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. This story is set after the Xena - Warrior Princess episode Forgiven. There is some child abuse here, so be warned.

Deja Vu
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Tara was wandering around, all alone. Things weren't so easy anymore since she had met Xena and Gabrielle. Before, she was a part of a gang and they took care of food and lodging, and when she was alone, she could always steal some money, enough for some food and maybe a room in a tavern. Now, things were different. Xena had believed in her, had believed that she was a good girl and she helped her change her ways. Even Gabrielle, whom she had severely beaten before she first talked to Xena, wanted to help her. She didn't trust her, but she wanted to help her nevertheless, even when Tara had attacked her with a staff, Gabrielle was begging her to stop even though she had the upper hand and was doing all the beating.

After parting with the two friends, Tara was a bit confused, not knowing what to do next. She was very young and not very experienced in combat, although she could kick the crap out of a bandit or two with her bare hands. She had finally decided to get herself a weapon. She had considered getting a sword, but she quickly remembered Gabrielle's words and she changed her mind. She opted for a staff instead. The problem was where to get one. She wandered around the forest, trying to find a suitable staff, but couldn't find one. Then she remembered the farming tools. She went to a near-by farm and looked for a fork or a shovel. She found a fork and removed the handle. It wasn't as long a staff as Gabrielle's but it was long enough for her.

She tried to remember Gabrielle's moves and imitate them. She thought she was pretty good, but the first few times she had faced a couple of bandits, she found out that she wasn't and was forced to use her hands and legs to dispose of her attackers.

She tried getting a job in her home village, but no one was willing to take her. She felt sad, being at home and yet so alone. She finally decided to try and get a job at some other village.

As she was walking down the road, just outside a small village where no work was available, she heard muffled screams. She decided to investigate. She stepped off the road and approached the source of the noise. What she saw brought back painful memories and it infuriated her. She screamed and attacked.

The drunk man who was beating his daughter, telling her that she was no good, turned, surprised, to see who dared to disturb him. Tara was on him in a moment and she hit him with her staff. She kept hitting him for a while. Then she dropped her staff and attacked him with her bare hands, not seeing just some drunk man, but her own father. Tears were running down her cheeks as she pummeled him. When she stopped for a moment, exhausted, she heard that the girl was yelling something at her. She looked at her.

"Let him go!"

Tara stared at the crying girl.

"What?" she asked with disbelief.

"Let him go," the girl repeated her request, afraid that her father would beat her even more because of her.

Tara stared at the girl, surprised. Then she remembered her own feelings when someone had tried to stop her father. He was successful, but when her father returned home, he beat her so much that she wasn't able to move without pain for months.

"Why was he beating you?" she finally asked.

"I was a bad girl," the girl said after a few moments.

Tara frowned.

"And what did you do?"

"I was a bad girl," the girl repeated.

Tara stared at her for a few moments.

"I'm Tara," she finally introduced herself. "And what's your name?"

"Electra," the girl said and started to wipe her tears.

"Electra," Tara repeated. She kneeled in front of the younger girl. "You said that you were a bad girl, but what did you do?"

"I was a bad girl," Electra repeated like she was programmed.

Tara took her hands into her own.

"Listen to me, you were not a bad girl."

"I was," Electra insisted.

"No you weren't! He had no right to beat you."

"But he is my father," Electra objected.

"It doesn't matter! He had no right to hit you! You are not a bad girl!"

"I am," Electra pouted.

Tara shook her.

"You are not! You're just a girl! Look at me!" she said when Electra looked down with tears in her eyes. "My father also beat me and told me that I was a bad girl. After my mother died, he started to drink and beat me for no reason. He kept telling me that I was a bad girl and I started to believe him. I joined a gang, thinking it was the right thing to do since I was a bad girl. But it wasn't, it was wrong. Fortunately, Xena believed in me and showed me that I wasn't a bad girl." She paused. "I believe in you, Electra, you are not a bad girl, remember that."

Electra was silently crying. Tara stared at her for a few moments and then hugged her.

"Shh, it's okay," she said, caressing her, "you're safe now. He won't hurt you again, I won't let him."

At first Electra wanted to pull away form the hug, but Tara held her tightly and Electra finally hugged her back and cried her little heart out.

When Electra finally calmed down a bit, Tara let go of her and caressed her cheek. She glanced at Electra's father and then looked back at the girl. One thing was certain, she couldn't leave her alone.

"Do you want to come with me?" she asked.

Electra looked at her, surprised and confused.

"Where?" she asked.

A good question, Tara thought.

"I don't know, away from here."

"But my father…"

"You don't need him, he can't take care of you, he can't even take care of himself."

"But…"

"No buts. You are a good girl and he doesn't deserve you."

Electra stared at her unconscious father.

"Look, I know how much you want to stay with him, but you can't. Come with me, I'll take care of you."

Electra looked at Tara.

"Why?" she asked after a while.

"Because I care. I know I'm just a girl, but I can take care of myself and I can take care of you. Come," she said and offered Electra her hand.

Electra stared at it for a few moments and then accepted it. Tara got up and helped Electra. Electra moaned from pain and Tara supported her.

"Can you stand?" Tara asked.

Electra tried and nodded.

"Good," Tara said and let go of her.

She picked up her staff and took the money from Electra's father.

"Let's go to the creek and I'll take care of your bruises," she said and supported Electra again.

When they got to the creek, Tara gently started to clean Electra's bruises. Electra quietly observed her.

"Why do you care?" she finally asked.

Tara looked at her.

"I don't know. Probably because you remind me of myself and I don't want you to suffer."

"But I'm a bad girl."

"No," Tara said firmly, "you are not a bad girl. Remember that."

Electra looked at the creek and left Tara to her own thoughts. Tara knew that getting a job would be harder now. There had to be another way. She thought about it for a while and then remembered Gabrielle's offer that she could go to the Amazons if she found it too difficult to be on her own. She was surprised that she, a bard, had suggested that, but Xena had supported her, which meant that they knew the Amazons. Perhaps that would be the solution.

"Electra," she said and the girl looked at her. "We can go to the Amazons."

Electra's eyes went wide.

"Amazons?" she asked, surprised.

Tara nodded.

"But I don't want to be a warrior."

Tara smiled.

"Not all Amazons are warriors. Some are cooks, some are teachers, hunters and so on."

"How do you know?"

"Gabrielle told me."

"Who?"

"A friend of Xena."

"Who is Xena?"

Tara was surprised.

"You have never heard of Xena?"

Electra shook her head.

"The Warrior Princess?"

Another shake of head.

"The Destroyer of Nations?"

Yet another shake of head.

"Where were you all those years?"

"I was…" Electra started, but she changed her mind. "Father wouldn't let me learn."

"Oh. Well, she was the most famous warlord, but she had changed and is now fighting for the good."

Electra didn't respond.

"Take your time," Tara said and smiled. "I'll catch us some fish."

Two weeks later, they reached the Amazon territory. They walked through the forest and Tara was looking around, having a feeling that they were being watched. Electra clung to her arm, scared.

Suddenly demons dropped from the sky. The girls stopped, terrified, but Tara quickly realized that it was only the Amazons with their masks on. She raised her arms above her head and looked at Electra.

"Raise your arms," she said when she saw the younger girl hide behind her back, terrified, but Electra was too scared to obey.

One of the Amazons slowly approached them and Tara concentrated on her, scared. The Amazon quietly observed her for a few moments and then took off her mask.

"You know our customs," she said.

Tara wanted to confirm, but she was too scared and no sound came from her mouth. The Amazon smiled.

"You can lower your arms now," she said, and Tara obeyed. "So, what are two little girls like you doing here? Don't you know that this is Amazon territory?"

Tara nodded.

"Are you lost?" the Amazon asked.

Tara shook her head. The Amazon smiled and looked at her companions.

"Take off your masks," she said, and the Amazons obeyed. She looked back at Tara. "I'm am Eponin," she introduced herself.

Tara gulped.

"Tara," she said, her voice trembling.

Eponin smiled.

"And she?" she asked and pointed at Electra.

"Electra."

"Is she your sister?"

Tara shook her head.

"She is my friend."

"I see. So, do you want to tell me why you are here?"

Tara hesitated.

"We are looking for Ephiny."

Eponin was surprised.

"You know Ephiny?" she asked.

"No," Tara said.

"You know of her?"

"Yes."

"From where?"

"From Xena."

Eponin was surprised again.

"You know Xena?"

Tara nodded, gulping.

"I see. Now why would Xena send two little girls to Ephiny?"

Tara didn't respond, not knowing the answer.

"Why don't you two go home, hm?" Eponin said and started to put her mask back on.

"Actually, it was Gabrielle who suggested that we go to you," Tara tried.

Eponin stopped and gave her a sharp look. Tara gulped.

"Gabrielle?" Eponin asked.

Tara nodded. Eponin thought.

"And what do you know of her?"

Tara's mind worked fast to produce the right answer.

"She is Xena's friend and she is a bard. She has strawberry blond hair. She is from Poteidaia."

Eponin lifted her eyebrows.

"We will take you to Ephiny," she declared a few moments later.

When they got to the village, Electra was still clinging to Tara's arm. She became a bit more relaxed when none of the Amazons appeared hostile. When they got to the village, she looked around curiously. They finally stopped in front of one of the huts and Eponin entered. She soon returned with another Amazon. The other Amazon looked at the girls and then turned to Eponin.

"You can go," she said.

Eponin nodded and she and her companions left.

"I am Ephiny," Ephiny said when they were alone. "Gabrielle sent you to us?" she asked.

Tara nodded.

"And where are your parents?"

"Dead."

Ephiny noticed the surprised look from the younger girl, but she decided not to press the issue.

"And what are your names?" she asked instead.

"I'm Tara and this is Electra."

"Are you sisters?"

"No."

Ephiny thought.

"I assume you would like to live together."

"Yes."

"Very well. I will tell the Amazons willing to adopt you to gather at noon."

"Adopt us?" Tara asked, surprised.

Ephiny smiled.

"Yes. You need someone who will guide you. She can be a mother to you or just a friend, it is your decision. You will stay with her until you grow up."

"Oh." Tara thought. "Uh, Electra doesn't want to become a warrior."

Ephiny smiled.

"She doesn't have to. The Amazon you will choose to live with will tell you all you need to know."

"Oh."

"Would you like a tour of the village?" Ephiny asked.

Tara quickly looked around and nodded.

"Yes."

"Xenan!" Ephiny called and her son came out of the hut.

Ephiny noticed that Tara was just surprised, but that Electra was scared.

"This is my son Xenan," she introduced him. "Xenan, these are Tara and Electra."

"What is he?" Electra whispered, afraid of the strange creature.

"He is a Centaur," Tara explained.

"Centaur?"

"Half man, half horse."

"Are there more like him around?"

"Not here," Ephiny said. "There is a Centaur village not far away from here." She turned to her son. "Xenan, why don't you show them around and keep them occupied until noon."

"Yes, mother," he said and turned to Tara. "Come."

Tara followed the little Centaur and Electra followed her, making sure that Tara was always between her and the strange creature.

Ephiny stared after them, wondering what had happened to the two girls. Tara seemed to have gotten over it, but Electra was obviously still hurt. She hoped that she too would get over it.

The End