-> Written by Creator/RJStewart
-> Directed by Creator/GarthMaxwell

When Xena and Gabrielle set out to recover the stolen Urn of Apollo, they are joined by Tara, a feisty 16-year old who wants a chance to turn her life around.

! Tropes
* BatmanGambit: During their second fight, Tara has a breakdown and talks about her awful childhood. After Tara leaves to rest, Gabrielle says Xena deliberately left the two of them alone to get her to open up.
* BittersweetEnding: Tara turns her life around and can start fresh, but Xena turns away from using the Urn of Apollo on herself.
* BookEnds: The episode begins and ends with the priest of Hermes forgiving onlookers for their sins. It is Tara and Gabrielle who kneel down this time around. The episode also starts and ends with an image of the sun.
* BrattyTeenageDaughter: Well, she's no one's daughter, but Tara is certainly a bratty teenager.
* CurbStompBattle: Tara does this to Gabrielle at the start of the episode in a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown. Later on, Gabrielle is more prepared with her signature weapon and wipes the floor with Tara instead.
* DidntSeeThatComing: The plan was for Tara to use Xena to steal the Urn of Apollo from the gang, so that Tara and her boyfriend could then sell it themselves. She didn't expect to grow a conscience in the process, though.
* {{Forgiveness}}: It is the running theme of the episode and explores how the three women handle it. Tara and Gabrielle seek forgiveness in the end for their past misdeeds. Xena on the other hand signifies that she doesn't seek forgiveness for her actions, but only to try her best to atone for them.
* FreudianExcuse: Tara's mom died when she was a kid. Shortly afterwards, Tara's dad became a verbally and physically abusive drunk, which drove her into a gang. Even Gabrielle is left feeling sorry for Tara after hearing this.
* GoodFeelsGood: The lesson Tara takes from this adventure.
* GroinAttack: Tara isn't above delivering one to Gabrielle.
* {{Hypocrite}}: After initially being turned away, Tara accuses Xena of this, and it gives the Warrior Princess pause.
-->'''Tara:''' I heard you were pretty bad once upon a time. [[Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys Somebody]] must have given you a chance to turn it all around. What a crock!
* ICanStillFight: No matter how many bruises Gabrielle gives Tara, knocks her down or even busts her lips, Tara continues to stand up. Gabrielle was even beginning to lose her resolve over the brutal beatdown she was giving Tara.
* KickTheDog: It's not bad enough that some thugs rob a church, but the leader of the gang punches the priest in the face before they leave with an important urn.
* MacGuffin: The Urn of Apollo
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: The Urn of Apollo is used on people looking to atone for past misdeeds. Gabrielle and Tara discuss whether the urn can really give someone purity or if it's just a symbol to that end.
* MimingTheCues: Gabrielle invents charades, with the three taking turns. Gabrielle and Tara have a good knack with it. Xena on the other hand can't seem to understand the message. The later states that [[TemptingFate it will never catch on]].
* MirrorCharacter: Tara to both heroines.
** Xena sees a lot of herself in Tara, particularly being so desperate to belong that she'd hang with a bad crowd.
** Xena lampshades how Gabrielle believes the same thing as Tara: that Tara can't be redeemed. Gabrielle also admits to Tara that she knows what it's like to feel guilty about past misdeeds.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: The normally peace-minded Gabrielle wants Xena to pummel Tara. That's what happens when you bite off a little piece of the bard's ear.
* PleaseWakeUp: Tara's mother died when she was four, so she wasn't aware of what the funeral was about.
-->'''Tara:''' I remember when we had to bury her, I stood by the grave, and I said, "Mom, you better get up, now! The men are throwing dirt on you!" Pretty dumb, huh?
* RidingIntoTheSunset: Instead of going into the temple of Hermes to seek forgiveness, Xena walks towards the setting sun at the end of the episode.
* RousseauWasRight: Tara led a pretty hard life. Xena takes an interest in helping her straighten because she reminds her of herself at that age. In the end, it works.
* SandNecktie: The bandits bury Gabrielle and Tara this way after capturing them. Slightly justified as they likely expected Xena to arrive. Burying them would buy them time as it would take a while for Xena to get them out.
----
->'''Disclaimer:''' ''[[NoAnimalsWereHarmed No street-talking, cat-fighting, barroom-brawling juvenile delinquents were harmed during the production of this motion picture. ]]''