GENERAL COPYRIGHT/DISCLAIMER: Xena: Warrior Princess, Callisto, Joxer and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess, together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices. NOTE: All works remain the © copyright of the original author. These may not be republished without the author's consent.
Part VII
A Hero is Born
Callisto watched from the edge of the village as Xena, Joxer and Janos fought her old army. Strangely, she felt relief when she saw Xena ride in! "Me? GLAD to see Xena! Now, that's a switch!" But this time she knew that Xena's presence would serve in her favor, because she would fight to protect the villagers. That is exactly what Callisto wanted herself this time, to protect them, especially Janos and Cassia.
As she was about to ride down into the town to join the fight, she heard a child's screams. "Cassia!" She felt a jolt of anger and fear hit her as she saw Theodoras riding out of town with the little girl clinging to his side. Looking back at the village she saw Janos standing, holding his bloody arm. He was hurt!
"Damn, Theodoras!" It seemed that Janos was all right, though, and Xena and Joxer were tending to his needs at the moment. She made the decision to follow Theodoras back to his camp and try to get Cassia away from him.
Xena, Joxer, and Janos followed the trail that Theodoras left; but, as darkness approached, they got off their mounts and walked toward the small camp.
"We'll leave the horses here and wait until it's completly dark before we make our move." Xena's eyes scanned the encampment, looking for a clue as to where the little girl was being held. She saw a small cave at the foot of the hill behind the camp, and she was sure that was where Cassia would be.
Xena's plan was to disable the two men that were guarding the camp, while Joxer and Janos slipped by and tried to get to the cave.
The two guards never heard a sound as Xena crept up behind them one by one and applied her pinch to them. When the men fell to the ground, Joxer and Janos were already headed for the entrance to the cave. Inside the cave, they could see Theodoras and four of his men. In a cell made of limbs and bamboo, was Cassia. Xena joined them and narrowed her eyes as she watched.
"Now!" Xena whispered as the threesome crept farther into the cave.
"Hello, Boys! Mind if we join the party?"
"Xena! Get her!" Theodoras roared as his men lunged at the three intruders.
Joxer and Janos skillfully fought off three of Theodoras' men while Xena worked the fourth over with kicks, punches and finally a swift slash to the abdomen with her sword.
Theodoras took advantage of the fight and unlocked the door to the cell that Cassia was in. He grabbed her and headed for the cave entrance, planning to use the little girl as a hostage.
"Cassia!" Janos yelled as he started toward her.
Xena stopped him. "Janos! Wait!"
"Daddy!"
"Shut up, you miserable little brat! Come on Xena, you want to fight me for her, don't you! Haha!"
"Put her down, Theodoras!" Xena glared with a viscious scowl on her face. "It's me that you want, not her!"
"Why? So you can jump me, then? I'm no fool, Xena! No... on second thought, I think I'll just kill her now and let you all watch her die!"
"NO!" Janos was about to lunge forward toward them, when a voice called out.
"THEODORAS! Put the girl down, now! If you want to fight, then fight me!" Callisto's eyes flashed like daggers, and her face held a cold, threatening air about it. She was not in a mood to be reasoned with.
Everyone looked up in surprise and saw Callisto standing on the ledge above their heads!
"Callisto!" Theodoras was in shock at the sight of his former leader."Where...I thought... what..."
Xena and Joxer stood in complete surprise at the appearance of the blonde warrior. "Xena, we've got to do something! We can't let Callisto get her hands on that kid!" Joxer was ready to fight, to stop Callisto from whatever it was that she was there to do.
Just as Xena was about to agree with him, Cassia cried out, "Callisto! Help me! Please! They hurt Daddy's arm, see!"
"I see, Cassia, don't worry! They won't hurt you OR your daddy, or anyone ELSE, ever again! I'll make sure of that!" Callisto smiled at the frightened child reassuringly.
"What's wrong, Theodoras, you look like you've seen a ghost? Haha! Now, DO AS I SAY and put the girl down!"
Xena put her hand up to Joxer and whispered, "Wait!"
"But, Xena! It's Callisto!"
"Just wait! I know, Joxer, but something is different...look at her eyes, look at the way the child trusts her!"
"Callisto! I knew you would come back..I had faith in you!" Janos looked at her with pride and affection in his eyes.
Theodoras could not believe what he was seeing or hearing. Callisto was challenging him and trying to protect this child! Had she gone crazy or something? This was truly not her style!
"No, Callisto! I think I would rather watch her bleed when I cut her throat!" Theodoras laughed as he pulled his dagger and reached for the childs throat...
Callisto instantly turned a mid-air flip and landed on Theodoras back, knocking him and the little girl to the ground. "Run, Cassia!" she yelled to the child as she reached for her sword. Theodoras threw Callisto backward as he regained his footing. He held his sword up, ready to plunge it into her, but Callisto was much quicker and rolled away from the thrust of the sword, kicking Theodoras' legs out from under him. As he hit the ground, Callisto spun her sword once, then dropping to her knees, drove it into the burly man's chest. In a flash, Theodoras was dead.
She knealt over the body of her former lieutenant for a moment, just staring at him blankly.
"Callisto!" Cassia ran to her and threw her little arms around her neck.
For the moment she forgot where she was and who was there. She lifted the child up and hugged her tightly. Janos ran to their side, and taking Cassia into his arms, he pulled Callisto to him and hugged her, saying, "Thank You..."
Callisto looked over at her former lifelong nemesis, Xena, and saw the Warrior Princess looking at her with what almost looked like a faint smile on her lips. Joxer stood next to Xena with a look of total disbelief in his eyes.
Lowering Cassia to the ground, Janos took Callisto's hand and said, "Let's go home." They started out of the cave with Xena and Joxer following.
Callisto could feel Xena's eyes on her back, and thought to herself, "I guess it's about time I put an end to this obsession with her. I have a lot to apologize to her for." She smiled as she felt Janos squeeze her hand. "Yes, it's about time I did a lot of things different..."
