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If you've come to kill me do it now.
I'm not your enemy.
Rest easy, soldier.
- Who are you?
- I'm Hercules.
- They say you're a good man.
- I try to be.
- Then grant a man his dying wish?
- It would be an honor.
My name is Gregor.
I have a wife and son
in Fallia Janista and Titus.
Give them these and my love.
And tell my son
the art of the warrior is not to kill
but to fight against
the forces of evil.
I'll do that, Gregor I promise you.
- Titus!
- I'm right here!
- Good, I need some more mud.
- I've already got it.
You're all right.
You know that?
You'd better say that.
You're my mother!
Hey, Titus! I'm going huntin'.
Do you wanna come?
I can't.
I've gotta help Mom.
Go on.
It's all right.
- We're about done here today, anyway.
- Thanks, Mom.
Oh, see if you can
bring home some dinner.
One day, Titus,
we're going to be warriors
fight with real weapons.
Yeah, and we won't
be just hunting rabbits
we'll be stalking our enemy
showing no mercy.
- I'm going to be a centaur.
- Yeah?
I'm gonna be a centurion.
I'm gonna be Ares,
god of war himself.
Ha-ha-ha.
Shh.
Ximenos, look.
- Oh, it's gone.
- I can't believe I missed.
It wasn't your fault.
It was your weapons.
- They're not true.
- Are you a soldier?
Ever since the Trojan War?
And you two?
We're too young.
No one's too young if you
have the warrior spirit.
Let me show you.
Feels good to have something
like that in your hands, doesn't it?
Gives you a sense
of worth of power.
But you've gotta prove
you deserve that power.
I want you to kill each other.
This is the story of a time long ago.
A time of myth and legend,
when the ancient gods
were petty and cruel,
and they plagued mankind with suffering.
Only one man dared
to challenge their power-Hercules.
Hercules possessed a strength
the world had never seen,
a strength surpassed only
by the power of his heart.
He journeyed the earth, battling the
minions of wicked stepmother, Hera,
the all-powerful queen of the gods.
But wherever there was evil,
wherever an innocent would suffer,
there would be Hercules.
You've got him!
Good.
Good!
Now, go for the kill!
- What are you doing?
- Ridding the world of you.
- No, don't! We're friends!
- No coward's a friend of mine.
Let him go.
I know who the winner is.
Hi.
- Are you Janista?
- I am.
- I have a message for you.
- It's about my husband, isn't it?
Yes.
I found him dying
on a battlefield near Chaldea.
His final thoughts
were of you and your son.
He wanted you to have these.
Thank you.
- Aren't you gonna read it?
- My husband's been off fighting
one war after another
for nearly ten years.
I don't wanna open things up
that have already been closed.
I understand.
I know you've
travelled a long way.
The least I can do is offer you
something to eat and a place to rest.
I appreciate that.
Titus? Titus, where are you?
He must still be out
hunting with Ximenos.
You know I haven't
even asked your name.
I hope you don't think
I'm always this rude.
Don't apologize.
Uh, I'm Hercules.
If I had known the son of Zeus
was gonna be in my house--
- It looks fine to me.
- Even with only half a roof?
Uh, I thought that was
something to enjoy the stars by.
I wish it was.
This place is always falling apart.
Titus and I can barely keep up.
But I guess we're no worse
than the rest of the town.
With all the men gone to war,
there's too many jobs,
and not enough people.
Then let me give you a hand
before I go back on the road.
You know you don't have to.
It's the least I can do
to repay your hospitality
but I'll need to
find the blacksmith.
- Hello.
- Hello, ladies.
Hello? Is anyone home?
Back here.
Hi, I-- um uh oh,
uh I need some nails.
I thought
I'd find the blacksmith here.
You did.
- But you're a woman.
- And you're a man
which I could've figured out even
if you didn't have
your foot in your mouth.
Well, it's, uh, no offense.
It was it was the steam,
- it got in my eyes.
- They call me Atalanta.
- What's your name?
- Hercules.
Well, you're big, and you look fit.
But there's only one
way to tell for sure.
- Is this really necessary?
- No one's ever been able to beat me,
so I figure it would
take a guy like Hercules.
So, shut up and say,
'One, two, three.
'
Come on, just say it.
One, two, three.
What's the matter, Herc?
More steam in your eyes?
You just proved you're as much
of a man as you are a god.
So, what brings Hercules to Fallia?
And, more importantly,
how long you planning on staying?
Uh, long enough to do some
repairs on Janista and Titus' house.
Oh yeah, um,
I'm gonna need those nails.
Slipped your mind, did they?
Damn that Ximenos!
He doesn't show up for work,
doesn't refill the nail box.
Ximenos, isn't he friends with Titus?
Yeah, he's kind of like
the kid brother I never had.
He does odd jobs
for me around here.
He let me down today.
- Never mind the nails for now.
- You got something else in mind?
Yeah, do you know
where I can find those boys?
This is my headquarters, Ximenos.
And, this is the
army I told you about.
- But there's nobody here.
- That's where you're wrong.
Look at them, Ximenos
all primed to kill.
We may be small in number
but with Ares' help,
we grow stronger every day.
Soon, we'll be known throughout
the land known and feared.
Are you ready to join the
warriors of Ares, Ximenos?
- Are you ready to become our brother?
- Yeah!
- I am.
- Good.
He's going to do the ritual.
Now, we'll see if he's with us.
Ares! Ares! Ares! Ares!
- But first, you must burn.
- Yeah!
Ahhhhhhhh!
Yeah.
Shhh.
Ahh!
What's happening to me?
She did it just
like you said she would.
Now, we have real weapons.
Now, we're ready to kill!
- Let's show Ares.
- For Ares! For Ares!
For Ares! For Ares! For Ares!
For Ares! For Ares!
Ximenos! Where are you?
Ximenos!
- Hello, Titus.
- Hey, how'd know my name?
You're not from around here.
I've been looking for you.
I'm Hercules.
You're kidding.
No, I'm not.
Did my Mom send
you out to look for me?
I came on my own.
She thought
you'd come back by yourself.
I would have.
But my friend's still missing.
Well, maybe we'll have better luck
finding him if we look together.
What do you say?
The last time I saw Ximenos
he was headed
down into this valley.
Well, then that's where we'll look.
Ximenos! You down here?
Ximenos!
What is this place?
I don't know.
I've never been here before.
Well, someone was
and not too long ago.
Hercules, what's this?
It's something you and
I should probably leave alone.
What do you say we go back home?
- What about Ximenos?
- Oh, I'm sure he's home by now.
There's someone here to see you.
- Titus, are you all right?
- I'm fine, Mom.
Hercules told me about
what happened to Dad.
- I was worried about you.
- I'll be fine.
I just wish you'd known
your father.
He was a good man.
- I'm gonna be a good man, too.
- Well, not if you're always running off.
- Where'd you find him?
- In the woods
- he was looking for his friend.
- Ximenos is a wild kid.
I'm sure he's tough
enough to survive.
But you, you kept
Hercules from fixing our roof.
- Don't worry.
I'll still do it.
- You better.
I had to go down
to the blacksmith's
to pick up the nails
you forgot about.
Come on,
they're waiting for you.
She's, uh very thoughtful.
Titus.
Ximenos.
Come here.
I thought something terrible
had happened to you out there.
It was great.
The guy we met
his name's Aurelius.
- He wanted us to kill each other!
- That was just a game.
You'd have found out
if you hadn't run away.
Are you sure?
It felt like I was fighting for real
like it wasn't even me.
That just means you
have the warrior in you.
Aurelius said all good soldiers do.
He's got a whole army
and they're just like us, Titus.
You're not gonna join, are you?
I already have.
And you can too.
It'll be great just like
we always talked about.
- I don't know, Ximenos.
- Uh-uh, Titus
a soldier doesn't walk
away from his comrades.
When I go back you're
going with me.
Come on.
He sure is a sight
for sore eyes, isn't he?
I'd almost forgotten what
a real man looked like.
Why don't
why don't you go and talk to him?
- Oh, no, why don't you?
- No, you go!
I don't think I can!
Y-y-you must be thirsty, Hercules.
I brought you something to drink.
Thanks, but, uh, I'm fine for now.
But all that work
you must be starved.
Sorry, I, uh, had a big breakfast.
No thanks, really.
- Hercules.
- Ladies, please--
- I need to talk to you.
- Where's he going?
- Ah.
- Oh.
I don't know.
It's as
if something came over me.
I mean, the one minute,
I'm shaping plow blades
and the next minute,
I'm hammering out swords.
And I knew what I was doing,
but I didn't know why.
Who knows how long
I would've kept it up
if I hadn't burnt myself?
Where're all the swords now?
That's just it.
I don't know.
Have other strange things
been happening around here?
Not in this village.
But in Styra,
three families of
farmers have been killed.
And in Lixus, there's been rumors
about roving bands of wild boys.
Does Hera have a
shrine or a temple near here?
You think Hera's behind all this?
Well, there's only
one way to find out.
No guards, Hera.
You must be slipping.
Looks like nobody's been in
your temple for some time, Hera.
You're not real popular anymore,
I guess.
But it looks like somebody
made a sacrifice here.
Ah, the sign of war
but why in Hera's temple?
Ares.
Hercules.
Ares!
Come on!
Did you see the look on that
guy's face when I cut him?
- He thought he was gonna die.
- Yeah.
Quiet!
Pay attention!
You did a good job today! The
great god Ares would be proud.
But that was just the beginning.
There is far greater
glory ahead of us!
Aurelius!
You're late, Ximenos.
A true warrior doesn't miss a battle.
- You fought somebody?
- They were no match for us.
Just ask your brothers-in-arms
unless you'd rather hang back
with the women and children
with your friend, here.
Titus isn't hanging back.
He wants to join us.
- I talked him into it.
- You did?
Is he telling the truth, Titus? Do you
really wanna be a warrior of Ares?
- Do you have the spine for it?
- Say, 'Yes.
'
Come on, don't be a coward.
You want to be a servant
of Ares, don't you?
I can't, I've gotta get back
and help Hercules fix the roof.
- I'm sorry, Ximenos.
- Coward!
Hercules.
Mighty Ares,
god of war, make yourself present.
- Hercules is in town.
- Hercules, my half-brother.
So, that's why you've
crawled to me in fear.
I just came to you for guidance
that's all.
Who better to map a strategy against
Hercules than the god of war himself?
Use the boy.
Janista!
You were gonna
read it sooner or later.
I guess part of me
was still hoping that
he'd walk through
the door someday.
Come here.
It's all right.
It's all right.
I know what you're feeling.
- Hello, Titus.
- What are you doing here?
I came to apologize.
Must have
seemed pretty strange out there today.
But every man in my army
wants to be your friend, Titus.
- So do I.
- I don't think so.
Listen to me, Titus! I have
something very important to tell you.
- What?
- There's a stranger in the village.
It's Hercules.
He came to tell us
my dad got killed in the war.
It wasn't the war that
killed your father, Titus.
It was Hercules.
And now he's here
to take advantage of your mother.
- Hercules, come quick!
- Titus, where have you been?
Come on!
I've gotta show you something!
- What's wrong?
- Those swords that got stolen from Atalanta?
I know who's got them.
It's a gang of kids.
- They're hurting people, Hercules!
- W-wait a minute, wait.
How would you know
about the stolen swords?
Where'd this come from?
Titus! Where are you?
Come back here!
You're just a kid.
Now!
Atalanta, have you
seen Titus or Hercules?
No, I haven't seen Titus.
If I knew where Hercules was,
I sure wouldn't be out here.
- Oh, I thought you might have.
- No, I haven't seen him since
this morning when I showed him
something in the forge.
Oh, no! Please be alive.
Look! He's still alive!
Thank the gods.
Hercules, are you all right?
- Where's Titus?
- He's not under there, is he?
He's the one who led me
into this trap.
What are you talking about?
Titus wouldn't do something like that!
Uh, maybe he wouldn't before
but Ares has 'hold of him now.
I've gotta find him.
Wait! I'll go with--
You're not going anywhere,
but with me, Herc.
- But--
- No 'buts' about it, Herc.
What about me, Titus?
You gonna try killing me, too?
- Warriors of Ares don't kill women.
- Oh, just men.
- When they stand in Ares' way.
- And what about Hercules?
- What did he deserve?
- To die!
- But why?
- He killed my father! Ares said so!
And I saw how he had
his hands all over you last night.
Titus, you don't know
what you're saying.
- Now, please, give that back to me.
- No!
I'm a soldier now.
This belongs to me.
Well, if you won't give it to me,
then you can give it to Hercules.
- Dead men don't need swords.
- Well, lucky for you, he isn't dead.
- I just saw him.
- You're lying!
No, I'm not!
Titus, come back here!
There, that should do it.
Thanks.
I didn't think
you'd have such a gentle touch.
Come back when
you don't need repairs,
and I'll treat you even better.
Sorry, but, I've
I've gotta go find those kids.
Fine, let's get moving.
This is not your fight, Atalanta.
This is between Ares and me.
Look, Ximenos might be out there.
That makes it my fight.
I understand your concern.
Yeah, yeah
you don't think I can handle myself?
No, I would never call you weak.
But this is too dangerous.
Well, that's why I have this.
And if you still wanna argue about it,
we can always arm-wrestle.
Um after you.
It was magnificent, Ares.
People will be talking about our
triumph until the end of time.
Of course, Hercules didn't fall
until I delivered the killing blow.
Fool! Hercules isn't dead!
- He he isn't?
- No, I still feel him.
My troops won't fail you
a second time I promise.
Not your troops you!
- How?
- Use my blood.
I've always been ashamed that
Ares and I share the same father,
but this is as low as he's ever sunk
using boys to get the
blood he needs to live on.
Well, can't Zeus do
something to stop him?
Why would he? It's only human life.
That means nothing to him.
- Ow, my arm!
- Atalanta, are you all right?
I'm fine.
Not you, too.
Fighting in a woman's body
you're a coward, Ares!
What's the matter?
Can't you fight your own battles?
Atalanta, are you all right?
Of course, I'm all right.
Now, get me out of here!
What happened?
You just tried to whip the hide
off me.
That's what happened.
- What are you talkin' about?
- Ares got into you and went crazy!
He must've been the same reason
why I was makin' those swords.
I had the same strange feeling.
Well, warn me the next time
you get any strange feelings.
Aurelius! Aurelius!
- Hercules is still alive!
- Old news, Titus.
Well, what're you
gonna do about it?
I'm not gonna do anything.
You are.
Ares wanted you dead
when you screwed everything up
but I made him give
you one more chance.
Hold up your sword.
Ares' blood is pure poison.
One cut and Hercules is dead.
Titus is my friend.
I fight with him.
You better win with him.
Hercules, stop!
Titus is acting crazy.
- He's still tryin' to kill you.
- I know that.
I know that.
I know where to find him.
Please don't hurt him.
He's all I have.
- He'll be all right.
- The only one I wanna hurt is Ares.
Go home, Janista.
We'll handle this.
I'm coming.
He's my son.
Ares!
This is where it ends, boys.
- Game is over.
- That's what you think.
Great god, Ares,
show him your power!
He's all yours.
I thought you were my friend, Hercules,
but you murdered my father!
And you came to
take away my mother.
We're gonna fix it so you
don't hurt anybody anymore.
Ares is filling you with hate
and lies.
He's using you!
- Shut up!
- What's the matter?
Does it hurt that the
god of war is a vulture,
because that's what Ares is.
He'll have you kill me.
He'll even make you kill
your friends.
And, who knows?
He'll probably make
you kill each other.
He's telling you the truth, Titus.
He came here as a friend.
- Don't listen to them!
- Ximenos!
Hercules hasn't hurt anyone.
He's
trying to help you get free from Ares.
What are you waiting for?
Kill him! Kill them all!
You must be the leader.
You look like the kind
of puppet Ares would like.
A puppet couldn't kill you, Hercules.
You fell right into my trap.
- I'm Ares' general.
- And what kind of general could that be?
- A general nuisance?
- For that you die first!
Kill her! Show Hercules
what's in store for him.
No, Titus! Don't do it!
Kill them!
Titus, Ximenos, think about it!
You don't want blood on your hands.
Don't listen to him, Titus.
Hercules is a liar!
He killed your father, Titus.
- No, Titus, don't do this!
- Don't do it, Ximenos.
Think about your father, Titus.
You too, Ximenos.
They fought against the
very evil that Ares stands for.
If you won't kill
the ***, I will.
You're not killing anybody.
What's it gonna be, boys?
Whose side are you on?
Yours.
Good choice.
Don't listen to him.
You want
to feel the wrath of Ares?
If you'll excuse me, it's time
to teach someone a lesson.
Attack! Attack!
Great! I wanted to fight,
but not with dwarves.
Stand back, Hercules.
This sword is poison.
That just makes it more interesting.
One cut one tiny little nick
and you're dead!
Then you better not slip.
Come and get me, boys.
You see that? Huh?
Ares! Help me! Hercules is here!
So, there you are, little brother.
Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Stand back, Hercules.
I am protected by Ares, himself.
- We have a deal.
- Deal's off!
I thought maybe I'd seen
the last of you, half-brother.
Well, you haven't gotten any
better-lookin', that's for sure.
Ha-ha-ha-ha.
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
Hercules!
Get up!
He's coming!
Take your last breath, Hercules.
Here, Hercules!
Use my father's sword!
Time to die, little brother.
I hate my family.
Ares! Ares!
Next time, Hercules! Next time!
I'll be looking forward to it.
Is that the god you worship?
That?
Take those masks off.
Go home.
Go back to the villages and
farms that you came from.
And if you have to fight,
fight for peace, not for war.
Sorry, Mom, for everything.
Shh it's all right, Titus.
Is it over?
For this town for today.
Come on.
Let's go home.
The circumstances
were all wrong, Janista.
But I'm still glad I got the
chance to meet you and Titus.
So am I, Hercules.
And don't forget there's always
room for you under our roof.
After all you built it.
Thank you.
Now, for you two.
Sorry for all the trouble
we caused you, Hercules.
We wouldn't have
done it if we'd known.
Well, no hard feelings as long as
you promise me it won't happen again.
- It won't.
- Good.
The last words your father spoke
to me were meant for you, Titus.
He wanted you to know that
the art of the warrior is not to kill
but to destroy the forces of evil.
I hope you'll never forget that.
- You've got my word.
- Good.
Then you'll grow up to be the man
that your father wanted you to be.
Atalanta, what can I say?
Just shut up and say,
'One, two, three.
'
You're not gonna,
like flip me or anything, are ya?
Would you just say it?
One, two, three.
Come back and see me, sometime.
Ah, yeah.
I'll, uh
I'll save my strength for you.
- Bye, Hercules.
- Thanks.
Shush.
Captioned by Grantman Brown