BROTHERS IN ARMS [INTRO — ACHILLES, SPOKEN] They said there was a Hydra in the valley. Nine heads. One monster. Two heroes. Then I saw Hercules. "There's my competition." Then Xena walked through the fire... Suddenly, this battle meant something more. [VERSE 1 — ACHILLES] I drew my sword beneath the burning sky, Nine serpent heads were twisting high. Hercules stood like a mountain in flame, Two warriors staring, neither yielding ground or name. He had the strength, I had the speed, But Xena was the fire my heart could see. Sword in her hand, fire in her soul, She never needed either of us to take control. [PRE-CHORUS] One head falls, two more rise, Venom burning in the Hydra's eyes. Hercules charges, I move like flame, And somewhere in the chaos we're playing a dangerous game. [CHORUS — ALL] HYDRA! COME AND TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT! HERCULES! SHOW ME EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT! Nine heads, two blades, three warriors tonight, No one backing down, no one giving up the fight. ACHILLES: I came to prove I could stand above him! HERCULES: I came to prove he couldn't beat me! XENA: "And I came owing neither of you a thing." [VERSE 2 — ACHILLES] Hercules grabbed one head and threw it down, I struck another as it tore through the ground. "Nice move!" he shouted through the smoke. "Not bad for a mortal bloke!" He laughed, I laughed, the battle raged on, And rivalry faded with the coming dawn. Then Xena struck from the side, Her blade flashed bright. She saved my life without breaking stride. For one heartbeat, everything stood still— No Hydra. No Hercules. No battlefield. Then another head came screaming in. [CHORUS — BIGGER] HYDRA! COME AND TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT! HERCULES! SHOW ME EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT! Nine heads, two blades, three warriors in the fight, No one standing over anyone tonight. We came as rivals, But battle revealed What was underneath The things we couldn't say. [VERSE 3 — XENA] You want the truth? Then stop measuring strength. Look at me. I've been wanted before— For beauty, fury, power, For what a warrior could bring to a man's side. I've worn the chains. I've broken them. I've walked away from men Who called possession love. So when you look at me like that, part of me wants to run. Not because I fear either of you, But because admiration becomes ownership, And desire becomes a cage. Here's what I rarely say: I'm tired of pretending I don't want to be loved. I want someone who sees the woman beneath the armor, who doesn't need me smaller to feel strong, who can stand beside me, never over me. [ACHILLES — QUIET] "Then I see you." [XENA] "Do you?" [ACHILLES] "I see a woman who could walk away tomorrow, and I'd have no right to stop her." [XENA] "That's closer." [HERCULES] "And if she walks away, we let her." [XENA] "That's the answer." [VERSE 4 — HERCULES] I've fought beside you, Xena. I've seen the fire you hide. If you ever choose my road, I'll walk it at your side. But if you choose Achilles, I'll raise my hand to him, Because brotherhood is stronger than a rivalry can win. [BRIDGE — XENA] Now that's the answer I've been waiting to hear. Not two men fighting because they're afraid to lose me. Two warriors strong enough to let me choose. Maybe tomorrow I walk alone. Maybe I walk with one of you. Maybe all three face another monster. Whatever road I take— It will be mine. If you call each other brothers, prove it here. Not with your fists. With trust. [FINAL BATTLE — ALL] Nine heads screaming, The valley shakes. Steel meets scale, The earth itself breaks. Hercules holds the beast, Achilles climbs the spine, Xena strikes the final blow at exactly the right time. One! Two! Three! Eight! The ninth rises higher— NOW! The Hydra falls beneath the flame. Three warriors standing, none seeking fame. Sword and fist, fire and steel, Three hearts discovering what brotherhood feels. [AFTERMATH] Hercules lowers his weapon. I wipe the blood from my blade. HERCULES: "She's not something either of us wins." ACHILLES: "I know." XENA: "Good." She picks up her sword and walks toward the sunrise. Not behind us. Not between us. Ahead of us. [FINAL CHORUS — ALL] ACHILLES: I don't need to stand above you. HERCULES: I don't need to stand apart. XENA: "And I don't need either of you to tell me who I am." ALL: Three warriors, three hearts, three roads beneath the sun. equals when the battle's begun. If love finds us, let it find us free. If brotherhood binds us, let it be by choice. And if the Hydra rises once again— We answer with one voice. [OUTRO — ACHILLES] I entered that valley had something to prove. I thought I had to defeat Hercules. I thought I had to win Xena. But the gods taught me the truth. I didn't win a woman. I didn't defeat a rival. I gained a brother. And Xena? She was already free. [XENA — WHISPER] Three warriors. One battle. Three choices. [ACHILLES] Brothers in arms. [HERCULES] Until the end. [XENA] And tomorrow... I choose where I go.
