MM [Sings]: I never dreamed that we'd be distanced by a hate--
GC: don't sing.
MM: [speaking] Goddess, I don't want to hate any more! (struggling to free herself from the straps bounding her to the alter)
GC: Don't struggle Melissa, it will give you peace if you let it.
MM: I don't want *that* kind of PEACE! What good has it ever done you?
GC: (opens her mouth to speak...changes her mind) (heavy sigh) None.
MM: (attempts to tilt her head around to see Callisto's face...but can't...continues to struggle with the bonds)
GC: It was an accident. You know that, right?
MM: (stops)
GC: I mean, I never intended to hurt you, I just...well, you kids were playing and...then Xena...and things just got out of control.
MM: (voice cracking) out of control?
GC: yes, well I tried to stop her. Hades knows I did. But...
MM: Xena? You brought XENA!
GC: I just wanted to...
MM: Goddess we were 4 years old! FOUR!
GC: I know. I...
MM: You? What about me? The twins? We lost each other. Do you have ANY IDEA what that's like? The pain it caused? The hurt?
GC: (whispering) yes, yes I do.
MM: (swallowing hard)(eyes fill with tears) Goddess, I...
GC: I know bard, I know. And I'm sorry. I never meant for it to happen. But it was the only way I could think of to save you all.
MM: why didn't you just send her back to Ancient Greece?
GC: (blank stare)
MM: tell me you at least thought of it.
GC: well yes of course...eventually. But my first instinct was...
MM: Scattering us to the four winds? *That* was your first instinct?
GC: Nobody ever accused me of being maternal, Melissa.
MM: (dear sweet mother of Hestia....that's gonna be another several sessions at the Oedipal complex)
GC: Anyway when Xena materialized. You kids got pretty freaked out to say the least. Right away she went straight for Jeff. He tried to fend her off, but you know Jeff, he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a rocket launcher, so naturally all the arrows he shot at her missed, well except for the two that hit Trancer, but those don't count really since he wasn't aiming for her...at least, I don't think he was. Anyway, it wouldn't have mattered if he had hit her, what with the arrows being constructed out of something called Nerf (tm). I don't know what in the Tartarus he was thinking. I had to get him out of there - Fast. So I sent him ahead.
MM: ahead?
GC: In time.
MM: Time travel?
GC: Well, yes. Am I the only one breathing oxygen here? Why do you think you are all twins, but different ages? Hmmm?
MM: (lip quivers)
GC: sorry, reflex. Anyway, I sent all the twins away that day. Well, all except for you. You I kept.
MM: like a memento?
GC: Mmmmm.
MM: Not Mentos Goddess, memento.
GC: oh. No, like a friend.
MM: But you just left me.
GC: No, no, no, no. Don't you see ... I never left you Melissa, I was always there. (Even during that gawd awful techo-pop phase of yours in the 80s. Now if that ain't love, I don't know what is?)
MM: but...
GC: you were just four years old, it was the 70s for Zeus-sake! How do you think you survived?
MM: you? That was you?
GC: Yes.
MM: And the...
GC: me.
MM: What about...
GC: Me, me, me...and me.
MM: (inward smile)
GC: (inward smile) I would never leave you Melissa
MM: (not sure if that is a blessing or a curse.)
GC: both, I should think. (wink)
MM: (weak smile) why didn't you bring the twins back sooner?
GC: You know my sense of direction and time. (under her breath) Good thing I installed those homing devises.
MM: What?
GC: Oh Nothing. (whistle)
MM: (frown) say, if you didn't send me anywhere, why didn't you just let me go home?
GC: (blank stare) Stop confusing the issue.
MM: You didn't think of it, did you?
GC: ::blush:: Well, I uh....
MM: It's ok Goddess, I fogive you.
GC: I forgive you too, my bard.
But nothing changes...Callisto and her bard are still in Ilusia, they are still tied to the cross and the alter (respectively of course) and surrounded by hate and her choir.
MM: I don't get it, why is all the hatred still here?
Gabrielle: (materializing) you got to sing to be heard.
MM: You have got to be kidding.
Gabrielle: do I look like I'm kidding?
MM: (singing) Our hearts were hurting both the same.
GC: (singing) The hurt was tearing up our souls.
Gabrielle: well maybe just Callisto could sing.
MM: (mutter) (speaking) The fury in us made us blind.
GC: (sings) We could not see beyond the pain.
MM: If we can turn again to love.
GC: (sings) If we can heal these open wounds.
MM: We'll leave this hatred far behind.
GC: (sings) So not a trace of hate remains. (speaking) now wait just a second here. Not a trace? I would never say something like that. I don't think Xena would either. Where the Tartarus did you get this script Gabrielle?
Gabrielle: Well actually I didn't want to say anything and spoil the moment. But you got the parts backwards. You see Melissa here was reading Xena's part and you were...
MM: (breaks out into a hysterical fit of laughter)
GC: Shut up Pissant.
Hatred smiles
MM: What are you smiling about? That means nothing. It's practically a term of endearment around here.
Hate: you keep telling yourself that, and maybe one day it will be true. (insert maniacal laugher)
MM: (shiver) Now what? (slight panic) We sang, but we are still all tied up. (struggle)
GC: (frown) (slow smile) Hey bard, watch this. (rocks her head back and forth) (sings) Always look on the Bright Side of Life. (whistle whistle, whistle)
MM: (giggle) I love you Goddess.
GC: (looks around) Love you too Melissa.
[Evil images destroyed; Callisto and Melissa are released from their bonds.]
MM: Look Goddess! It's the way out. It's gotta be. Come on! (runs toward the waterfall)
Hatred laughs.
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