Utena had managed to get through most of the day pretending not to hear the things people were whispering about her. So what if she was just a normal girl now? People seemed to have become disappointed and disinterested in her. Perhaps it was not a tragedy at all, maybe she would like things better this way. It was alot calmer and her teachers did seem to be more content with her now. Then her gaze caught something that almost shattered her heart completely; their in the corner of the room was Wakaba, her eyes lined with tears. The onion princess rose from her desk and stomped furiously toward the former prince.

Utena's cheek burned red with the brutal sting of the back of Wakaba's hand slapping against it. Utena just stared up at her friend in guilt; she didn't blame her at all. Oh Wakaba can you ever forgive me...

"Utena! You, you jerk! How could you leave me like that! And without a good bye or a reason why. I was suppose to be your best friend!"

Wakaba choked. It was obvious she was struggling for words. Utena flooded with guilt seemed to be struggling for her own voice. After being caught up in Anthy and Akio's tangled web she had begun to neglect her dearest friend.

"I...I love you, Utena," she sobbed.

"I know," whispered the pink haired heroine embracing her former companion.

"If you leave me again, well, I'll just kill you!"

"I'm not going anywhere again..."

"Your so different. What happend to you?"

"I think a piece of me died."

"It was him wasn't it? That chairman, you were really head over heels for him, weren't you?" said Wakaba drying her eyes.

"I'm afraid so," Utena chuckled lightly failing to disguise the fact that her heart was sinking, "I thought I could be a prince just like him, but he was false and so was I."

"That's not true! You'll always be my prince!"

A prince is that what I was? That is what everyone claims, but I never did anything that a true prince would do. No in the end Akio and I were the same. I manipulated people, like poor Anthy, to make myself seem more noble and valiant. I was told to immortalize my noble heart; hmph it was never noble and pure to begin with. I was broken then and I am broken now. There's no room for fallen princes in castles in the sky. Akio nor I shall ever reside there...

Looking up Utena noticed the clock on the wall; the duel would begin soon.

Joining hands Utena and Anthy made their way past the rose gates, fountains, and up the winding stair case. Upon reaching the top Anthy immediately cast her eyes upward to the floating castle, which was now more like peering at the ghost of a kingdom. It was in shambles. Anthy had trouble believing that the ruins above her were once the elegant and elaborate castle with shining lights that all duelist aspired to reach. It no longer appeared to hold mystical powers of revolution and if people didn't not already know that it did so, there would not be much that would make them desire to touch the castle's steps.

"Is that..." awed Utena.

"Yes, the castle where eternity continues dwells," she answered.

"It looks almost haunted," choked Utena.

"Yes," shouted Miki annoucing his presence," it didn't regain its former beauty after your semi revolution, but none the less it still remains which means Dios remains."

Utena stared around the dueling arena with a bit of nostalgia, she rememeber when she stood proud and noble with sword in hand. But those days had become false and the arena had become the centre of her deepest fears and frightened her so, almost as much as her dark prince. After failing the final duel with Akio, the one that kept her inches from revolution, Utena thought she would never have to face this place or him agian. And here she was... Perhaps I'm getting braver

"Are you prepared to duel? asked Miki.

Anthy brought her hands to her chest attempting to summon a rose and a sword . A small light appeared but faded almost as quickly as it came. The picturesque sword of her soul did not burst from her breast and no ivory petals bloomed. Anthy looked down in distress.

"You seem to have lost your abilities as the Rose Bride, which is only suiting considering you are no longer constrained to them."

"What should I do?"

"End of the World spoke of this event occuring so I came prepared," he said handing her a white rose and one of the fencing teams swords.

"Shall we begin, Miss Himemiya."

"I suppose," she said taking her stance.

The sounds of school bells in the distance initiated the duel. As the battle waged on the sound of clanking metal prevaded the air and it became clear that Anthy's vigor was deminshing. Utena's expression quickly altered to worry at the sight of Anthy's growing unsteadiness. It appeared that Miki had chased her to the edge of the arena and would soon claim victory.

"I'm sorry, but I must defeat you," he cried sending the tip of his blade directly toward to her breast.

Years of speculating duels had taught the former bride the way of the rose; which was your life before the rose. Hurtling herself to the side with all her strength Anthy dodged the blade, her feet barely catching the side of the arena making her losing her balance. Miki who was momentarly in shock at the missing of his target also lost his balance. He slipped from the side releasing his sword and with quick reflexes grasping the side of the arena. Anthy regaining her poise darted to the aid of the dangling duelist.

Utena who had never watched a duel before was not sure how to react. It was odd enough not being a participatant, but completely bizarre to be watching the simple Anthy preforming remarkable prince-like task. Is she really the prince I've been waiting for all this time... my Himemiya??? Watching, the what she use to believe fraile bride, pull the blue haired duelist up by his limbs to safety only made her confidence in Anthy grow, and perhaps her confindence in herself as well. However, the fear she harbored of dueling again still remained.

Once Miki was safely on the concrete surface of the arena it appeared he was without defense having lost his weapon to the ground below. With a simple glide she relieved Miki of his rose. Lowering his head Miki removed his rose crest ring and cast it off the side of the arena.

"I'm sorry Miss Himemiya, to have put in you in such a position," he said begining to sob," I am unable of obtaining my own revolution. You and Utena deserved to gain freedom, you were not cowards like me. You are truly valiant."

Placing a hand on his shoulder Anthy tried her best to console the weeping boy. "You too shall be free someday, the true revolution is at hand."

Miki's aqautic colored eyes peered up in desperation at keeper to his heart. In the end it was jealousy that drove him to challange the girl he loved. It was not eternity he wished to obtain but Himemiya herself, but she was no longer a prize to be won with sword and strength. Ashamed of himself tears continued to fall and soon so did the rain. The three children stood in silence on the arena in the sky and began to soak.

The click of a stop watch echoed from a dark corner as Akio Ohtori continued his observations. The devilish man grasped the watch tighter enjoying the moment when the glass cracked and blood seeped from his clasped hand. " Time will no longer pause for you, a revolution is truly at hand...!"

A/N: Wasn't that awesome!Bow to me! Just kidding. I'm not being coky at all or anything. I'm just really happy that I'm finally inspired and that this fic is really unfolding. You guys have no idea how i am prone to short and unfinished stories. But this one I plan to be pretty lengthy...um well to me anyways. This is too good not to finish! You guys stay on me so I finish it!

Love you all so much,

-Drew Chan

ps keep reviewing