Chapter 12

The Sun Rises

Utena lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her heart thumping in her breast at the thought of her battle tonight. She looked over at her clock, the hands reading seven twenty-three. Sighing with restlessness, she rolled onto her stomach. She turned her eyes out the window, to the streets outside. A happy, middle aged couple walked by, their smiles seeming to glow in the dusk. Between them, a little, pink haired girl held their hands as she smiled up at her parents.

Time seemed to slow as the girl's head turned until she was looking right at Utena. Her bright smile suddenly ignited within the teenager's heart, and realization started to flow. Utena's breath caught in her throat, she watched as the little girl from the docks walked off around a corner, disappearing from sight.

The clock read nine forty-eight, and yet Utena still lay in her bed, her thoughts racing back deep into her past. Her parents, her childhood, her hopes, her dreams, her Prince. Those innocent days, long carried off into the dust strewn pages of history.

The clock ticked, struck eleven, and let out a series of rings. Akio, the man who had stolen her life, appeared within her mind. He had led her into his trap. He had toyed with her emotions. He had stolen her innocence. He had lied to her. He had tried to take her soul, a sacrifice to regain his purity, purity that had long since ceased to be. Pushing herself out of her bed, Utena took the sword she had borrowed from the school, wrapping its belt about her waist.

She then picked up a half finished bowl of food from the study table, and began to eat. Her stomach turned, and she set it back down, still unfinished. Turning to the door, she let out a long sigh, and made her way to her fate.

***

High in the sky, upon the platform in the sky, he waited. Looking up at the castle that revolved overhead, he thought about Eternity, that immortal power that could revolutionize the world. Smiling, knowing that power would soon be his, he turned back to his servant.

"How much longer, Edric? How much longer before I can claim my bride?" His voice was sweet like a warm fire on a frozen night.

Edric bowed, holding his right hand over his heart. "It will be soon, my lord. She is scheduled to arrive in only a few minutes."

"Good, I was beginning to think it would take too long."

"May it never be, my lord." Edric smiled. Soon, the girl would belong to his lord, her heart won by he who was worthy of Eternity. That was all well, but it was his own reward that burned in Edric's heart. All his ambitions, his efforts, and all of his wasted life would be redeemed tonight, when his lord gave him the desires of his own heart.

Returning upright, he approached his lord, placing a golden rose upon his uniform. Stepping back, he looked over the man standing before him, admiration welling up inside him. Prince Conall was by every means impressive, sturdy, handsome, and elegant. But it was his golden hair and deep emerald eyes that impressed Edric the most. The Prince could entrance those who dared to meet his gaze, drawing them under his power. They would never realize it, but they would fall to his will like puppets, nothing more than marionettes upon his strings.

***

Utena made her way silently through the woods, walking along a quiet, yet well beaten path. A clearing opened up before her, broad marble steps flanked by fountains, ending in a large white gate of bars, a simple handle breaking its surface, the Rose Crest formed in stone over the passage.

Hesitantly, she reached into her pocket, drawing out the little white ring with the Rose Seal upon it. A sharp breath tore out of her as she bit back tears, sliding the ring on to her left hand. Gritting her teeth, she took hold of the handle. A droplet of water flew from the gate, breaking over the seal on the ring. With a great gushing, all the fountains began to shoot high overhead on either side as the gate itself seemed to become liquid and shift from in front of her.

Stepping through, she walked up to the massive pillar surrounded by a great corkscrew staircase, leading off into the sky. For a moment, she regarded the elevator in the middle of the pillar, then turned to the endless flight of stairs.

Higher and higher, the stairs rose until they carried her into the sky, and finally to the platform where Edric waited atop the stairs. "Greetings, favored one. The Prince awaits you."

"Let's just get this overwith." Utena growled in reply, then stopped at the sight of the man she would be facing. "What are you doing here?"

Prince Conall strode forward, his cape fluttering in the winds blowing over the platform. "It has been a long time, Princess."

"Princess!?" Utena took a step back, unsure of what was going on.

"Yes, we have been looking for you for a very long time." His voice cut its way deep into her, stroking her heart. She could feel her body's longing, her desire for her Prince welling up again. Her resistance started to fade, and she stepped closer to him.

"After all this time, your parents may finally rest in peace."

Immediately, her guard went back up. "My parents!? What do you know about my parents?"

"No need for defensiveness," he whispered as he drew up to her, brushing his fingers over her cheek, "a Princess is not born of common blood as you must know. And you, my dear girl, are most unique."

"You didn't answer my question." Utena resisted, but slowly her eyes were being drawn into his, the command he held breaking away the walls within her.

"Your parents were very special, rulers without peer." He smiled as his hand brushed her hair, drawing her gently closer into his arms. "They were rulers in this place, before what is now was, and they had a beautiful daughter who was the pride of their life. When she was very young, her parents sought out a Prince who would be good enough for their daughter, and made a pact with the Prince's father, that the two should be wed."

"A sudden tragedy struck them down, robbing their little Princess of her family. Promises were forgotten, times changed, and the little girl grew up. She didn't understand what happened, and was lost in the world. One day, many years later, she met a Prince, who had been looking for her for a long time. He was overjoyed when he finally found her, taking her into his arms. And I have found you, Utena."

Utena's heart was beating wildly now, and she longed to sink into Conall's arms. He drew her closer to kiss her, when a shout cut across the platform. "Utena!"

She looked, torn from Conall's gaze by the shout. There, standing at the head of the stair, stood Nemo. Her eyes grew wide, and she called out to him. "Nemo, you're alive!"

Gritting his teeth, Conall glared at the intruder. "Edric, remove this intruder!"

Unhesitatingly, Edric swiftly strode towards the intruder, drawing his rapier and whipping it about himself as he approached. Drawing a longsword from his side, Nemo moved to engage him, whirling his sword in a similar pattern. They closed quickly on each other, their blades meeting with a tremendous crash.

Edric's blade was shorn in two by the clash, and before he could react, he was struck by the flat of Nemo's sword, thrown aside. Nemo continued to walk towards Conall and Utena, his pace never even broken by Edric's resistance.

"Get your hands off my friend!"

"You dare to stand up to a Prince of the Old Way!? I will crush you for your insolence!" Conall snarled. Then, pausing, he turned to smile at Utena. "Princess, I will require your assistance in defeating this wretch."

Utena started to speak, but was cut short as he hovered his hand over her chest. A white light glowed from under it, and the hilt of a long, elegant blade emerged. Gripping it, he drew the beautiful sword from within her.

"This story can have only one true Prince, and I shall not relinquish my place to a pauper!" Conall said, pointing the beautiful weapon at Nemo.

Utena, regaining herself, placed a hand on her chest. Her breathing had become normal again, the passion she had felt retreating from her body. Sudden realization as to what was happening brought her back around to reality as she looked to the two young men, the Prince, and her risen friend. "What the heck is going on?" She whispered to herself.

Glancing at Utena, Nemo then smiled at Conall. "Your power over her is broken, she has been freed of the darkness you veiled her eyes with."

Gritting his teeth, Conall retorted. "A minor problem, but one that hardly matters. She is still engaged to me, and I intend to make good on my claim!"

"So you would make her a slave, force her to bow to your will. You are an insufferable beast, and as long as I draw breath, you will not touch her." Nemo's voice had become cold again, but the fire in his eyes burned brightly, boring into his foe. Conall glared back but found no power over his fierce opponent.

"Then I will have to take your breath as well!" Conall lunged forward, the blade he drew from Utena clashing viciously against Nemo's mighty sword. Shoving forward, he pushed Nemo back, laughing. "You are no match for me, little pup! I will break you like glass!"

Regaining, his stance, Nemo twisted the blade, throwing a quick thrust past him. Conall fell to the ground, overbalanced by his reckless attack. "No, you won't break me. Despite all your might, you are still a coward, hurting people with your words. You find what strikes deepest, then twist the truth to your advantage. I know you lied to Utena, that you tried to break her with stories of her past. That you made yourself into her Prince."

Rising, he whirled on Nemo, snaring. "How would you know? You're nothing more than a nameless fool who has dared oppose me!"

"I know," Nemo paused, "because I met the real Prince from your tale, and he has renounced any claim to her."

"What!? That's not possible! We have searched for him, but he is gone, drowned by the sea when he tried to escape our father's wrath!" Conall's heart grew cold, fear welling up through his body. He tried to convince himself that Nemo was lying, but deep within, he knew just as well, the Prince was alive.

Lunging towards his foe, Conall thrust at his opponent, feinted Nemo's attack , and slashing at his thigh. Nemo cried out in pain as the blade bit deep, spilling blood upon the ground. He whirled, laughing in triumph as he brought the blade down on his foe.

"Die!"

Suddenly, a bright light shone in his eyes, blinding the Prince. Nemo rose quickly, striking the rose from his foe's chest, throwing golden petals to the wind. As the bells tolled the call of victory and the celebration of the new day. Wiping his arm across his face, Conall roared in anger, swinging down upon Nemo.

"You don't get it, I will still kill you!"

The blade never struck. As the duel ended, the sword drawn from Utena simply vanished into the sunlight, leaving behind nothing of its presence.

"The sword of a noble soul will never serve you." Nemo rose, his eyes piercing Conall's soul, his words burning deep within. "Run."

Not hesitating another moment, Conall ran as fast as he could, fleeing the terrible enemy he could not conquer. Nemo looked over at Utena, the first hints of a smile forming on his face. He turned to approach her, only to have his leg give out.

"Nemo!" Utena ran up, dropping to her knees next to him. "Are you alright?"

"Are we still friends, Utena?" He asked, his voice much weaker than before.

"Of course we are." Tears began streaming down her cheeks.

"Then I'll be fine."

***

Edric walked down the street, his hands buried in his pockets, a smile on his face. Prince Conall had been foolish to think he could take the Princess for himself. Instead of breaking Utena, he had made her stronger, giving her a key to unlock what was truly within her.

He reached around his side, rubbing at the tender spot where he had been hit by Nemo. It was hardly more than a bruise, and a necessary bit of acting on his part, but entirely worth it. He was no man's meat shield, and would not be sacrificed to the ambitions of any man.

Drawing his hands from his pockets, he straightened up, removing the smile from his face. He became the Edric everyone saw, walking steadily up to the grand door of Fuera Mansion. Taking the knocker, he rapped three times on the door in quick succession, then turned to wait.

A moment later, Venetia stepped out of the door, curtsying politely to her butler. Turning about she reached her hand through the crook in Edric's arm, handing her bag to him with the other.

"I'm glad to see you doing so well. Ever since that injury, I was worried that something bad might have happened to you. So how was the hospital? To your liking, I hope?" She said as they walked through the gate, heading back towards the academy.

"Yes it was, the physicians were excellent." He replied, his tone flat as usual.

"Good, because you owe me for that little trip."

"Of course, miss Venetia."