In the time of ancient gods,…
…warlords…
…and kings…
…a land in turmoil cried out for a hero.
She was Xena.
A mighty princess…
…forged in the heat of battle.
The power…
The passion…
The danger…
Her courage will change the world.
XENA, THE WARRIOR PRINCESS
Looking out at the cosmos makes you think…
…about where we are,…
…where we've been,…
…where we're going now.
Yeah.
And like the bigger now.
I mean, Gabrielle, what are we gonna do?
Wander around Greece our whole lives looking for trouble?
Why don't we go away? Far away? Whaddya say?
I can't believe you're awake, much less listening to me.
Let's go south to the land of the pharaohs.
I hear they're in need of a girl with a chakram.
-You know that there's somebody out there… -Yeah.
He's been trying to find us the past half-hour.
Are you all right?
Yes. Thank you.
-Are you Xena? -Who's askin'?
A messenger, sent by Akemi.
Akemi?
You saw Akemi?
Several weeks ago…
…I was journeying with another monk through a forest, near the town of Higuchi.
It started to rain…
…and we sought shelter at a teahouse.
Kenji…
Not even you could be frightened of this.
Your shuji has great dignity and beauty.
I am blessed with a certainty about what it means to be a monk.
But my companion was not as steadfast in his resolve.
You must leave… now!
I know you're a good man.
In the teahose, I felt the compassion in your heart. Don't fear me.
-Who was that demon? -The lord of the dark land.
He's preparing an army to wage war in Higuchi…
…and slowly, the populace.
Honorable monk…
I beg you to do what must be done.
To stop him enslaving the souls of that city.
But I'm no swordsman!
There's one in the west… far beyond the setting sun.
A samurai? A priest? A god?
No.
A warrior princess.
Xena, you must save Higuchi from destruction.
The land of the rising sun… That's beyond China.
I didn't know you were there, Xena.
Yes, I was there.
I was there.
Gabrielle, this is not going to be the trip that I promised you…
…but if Akemi calls, I must go.
Wherever you go, I'm by your side.
I knew you'd say that.
A FRIEND IN NEED
The way of the sword is the most ancient of the warrior's art.
With practice, the samurai develops the sacred virtues of bravery,…
…self-discipline and honor.
A samurai would rather die a warrior, than live as a warrior.
This Akemi who sent for Xena… What do you know about her?
She was forced by Yodoshi,… the lord of the dark land,…
…to seduce souls… into his grasp.
She's very beautiful.
-And she's a ghost. -She's a…?
Gabrielle, before we reach Japan…
…I should tell you everything that happened there last time.
Many years ago…
…Borias told me about a young girl who was kidnapped by a chinese warlord.
She'd been taken hostage from a mighty island…
…even further east than Chin.
Being the kind of person I was then…
…the challenge of finding a new land to plunder was just too much for me.
I had to meet her.
-So, her daddy's rich, you say? -And powerful.
He should pay well for the return of his sweet daughter.
Come.
-Akemi, meet… -Xena, the Warrior Princess.
You know me?
Oh, yes.
I've heard that you're afraid of nothing.
Kao, here…
-He's afraid of many things. -This girl has spirit.
This girl deserves to die…
…speaking like that in front of my guests.
You won't kill me.
Xena won't let you.
Because in her heart… she knows that she will soon love me.
Xena loves no one.
I'll be your student, Xena.
You'll take me with you.
You'll teach me everything you know.
I have a few lessons for you!
Here.
50 pieces of gold. It's the best offer you'll get for her.
I do what I want with my property.
I say this isn't a good day to trade.
Is it a good day to die?
It's unhealthy to negotiate with this one.
I'd take the gold.
Guards!
I've shut off the flow of blood to your brain.
You got 10, 9, 8…
Ah, forget it.
I would have taken the gold.
You know, Borias… I have a dream…
…A dream of conquering every land between here and Brittania.
Xena… You're always looking for green pastures to rape and pillage.
Yep.
And maybe there's more in this than just the ransom, huh?
I mean, with her father as an ally…
…I could get a nice toehold on that island.
What makes you so sure she'll lead you to daddy?
Ah, she wouldn't lie to me.
She worships her teacher.
What's so funny?
Xena, you couldn't teach a dog to bark.
Akemi! Come here. I wanna show you something.
You're wrong.
Xena will be a great teacher.
-I'm ready. -All right…
If someone's comin' atcha with a right-left combination…
…this is what I wantcha to do…
You feint back, twist in the direction of the blow…
…and then deliver a vicious jumping, spinning back-kick. All right?
Right. So…
…that's right, a left, a feint, a jumping,… swinging…
Jumping,… spinning back-kick.
All right…
Now I'll be a bad guy.
Lesson 1…
Trust no one.
Remember, Xena. I get 10 % of the ransom.
Good luck, teacher.
Come on, Akemi, keep up.
My ribs are still a little sore.
Well, next time we'll start with something a little simpler…
…like listening.
-Listen to that. -To what?
To life and death.
Every sound, every movement, is a message.
A wagon just crossed a creek up ahead.
A deer grazing nearby.
When you listen to the kami like that…
…you must be at peace.
The kami? What's that?
The kami are the powers behind all nature.
They make the sun shine, the grass grow.
They brought you to me.
No, no, no. When I listen like that, I'm at war.
Every sound is a possible warning of an enemy approaching.
I believe that one day, Xena,…
…the kami will help you know peace.
And I would be honored…
…if you would accept this.
It's really pretty.
It's our scripts.
When my people are overcome with a feeling, that needs to be preserved,…
…we write verse.
Oh, yeah?
-Like what feeling? -Love.
Love?
"Yesterday… the moon took lodging on my sleeve.
Today…
…I have hope for even the brokenhearted stars."
So beautiful…
To write something like that, she must have loved you very much.
What's wrong?
The truth is, Gabrielle,…
…she broke my heart.
She broke your heart?
I don't understand.
For a while, I didn't understand myself.
When I travelled with Akemi to her island, for the ransom,…
…I was to learn that my heart was seeking something else.
I thought I was taking you to your father.
His castle's in the north.
We came here first to visit my grandfather.
He… died here…
…many years ago.
Are you telling me that we have walked days in the wrong direction…
…to see a dead guy?
We must visit my grandfather to seek his blessing.
He's dead, but…
…I can still speak to him.
All your talk about moons up your sleeve…
You were playing me for a fool.
I oughtta just…
You hear the kami through the sounds of nature.
In the same way…
…I hear sounds that are silent to you.
My grandfather says that you are a wise and appropriate teacher…
…and… he feels your sword… is not good enough.
There's a string of widows from here to Greece that say different.
Compared to a katana…
…all other swords are toys.
Well…
Then get me one of those.
The great katana lies near here…
…but… you must know,… in our country…
…women are forbidden to own katana.
Well, they're just gonna have to get used to it, aren't they?
Sensei!
I come bearing a challenge.
My master wishes to fight you for possession of the katana…
…forged from the purest ore, of the Hakiman temple.
Your master must be a mighty samurai.
Oh, no.
I'm just a girl…
…in search of a really good sword.
A woman? A foreigner?!
Challenging us… for the sacred katana?
This is a great insolence!
Well, I guess you're gonna have to teach me a lesson, huh?
Oh, gimme, gimme!
Grandpa was right.
Now, this is a sword.
"In a flurry of snow…
…two breaths of wind unite… and become as one.
And then disappear into each other."
Listen, Akemi…
I don't want you to take this the wrong way.
I really love this sword…
…and you're a nice kid, but I just came for the ransom.
I don't believe that.
What do you hear now?
Snow falling on cedars.
No.
Your heart…
…beating harder than normal.
You're a master of war…
…yet you know no words to speak of love.
And then you go and save my life.
There's no greater gift of love a teacher can give a student than that.
I have another gift I must ask of you.
I saw what you did to kill that coward, Kao.
It's a sacred trust.
I would be honored… beyond words…
…if you'd teach me that.
All right.
You knew her for a few weeks and you taught her the pinch?
-Xena, in all the time… -Higuchi is under siege.
And there's no place to dock. I'm turning back.
What?
Gabrielle, I've got to go ashore.
I'm with you.
I knew you'd say that.
The katana…
You sent it to the foreign whore!
Thank you.
She's traveling now to the city of Higuchi, which my army in right now, is destroying.
My general awaits her…
…and when he captures Xena, and my katana…
…she'll lose her head, to the sting of its blade.
So, thank you,…
…daughter.
Firebombs!
They're going to burn Higuchi to the ground!
We've gotta release the water from the tower.
Gabrielle, what would you do?
I saw these acrobats.
-They used… -Show me, Gabrielle.
Climb on!
All right. What's next?
This way!
Gabrielle!
Xena!
Go for the ladder!
Kill her!
Retreat!
A wise general knows when a fight is lost...
…but I think we will meet again… soon.
Higuchi is saved.
Not quite the way I would have done it, Gabrielle,…
…but it sure worked.
You know, Xena, I still don't understand.
You taught Akemi the pinch.
Did she ever use it?
Yes, unfortunately, she did.
After a many days' walk, we reached her father's fortress.
Akemi?
Akemi, what are you doing?
You have 30 seconds to live.
My brothers, my sisters, my mother, and my gentle grandparents.
I avenge all your deaths at the hands of this monster.
-Father… -Father?
I pray you suffer in death…
…the way your family sufferied in life.
What the hell did you do that for?
It was my duty.
He had to die.
I don't care about that! What about the ransom?
Where's my money?!
Forgive me, Xena.
I don't suppose there's any inheritance in this!
I have one last thing to ask of you.
Restore my honor.
The sacred katana…
You want me to cut off…?
That's why you wanted me to take the katana.
After that is done… take my ashes…
…and place them in the family shrine…
…in the town of Higuchi.
No, I'm not going to…!
Akemi…
I pray you will!
"The snow melts.
Flowers fade.
And I pass…
…as all things do."
You…
"But time…
…and love,…
…they go on."
Restore my honor, Xena.
Xena!
How will you feel when you come face-to-face with Akemi's ghost?
Better question is…
How will Xena feel…
…face-to-face… with the ghosts of the people she killed at Higuchi?!
What?!
Who are you?
My family name is Harukata.
But he's know as the killer of ghosts.
-Xena saved your city. -This time.
But that does nothing to atone…
…for what happened… when last she was here.
What's he talking about?
I was fulfilling Akemi's dying wish.
To place her ashes at the family shrine, here in Higuchi.
Word got out that I was honoring the ashes…
…of a girl who had killed her father.
The townsfolk felt that I would be defiling her graveyard.
They banded together to stop me.
I tried to ignore them, but they came after me.
The wind took the fire…
…from house to house.
40.000 of my townsfolk…
…perished in the flames!
No, it's not possible.
That is only the beginning!
Akemi told me that after she killed her father…
…Yodoshi's spirit was so full of evil…
…even the underworld would not allow him to enter.
He became Lord Yodoshi…
…The eater of souls.
Now he holds them inside him… enslaved.
If that is true…
…then I am guilty of a greater evil than I ever thought possible.
Xena, it was a horrible accident.
No.
No, I must put things right.
Can you hear them?
I thought I heard a horse before.
Listen not just to the sounds…
…but to what's behind the sounds.
How many are there?
At least three armies are gathering.
The general we met at the water tower was right.
We will meet again.
I'll warn the others.
Ghost killer…
I know that you think of me as your enemy…
…but you must believe this…
My spirit aches for the torment I've caused.
We both want the same thing…
…To release those souls.
You've devoted your life to killing Yodoshi.
Why is it that you have never succeeded?
I have the power… to slay…
…but it is impossible for me to get close enough…
…to use my blade.
Why?
Because…
…I am mortal.
Only… another ghost…
…can trap a spirit as mighty as Yodoshi.
Akemi…
I know what I must do.
But I'm afraid that this day…
…what's done may not be undone.
Xena, the militia is prepared.
Why aren't you ready?
Gabrielle, come here.
Come here. Give me your hands.
All right…
Here.
Feel the surge of blood under the skin.
-Now, just behind… -Xena…
You don't have to do this.
I understand why you would never wanna teach me the pinch.
No, today more than ever…
…I want you to know what I know.
Please.
Why are you doing this?
Gabrielle, if I only had 30 seconds to live…
…this is how I'd want to live them… Looking into your eyes.
Stop this.
Stop it!
Always remember, I love you.
Why would you teach me this right now?
I don't understand!
There's nothing to understand.
I just wanted you to know everything I know.
Are you ready?
Let's go. We got a battle to win.
Wouldn't it be better if we stayed with Xena?
Xena wants us to lead a contingent to the east plain.
She said a group of Yodoshi's archers are gathering there.
It's too quiet out here.
Gabrielle, what would you do?
Listen not just to the sounds…
…but to what's behind the sounds.
Always remember, I love you.
Xena!
All right…
Now you asked for it.
Gabrielle!
…if I only had 30 seconds to live…
We're going to be together.
You brought out the best in me.
Gabrielle!
…this is how I'd want to live them… Looking into your eyes.
Xena!
You came to me in my dreams…
…and I thought it was reality.
Now you come to me in reality…
…and it feels like it's a dream.
Either way, I'm filled with joy.
The ghost killer…
-What's he doing? -His job.
Speeding wandering souls on their way…
…before they can be devoured by Yodoshi.
Perhaps he sees Xena.
Xena is alive! Do you understand?
She is alive.
I want to write a verse to express how I feel…
…but there's no poetry of sufficient beauty.
Akemi…
I've been in the underworld before, but it never felt like this.
What's goin' on?
Our bodies…
They're an illusion… projected by Yodoshi.
While we are under his power…
…we must obey his will.
Funny, you're just the way I remember you.
I am at your service, Lord Yodoshi.
You most certainly are.
An eternity of playing the whore to service my appetite for souls.
Xena…
I was so worried that you wouldn't show Yodoshi respect…
He's very dangerous.
It wasn't respect I was showing him.
I have a job to do.
The job that you called me for.
I'm going to destroy Yodoshi.
It will be very dangerous.
He seems to be getting mightier every day.
You're going to have to trust me, Akemi.
There's someone I have to meet…
…who can help us.
You know you are being watched.
Akemi, I can still hear your heart beating.
And I can hear every one of Miyuki's clumsy footfalls.
She'll try to follow me.
Let her.
I saw something.
The samurai may have Xena captured.
Let's split up.
Xena!
Gabrielle…
-What are you doing here? -I was so worried about you…
I found your chakram. There's so much blood!
I'm all right.
What's with the robes?
Gabrielle, I'm going to kill the lord of the dark land.
You'll need this.
I can't take that.
It's difficult to explain.
You're dead.
How could you let yourself be killed?
I'm sorry, Gabrielle. I couldn't tell you.
You'd have tried to stop me and then we'd both be dead.
Is that supposed to make me feel better?
We've overcome death before.
We will find a way to bring me back.
But only by becoming a spirit can I kill Yodoshi…
…and free those souls that I condemned to torment.
Don't you see that?
You're my whole life, Xena.
I won't lose you.
You won't lose me.
Harukata, don't you come near her.
Put down your weapons, Gabrielle.
He's working with me.
The anklet!
With this, we can bring Yodoshi to us when we're ready.
This is my soul mate.
She's a poet like you, Akemi.
I have one question.
Would you risk your life…
…for the return of hers?
Without hesitation.
There is a way, Gabrielle.
You must take her body, burn it,…
…then sprinkle the ashes into the Fountain of Strength, on Mount Fuji.
You must find the fountain…
…before the second sunset after death.
That's tomorrow.
Harukata will say the incantations necessary…
…to give the sacred katana power against malicious spirits.
Gabrielle…
This is Akemi.
-It is an honor to meet you at last. -And you, Akemi.
Gabrielle can't help with our work in the tea house.
She knows what she must do. And she should leave soon.
Thank you.
Wait.
I would like to give you something…
…to protect you on your journey.
Good luck, old friend.
I am getting your body back, Xena.
No matter where they have hidden it.
Before sunset tomorrow, we will meet again…
…on the side of Mount Fujisan.
See you there.
Give me her head!
I've been expecting you.
Your friend was a fine opponent.
She provided me with one of the greatest trophies…
…an honorable samurai could ever claim.
You call yourself honorable? You outnumbered her a thousand to one.
You're not a samurai. You're a fraud.
You couldn't have killed Xena unless she wanted you to.
I think it's you with a death wish!
I accept the challenge.
Listen not just to the sounds…
…but to what's behind the sounds.
It was the greatest honor of my life…
…to send Xena to an early grave.
If I cannot do the same to you…
…then I ask you to grant me a noble defeat.
Please, remove my head in one stroke.
Good.
Where is Miyuki?
Where is he?
Duck!
We finally meet, ghosk killer.
Akemi…
Are you all right?
Harukata, what went wrong?
There is… only one explanation.
He's drinking…
…from the Fountain of Strength on Mount Fuji.
If you drink… from the fountain…
…and use the sword I blessed…
…it will be the final destruction for any spirit.
Xena, my soul… will soon join the other's…
…trapped in Yodoshi's grasp.
You must finish a job…
…and release us all.
I will not rest till it is done.
I can't let you die.
…if I only had 30 seconds to live…
…this is how I'd want to live them… Looking into your eyes.
Even in death, Gabrielle,…
…I will never leave you.
You will return to me, my friend.
Yodoshi is a hawk.
Even with his injury, he could make it at Mount Fuji at half day.
Yes, but he is weakened.
We're no longer confined to this fisical illusions.
We can change to the other versions.
What about them?
-Yes. -Good.
Xena…
Gabrielle… is on the way of the Mount Fuji… and… if she succeeds…
She'll succeed, don't worry.
She's very good on what she does.
-I'm so sorry… -Akemi…
What's wrong?
I have to tell you… what must be done… to save those souls…
…but I fell my own soul is condemned… for what I am about to tell you.
I know that you did what you thought you had to, Akemi.
And perhaps by releasing those souls… you all will be redeemed.
Come on.
You'll come to regret for not allow me a warrior's death.
It's not too late to put that right!
I will not allow you to find a fountain…
…and revive your friend.
No!
Come on. Come on!
What?
My own daughter?
Akemi!
Xena?
Xena…
Xena… What happened?
Told you I'd see you here.
The Fountain of Strength…
Get water…
Fountain…
Water…
Gabrielle…
Gabrielle, I need the sacred katana to finish the job.
Thank you.
The sun is setting, Xena.
I have to find your ashes.
Gabrielle…
Come on!
Gab…
Enough of this!
You are about to join the 40.000 souls you condemned, Xena.
And the first thing I'll do, is take the head off your little friend with the tatoo.
You won't live that long.
I deserve the dignity of a warrior.
Dignity, huh?
Like you showed my friend?
Xena…
Akemi…
You've redeemed me. You've redeemed them.
You've redeemed yourself!
Go in peace, Akemi.
We'll meet again…
…one day.
No, Gabrielle.
Xena…
No.
Xena…
The sun is setting. I have to bring you back to life.
No.
Not if it means condemning the souls of the 40.000 who burned at Higuchi.
The souls are free.
They're free from Yodoshi's grasp.
Akemi didn't wanna tell me this in case I wouldn't come back to help…
…but for those souls to be released into a state of grace,…
…they must be avenged.
I must stay dead.
But if I bring you back to life…
Those souls will be lost forever.
Xena…
That is not right.
I don't care.
You're all that matters to me.
Don't you know how much I wanna let you do this?
But if there is a reason for our travels together…
…it's because I had to learn from you…
…enough to know the final, the good, the right thing to do.
I can't come back.
I can't.
I love you, Xena.
How am I supposed to go on without you?
I'll always be with you, Gabrielle.
Always.
Xena…
A life of journeying has brought you to the farthest lands…
…To the very edges of the Earth.
And to the place where I'll always remain…
…Your heart.
So, where to now?
I think we should go south, to the land of the pharaohs.
I hear they need a girl with a chakram.
Where you go…
…I'm at your side.
I knew you'd say that.
Subtitles: Marlon Rocha Lacerda
Xena was permanently harmed during the making of this motion picture,…
…although she kept her spirits up.