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 the continuation of my story The Change.

Reunited
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Callisto was observing her grandson's wife as she played with her son. She remembered how she played with Melina and how Mama played with her. A tear rolled down her cheek. She let it.

Melina approached from behind.

"Mama?" she asked when she saw the tear.

Callisto turned and smiled.

"It's okay, I was just remembering."

Melina embraced Callisto's arm and leaned on her. Callisto smiled again and caressed her daughter.

Suddenly she froze. She strained her senses as much as she could and observed.

"Mama?" Melina asked when she felt Callisto stiffen.

Callisto didn't move.

"Get everyone off the fields and have them hide in the caves," she finally said. "And send someone to King Glaukos' army."

"Why?"

"Thessalonian scouts are here."

Melina looked, but she couldn't see anyone."

"Go," Callisto said. "Make sure they go slowly, so they won't look suspicious."

Melina nodded and hurried away. Callisto then paid a visit to the scouts.

She had no problem finding them. There were three of them. She sneaked right behind their backs, killed two of them by breaking their necks and straddled their leader. Before the man could react, she had his dagger on his throat.

"Hello," she said sweetly and smiled wickedly. "I bet you're very confused, so let me introduce myself. I am Callisto and this is my home you're messing with. Now, you either tell me what I want to know and I'll kill you painlessly or you don't and you'll die slowly and painfully. So, what will it be, hm? You know, I sort of hope you will chose the second option, because it's been a while since I tortured anyone and I could use the practice."

She laughed insanely.

The man stared at her, terrified. He had heard stories of Callisto and knew what she was capable of.

"So, have you decided yet?"

The man nodded eagerly.

"Oh, well," she said, sounding disappointed. "Now, let's see what you know."

About an hour later, when Callisto returned to the village, most of the villagers were already in the caves. She went home and into her room. She went to a small chest. She hesitated before opening it. She finally did. In it were her armor and her weapons which she hadn't used in a long time.

When she got out, everybody who was still in the village stared at her. She ignored them.

"Grandma?"

Callisto turned and saw her grandson and his father.

"What are you still doing here?" she demanded.

"We…"

"You need to be with your families."

"But…"

"No buts! Go to the cave!"

The two men were surprised, but they knew it was not wise to mess with her and they left. Callisto wanted everyone to leave. She knew that the enemy would send new scouts and when they found out that the village was deserted, they would change their plans.

Several hours later, King Glaukos' army arrived. Callisto saw the scouts, who were approaching her. She waited until they reached her.

"What took you so long?" she asked.

The scouts eyed her surprised and confused her.

"The village is empty and the Thessalonian army is about half an hour away. I suggest you move your butts and tell your commander to hurry."

"Who are you?" the leader of the scouts finally asked.

Callisto smiled wickedly.

"I'm sure you don't want to know. Now hurry!"

The scouts conferred and then rode into the village.

Five minutes later, some of the scouts passed her again and another ten minutes later the army arrived.

"Who are you?" the King demanded.

Callisto smiled wickedly.

"Cally," she said.

"Where are you from?"

"From the village."

"What are you doing here?"

Callisto was getting bored.

"I'm waiting for you. You don't expect and old lady to handle an entire army by herself, do you?"

"You want to fight?" Glaukos asked with disbelief.

"You have a problem with that? I was killing people before you were born and believe me, I still can. Now, is there something else or can we hide and wait for the enemy? We have about fifteen minutes left."

Glaukos observed her and thought.

"Do you know where?"

"I thought you'd never ask. Follow me."

Ten minutes later, Glaukos' army was hidden. They didn't have to wait long before the enemy approached. They let the scouts pass.

Finally, Callisto gave the sign. She cried her banshee cry and attacked. Soldiers on both sides were perplexed by her cry, but Glaukos quickly ordered the attack.

Although she was old, Callisto still fought well and the enemy did everything they could to stop her. She killed many enemy soldiers, but also received several wounds. She ignored the wounds and fought on. This was her home and no one messes with her home and gets away with it.

When the fight was over, there were many dead on both sides, but the enemy losses were greater and they retreated.

Callisto stood among the corpses. She was covered with blood, but it was impossible to tell whether it was hers or of the enemies she had slain. She looked around and staggered. She tried to remain standing, but she couldn't. She fell.

Glaukos, who was observing her during the fight, noticed that she was lying and immediately went to her.

"Cally?" he asked, concerned, and shook her.

Callisto moaned and opened her eyes.

"Get my daughter," she said. "Her name is Melina."

"Where is she?"

"In the caves."

"I'll send someone."

Glaukos got up and issued orders. A soldier immediately left to get Melina and several men approached her and started to take care of her wounds. Callisto smiled. She knew she was dying.

Melina soon came with her son.

"Mama?" she asked, worried.

Callisto opened her eyes and saw tears in Melina's eyes. She smiled and dried them.

"Don't cry," she said. "It's time for me to see if Tartarus has changed since the last time I was there."

"I love you, Mama."

"I love you too, Melina."

Melina hugged her mother.

"Thank you for saving my life," she said.

Callisto smiled and caressed her.

"Thank you for bringing joy into mine," she said.

Melina caressed her mother.

Suddenly Callisto jerked and looked into thin air.

"Hello, Celesta," she said and smiled.

Melina and her son looked, but saw no one.

The last thing Callisto felt before dying was Celesta gently caressing her cheek.

"Mama? Mama?!"

Callisto was dead. Melina started crying and hugged her mother's dead body.

In the Underworld, Charon was as grumpy as always.

"You again," he said when he saw Callisto. "Can't you make up your mind once and for all?"

"Don't worry, Charon, this is the last time I need your service," Callisto said. I hope. "Here's your coin."

She threw him a coin and Charon bit it. He was satisfied with it and put it away.

"Get in," he said.

Callisto stepped into the boat.

"Take your time," she said.

"Don't worry, I won't be breaking my back for you."

"Mom?" Melina's son asked after Callisto's corpse has been taken to their home."

"Yes?"

"What did she mean about Tartarus?"

Melina sighed.

"She's been there before and now she's probably going there again."

"What?! Why?"

Melina took a deep breath.

"Have you heard of the insane warlord Callisto?"

"Yes."

"She was Callisto."

"She? But her name was Cally."

"Which is short for Callisto."

Melina's son was confused.

"She's not really my mother," Melina explained, "she helped my parents but she was too late. She wanted to kill me and put me out of my misery, but somehow she couldn't, because I reminded her of herself when she was little and had lost her family. She took care of me."

In the Underworld, Callisto waited with others to be processed.

"Hello, Callisto."

Callisto turned, surprised.

"Hello, Persephone. What are you doing here?"

"Hades wants to see you."

"Must be in a hurry to throw me to Tartarus I bet," she said sarcastically and sighed. "Let's go."

They disappeared and reappeared in Hades' office.

"Hello, Hades. Missed me?"

"Not really, Callisto."

"I hope you're not going to bore me with bureaucratic details, just get it over with. I'm sure that my own private little hell hole is still there."

Hades glanced at his wife, annoyed.

"Actually, you're not going to Tartarus," he said.

Callisto stared at him for a few moments, baffled.

"I hope you're not sending me back."

"No."

"Then what?"

"Well, you see, you've been a really royal pain in the ass for everyone until Solan was killed. But then you apparently changed. You didn't exactly do much to atone for your sins like Xena did and those three scouts, well, are not exactly in your favor."

"Cut the bullshit, Hades," Callisto interrupted him. "I'm a murderer and I'm not regretting a single murder. So what's the problem?"

Hades was losing his patience.

"Well, you did take care of Melina and you did defend the village."

"So what?"

Hades glance at his wife, really annoyed.

"Well, Persephone has asked me to send you to the Elysian Fields."

Callisto stared at both of them, astonished. Then she started laughing.

"You want to send me to the Elysian Fields? I knew gods were crazy, but this is just the most crazy thing I've ever hear."

"Callisto,…" Persephone started.

"No," Callisto interrupted her. "I don't want any favors from gods because you have a nasty habit of collecting with interests. I'm not helping any god ever again. Oh, and I suggest you don't try to blackmail me, I don't react too well to threats."

Persephone gulped.

"Callisto,…" Hades started.

"No, Hades," Persephone interrupted him and turned to Callisto. "I'm not doing this, because I would want something from you. I just want you to be happy."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. That's why I brought your mother to you then."

Callisto frowned. She remembered Mama's visit. She sighed and looked down.

"I don't expect anything in return, not from you nor from anybody else."

Callisto looked up again. She didn't trust gods. Hercules was probably the only exception. Maybe Persephone could also be trusted. She decided to take the chance and looked Persephone straight in the eyes.

"Okay," she said.

Persephone felt the unspoken threat behind Callisto's look and it made her feel uncomfortable. She looked at his husband and nodded. Hades waved his hand and Callisto disappeared.

"She really knows how to annoy people," he said.

Persephone smiled briefly.

"I hope she never leaves the Elysian Fields, because if she does, we're dead."

Hades looked at her, confused.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Well, if she gets out, she's going to kill all the gods. I don't know how, but I have a feeling that she'll find a way."

Hades was surprised.

"What can she do? She's a mortal and she's dead."

"When did that ever bother her?"

Hades realized that his wife was right and he swore that he'll make sure Callisto remained where she was.

In the Elysian Fields, Callisto was looking around. Everything was so beautiful and peaceful. She looked at her body. The wounds were gone and she was young again.

Suddenly she noticed someone familiar near by.

"Mama?"

The person turned.

"Callisto?"

"Mama," Callisto whispered and made a few steps toward her mother.

Her mother approached her and they hugged. They were both crying, happy.

"Oh, Mama, I've missed you so much."

Mama caressed her.

"I missed you too, Callisto. Look who else is here."

Callisto looked at the young woman next to Mama."

"Hello, Callisto," the woman said.

Callisto was speechless. It was her sister, but she wasn't young anymore, she was grown up. They hugged.

"I'm glad you joined us, Callisto," her sister said.

"I'm glad too."

"Guess who else is here."

Callisto looked at the man next to her mother and sister. She didn't know him, but she felt close to him.

"Daddy?" she finally asked, uncertain.

"Yes, Callisto, it's me."

Callisto just stood there, not sure how to react. Her father approached her and hugged her. Callisto slowly hugged him back.

"Daddy," she whispered, crying.

The End