The Ballet of the Swans

Act Four

"Swan Hime, Swan Hime, why do you cry?"

"Huh?" Ahiru looked up from her dance, as she heard the voices which sounded eerie-like 'A song? It sounds so familiar...' She thought, not minding about the flock of nightingales which surrounded the trees of the lake, since the song continued, it had her full attention.

" In the clearing of a Lake painted by the stars

I met the Prince of Songs,

And dance to his gentle melody,

Under the cover of the Twin Moons

We sung and danced.

Soon our song ended

He made a promise to return

When the Twin Moons rose again

To make me his bride."

Suddenly, soft music from the nightingales came, and soon, Ahiru was completely surrounded by their echoing voices. A vaguely familiar male voice entered her ears, singing a lone question to her.

"Swan Hime, Swan Hime, why do you dance?"

Nearly forgotten memories came rushing back to Ahiru's mind, the soft laughter of two kids; one singing a melody, while the other one danced to the boy's voice.

Ahiru sang along with the unknown male voice, recalling the words as if not even one day had passed.

"To remember the songs hidden under the night sky

So that I may remember the voice of the Prince

And pray to dance with him again

Even as I am hidden away,

By the loving wings of the Scarlet Swan."

Suddenly, a figure appeared on the other side of the lake. 'Who is that? It's not Akiro, nor Fakir, and certainly, not Mytho.' She thought, then, she heard the male figure, as he sang once more, a beautiful voice which rivaled the Muses' themselves. 'So beautiful, yet... yet so sad, why?'

"Swan Hime, Swan Hime, why are you scared?"

'Scared? Why would I be scared?' she thought, as she sang back to him.

"My dear chijin has lost his way

His song, now of Death and Lust,

Brings only sorrow to my chest

How have I longed to hear his voice,

This shell now is nothing,

But the empty shell of my life

He will capture my dance,

and bound himself to me,

Under the light of the Twin Moons."

"Holy White Swan, I've been watching you, for a long, long time..." It was His voice again that she heard, only now more seductive, almost causing Ahiru to forget about everything, but she held herself firm under his hazed-blue gaze.