Chapter 14

A Tale of the Past

"Once upon a time, there was darkness over the face of the world. Good things were taken from the world, because all feared to oppose the darkness. The beauty that we know was not, and men struggled to survive, carrying their families from day to day."

"Then one day, that changed. Dios looked upon his children, struggling through the lives they lived, suffering, and decided he would watch it no more. Reaching down, he touched a simple boy, and told him 'Take up your sword, my son. Face the giants that crush you. Drive the darkness back. I will be with you.'"

The boy nodded, his eyes bright with hope. He went out, facing the darkness and the oppression and all the horrors of the world. The creatures of darkness laughed at him, mocking him. 'You are a boy, what can you do against the Darkness?'"

"He answered them, 'I am not much, but Dios stands with me! I will crush you!' The creatures roared with glee, sending their greatest fighter out to face him. To their astonishment, the boy slew the fighter, cutting off it's head."

"Seeing a force in him they could not hope to face, they fled in terror, unable to stand against him. The people, also witnessing his victory, celebrated in the streets, hailing him as a hero. They called him a Prince, one who stands for others, leading them through darkness."

"He was but the first, and many others took the mighty role on as well. Soon there were many who had touched on the Power of Dios, some Princes, their servants and friends, the Knights, and amongst others, those who were denied power, but took it for themselves. They were called, Witches, those who tried to lead noble Princes and Knights astray."

"Something else changed too. Dios, unwilling to control the destinies of those he watched over, allowed the spirits he gave to his champions to change. They took on the appearance and personality of those they were with, often becoming just like them. He knew some would fall, and allowed his power, Eternity, to flow out of those who corrupted themselves. Thus, no Prince of Eternity, of Dios, could fall to corruption, even if his mortal self fell."

"Only those who were pure, able to see Eternity with untainted eyes could be Princes. That purity is a choice, but the one who attains it must give up the corruption of the world to find it. This is the heart of the Old Way, the way of those who have touched the Power of Dios."

The kind woman stopped with a long breath, then smiled at the two eager girls sitting before her. "We will take a short break. Think on what you have learned." She rose and walked towards a passage in the wall. "I will be back to tell you more soon."

"Wow," Utena whispered, almost as if the air had become heavy, "I had no idea that all of this had to do with the duels."

"Yes," Anthy replied, smiling at her friend, "much of what we've been through is because of the Old Way, and the implications of those who break it."

"What do you mean?" Utena asked, looking over at Anthy.

"You know how she said that the spirits changed to be like their owners?"

"Yeah, you're referring to the spirit that was with Akio, right?"

Anthy nodded, "That spirit had lost one of Dios' most precious powers, the ability to forgive. That's why the Swords of Hatred always attacked me, and possibly the one thing that kept him from Eternity." She paused, looking down. "He wouldn't forgive me for my mistake, and though he wanted Eternity, he wouldn't give up the world he controlled to have it."

Utena hugged, her friend. "I'm sorry, Anthy. It must have been hard to know that."

"Harder than anything I have ever done..." Anthy answered quietly, her voice trailing off into the cavern's stillness. For several long minutes, they sat alone in the room.

***

"As it happened," the lady continued, suddenly sitting before them again, "two brothers found themselves in a terrible dispute over a girl, whom they had saved from a dragon. They quarreled with each other night and day, trying to justify their love over the other's. One of them, however, had let anger flow into his heart, forgetting his love for his brother. Finally fed up, he drew his sword, and threatened to kill him if he refused to back down."

"Unable to set his heart aside, the noble brother drew his blade as well, trying desperately to convince him of his folly. The angry Prince refused, speaking spitefully against his estranged kin. 'She will be my Bride, or no one's!'"

"Finally incapable of holding him off anymore, the noble brother stabbed his wrathful sibling in the chest, leaving him dying upon the ground. 'Curse you! Curse you to be hated for your nobility!'"

"Broken and sorrowful at the loss of his beloved brother to anger, he cried out to Dios for an answer. Dios, saddened as well for the fallen Prince, established a code by which all things were to be resolved. 'Only those who give blood willingly may enter the sacred grounds, and only that such troubles be resolved.' said Dios. 'Each shall be given a rose, to be placed over the heart. This is the heart of it's bearer, and when removed, the issue is resolved.'"

"Many more things he said, but I will not repeat them now. Nonetheless, this was the birth of the Duels, and the foundation by which all things must be weighed. Those favored by Dios will triumph, and the result of the Duel final. Many other things came from that fateful Duel as well, the Bride being the one you are most familiar with."

"I have a question?" Utena spoke up, raising her hand like a girl in school. At a nod from their host, she asked. "How come we can enter the Dueling Arenas then? We don't have to give blood to enter."

At this statement, Anthy looked away with a shiver. Utena turned to her in surprise. "Anthy, is everything alright?"

"Y-yes, I'm fine, miss Utena." Utena was about to press further, when her question was answered.

"What do you have in your pocket?" The woman asked, her eyes sad.

Reaching into her pocket, Utena withdrew the Rose Crest. "Oh this? It's a ring we wear to get into the Dueling Arenas..." Realization flowed into her, and she looked at the ring again.

"That ring, and the crest it bears, is stained in the blood of one hundred dead. It can open the gates, for much blood has stained it's nobility." The woman's eyes became even more downcast as her voice dropped to a tremble.

She quickly rose, departing the room once again. Her hand covered over her face as she disappeared down the corridor. Utena was about to go after her, then paused, looking back to Anthy.

Deciding it was better to stay with her friend, she rested a comforting hand on Anthy's quivering shoulder. "It's alright, Anthy. I'm here."

Facing her friend, Anthy wiped at her tearstained cheeks. "I'm so sorry Utena, many things happened that I am to blame for."

"There there, whatever happened is in the past, and I'll forgive you, no matter what it was."

Anthy nodded sullenly, her eyes losing focus. She spoke again, hesitantly. "I have a story to share with you too. Do you remember the Nimuro Memorial Hall..?"

***

The woman came back once again, still looking shaken, but now in control of herself. Sitting down calmly, she looked to the two girls again. "The last part of my tale, is about a boy, a Prince raised under the Old Way, and the love he would give anything for."

"Born of compassion and freedom, he was a boy they would call righteous, for his might was not in his strength or stature, but in his heart that contended for others, that fought for those who had nothing. He was a strong willed boy, determined to what he set himself to do." Utena couldn't help but notice a maternal warmth in the words of the woman, the flow of one who loves only as a mother can. She felt a longing within herself, a desire that called some deeper nature than she had known before. I want to feel that way, to know that pure love.

The woman looked straight at her, a smile hidden in her eyes. She continued to speak, as if nothing had happened. "At that time, stories had spread about another Prince, who had fallen when a Witch took hold of his heart, and contended against the world for it." Anthy began to shiver. "They didn't want their precious son to fall, and so pledged him to the daughter of the Kingdom of the Rose, a beautiful place across the sea. The boy himself was enamored by the pledge, like those in the stories of great Princes past. He started to write letters to the girl, in hopes of meeting her someday."

"His world changed suddenly, when his mother fell ill. The doctors came, they tried to help her, they brought all their machines, all their wealth of technology to save her. It wasn't enough. The boy was sad, but his father even more so. Broken by their failure, and losing the compassion in his life, he lost the desire to uphold freedom as well. He took away the new things of the world, the things that failed his wife. He became angry and violent, only seeking to control more."

"One day, a Witch came, hearing of his enraged suffering, his desire for control. She promised him that she could give him anything he wanted, even his beloved. The cost would be high, but with the power of Eternity, he could take whatever he wanted. All he had to do, was sacrifice something Eternal. Somewhere in his mind, he began to conceive of a plan. He would make use of his son's love, and ensure it grew stronger."

"He decided the best way to make his son more devoted, and the girl who was to be his Bride more desperate, was to make sure she had no one else. His best men were sent, and killed the girl's parents."

Crash! Utena sprang from her chair, throwing it to the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Please, no more! Not right now..." Turning aside, she walked slowly away, her arms wrapped over her shoulders.

Anthy came up next to her, rubbing her shoulder gently with her dainty hand. Anthy opened her mouth to speak, but then thought better of it. For several long minutes, all that could be heard in the quiet cavern were Utena's sobs, echoing in the stillness.

***

Several minutes passed before the two girls sat down again. Utena's sleeve was wet. Anthy's hand trembled. A box of tissue sat empty on a small table. Many tears had been cried. The kind woman resumed, her voice a little softer than before.

"The young Prince fell into sorrow at the news, and became even more broken to hear the girl had disappeared. He walked out to the sea every day, watching the water for some sign of his precious girl, hoping somehow he would find the truth."

"'What bothers you, my son?' His father asked one day."

"'What happened to her, to her parents!?' He demanded. Though many mysteries can never be explained, the way a child knows the truth may be one of the greatest. Deep within his heart, he knew the answer to his question. His father became angry with him, telling the boy that what was happening was for his own good."

"Shocked at his father's confession, something he didn't want to believe, the Prince ran. His father tried to stop him, to keep him from leaving, but the boy refused. He cast himself into the sea, followed by his loyal Knight. The Knight tried to bring him back, but the boy was adamant. He would find the girl, protect her, help her. Seeing no argument would turn the boy's mind, the Knight swam with him, and together they defied the sea."

"Furious to see her plan go awry, the Witch called down every curse she knew against the brave Prince. She didn't realize it, but one of her powerful spells did catch him. He had left his home, his identity behind for the sake of the girl. That power stole away his name, and along with it, the memories he held so dear. He was lost, without a purpose, unable to understand what had happened to him. There was one thing the Witch's magic could not take away, however, the image of a beautiful girl. He held on to that one thing, his heart seeking her with one purpose, to hold on to that promise he made. He would protect her, help her, even at the cost of his life."

Utena looked down, lost in thought. He did all of that, for me? He threw himself time and again into harm's way, just to protect me? She fought to keep new tears from springing forth, her heart beating.

"Uh, I have a few questions." Utena said, looking up.

"Of course my dear child." The woman answered kindly.

"You talked about the Old Way, and the Duels."

"Yes?"

"How come when I was stabbed in the last Duel, I didn't get hurt?" Utena straightened up, a chill running down her back.

"Who's heart did you have?" The woman asked.

"Who's heart? That's right, you said the rose we wear is our heart." Utena answered, realization flowing into her. The woman nodded. "I wasn't wearing my heart, I was wearing Nemo's! But wouldn't that mean..." The woman nodded again, this time much more solemnly.

Utena rose swiftly, panic beginning to run across her face. "I have to get to him! He could be seriously hurt!"

"You won't be able to help him yet." The woman said calmly.

"What do you mean!?" She whipped around, looking back at the woman. "How do I help him? Please tell me!" Utena begged, tears breaking free once again.

"He needs his name. As long as he is no one, he can't truly be himself again."

"What is his name?" Utena asked, desperation welling up in her voice.

"Look into his eyes, they will tell you."