This guide is for people intimately familiar with the story. Massive spoilers. Characters The Miracle: Edward Baynes/The Hypnotherapist Simply put, it had to be reincarnation because seventy-one years passed between 1928 and 1999, and Ed Baynes was a Senator and he’d have to have been well over 100 by ’99. Furthermore, no Senator would become a Hypnotherapist. Thus, it was reincarnation. The Sleeper: Julian Baynes/The Old Man A guess of mine, but it makes sense. See the Fatal Tragedy analyses. Victoria Page/Nicholas The Dances of Eternity Death Deceit Love Victoria loves Julian Victoria loved by Julian Victoria loved by Edward Victoria & Edward deceive Julian Victoria and Julian killed by Edward . Metropolis - Part I - "The Miracle And The Sleeper" [Images: Dream Theater] [Words: Petrucci] The smile of dawn Arrived early May She carried a gift from her home The night shed a tear To tell her of fear And of sorrow and pain She'll never outgrow Death is the first dance, eternal This is our introduction to Victoria. She is beautiful and pure, but we are given an ominous feeling by the second half of the stanza. Her life will be cloaked in sorrow and fear that she’ll never outgrow because she will be killed. It’s possible this will continue to loop through all of her reincarnations. Furthermore, the last line introduces one of the three themes (Dances) that form the basis for the Metropolis epic. Death will be a constant throughout the loop. There's no more freedom The both of you will be confined to this mind There are two possible meanings to this verse. Either “the both of you” refers to Nicholas and Victoria who are doomed to repeat their ‘dance of eternity’ throughout endless reproductions, or it refers to the Miracle and the Sleeper who’s battle has disappeared everywhere save for the mind of Nicholas, or the Hypnotherapist. This next verse is the Miracle’s introduction. It gives us some insight into why Edward behaves the way he does in SFAM. I was told there's miracle for each day that I try Everything Edward touches turns to gold. He has to but focus on gaining something and it belongs to him. I was told there's a new love that's born for each one that has died A reference to the reincarnation theme of the story, but at this point Edward is unaware of this. I take it to mean that he is never allowed to dally on sorrow, that he is always assured that he’ll find something new if he loses something. Edward will grasp on this idea to justify his betrayal of Julian. After all, the death of brotherly love will be replaced by the love of Victoria. I was told there'd be no one to call on when I feel alone and afraid Edward is such a golden boy that people simply assume that he is entirely self-sufficient. His parents may also have been cold to him. I was told if you dream of the next world You'll find yourself swimming in a lake of fire Edward is tormented by the idea of Hell. He keeps his nose to the grindstone in fear of damnation. The Baynes family may have been religious fundamentalists. This next paragraph is Julian’s introduction. As a child, I thought I could live without pain without sorrow As a man I've found it's all caught up with me I'm asleep yet I'm so afraid Julian always played second fiddle to Edward, and his talent was always submerged out of fear that he might fail, or that he might have to feel. He is The Sleeper because he has tried to make himself a cocoon against the world. Somewhere like a scene from a memory There's a picture worth a thousand words Eluding stares from faces before me It hides away and will never be heard of again There can be no resolution without ‘scenes from a memory’. I take this paragraph to hint at the role of Nicholas, who will attempt to close off this vicious cycle. I think that prior to his visit to the Hypnotherapist Nicholas had been trying to ‘hide away and never be heard of again’, but the memories became too strong. This could also describe Julian’s suspicions regarding the Miracle and Victoria. ‘Eluding stares from faces before me’. Deceit is the second without end Obviously, deceit will play a big part in SFAM. The cheating between Victoria and Edward is the largest part, but there is plenty of lies within the story. The city's cold blood teaches us to survive Just keep my heart in your eyes and we'll stay alive This is just incredibly ambiguous. In SFAM Victoria and the city are often interchangeable, lending credence to the concept that Met 1 simply tells the same story with Rome in place of a woman. However, if one takes Metropolis Part I: The Miracle and the Sleeper as an equal part of the tale, then some guesswork is required. I would venture that this is Edward speaking to Julian. Edward is the leader in all things, and he dominates the mentally weak and addiction-riddled Julian. Edward has the smarts and the talent to survive in the city and Julian needs him to survive. I get the impression Senator Baynes has been saving Julian’s ass through his connections for years. The third arrives... The third refers both to the final Dance (love) and to Victoria. Victoria is the catalyst that brings death, deceit, and love into the relationship between Miracle and Sleeper, and ultimately destroys them. Before the leaves have fallen Before we lock the doors There must be the third and last dance This one will last forever Metropolis watches and thoughtfully smiles She's taken you to your home Home here is the city where the two brothers lived and the place they love. In ‘Scenes’ Victoria will come to represent the Metropolis and the sunshine of her love will be the home they both seek. It can only take place When the struggle between our children has ended Now the Miracle and the Sleeper know that the third is love Love is the Dance of Eternity The war between the brothers cannot end until the two can come to terms with their shared love for Victoria. Unfortunately the first loop ends in bloodshed and death. But death is not enough to end it. Therefore Nicholas must intercede in hopes of putting them to rest. He ultimately fails, but there will be another reincarnation and there is still the hope that the next loop will be a success. Metropolis Part II: Scenes from a Memory Scene One: Regression [Hypnotherapist:] "Close your eyes and begin to relax. Take a deep breath, and let it out slowly. Concentrate on your breathing. With each breath you become more relaxed. Imagine a brilliant white light above you, focusing on this light as it flows through your body. Allow yourself to drift off as you fall deeper and deeper into a more relaxed state of mind. Now as I count backward from ten to one, you will fill more peaceful, and calm. Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. You will enter a safe place where nothing can harm you. Five. Four. Three. Two. If at any time you need to come back, all you must do is open your eyes. One." We are welcomed to Scenes by the calming voice of the Hypnotherapist. It seems likely that Nicholas has been attempting to ignore the memories haunting his mind for some time, but the visions are overcoming him. He goes to the Hypnotherapist in hopes of fixing himself and is put into a dream-like state which enables him to collect the various scraps of information he has gathered. It is unclear whether the whole album is Nicholas’s hypnosis (this theory is supported by the Hypnotherapist bits bookending the record) or simply a number of different sessions between which he researches his visions. I am inclined to believe that he has done some research into the visions but he is unable to understand them until he goes through a hypnosis that allows his subconscious to communicate with him. There is also some evidence that the Miracle and the Sleeper were telepaths, and thus it may be that the Miracle (A.K.A the Hypnotherapist) is manipulating his visions and facilitating Nicholas’s travel through time and into the minds of Edward, Julian, and Victoria. The only thing we need to take note of in the opening stanza us is the ‘open your eyes’ line. We will be hearing it throughout the tale, and it leads us to the nasty twist at the end. [Nicholas] Safe in the light that surrounds me Free of the fear and the pain My subconscious mind Starts spinning through time To rejoin the past once again Nothing seems real I’m starting to feel Lost in the haze of a dream And as I draw near The scene becomes clear Like watching my life on a screen Hello Victoria so glad to see you My friend This last may be a gaff on Petrucci’s part. If Nicholas doesn’t know Victoria yet, how does he know her name? My best guess is that Regression takes place after Strange déjà vu. I’ll attempt to explain later. 2. Scene Two: Overture [Instrumental] __________________ Six O'Clock on a Christmas Morning Six O'Clock on a Christmas Morning Six O'Clock on a Christmas Morning Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged 10-25-2004 12:22 AM 6:00XmasMorning Senior Member Registered: Nov 2003 Location: The Great White North Posts: 265 3. Strange déjà Vu [N:] Subconscious strange sensation Unconscious relaxation What a pleasant nightmare And I can’t wait to get there again Every time I close my eyes There’s another vivid surprise Another whole life waiting Chapters unfinished, fading Closer now - Slowly coming into view I’ve arrived - Blinding sunshine beaming through This part of the song details the dreams Nicholas has been having. Thus this is Nicholas looking back on something that already happened (the dream) rather than a vision that has occurred post-hypnosis for the first time. There’s a house I’m drawn into Familiar settings, nothing new There’s a pathway leading there With a haunting chill in the air There’s room at the top of the stairs Every night I’m drawn up there There’s a girl in the mirror Her face is getting clearer Young child won’t you tell me why I’m here? Here Nicholas doesn’t know Victoria’s name. This is because it’s a memory and he doesn’t know it by this point. At the time he goes under hypnosis his research has coughed up a few names. In her eyes -I sense a story never told Behind the disguise – There’s something tearing At her soul He is seeing Victoria at some point after she sleeps with Edward, but before she reconciles with Julian. [V:] Tonight I’ve been searching for it A feeling that’s deep inside me Tonight I’ve been searching for The one that nobody knows Trying to break free It may be that Victoria is searching for Nicholas inside of her mind. Just as the spirit of the past (Victoria) lurked in Nicholas, it may be that something of his spirit was in hers. She is trying to get her message through. I just can’t help myself I’m feeling like I’m going out of my head Tears my heart into two I’m not the one the sleeper thought he knew The Sleeper trusted her, and she feels guilty for betraying him. She also cares for Edward, but her heart is Julian’s. [N:] Back on my feet again Eyes open to real world Metropolis surrounds me The mirror’s shattered the girl Chances are Nicholas is still under hypnosis. He is viewing his own memories rather than Victoria’s however. Here we get the first reference to Metropolis. I get the impression the word was simply used to ‘hook’ the songs together further. Here we see Nicholas’s confusion upon awakening. He is back in his home (a word that will figure in heavily later), the City, which has replaced Victoria. Both of these (the Metropolis and Victoria) stand for each other in different times and minds. Why is this other life Haunting me everyday I’d break through the other side If only I’d find the way The way he used was hypnosis. Something’s awfully familiar The feeling’s so hard to shake Could I have lived in that other world It’s a link that I’m destined to make There is an itch in Nicholas’s head, the title of the song says it all. He has vague suspicions only, but he is at least thinking about the reincarnation theory. I’m still searching but I don’t know what for The missing key to unlock my mind’s door He must find something that will clue him in on what’s going on and allow him to get into contact with what Victoria (and possibly Edward and Julian) are pushing him towards. Today I am searching for it A feeling that won’t go away Today I am searching for it The only one I know Trying to break free Victoria is trying to break through to him, and Nicholas is trying to get to her. I just can’t help myself I’m feeling like I’m going out of my head Tears my soul into two I’m not the one I thought I always knew Nicholas realizes that he isn’t just himself, and the knowledge is terrifying. I just can’t help myself I’m feeling like I’m going out of my head Uncanny, strange Deja Vu But I don’t mind - I hope to find the truth Nicholas is practically going crazy with confusion. His curiousity keeps him going. [i] 4. Scene Three: Through My Words [N:] All your eyes have ever seen All you’ve ever heard Is etched upon my memory Is spoken through my words Nicholas seems to be more aware of Victoria at this point. He sees that they are the same spirit, different only by virtue of their environments. He retains her memories, but he cannot make out the full picture as yet. All that I take with me Is all you’ve left behind We’re sharing one eternity Living in two minds Linked by an endless thread Impossible to break More of Nicholas speaking to Victoria and promising that he’ll find the truth. It is interesting to note that Nicholas mentions shared eternity and yet only says that he and Victoria are sharing two minds. Eternity is longer than two lifetimes, and I think that this Dance of Eternity has been looping for much longer. Victoria, and the story of SFAM, is only the latest incarnation of the age-old conflict between the Miracle and the Sleeper, and the Dances of Love, Death, and Deceit. 5. Fatal Tragedy [N:] Alone at night I feel so strange I need to find All the answers to my dreams When I sleep at night I hear the cries What does this mean? I shut the door and traveled to another home I met an older man, he seemed to be alone I felt that I could trust him He talked to me that night; The old man seems to be a red herring, because it is unlikely that Nicholas is actually travelling time. I have two theories about him. He is either The Miracle/Hypnotherapist imposing himself upon Nicholas’s hypnosis to point him in the right direction (because he wants Nicholas to know the truth before he dies), or it is the reincarnation of Julian. I like the second idea because The Sleeper was never as pushy as The Miracle, and thus he would try to help in a more subtle fashion. Furthermore, he is the only one of the core three characters who’s reincarnation does not appear in the story. "Lad did you know a girl was murdered here?" "This fatal tragedy was talked about for years" Victoria’s gone forever Only memories remain She passed away She was so young The Sleeper may be trying to protect Nicholas by saying that ‘Victoria’s gone forever’. Without love Without truth There can be no turning back Nicholas however, will not be so dissuaded. Without faith Without hope There can be no peace of mind As the night went on I started to find my way I learned about a tragedy A mystery still today The Sleeper shows Nicholas how to navigate the dreamworld, because he is like The Miracle in that he wants the truth to be known. However, he knows the risk Nicholas is being put under. I tried to get more answers But he said, "You’re on your own" Then he turned away and left me As I stand there all alone He said, "You’ll know the truth As your future days unfold" The Sleeper still loves Victoria, but he has given up fighting The Miracle. He leaves Nicholas to his own devices. Without love Without truth There can be no turning back Without faith Without hope There can be no peace of mind [H:] "Now it’s time to see how you died. Remember that death is not the end but only a transition." The timely intervention of the Hypnotherapist shows us that The Miracle knows exactly what is going on in Nicholas’s head. This is another hint about the reincarnation aspect. [i] __________________ Six O'Clock on a Christmas Morning Six O'Clock on a Christmas Morning Six O'Clock on a Christmas Morning Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged 10-25-2004 12:25 AM 6:00XmasMorning Senior Member Registered: Nov 2003 Location: The Great White North Posts: 265 6. Scene Four: Beyond This Life [Headline:] "Murder, young girl killed Desperate shooting at Echo’s hill Dreadful ending, killer died Evidently suicide" A witness heard a horrifying sound He ran to find a woman dead and Lying on the ground Standing by her was a man Nervous, shaking, gun in hand Witness says he tried to help But he’d turned the weapon on himself His body fell across that poor young girl After shooting out in vain The witness ran to call for assistance A sad close to a broken love affair This is the official story of what happened to Victoria. At this point in time we have no idea who the young girl, killer, and witness are because this information has not been revealed. They are, respectively, Victoria, Julian, and Edward. Our deeds have traveled far What we have been is what we are This passage details the central theme of Metropolis. The Miracle and The Sleeper did something long ago that has been echoed by their reincarnations ever since. She wanted love forever But he had another plan He fell into an evil way She had to let him down She said "I can’t love a wayward man" This part isn’t listed as such, but it sounds like the musings of Nicholas rather than the paper. Julian Baynes was a shady character and he was subject to many addictions. It was common knowledge that Victoria had dropped him like a bad habit. She may have found a reason to forgive If he had only tried to change Was their fatal meeting prearranged? Nicholas wonders why Victoria was even there with Julian. He thinks that she had come there to forgive Julian and Julian had come there to kill Victoria. Had a violent struggle taken place? There was every sign that lead there Witness found a switchblade on the ground Was the victim unaware? They continued to investigate They found a note in the killer’s pocket It could have been a suicide letter Maybe he had lost her love The scene of the crime looks strange for a murder-suicide. Why would there be a switchblade on the ground? There was a ‘suicide letter’ in Julian’s pocket. We later learn that Edward placed it there. Now, this is me griping about logical inconsistencies. It seems strange that Edward (The Witness) would give the switchblade to the cops as it makes the scene look less like what he is trying to make it look like. And furthermore, weren’t the cops suspicious about the only witness being the brother of the murderer? I feel there’s only one thing left to do I’d sooner take my life away than live with losing you This is what the suicide letter said. Our deeds have traveled far What we have been is what we are All that we learn this time (What we have been is what we are) Is carried beyond this life What Victoria learns, Nicholas knows. 7. Through Her Eyes [N:] She never really had a chance On that fateful moonlight night Sacrificed without a fight A victim of her circumstances Nicholas is unaware of the real events at this point, but he believes victory is blameless in her own death. Now that I’ve become aware And I’ve exposed this tragedy A sadness grows inside of me It all seems so unfair I’m learning all about my life By looking through her eyes Just beyond the churchyard gates Where the grass is overgrown I saw her writing on her stone I felt like I would suffocate In loving memory of our child So innocent, eyes open wide I felt so empty as I cried Like part of me had died He visits her grave, either in person or in the hypnosis world. And as her image Wandered through my head I wept just like a baby As I lay awake in bed And I know what it’s like To lose someone you love And this felt just the same She wasn’t given any choice Desperation stole her voice I’ve been given so much more in life I’ve got a son, I’ve got a wife This startling piece of information is tossed off and then forgotten. If Nicholas has a family, does that mean that when he is murdered at the end his entire family is killed with him? Aren’t they suspicious about why he lies awake in his bed crying? Has he discussed these visions with his wife? This plot point serves only to confuse. I had to suffer one last time To grieve for her and say goodbye Relive the anguish of my past To find out who I was at last Nicholas has finished grieving her death, and from here on out he is only on a mission to clear up what happened. He is able to deal with the loss. The door has opened wide I’m turning with the tide Looking through her eyes He has found the key to Victoria’s memories. He has gained the ability to see through her eyes, and apparently through the eyes of Julian and Edward as well. This is probably because the Miracle and the Sleeper allowed it. 8. Scene Six: Home [Sleeper:] Shine-lake of fire Lines take me higher My mind drips desire Confined and overtired The ‘lake of fire’ line was in the Miracle section of Metropolis Part I, but the Sleeper apparently absorbed it as well. He compares his addictions to damnation. Living this charade Is getting me nowhere I can’t shake this charade The city’s cold blood calls me home Home it’s what I long for Back somewhere I belong He has lost Victoria. He knows that his drug and gambling fuelled existence is destroying him and he wants to go back to his home, to his cocoon. He wants the security of the Metropolis, as represented by Victoria. The city - it calls me Decadent scenes from my memory Sorrow - eternity My demons are coming to drown me He recalls his earlier years and his relationship with Victoria with nostalgia. Now his addictions are crushing him. Help – I’m falling, I’m crawling I can’t keep away from its clutch Can’t have it, this habit It’s calling me back to my home Where Victoria is true comfort and life, gambling is also a security blanket for him. A false one, but an addictive one nonetheless. [Miracle:] I remember the first time she came to me Poured her soul out all night and cried Victoria came to Senator Baynes and sought comfort from him because he had always been close to Julian. She probably was looking for advice on how to help him. Instead, she ended up sleeping with Edward. I remember I was told there’s a new love that’s born For each one that has died As I mentioned earlier, Ed Baynes takes the maxim from his childhood and explains that he had to stop loving his brother (or allow his brother to stop loving him) in order for him to be able to deal with the betrayal he was perpetrating and love Victoria. I never thought that I Could carry on with this life But I can’t resist myself No matter how hard I try It wasn’t an easy decision. Living their other life Is getting them nowhere I’ll make her my wife Her sweet temptations calls me home Home it’s what I long for My home where she belongs He believes that Victoria and Julian’s relationship is doomed and that she will be happier with him. As with The Sleeper, Victoria represents home and the eternal object of desire that divides the two for The Miracle. Her ecstasy - means so much to me Even deceiving my own blood Victoria watches and thoughtfully smiles She’s taking me to my home Help – he’s my brother, but I love her I can’t keep away from her touch Deception, dishonor It’s calling me back to my home More of the same. [N:] Her story - it holds the key Unlocking dreams from my memory Solving this mystery Is everything that is a part of me Help - regression, obsession I can’t keep away from her touch Leave no doubt, to find out It’s calling me back to my home Nicholas is just as obsessed with Victoria, but in a nonsexual manner. He, again, must discover the truth or he will go mad. His ‘home’ is the truth. 9. Scene Seven: The Dance Of Eternity [instrumental] Obviously this is simply an instrumental. However, it does bring the idea of the Dances into play and the bass solo corresponds to the bass solo in the first part. So not much to say about it, but it ties in the two epics further. __________________ Six O'Clock on a Christmas Morning Six O'Clock on a Christmas Morning Six O'Clock on a Christmas Morning Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged 10-25-2004 12:27 AM 6:00XmasMorning Senior Member Registered: Nov 2003 Location: The Great White North Posts: 265 10. One Last Time [N:] It doesn’t make any sense This tragic ending In spite of the evidence There’s something still missing Nicholas is a smart cookie. Heard some of the rumours told A taste of one’s wealth Did Victoria wound his soul? Did she bid him farewell? Ambiguous! The wealth would seem to point at The Miracle (being a Senator and all). Nicholas is perhaps theorizing that Edward felt that Victoria was using him for his money before dumping him for his degenerate brother. [V:] One last time We’ll lay down today One last time Until we fade away One last time We’ll lay down today One last time We slowly fade away Either Victoria is echoing The Sleeper’s last words as a clue to Nicholas or she is speaking to Edward. One last romp before she drops him? [N:] Here I am inside his home It holds the many clues To my suspicions And as I’m standing here right now I’m finally shown what I have always known Nicholas sees the Miracle’s home through Victoria’s memories. Coincidence I can’t believe As my childhood dreams slowly come true This line is interesting because it shows us that Nicholas has been dreaming of Victoria for a very long time. Are these her memories Awakened through my eyes The answer to Nicholas’s question is “Yes”. This house has brought back to life An open door I walk on through Into his bedroom Feeling as cold as outside The walls disappear To some woman who’s screaming A man pleads forgiveness His words I cannot hear Nicholas sees Victoria breaking the bad news (she’s dumping him) to Edward, but cannot hear the conversation. 11. Scene Seven: The Spirit Carries On This seems to be Nicholas putting together everything that he has learned, a summary before the truth of the tale is laid bare. It is the logical end of the record, and yet there is still Finally Free to come. [N:] Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do we go when we die? What lies beyond And what lay before? Is anything certain in life? They say "Life is too short" "The here and the now" And "You’re only given one shot" But could there be more Have I lived before Or could this be all that we’ve got? If I die tomorrow I’d be alright Because I believe That after we’re gone The spirit carries on I used to be frightened of dying I used to think death was the end But that was before I’m not scared anymore I know that my soul will transcend I may never find all the answers I never understand why I may never prove What I know to be true But I know that I still have to try If I die tomorrow I’d be alright Because I believe That after we’re gone The spirit carries on [V:] "Move on, be brave Don’t weep at my grave Because I’m no longer here But please never let You memories of me disappear" Victoria is either unaware of the Miracle’s reincarnation as the Hypnotherapist or doesn’t see him as a threat. Either way, she is only concerned with comforting Nicholas rather than warning him, [N:] Safe in the light that surrounds me Free of the fear and the pain My questioning mind Has help me to find The meaning in my life again Victoria’s real I finally feel At peace with the girl in my dreams And now that I’m here It’s perfectly clear I found out what all of this means If I die tomorrow I’d be alright Because I believe That after we’re gone The spirit carries on The purpose of this song is basically to soften the blow of the next track, and also to give the hint that Nicholas/Victoria will transcend this world and reincarnate yet again. I believe this has happened many times before. 12. Scene Eight: Finally Free [Hypnotist:] You are once again surrounded by a brilliant white light. Allow the light to lead you away from your past and into this lifetime. As the light dissipates you will slowly fade back into consciousness, remembering all you have learned. When I tell you to open your eyes you will return to the present, feeling peaceful and refreshed. Open your eyes Nicholas. There’s that line again. [Miracle:] Friday evening The blood still on my hands To think that she would leave me now For that ungrateful man Soul survivor No witness to the crime I must act fast to cover up I think that there’s still time He’d seem hopeless and lost with this note They’ll buy into the words that I wrote Edward lays out what really happened at Echo’s Hill. He killed his brother and Victoria, and then planted a note in Julian’s pocket. His writing must’ve been quite similar. This feeling Inside me Finally found my love I’ve finally broke free No longer Torn in two I’d take my own life before losing you This is just creepy. He’s exuberant that he’s murdering a woman he loves and his own brother because he finally feels happy. Edward has had everything come to him the moment he wants it because of what he is, a Miracle. If he can’t have something he destroys it. Edward may not want Victoria dead, but he can be happy as long as no one else has her. [Victoria:] Feeling good this Friday afternoon I ran into Julian Said we'd get together soon He’s always had my heart He needs to know I’ll break free of the Miracle It’s time for him to go Victoria is going with Julian and dropping Edward. This occurred before The Miracle dialogue that precedes it. This feeling Inside me Finally found my love I’ve finally broke free No longer Torn in two He’d kill his brother if he only knew Victoria is also a smart cookie, and knows something about how inherently cruel The Miracle is. You’d think she’d anticipate the tragic finale. Their love renewed They’d rendezvous In a pathway out of view They thought no one knew Then came a shot out of the night "Open your eyes, Victoria" Major tip-off at the Hypnotherapist/Miracle connection. [Sleeper:] One last time We'll lay down today One last time Until we fade away One last time We'll lay down today One last time We fade away As their bodies lie still And the ending draws near Spirits rise through the air All their fears disappear It all becomes clear A blinding light comes into view An old soul exchanged for a new Familiar voice comes shining through Edward blows away Julian and Victoria, but their spirits rise up and will eventually reincarnate. According to the Metropolis 2000 DVD Julian pulls a knife on Edward after he shows up at the rendezvous. Really, this should’ve been mentioned in the lyrics to explain the knife’s appearance earlier, but whatever. [Nicholas:] This feeling Inside me Finally found my life I’m finally free No longer Torn in two I learned about my life by living through you This feeling Inside me Finally found my life I’ve finally broke free No longer Torn in two Living my own life by learning from you We’ll meet again my friend Someday soon Sooner than he knows. [CNN report:] "... their lead story, all anticipating the outcome of the man considered to be a member of American nobility. And as you can imagine, as the skies have grown darker here over Washington, The moon has grown darker as well and people here are beginning to resign themselves to the possibility that they are witnessing yet another tragedy in a long string of misfortunes. Reaction from everywhere, from Washington and certainly from around the world has guess..." [Hypnotist:] "Open your eyes, Nicholas'" [Nicholas:] "AAAH!" Nicholas is murdered by the reincarnated Miracle. Was The Miracle still angry at Victoria? Was he upset because Nicholas was straight and he couldn’t have him/her spirit? In any case, The Miracle is a vicious creature, and the war between the brothers has not been truly put to rest. Will they loop again? The Dances are called Eternal for a reason.