Chapter 10
The Price of a Name
Althea, having grown far too frustrated with her efforts to break Anthy, turned her attention to breaking down Prince Nemo. She smiled gleefully as she entered the sanctum of her work, looking about at the broken threads and dangling strings where small pieces of various items hung. Passages had opened deeper into his mind and soul, allowing the old Witch to push directly into the heart of her victim.
Walking down into the shrouded darkness, her eyes moving with practiced confidence after every darting shadow and flitting movement. The mind of another could be a dangerous place.
Sighting a cluster of golden threads amongst the dark hangings of the Prince's mind, she reached out, snapping them with her long, sharp fingernails. The pictures hanging from the end fell to the ground, a childlike laughter emanating from them right before they shattered into a cloud of dust upon the jagged stones that covered the floor. Heading further in, she continued breaking threads and strings, leaving their strands limp and lifeless where they hung.
Suddenly a series of snarls and growls erupted about her, and she found herself standing in a natural catacombs, filled with ropes and vines, each holding objects and memories much stronger to the Prince than those she had seen before. Also amongst the stone pillars, the glint of savage eyes and blood coated teeth within the feral mouths of her stalkers.
One of the bloodthirsty pack of wolves approached, it's fur colored in crimson and marked with sable. "You have come into sanctified territory, intruder. By what power shall you be safe?"
Without even a moment's hesitation, the creature lunged at Althea, it's fangs wide as it struck.
The others, seeing their leader attack, rushed her from all sides, their snarls echoing through the dark caves. Quickly overwhelmed, the Witch disappeared under their combined attack. Blood and gore flew through the air as they thrashed about, tearing with fang and claw.
The frenzy was short lived, however, for when they rose, their leader lay slaughtered under them. Looking about, the wolves quickly raced back amongst the pillars, searching for a sign of their prey.
One of them spotted her, gave out a long howl, then went tearing after her. Leaping out, it found itself tangled in the ropes hanging from the chamber's sides. The others, having heard the call, came running. They spotted the Witch, who looked towards them. Terror covered her face as they leapt atop her, snapping the ropes she was tangled in, and killed her.
The game of cat and mouse went on for some time, but finally, only one pair of footsteps could be heard in the dark passageways.
***
Utena ran as fast as her legs would carry her, trying to escape this land. This is just like Ohtori, just like what happened then! I won't suffer like that again, I won't be tricked and betrayed. She carried on, her eyes squeezed tight shut, her legs beating on the rough dirt coated road. She didn't see the man standing in her way, she couldn't know the peril that lay in her path.
"Oof!" Utena cried in surprise as she hit the man and fell reeling backwards. Rubbing her head where she hit it upon the ground, she looked up and started to apologize, but the words caught in her throat as she saw his face. "Ah, excuse me, I didn't mean to bump into you like tha-"
Her eyes went wide with terror at the sight. A mad light shone in his once beautiful eyes, his dark, handsome face twisted in perverse delight. "Utena! I have come for you!" Akio shouted, his eyes growing wild as he gripped the sword at his side. Drawing the blade from it's sheath, he pointed it at Utena, his face a picture of fiendish pleasure.
Scrambling up, Utena ran from the fearsome apparition. No, it can't be Akio. He's dead, isn't he? Why is all of this happening!? She tore down the streets, trying desperately to escape the fallen Prince.
Further up the street, a pair of glasses flashed in the waning daylight. Turning from the pursuit, he began doing what he did so well. Others who manipulated their world liked tugging at the threads, drawing everything into their power by subtle control over the fates they thought they had a hand in. He knew better than them.
Drawing up a handful of dust, he let it slide slowly from his grip, blowing into it as he turned back and forth. South, east, north, east, south, east. He finally finished dropping the dust back to the ground, where it formed a tiny hill in the path.
Walking back to the ship, he grinned to himself. Prince Utena would face a dire challenge because of what she had done, and she would face it alone. Swords would avail much under the Old Way, but they could not protect one from their fate without destiny on their side. Utena had been drawn into casting hers aside to save herself from her fears, and soon she would pay the price of leaving the path set before her.
Akio was gaining on her, drawing closer and closer, his mad laughter at the though of slaughtering his hated foe ringing in her ears. She dashed right, her path leading towards the sea. The road was quickly going to hit the port, where she would be caught in the open.
She turned left down a small alley, dodging around the remains of an old truck. Akio was still gaining, throwing himself over the ruined vehicle with one hand. The alley burst back into the road, leaving Utena in the open again. Looking right then left, she ran north towards the castle, hoping for some refuge there.
"I'm going to enjoy making you suffer, Tenjou! You ruined everything, and now you will pay, with your life!" Akio taunted as he gained on her. She risked a glance back, only confirming her worst fears. Not only was Akio quite a bit taller, he also seemed to have some unnatural vitality. She was pouring sweat, trying to maintain her pace, while he was running easily behind her, each step cutting precious inches from her desperate lead.
She decided to try losing him again. Grabbing an old stoplight pole that had long since cease to work, she swept down another street, then immediately hurried into an open door on her right. Running down the dark, dismal passage, she found herself emerging back into the sunlight. She looked about, seeing the only path led off to the left. heading up the mountain.
Looking back, she sighed with relief that there was no sign of Akio. She began walking up the mountainside path, unknowing of the peril directly ahead of her.
***
Ragnarok dragged his weary body along through the woods, his tongue lolling from one side of his mouth. He had been pressing on for days, but never seemed to get any further. The forest itself seemed to rise up against him, undergrowth clawing at his body and briars leaving scratches that marred his fur in blood. I know I won't be able to press on much longer, but I have to succeed, for the sake of... for the sake of... Why am I out here again? What was it I was doing before all of this happened?
Too tired and confused to continue, the wolf sat down on his haunches, looking up at the sky overhead. He could see the clouds slowly turning a dusky red with the fall of night, slowly swirling in a great circle overhead. Chasing themselves endlessly in their flow with the wind.
"Wait! Clouds don't flow in circles like that!" Ragnarok took to his feet again, still watching the clouds carefully. Indeed they were following each other, refusing to break the constant pattern of their flow. They were also all colored by sunlight on the inner rim. Realizing what this meant, he cursed angrily at himself. "How could I be so foolish!? I'm under a spell! No wonder I couldn't find anything! If I keep going like this, I won't be able to help anyone, best get some rest."
Sighing wearily, he laid himself down upon the soft loam of the woodland floor. Sleep swept in quickly, drawing Ragnarok in it's embrace. There was no peace for him in sleep, however.
A crash of thunder sounded overhead, tearing into his ears as he tried to keep himself in the realm of dreams. "No more, no more. I don't want to deal with it anymore." He growled and swept his paws in the water, as if trying to drive the waves from him. Suddenly realizing there was something terribly wrong with this, he awoke, looking about at the pounding rain and relentless waves sweeping all about him.
He began paddling with all his might, trying to keep his head above water. Then, amongst the towering waves and flashes of lightning, he spotted a tiny figure, struggling against the terrible might of the sea. The boy swam on, regardless of the peril and the terrible power of the waves that constantly sought to drag him into the folds of their depths.
"My Prince!" Ragnarok called, but the waters crashed and the lightning roared overhead, drowning his words as surely as the sea would consume them. Drawing closer, he exerted his might against the sea, pressing onward towards the determined boy.
"My Prince, grab ahold of me! We will make it, just let me help you!" He yelled. There was no answer, but the gleam in the young Prince's eyes shone like a blazing fire, defying all peril. He knew immediately how great this boy would rise to become, one who could change the world.
"Don't worry, I will protect you no matter what, Prince..." Within his dream, Ragnarok struggled to remember the next word. What was it..? What was it that I called him..? Why can't I remember..? The Witch's touch, the power that gave me this form! That's why! I have to break free! His name... His name! His name is the answer!
A spark lit deep within the woodland, glowing in the pitch blackness of the night. It's glow was tiny, barely existent against the oppressive weight of the darkness, but it was there. A voice clawed desperately into the brave wolf's mind. Ragnarok, help me...
Snapping awake, the wolf rose from where he lay, a new vitality rising within him. My Prince is in trouble! I will not fail him! His paws began to move, step after step, challenging the weakness of his body. The spark sat dying for a moment, guttering in the darkness. Then, without warning, it grew. Just a tiny bit, as it warmed a leaf in the loam. The leaf caught fire, growing slowly. The heat began igniting sticks and brush, a small tree, a large bush, then more and more.
"I'm coming, my Prince! I will not fail you!" Ragnarok called, rallying all the strength he could muster. Charging through the woods, he ran to the aid of his Prince, the woods turning into a mighty blaze in his wake. His howl was answered by others as wolves came racing ahead of the fire, sending forth their battle cries. The Knights had awoken once again.
***
Althea had crushed everything in her path, shattering the mind and soul of Prince Nemo. She made her way through the dark halls, her eyes set on the last unconquered place within the young man. Threads and webs, cords and ropes all hung broken behind her, the shattering of the boy's mind and ruin of his memories weakening him and making him question his existence.
Coming down into his final stronghold, the Witch looked on with pleasure at the sight of the last bastion of his resistance. A small walled stronghold that contained his heart. Without anything else to hold it, the walls had cracked, the door had fallen, his will was all but broken. Nemo was now ready to be made of use for his father.
A figure stepped out, cloaked in darkness and shadowed in face. The figure stood to bar the Witch, drawing a sword in defiance of Althea's power. Leaning upon her staff, she shook her head, her grin showing only disdain for the guardian standing before her.
"No one! That mockery of a name has no more use to me!" The ancient Witch cackled as she hobbled up to the entrance of the ruined stronghold. "You thought it would protect you, but that name is now your bane. You have no identity, no self, nothing! Bow and surrender the last of yourself!"
The figure did not move, or show any sign of being phased by her words. Why isn't he breaking? He has nothing left within him to hold on to! She glared, trying to pierce the darkness, but to no avail. There was still some kind of power left within him, something that defied her power to break.
Casting aside her cloak, she pulled herself up to face the impudent guardian. "You are done. I have a name for you, and you will bear it for the rest of your life. Weakness. When others see you, they will know your name and remain apart from you, for you will always fail them. Perhaps, when your father thinks well enough of you again, you will be given a proper name, but for now, you shall not oppose me, for you are weak!"
Still the figure stood, defiant of her words. Why does this one still resist? All the others failed, all the others finally broke under my power! How does this one stand!?
Unable to contain her irritation any longer, Althea snarled at the figure. "Reveal yourself! How dare you refuse to bow to my will!?"
"Nemo's heart isn't here." The figure answered, but in a voice she never expected to hear. "He gave it away, and if you want it, you must defeat me." The shadows fell away, revealing a girl with long pink hair, proudly sporting a boy's uniform, and bearing a sword.
"Utena Tenjou! How can you be here!?" Althea demanded, her old voice cracking in rage.
Utena smiled. "I don't have to be, but Nemo already gave me his heart. As long as he loves me, there's nothing you can do. You may have broken every other part of him, but this place belongs to me, and I won't let you take it."
Hissing every vile curse she knew, the Witch threw herself at the guardian, swinging her staff at Utena. Gripping the sword with both hands, Utena met the staff with the blade. As they clashed, a brilliant blast of light erupted.
Althea felt a great force slam into her, throwing her back. When she opened her eyes, she was lying against the wall of her tower room, her hands smoking and throbbing in pain. Her staff lay upon the table, broken in two.
Unable to believe what just happened, she pulled herself to her feet and uttered another obscenity as she gripped the staff. It came only an inch from the table before turning to ash, falling in a long pile over her books and instruments.
"No! My staff!" She screamed in her rage, when terror suddenly turned her blood cold. She could hear the howl of wolves.