Chapter 19

Return of the Prince

Utena heeled her horse upon the slick platform, her eyes roving for signs of the others. Quickly dismounting, she hurried for the mirrors, followed by Anthy. "We need to find them, come on Anthy!"

A figure stepped from behind the first mirror, confronting the young lady. The King bore his obsidian studded blade, his cape whipping in the fierce wind and rain. The violence of the night crackled across the sky, lightning flashing overhead as thunder smashed against the platform like a physical force. Unfazed by the sound and fury that raged all about them, Utena strode forward, her face hard with restrained fury.

Something about the battle light in the young lady's eyes sent shivers through the King's spine as she approached. Gripping his sword tighter, he rushed at her, a roar of fury tearing out of his throat as he swung the blade high over his left shoulder, bringing it down at Utena's unprotected arm.

"You have stood against a King of the Old Way, and now for your impudence, you will die!" Having no time to think, Utena dodged right, sending her well past the lethal sword's blow. There was a crack like thunder as the blade bit into the platform, rending it and sending a crack along its surface. The King dislodged it easily, grinning at his victim as he approached her.

"A sword like this knows little difference between your flesh and the hard surface of this platform. I guarantee you, this blade will be your death, and my key to the Eternity that I deserve. Breaking out in a fit of mad laughter, he strode towards Utena, sweeping the deadly sword at her, each strike seeming to cut the wind as it passed perilously before her.

Lunging forward, he cut past Utena's side, severing the material as if it were paper, and drawing a thread of blood from her skin. Out in the dark sky, a small bird fluttered amongst the dark carrion, swooping on them and clawing them ferociously. The larger birds, made aware of the smaller creature attacking them, turned on it, clawing the little creature viciously. The King's blade met Utena's, notching the steel on her sword. He shoved her onto her back, raising his glittering sword to strike her, when another figure hit him from behind. Anthy gripped his back with all of her might, trying to keep him from striking her friend.

"Get off me, you wretched creature! How dare you lay your hands on a King!" He shouted. Angered by the insults the King heaped upon the little creature's mistress, Chu Chu hopped onto his face from Anthy's shoulder, gripping the old man's facial hair and yanking it as hard as his tiny hands would muster. "Aagh! Filthy rat! Stop!"

Using this opportunity, Utena swiftly rose to help her friend. She lunged at him, but before she got close enough to strike, he pulled Anthy loose with a shout, and hurled her into his charging foe. Swatting Chu Chu from his face, he came at the girls, his face a mask of rage.

"Anthy, get away! You can't fight him." Utena said, desperation in her voice.

"I can't leave you Utena." Anthy replied, her scared expression streaked with rain and tears. She squealed in pain as the King gripped her by the hair, forcing her up.

"Stop it!" Utena shouted, striking at him quickly. "Leave her alone!"

"Stop!? I think I'll rip her hair out by the roots!" He swung Anthy forcefully around, parrying Utena's sword with his. Screaming in pain, Anthy tried vainly to break his grip as he dragged her along, swinging at Utena with each step. The damage his blade was doing began to tell on Utena's sword, which was nicked up and down by his cruel blows.

Utena backed away, trying to escape his fearsome attack. Suddenly her foot slipped behind her, nearly sending her plummeting from the platform. Taking a quick glance back, she confirmed her worst fears, that death lay only a pace behind her.

***

Kozue laughed passionately as she rose her blade to strike down the soldier who had slipped to the ground before her. "Goodbye! I hope you are expected in the next life!"

Suddenly the mirror to her right exploded outward, causing shards of glass to fly between her and her victim. Pulling back to escape the cutting glass, she saw Miki laying upon the ground where her foe had been a moment before. A flash of lightning sparked in the sky, and the man was once again a soldier, clad in his black coat and all.

"Kozue?" He said, confusion filling his voice.

"Miki?" She responded, a strange feeling drifting across her eyes.

Standing to their right, another soldier approached, but did not raise his blade to attack. Instead, he held out his hand, helping the disguised Miki to his feet. "We have to destroy these mirrors." His voice sounded strangely like Touga. "They're keeping us under some kind of spell."

"Of course!" Miki cried in realization. "They were pitting us against each other! We have to help the others before it's too late." They quickly hurried in separate directions, smashing mirrors as they went.

Rushing up to one, Mitsuru, who had been the other opponent of Miki and Kozue, smashed it with his rapier. Nanami squealed as glass erupted from the wall beside her. Looking at the broken mirror, she saw Mitsuru looking back at her through the opening.

"Mitsuru? What are you doing there?" She asked.

"Miss Nanami, this whole place is a trap! The guards we've been seeing are each other!" Mitsuru explained hastily. Looking over at her foes, Nanami was surprised to see another student, but the wolf next to him remained a wolf.

"Then why can I see a wolf over there?" She asked, pointing at the creature.

"Because I am a wolf." Ragnarok answered, causing Nanami to jump back, slip, and fall on her bottom.

"Ahh! A talking wolf! Someone save me, I must be having a terrible nightmare!" She cried in surprise.

"Don't be afraid, miss." Ryan tried to calm her. "Ragnarok is on our side, and on the side of the Prince Lost to the Sea. He won't hurt you, as long as you don't make him mad at least.

Nanami nodded, rising from the soaked ground. Mitsuru, who had once again taken on the appearance of one of the black clad soldiers, helped her to her feet. "Come on, we need to hurry and stop everyone from fighting each other!"

***

Nemo was gasping for breath, but his heart refused to give in. Lunging at his foe once again, he struck hard, knocking the soldier back. He parried Nemo's next strike expertly, throwing him over into a pool of rain. Looking down into the dark water, he felt a chill run up his back. The water was clear, and neither reflection nor blood stained its surface.

Rolling over, he blocked another stroke that threatened to end his life. Pushing up and rolling away from his foe, he pulled his sword defensively back, sending another potentially lethal cut past his arm. Tired and battered, he fought on, matching blades with his peerless foe.

Grinning grimly, Nemo went on the offensive, pressing the faceless man back several paces. His weariness showing, he swung heavily, missing entirely. His opponent took no time exploiting the momentary lapse in skill, thrusting for his chest. Nemo fell back, the blade sliding at his throat. He managed to bring his own sword up, keeping his foe's steel from finding his neck. Twisting the sword about, he managed to shove his own keen blade closer and closer to his enemy's neck as well, leaving them in a pushing battle.

Despite being tired, he started to rise, inch by inch lifting the relentless swordsman away from him. Nemo's grim expression became stronger as that of his foe became more worried, slowly losing ground in the contest of raw strength.

A mirror suddenly shattered behind the soldier, leaving Nemo staring into the startled face of Juri. In his own surprise, Nemo jerked back, pulling his long sword away from her. Stepping through the remains of the mirror, Saionji looked over at the two fighters, who still sat upon their knees, both cut all over by the other's vicious attacks.

"Nemo! Juri! Thank God you're both alive." Saionji hurried up to them, suddenly covered once again by the insidious illusion. "Though it looks like you nearly killed each other in the process. Come on, we have to find the others!"

***

Edric watched in darkness as his experiment went awry. Several mice had been scurrying fruitlessly through a maze he had constructed. At first everything was going well, then one of them discovered the wall was easily chewed through. Now Edric's mice had escaped, leaving only the maze they were trapped in.

Looking over his shoulder, he could see where the central tower thrust from Ohtori Academy, where Prince Conall was very likely trying to keep his own mice under control. Shaking his head, Edric smiled. The experiment had failed, and now those of the Kingdom Across the Sea would be defeated. He, however, would not.

Walking up to a large mirror upon his drawer chest, he pushed his glasses further up his nose, staring into his reflection. They were all incompetent, failing time after time to carry out flawless plans. He would not repeat their mistakes when the time came. They had rushed into their plans, thinking themselves safe. He would bide his time, until everything was perfect. There would be no mistake when he struck.

***

Smiling coldly, the King leaned forward, his blade pressing Utena's further and futher back. "Well my dear, you have come to the end of the line. But I am a forgiving man, and am perfectly willing to give you a chance to plead for your life. Make a solemn vow to me that you will submit to my will, and I will let you live."

Drawing half a pace back, he allowed her enough room for a slight respite, forcing Anthy to her knees with his other hand. "And if you refuse, I'll throw your friend from the platform along with you."

Utena's head slumped, her hair falling down over her eyes. Fear broke into her heart, threatening to drown her soul in despair. No matter how much she tried, she kept on failing to protect those she loved. Despite her best efforts, she had failed to become a Prince, she failed to save Anthy, she failed her friends when she ran from her fears, and now she would fail again, unless she surrendered herself to his will.

That's right, you are a failure! Look at you, all the nobility in your heart has been stripped away, leaving nothing but a scared little girl. You are no different than when your parents died, a worthless life, a rain drop among billions of rain drops. Bend your knee to him and end yourself! The dark voice within her mind taunted. Then a small hand rested upon her shoulder.

Utena looked over in surprise at the new presence that stood next to her. The little pink haired girl smiled warmly at her. "Don't be afraid, Prince Utena."

"Prince? I'm not a Prince... I can't be... a girl just can't become a Prince." Utena's voice sounded small and hollow.

"Of course you're a Prince, silly. That's why I'm here." Hope persisted, her tone light and happy. "If you weren't a Prince, I wouldn't exist."

"What do you mean?" Utena couldn't explain why, but something deep within her held onto the little girl's words.

"A long time ago, you were here, just like now. You were fighting for your friends, trying to break them free of this place. I was there too, but not like I am now. Back then, I looked like Akio, for I was the mirror of his nobility."

Utena's eyes flashed up at hers in surprise, suddenly seeing deeper than the simple form before her. In those eyes was the glow of her Prince, the one who saved her from herself. She was no longer looking at just Hope, but Dios as well.

"I could only appear as what Akio lost, because he was the only Prince who had touched Eternity." She continued. "But when you opened the gate, and bore the pain of the Swords of Hatred, everything changed. Dios, Akio's vision of me unravelled, leaving only the nobility behind. Even though you didn't realize it, you touched Eternity, becoming the Prince you were trying so hard to be."

"I... I am a Prince?" Utena could hardly believe what she was hearing, yet at the same time, she knew it was true.

"Yep, so go and help your friends. You are a good friend Utena, and I'm happy for you." Hope slowly faded from Utena's sight, her bright smile piercing through the fear in Utena's heart, and lighting new fire within her.

Rising from where she had knelt, Utena rose her sword again, bringing a scowl from the King. "So, you're still defiant. Fine! I will kill you for your impudence!"

Throwing Anthy to the ground, he came at Utena, his blow aimed to behead her. Utena's blade swept up as she threw his attack aside, lunging at him.

"Aaah!" A cry tore from Utena's throat as she attacked furiously, driving the King back several paces. He tried to retaliate, but her blade met his at every swing, casting his most powerful strikes harmlessly aside. Leaning forward, she thrust her sword out, cutting across his chest. Reeling from the strike, the King staggered away from her, one hand clutching the bloody wound.

"You struck me!? But you can't defeat a King of the Old Way! You're just a girl, the last of a dead line! You have no right!" His eyes filled with terror as she stood before him, her blade held at the ready.

"I am a Prince," she responded, battle light shining in her eyes, "and this is my home, not yours! Now get out, you coward! Never come back!"

Dropping to his knees, the King bowed before her. Touga walked out of the mirrors, followed by the others, wounded, but successful. Seeing Utena standing victorious, they began to cheer, tired smiles breaking the gloomy mood of the rainswept arena. Anthy rose from where she had fallen, her own smile warming the cold night.

"I am defeated." The King whispered, his voice trembling. "Please, take my sword as a sign of your victory." He held up the blade, its point away from Utena. She reached out to take hold of the sword, when he shoved the dragon headed pommel into her stomach, pushing the small switch on the hilt.

"Uhh." Utena gave a shudder as the small blade thrust into her. Laughing mockingly, the King rose, throwing himself from the side of the platform. Utena collapsed, dropping her sword as she vainly gripped at her bleeding stomach.

"Utena!" Anthy came running up to where she had fallen, followed by the others. Rolling her over, Anthy examined her face. Quickly looking up, her eyes met those of Utena's friends. "She's been poisoned!"