisto was confused.

"How come you travel with her?"

"She saved my village from a warlord and I found her fascinating. I didn't want to stay in my village, so I followed Xena. She didn't want me around at first, but now we are best friends."

Callisto stared at the woman who claimed to be the best friend of the woman who had murdered her parents.

"She has changed," Gabrielle added.

Callisto looked away. Everything was so confusing as the memories came back to her. The last thing she remembered was burying her family and then she was suddenly grown up and a murderer just like Xena. She shuddered as she remembered all the people she had slaughtered just to get back at Xena. Suddenly, she froze as she remembered one particular murder. She gulped and looked at Gabrielle.

"I… I killed your husband?" she asked.

Gabrielle bit her teeth.

"Yes," she said quietly.

"I… I'm sorry."

Gabrielle was surprised. She stared at Callisto's big brown childish eyes for a few moments and then smiled.

"It wasn't your fault, Callisto, it was the demon." she said and wiped a renegade tear. "And besides, I forgave you long ago."

"Thank you," Callisto said and looked away.

Gabrielle thought.

"Say, do you want to hear a story?"

Callisto looked at her, excited.

"Yes," she said and then quickly looked away as she recalled that that was the woman whose husband she had murdered.

Several hours later, Xena returned and found Callisto eagerly listening to Gabrielle's stories. When Callisto saw her, her face became serious again.

"We'll have to move. Apparently someone has notified the Corinthian army that Callisto is in the neighborhood."

"Okay," Gabrielle said and turned to Callisto. "I'll finish the story later."

"Okay."

She got up and then suddenly remembered her weapons. She picked up the dagger and put it in its sheath. Then she took the sword and managed to put it in its scabbard with some difficulty. Then she picked up the chakram and carefully examined it. She noticed that Xena had a similar thing. She looked at her belt and saw a possible spot.

"Gabrielle?"

"Yes?"

"Is this correct?" she asked and pointed at the chakram.

"Yes."

"What is this thing called?"

"Chakram."

They walked away from Corinth and Gabrielle finished the story and a couple more. Xena observed Callisto, who was behaving like a child. She thought it was fortunate that no one attacked them, because she wasn't sure that Callisto could fight.

In the evening, they made a camp and Gabrielle prepared the rabbit which Xena caught while scouting. Gabrielle smiled when she saw Callisto's expression as she ate the rabbit.

"You like it?" she asked.

Callisto said something, but Gabrielle couldn't understand her. But, Callisto's eyes spoke for themselves and Gabrielle knew that she did like it.

After the dinner, Gabrielle noticed that Callisto was sleepy. She went to Argo and got two blankets.

"Here," she said and gave them to Callisto.

"Thank you," Callisto said and took them.

She made herself a simple bed and went to sleep. Xena and Gabrielle followed her example and also turned in.

Toward the morning, Gabrielle heard sobs and she woke up. She felt that Xena had also woken up. She listened and quickly located the source of the sobs. It was Callisto and she was having a bad dream. Gabrielle got up and went to her. She gently shook her and Callisto woke up with a cry.

"It's okay, Callisto, you're safe," Gabrielle said and caressed her.

Callisto instinctively hugged her and Gabrielle hugged her back. Xena's first reaction was to reach for her sword, but she changed her mind when she saw it was only a hug.

When Callisto pulled herself together and realized that it was not her mother she was hugging, she broke the hug, embarrassed. Gabrielle smiled softly and caressed Callisto again. Callisto stared at her and wiped her tears.

Gabrielle returned to her bedroll and packed it up. Xena did the same. Callisto pulled her legs together, hugged them and leaned her head on her knees. Gabrielle quietly made breakfast. Xena thought about sharpening her weapons while Gabrielle took care of the breakfast, but she changed her mind when she saw that Callisto was doing some serious thinking. When Gabrielle was done, she and Xena ate the breakfast and then quietly talked.

When Callisto was done thinking, she looked around and saw that Xena and Gabrielle had already finished eating.

"I'm sorry," she said, "I was thinking."

Gabrielle smiled.

"It's okay, that's why we were so quiet."

"Oh."

"Here, your breakfast."

Callisto came closer and ate the breakfast. In the meantime, Gabrielle packed the two blankets on which Callisto was sleeping.

"Callisto," Xena said when Callisto was done eating, "how much do you remember?"

Callisto looked at her and froze as she recalled the horrible things she had done under the demon's influence.

"Everything," she said quietly and looked away, ashamed.

"And what are your plans for the future?"

Callisto looked at Xena again.

"You won't take me to prison?"

"No."

Callisto stared at Xena, thinking.

"I don't know," she finally said. "I wish I was little again, so nobody would know me and I could start all over again."

"You could live with my family," Gabrielle said, liking Callisto's idea of being little again.

Callisto jerked and looked at her, surprised. Xena also looked at her friend, surprised.

"I could?"

"If you want to."

"Yes. I'd like that."

"Great! Now all we have to do is to figure out how to get you your childhood body back."

"We'll stop at one of Zeus' shrines later today," Xena said.

"No," Callisto said. "I don't trust gods," she explained.

"Don't worry, I won't let him hurt you."

Callisto stared at the woman who had murdered her family, feeling odd that this same woman was now protecting her.

"Okay," she finally consented.

Several hours later, they stopped at a simple shrine which was dedicated to Zeus. Fortunately, there was no one around and Xena presented Zeus with a sacrifice. Zeus promptly appeared.

"Hello, Xena, I've been expecting you."

Xena eyed him suspiciously.

"You have?"

"Yes. Glauke told me about Callisto. I assume you want me to give Callisto her childhood body back?"

"Yes."

"Good."

"Wait!"

"Yes?"

"Are you doing it for free or is there a price to pay?"

"This one is for free, Xena."

"Why?"

"It's a favor to Glauke."

"Oh." Xena still didn't trust him, but she had no bad feeling either. "Okay."

Zeus waved his hand and Callisto turned into a girl about ten years old.

"Thank you," Xena said.

"No problem," Zeus said and vanished.

Callisto stared at her body, still dressed in the armor which was now too big for her.

"Why don't you take off your clothes and I'll give you some of mine," Gabrielle said and went to Argo.

Callisto followed her and then undressed. Gabrielle gave her her clothes and adapted them to Callisto's smaller frame.

"That's much better," she declared when she was done.

Then she packed Callisto's armor and weapons and they were on their way again.

"Gabrielle!"

"Lila!"

The two sisters hugged. Their parents heard them and came to the main room.

"Mother! Father!"

Gabrielle hugged her parents and they hugged her back.

"Hello, Xena," Hecuba said.

Xena nodded.

"Mother, this is cousin Cally from Corinth," Gabrielle introduced Callisto.

Her parents and Lila looked at Gabrielle, astonished.

"Lila, help Xena. I'll show Cally where she'll sleep. Come."

Callisto followed Gabrielle out of the main room.

"Cousin?" Gabrielle's father asked Xena when they were gone.

"That's the official version. The truth is that she is Callisto."

"What?!" Herodotus asked, alarmed.

"After I burned down her village when she was a child, a demon possessed her and made her do all the things she is known for. A couple of days ago, a demon killer killed the demon and Callisto was again a little girl, but with many terrible memories. She needs to be loved again."

"How do you know it's not a trick?"

"Because Zeus gave her back her childhood body."

"You met Zeus?" Lila asked, excited.

Xena smiled briefly.

"Yes."

"Wow."

Xena turned to Hecuba.

"Hecuba, you know I'm the last person who would trust Callisto, but in this case I do. She just a little girl again and she wants to start all over again."

"I believe you, Xena. From now on, she is cousin Cally from Corinth."

"Thank you."

The End