Dios awoke to the sound of birds from her window. She smiled and sat up. Today was her eighteenth birthday, and Utena was going to take her out for a private ride to tell her something of great importance. Dios hadn't any idea what it could be, but she was happy to go on a ride with her father. She took her time dressing before strapping the white leather belt around her waist. She checked the sword of Dios in it's scabbard by lifting it a little and letting it drop back into place. She did this to make sure that if she ever had to draw the sword, it would come free with ease.

Dios pulled on her boots before heading down to a quick bite of toast and coffee. She ate alone, wondering if her father would be waiting for her at the stables. She pulled on her black cloak and riding gloves before going to the stables. Her father was waiting in an outfit of black leather. Atop her horse in the misty morning air, Utena made an ominous figure. The only other color she wore was a scarlet cape.

She smiled down at her daughter as she readied her horse, Krim. Krim was a snow white horse with oddly shaped blue eyes. He had been a gift from Anthy, and as Dios mounted, Utena was struck with how much Dios looked like the prince she had gotten her name from. After Dios had met the spirit, she had insisted on cutting her hair short. Somehow, she had ended up looking exactly like him.

Dios smiled at her father. "Shall we go?"

They rode off, just the two of them. They rode until the sun rose behind the mountains and they came upon a clearing in the forest. They stopped, and Utena and Dios dismounted. Utena unrolled the blanket she had brought with them to reveal a basked of fruit, bread, chilled butter, and a bottle of wine.

They spread out the blanket and sat down, starting in on the food. The ride had left them both hungry. Utena uncorked the wine and took a swig. Dios noticed that her father hadn't brought glasses.Dios took a bite out of a pear and swallowed, liking the feel of the juice slipping down her throat. Utena passed the bottle of wine to Dios and, surprised, Dios took a small gulp. The wine warmed her, so she took another. She passed the bottle back and Utena took another long pull.

After a good half hour, Utena wiped her mouth with the palm of her hand and turned to Dios.

"Well," she began. "You're eighteen. How do you feel?"

Dios' smile was a little loopy as she looked over at her father.

"It may be the wine, but I feel pretty good. So, what were you gonna tell me? That is the point of this lovely little excursion, yes?"

Utena smiled and clapped a hand to Dios' shoulder.

"Indeed, it is. In honor of you becoming an adult, your mother thought it best to hold a ball. She's seen to it that every elligable man is to attend."

Dios made a face. "Can you put have that changed to women? I don't hold much interest in men."

Utena grinned and nodded. "All right, but let's not tell your mother, okay?"

Dios nodded and they finished eating, packed up, and rode home 'round noon.

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After a few weeks of careful planning, the ball arrived on the next full moon. Utena had Shiori use magic to change the invitations so instead of inviting all elligable men, it invited all elligable maidens. Anthy was glaring at Utena as dozens and dozens of young women filled the giant room. Dios, meanwhile, was grinning like a cat as she looked on them all. A few winked at Dios, standing there in her regal coat and pants.

Anthy pulled Utena aside and stood with her arms folded below her breasts. "Did you do this?"

Utena shrugged. "Dios told me that she has no interest in men. Guess she takes after us."

Anthy smiled. "Really...I'm relieved, actually. I don't think Dios would be satisfied with a man. She's too...bold. And I don't think any man is good enough for our daughter."

Utena smiled and pulled Anthy away. "Hear,hear. Now come. We have to leave Dios to her ball."

They went upstairs and sat at the balcony, watching as the young ladies stepped forward, one by one, and curtsie to Dios, who, in turn, bowed. Some of the girls would not step forward, and that hinted that they held no interest in a princley princess.

After the introductions came dinner. Some of the girls who hadn't presented themselves to Dios had left, but quite a few stayed, presumably for the free meal. Utena and Anthy sat at the head of the table, watching all the girls chat with eachother and Dios. Dios noticed most of all, a girl named Nozomi. She was dressed in a lavender coat and black pants. She, unlike the others, had bowed to Dios, rather than curtsied.

Nozomi sat on Dios' right, and another beautiful girl, Ivy, sat on her left. They both vied for Dios' attention, and Dios seemed quite happy to give them such. After dinner, it was time for the actual ball. Anthy and Utena, as King and Queen, took the floor for the first dance. They had wistful smiles as they danced across the ballroom to the first song they had ever danced to so many years ago, when Utena thought of herself as nothing more than Anthy's Guard Captain.

As the song ended, they kissed and walked back to a small table where dancers could sit and rest. Dios took the floor, Ivy on her arm. Utena noticed Juri and Shiori pair up, as well as Miki and Wakaba. But much to her surprize, she saw a goodly amount of the other girls in the crowd pair up with eachother.

Dios looked regal as she danced with Ivy. She was a pale girl with short white hair and crystal blue eyes. As the song ended, Nozomi tapped Ivy's shoulder, asking if she could cut in. Dios wrapped one arm around the smaller girl's waist and took her hand. They began to dance, and Dios' grin widened as they talked.

Nozomi was a dark tan girl with bright green eyes and red hair that reminded Utena of the late Touga Kiryuu. The dance ended and Dios kindly refused the next dance to another girl and danced with Nozomi again. She spent each dance thereafter with Nozomi, and no one else. The ball ended, everyone went home, and Dios bowed to kiss Nozomi's hand good night, extending the invitation for her to return to the palace anytime she wished.

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It had been a few months since the ball, and Dios and Nozomi were spending a great deal of time together. Horseback riding, archery, and they had become fencing partners. They never beat eachother. Somehow, every time, it came to a stalemate. Once, they battled it out for over two hours before they struck eachother at the exact same moment.

Now, today, Dios had recieved a message from Nozomi that she was ill and couldn't visit. Dios refolded the letter and put it back in it's envelope. She leaned against her desk and sighed.

"Perfect. How can this day get any worse?"

She felt something crawling up her shoulder. She looked and saw a large spider crawling up towards her neck. As Utena walked by, adjusting her red tunic, she heard an ear splitting scream from Dios' room. Dios flung the doors open and sped out before coming to a crashing halt. Dios shook her head, her light pink bangs falling into her eyes as she growled.

"Hey! Watch where you're-" She looked up, her eyes widening. "...going?"

Above her stood Utena and a tall, dark haired man in a toga, that Dios mistook for a dress. He had a scar from his chin to the middle of his cheek, and where the toga exposed his chest, he had four long, jagged, sickening scars over the rippling muscle. Utena helped Dios up, asking her if she was all right. Dios nodded and looked up at the man she had run into.

"Greetings," he began, his voice deep. "I am Pathos." He smiled, giving a short bow.

Anthy strode up in a beautiful blue dress.

"Ah, Dios. I see you've already met Pathos."

Dios turned toward her mother and lowered her eyebrows.

"Who's the guy in the dress?"

Anthy glowered at Dios before glancing at Pathos with significant discomfort. She noticed that Utena was barely able to contain her laughter. Then again, Utena also didn't know why Pathos was there. Anthy crossed her arms and took the needed breath to get it out.

"He's here to marry you."