After moments of silence, the victor falls to her knees, "Can't we just let it all go?"

"And if we can't?" I question, "What then? What if we don't let go, does that make us selfish?"

"It doesn't matter, I'll end up in hell anyway," she raises the sword up, shaking, "For all of the sins that I have committed."

"That is just another place that you'll have to live, so what then? What will you do?"

She looks down in thought, "I suppose I will have to learn to let go, and teach others to also do so."

"If that is true, I suppose the villain should let go to hope for something better, but in it's own right the victor shall also let go not of life but of worry and woe. Isn't that the true lesson here, to let go of these feelings?!"

She bitterly laughs, "You're a smart one..bending my words..I kneel before you in return, to show that I have lost, that the victor has lost. But does the victor really win or lose in this situation."

I stand as she bows before me, "I suppose neither the villain nor victor win or lose, as there will always be another day that the victor will try to win and the villain will try to conquer, and I suppose that one day their story will come to an end. But that day is not today, and for that neither wins nor loses."

The storm slowly dies away and the sun breaks through the clouds. The world slowly becomes lighter than it once was. I look up to the sun and place my hands in front of my eyes to block the bright rays.

I look back at the victor with a bittersweet smile, "You should rest up for the next games, for I will surely await the day you win."

As the sun rays rest upon the victors body, I visibly see her scars healing. Her cloak turning into a beautiful long golden dress, and her tiger like features coming to life, "I bid thee farewell until our next game. And hopefully, we won't shed...too...much blood then."

Looking at the daggers, that had been cast aside, with their slight blood stains, I sighed, "Indeed, but I suppose blood shed is expected of a war like this."

She smiles but it doesn't reach her eyes, "You speak with care. I am biting my tongue to keep myself from speaking with cruelty. No fire or warmth can melt my cold cruel heart."

I frown, "I do not care much for cruelty, as it is just another form of emotion one will give, and one that I'm very used to. If you do not come, I will still await our battle, but if you do I shall prepare. Joy or cruelty it does not matter to me for it is all the same."

She gives out a cruel chuckle and kneels, "Joy is much more..appealing..than cruelty. But after this..I'm sure..you will realize..why my heart is made of cruel stone...I'm too weak to fend for myself..I kneel to my opponents to end the game myself."

A sad laugh leaves me, "Do not sell yourself short, for you almost had this victor falling and succumbing to your hand. But I'm sure my opponent will realize why I fight even if I am weak, and why my heart can be both so full yet entirely empty."

Together we descend the stairs of the now rebuilding castle. The dark figures turning into servants of the victor. As we reach the entrance of the castle, the castle is fully built to it's once beautiful design.

Before I take a step out the victor grabs my hand, and holds it tight, "Maybe we are not victors, but villains to each other. Isn't that so? And until we find a compromise, we may continue to be villains. Therefore..I bid thee villain farewell."

"Goodbye fair villain," I hug her tight, "May we meet again, on different circumstances. I feel as if we would be friends..."

"As do I."

We let go of each other , and as I step out of the castle everything falls away and becomes dark.